Why all this equipment!!???

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Roker1

Roker1

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Hi guys...I've seen so many photos of studios . read so many equipment lists and so on...i just get cunfused with all the stuff some people have and use.....let's say a studio has got a PROTOOLS 24/MIX system, or whatever it's called...with all these good plugins, best mastering software etc. etc.....and then they've got this huge xxamount of channels consoles, and outboard processors ...tape machines and soo on, and on and on......WHY???? I am really confused with all this stuff...I really think much of the equipment that some studios have (and probably never use) is highly unnecessary....why would you have a top of the range DAW just for tracking, and then doing everything else analog..or vice versa...i dunno...i admit I havent got much experience in the industry but we do go overboard sometimes.....what do you guys think... :D :D :D
 
Roker1 said:
I really think much of the equipment that some studios have (and probably never use) is highly unnecessary....
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No it isn't.......... a studio has to accommodate the needs of a wide variety of clients -- requiring gear of many "flavours" to provide any sonic requirements a client may have........
 
plus....I like to use outboard compressors as I record. If I record just to computer and it clips and then I compress, all it will do is lower the clip. Once clipping ocurs it is hard to get rid of. I use limiters and compressors to avoid this in advance. And as Bear said, clients want different types of equipment. If you only have software when they want a certain preamp, compressor, eq, etc. then they will go elsewhere. I also use outboard gates on drums.
 
Also... the client EXPECTS to see lots of gear. A lot of studios have a lot of stuff that isn't even patched in, or that they at least never use, simply to provide the client with visual stimulus of being a "really great" studio.

Chris

yeah... when I have people into my little project studio with only a small mixer and a couple of outboard pieces of rack gear... I have to play stuff for them to convince them they'll walk out with a half-decent demo.
 
i have a partner that has a pro tools HD2 or HD3 built in his house...
he has a lot of outboard gear that doesn't even get used... a few things may get used here and there, but everytime i'm over there the outboard gear isn't being used...and its top quality stuff, from SPL,avalon,Empirical Labs, 96kHz Finalizer.. a bunch of stuff...and i've never seen it used...
 
I LOVE, bells whistles,lights and doodads!! The MORE the better!!
 
MISTERQCUE said:
I LOVE, bells whistles,lights and doodads!! The MORE the better!!
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I can picture Q's studio.. All this gear plugged in he never uses... Xmas lights hanging from the ceiling... Clock radios with 12:00 flashing all over the place, toasters popping up...Radio Shack issue Disco Ball

etc....etc...etc...

:D:D:D
 
Lava Lamps, MUST HAVE LAVA LAMPS.....Re-doing studio for 5.1, must get 3.1 more Lava Lamps... Where can I get really HUGE lava lamp for top of SubWoofer???
 
I have a Pro Tools studio with a lot of outboard gear. My clients couldn't give a crap about most of the gear, because they never heard of it and don't know what it does in most cases. The exception would be the piano (Steinway) and sometimes vocal mics.

For example, I never had a pianist ask me about which mic preamp i planned to use. They book the studio because they like the piano and the way it sounds when i record it. Other than that, they are more likely to come here because they like my dog and the selection of snacks than how many pretty lights are in my rack. At least that's been my experience.

There ARE a few pieces still in my racks that i don't use much anymore - usually things I've had a long time that have been superceded by other gear. If enough time passes and it's clear I'm not going to use it (and it's not a collector's item who's value maight increase) it goes up for sale on e-bay.

Let's face it - most of us are not in the situation where we can afford to buy expensive gear just for window dressing. I know I can't. I buy stuff because it fulfills a specific need that is going to help me make a better final product. I certainly envy anyone who can afford to get a dBx BLUE compressor (admittedly stunning looking) or a Manley Massive Passive EQ purely for decorative value. But it might be cheaper to go the FunkLogic route (the Palindrometer is my personal favorite!)

Just because the usefulness of a particular item may not be immediately apparent to the casual (or uneducated) observer, does not mean that the item is, in fact, useless.
 
There's different reasons for everyone who does it, I'm sure.

For those with little skills, it can be a cover-up. Some believe that lots of toys - or having the latest toys - will make them a better engineer . . . or impress a lot of people . . . or both.

The more notable professionals out there I'm sure just want to be prepared for any possible situation. Others may find it a viable investment in their business, helping them to attract better clients.

For hobbyist, though I just think it's simply an addiction. People crave the joy and excitement of getting new things. Most dudes like things as much as chicks like shoes and crap. Getting a new mic or effects box can be a thrill. Once that thrill wears off, we just need to keep buying more things to keep the thrill going.
 
Well said. I'll admit to having a couple of pieces just because they look cool. One is a big DJ rack mixer I bought for $5 at the swap meet. I've never even tried it and never intended to. I just wanted something to cover up the side of a rack cage I use to sit some stereo equipment in. You guys won't tell anyone will you? :(
 
My main recording rig isn't on a computer, but it's a dedicated HD recorder/editor and digital mixer with plug-ins (the functional equivalent of a computer based DAW). I COULD do all my recording using just that, but I have at least $50K in outboard gear (Mic preamps, DIs, compressors, EQs, A/D & D/A converters, reverbs, effects, digital routers, wordclock distribution, sync boxes, patchbays...). Each piece has its use, and has been selected because it did it better than (or maybe easier than) its equivalent (if any) in the integrated basic recording set-up. Not every piece gets used on every project, but over the course of a few projects, they all get used. I do have a couple of Funk Logic pieces in the racks, just because I get a chuckle out of them (and they come in handy when one of the band members sneaks behind the board during playback and wants me to do something ridiculous to the mix- I just reach for a knob on the Digilog Dynamicator or Pallindrometer and give it a healthy twist and say, "Is that better? It's the most I can give it without nasty distortion." and they always say, "Yeah, that sounds much better.").

:D Scott
 
Thank you guys for admitting you have some gear just to show it off.. :D :D

That about providing clients with variety of sonic qualities is OK. But I don't know about trying to impress clients "visually" with the gear you've got, as Tondreau mentioned....I'd rather stick to impressing them with your engineering skills.... :D :D
Cubase VST 32 for example was the "GOD" a few months ago and we all agreed thaT WE COULD DO EVERYHTING WITH IT....now that , for instance, SX is out..VST is crap and we can't do much with it...because we have to go out and spend a grand or so on something that's "cool"...why...because Steinberg likes you to do so...:D :D Steinberg has improved some things, not saying they haven't, but we could do everything with the last product already...couldn't we??? Anyway...I know there is still guys out there that will argue on this and every other quote, but thats what I think anyway...I think we've got enough from the technological side of the story to make good music...maybe ppl should go back to older days and start being more creative....(rather than depend on $$$$$$$ of "cool" gear)
JMO thnx...

P.S.I'm even learning some new abreviations :D :D
 
DigitMus said:
I have at least $50K in outboard gear (Mic preamps, DIs, compressors, EQs, A/D & D/A converters, reverbs, effects, digital routers, wordclock distribution, sync boxes, patchbays...). . . . Not every piece gets used on every project, but over the course of a few projects, they all get used.
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Damn. If I had that much sunk in to outboard gear, I would keep only that which I couldn't do without . . . sell the rest and (with the money) hire an accoustical engineer to overhaul my recording and monitoring space. In most cases, money much better spent. Not refering to you directly, digit, as I'm not at all familiar with your space.
 
I almost plunked down $1500 a couple of months ago for a buzz MA2 after spending some time with it. I caught myself in the nick of time but may yet go for it at some point. Maybe after a dragongly or lucid A/D. I think what happens sometimes (to guys who buy with their *ears*) is you spend some time with some esoteric piece and fall in love with it bec it so clearly outclasses what youre currently using, it becomes hard to go back. You become painfully aware of how the playing field is truly not level. Playing with great gear is almost like a drug. Its like running a practice marathon with performance enhancers in your system and then not being able to get those enhancers for the actual race. It hurts even more to know that youre competing against others who are using them.

Of course you console yourself with the fact that great mixes are all about balance, depth and space which is always possible with good monitors and some decent plugs.

:D :D
 
I seen some rack blanks in a mag the other day that were modeled after some avalon equip. and such. only problem is, when a client walks in and says, "oh cool, you have avalon mic pres, i cant wait to hear how my voice sounds running through one of those puppies!!!" ... ........ uuuuhh! it is broken right now!!! :D
 
monty said:
Well said. I'll admit to having a couple of pieces just because they look cool. One is a big DJ rack mixer I bought for $5 at the swap meet. I've never even tried it and never intended to. I just wanted something to cover up the side of a rack cage I use to sit some stereo equipment in. You guys won't tell anyone will you? :(
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Well, Monty, if you look anything like your avatar, I don't think you have to worry about your clients staring at your rack. Ummm, er, I mean your OTHER rack... oh...

Never mind!
 
Chessrock -
There's nothing in my racks I can do without (well, I can, but I'd rather not) . I spent a lot more than $50K on my recording space - I had it designed and built from the ground up to be a studio. The architect, contractor and acoustic consultant were all very clear about what we were building. I'm very happy with the results.
Basically, music and recording are my life, so I put all my time, energy and money into it. I'm single, no kids, no expensive hobbies, and I've been playing and recording music for over 30 years. I used to "trade up" when buying gear, selling the old to buy the new, but too many times I went reaching for something that was no longer there. All the old stuff still gets used - for instance, the ADATs I used to record to are now set up in a seperate 'writing arranging & pre-production' area so I can outline ideas when inspiration strikes without reconfiguring the main recording rig.
As you may have gathered, there's a reason I have no wife nor current girlfriend - they get too jealous of my "mistress" called music. If you have a life, you may not want to follow my example :D .

Scott
 
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