why people build studios

  • Thread starter Thread starter dobro
  • Start date Start date

why build a studio?

  • For homerecording excellence. My next album's gonna kick ass all around the block.

    Votes: 344 74.5%

  • For commercial purposes. My studio's gonna draw more custom than Abbey Road.

    Votes: 58 12.6%

  • I just wanna build the best studio in the world. I started off in music, but I got sidetracked. No

    Votes: 60 13.0%
  • Total voters
    462
dobro said:
Look, I hope I don't offend anyone with this question, but I've got to ask it, and I'm hoping for some honest responses.

I'm in awe of what some people in this forum are investing in the construction of their studios - an investment of loads of time, money and hard, hard work. It's huge. And all the while these humongous construction projects are underway, no music's being recorded, right? Not only that, but building a studio takes a whole different skill set compared to writing a song, performing it, recording it, mixing it, distributing it etc. And developing and carrying out that skill set takes up so much time that the music is bound to suffer in the meantime.

Anyway, I'm wondering why people do it. Is it:

* an obsession with getting good home recorded sound. 'My album's gonna run rings around all the homers when I'm done putting this studio together. It's worth the sacrifice of months and money in the long run.'

* an obsession with getting a good studio sound that you can then rent to other people in your new shiny role as RE.

* nothing to do with music, if the the truth be known. It's just for the joy of building something.

See, as for me, I want to make and record music. As it happens, part of the learning curve in the enterprise has included coming to terms with how important the room is for the sound you get. But my attitude has been: 'Okay, what do I need to do to overcome the main hurdles and pitfalls? I just wanna get tracking and mixing so I can get back to songwriting.' In other words, I wouldn't bother with this stuff if it wasn't so very fucking important LOL. But some of you guys seem to actually like it! And some of you seem to actually make it the central project! I mean, do you still play guitar?

Again, please don't take offense. I'm trying to understand something here.
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I built my studio to record music for others. Although, I play around in there all the time.
 
I've recently decided to build a home studio, I've been home recording for a little over a year in a small corner in the basement, with no acoustic treatment or layout. I'm making more money at work so I can afford some new toys. I don't have the time to play in a band (I work for a railroad, 12+ hours a day 5 days one week, 6 the next, on call 24 hrs.), but I really enjoy playing music. So I must record. That is why.
 
I base my entire life around my studio. I moved twice because my living space was not conducive to making music. I.E. townhouse, neighbor knocks on door at midnight, I answer with pistol in hand. He says your music is "pretty fuckin' loud" I say "10-4" and slam the door. I took the master bedroom in one of my houses for my studio, I am married btw. I took a job in a high risk environment/feild for the sole purpose of being able to afford to build a home studio. Not because I want to be famous for my music, but because that's how much I love making music. And because if I want a $3000. synth and a $2000 compressor, or a $1500 drum machine, etc. I can and will get it. I have had pretty much every bit of kit I ever wanted and intend to keep it that way. I've had everything from an OpenLabs Neko to the Alesis A6 andromeda. I own every piece of gear in my studio. I can make music WHENEVER I feel like it. I can record and make WHATEVER I choose. I can learn at my own pace. I could sell beats and have been asked by a major corp for the rights to one to which I declined. I could record other people for money to which I do not. I make music ultimately for me. I hope this doesn't come off as "salty" or arrogant as that is not my intention of this reply. I just wanted to give you my reason for building my studio. For me it is about being able to express myself and have loads of fun. You know when you walk into the recording section at Guitar Center etc.? I created that in my house, for me. It's my yoga... Feel free to check out some of my "music" at iLLOgicK's sounds on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free
 
PostPost: Also, yes. Building a studio does, at least in my case take away from making music sometimes. Like when I sell a bit of kit to get another bit of kit. The wait can sometimes shut me down for a month or so. It's a double edged sword. You get to own all the gear of your dreams but whilst waiting/saving you lose time and it can deminish your skills. But in the end, when you finally get all the stuff to be fully functional you can "get crackin'" as they say. And YES I want to make the highest quality recording I can. If you want to master an instrument and be in the spotlight I advise against trying to build a studio. I suggest getting basic necessities and honing your skills. If you want to make music but aren't a musician, building a studio is almost a necessity. As everyone doesn't "play guitar". As in I own a guitar. I don't want to master guitar though. I use it like an effect. It is a tool for sound. And I manipulate it at my will.The cost of studio time would kill me...
 
To be able to take my time making a great record without watching the clock of a real studio and feeling rushed....also, for the money it might cost to record in a studio for 2 weeks, I can buy a bunch of gear....I can also rent my studio out to other engineers and produce other musicians albums in my studio. I've been a touring guitar player full time for the last 11 years...70% of my time is spent on the road...this might just allow me to make a living in my home town....and be able to pick and choose when I go on the road and which gigs I take. I figure by the time I MIGHT get jaded with the road (which I hope is never...I still love it)...I may have made enough connections and have had the studio going long enough that it's always booked up....ALSO I fancy trying something totally sell out..sexy all girl band or something that I'd never want to do myself....but if I'm producing, I can sit back and make mailbox money ot of it if it hits...and i don't have to be on the road doing it.....having a studio is about having options....the option to get creative at the drop of a hat...or rent it out to make a little extra money while i'm out on the road...or whatever...
 
Good for you man. As long as you don't mind your job....if you're not that keen on your job, it might be time to start producing or engineering for other folks. Creating music is afterall what you love to do.....albeit your own music instead of the kind someone else wants you to do. You just have to weigh up liking your job against like producing someone elses music that you may not like.
 
Read through all these pages and felt like I should comment as well.

Personally for me it's about the music. I just love everything about music and having a professionally built studio puts me in that zone. I'm one of those people who want to take my music to new places and also work with different musicians. Sitting in an area where the room just looks like a professional studio (Vocal Booth/Control Room, Plexiglass the whole deal) It just boost my confidence and makes me feel like I'm truly accomplishing something. I'm not going to reach and say I'm already making major moves but the oppurtunities I've been presented with in the past few months (Record deal, Features on 3 albums, etc) I felt it was time to have something that every other mid-major artist is recording in.

The past 5 years I've studied Mixing and Mastering now I'm starting on building a full studio from the ground up. I Hope to make a few bucks opening it up to the public but my main reason for doing all of this is the love for music. I love the art of it and what all goes into making it. I remember starting out at 15-16 yrs old thinking I could just hop on a microphone and do what these professionals do. I have no idea what Dubbing was, Ghosting, Adlibing or anything like that. Since learning all of those things I now listen to music differently than others or how I used to. I can break each song down in my head to figure out how they structured it.
 
For me, its something i love to do as a hobby. i recently got a new mic, im setting up my basement soon as well (Hopefully) I dont have the money, so hustle and flow is in order with the egg cartons haha xD i think most people tho, even if their not sucessful in their music, they have something to do and fallback on.
 
I'm approaching the completion of my home studio that has been a dream of mine for decades. I started out with a 4 track open real deck and a little mixer and assorted mikes in a room about 8x10' and my best friends doing improvistational music for ourselves. One of my friends at that time and still to this day my best friend is the son of the owner of Jazzology Records and we had opportunities to use a beautiful studio in Decatur GA that has since moved to New Orleans. It was my inspiration. The drive has always been to have a better environment for creativity. We are going to finally have that place of our own that we dreamed of for so long. The only thing left from the original setting is a large American flag that was hanging on the ceiling in that first little room (covered almost the whole ceiling). It is hanging from the ceiling in our new tracking room. Back in around 1978 we called it the Bicentennial Memorial Hallway Recording Studio and that name has stuck around for the name of Bargain Basement Recording of Duluth Georgia's studio. We are on Facebook if you'd like to see the place.
 
Hello Guys,

I can understand dear. But studio is often used for essential purposes according to me. Studio makes perfect rules.
 
rickertd said:
I'm approaching the completion of my home studio that has been a dream of mine for decades. I started out with a 4 track open real deck and a little mixer and assorted mikes in a room about 8x10' and my best friends doing improvistational music for ourselves. One of my friends at that time and still to this day my best friend is the son of the owner of Jazzology Records and we had opportunities to use a beautiful studio in Decatur GA that has since moved to New Orleans. It was my inspiration. The drive has always been to have a better environment for creativity. We are going to finally have that place of our own that we dreamed of for so long. The only thing left from the original setting is a large American flag that was hanging on the ceiling in that first little room (covered almost the whole ceiling). It is hanging from the ceiling in our new tracking room. Back in around 1978 we called it the Bicentennial Memorial Hallway Recording Studio and that name has stuck around for the name of Bargain Basement Recording of Duluth Georgia's studio. We are on Facebook if you'd like to see the place.
Click to expand...

looks like a fun place to hang out...
Bargain Basement Recording of Duluth Georgia - Maison de disques - Duluth, GA | Facebook
 
Thanks very much to both you and Al....it means a lot to me. We are almost there, and that "fun place to hang out" atmosphere is exactly what I had in mind when laying the place out. I want someplace fun for local startup groups and musicians to hang out and record their music. I was lucky to have a built in location at home that has been working out so well for us. Good luck finding that location for yourself.
 
rickertd said:
Thanks very much to both you and Al....it means a lot to me. We are almost there, and that "fun place to hang out" atmosphere is exactly what I had in mind when laying the place out. I want someplace fun for local startup groups and musicians to hang out and record their music. I was lucky to have a built in location at home that has been working out so well for us. Good luck finding that location for yourself.
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Cool man, maybe I'll just stop in one day on appointment when it's through. I'm just a few hours away, would be cool to network with some others for a change in the S. East instead of just locally.
 
Capt Hair said:
Cool man, maybe I'll just stop in one day on appointment when it's through. I'm just a few hours away, would be cool to network with some others for a change in the S. East instead of just locally.
Click to expand...

OK, I'll let you know when we are ready...shouldn't be much longer.
 
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