Mar 04, 2005 12:48 am agreed
a little rant
Posted on Mar 04, 2005 12:31 am
Geoff
SM7b the Chuck Noris of Mic's
Contributor Since: Jun 20, 2002
One thing I've noticed in a few forums, these days is when someone asks for help a lot of people automatically go to "you need to get this piece of gear" answer. Sometimes this might be the best solution for the problem but not the most practical. A lot of people just starting out or that are having problems learning there existing gear, are getting these answers and for the most part another piece of gear won't help them right away it'll just add to the confusion. As I said before sometimes getting a new sound card or upgrading the PC, are the best bets, but if someone is having too hot of a signal from there out board Pre-amp (i.e. "my vocals are distorting" or clipping) you don't need to get another effects processor, they may just need to tweak it a bit and turn the sucker down.
I have a bunch of gear and my eyes get big when I see a new toy out there , but I ask myself do I really need it will it help my mixes better , not well that's what everyone else has so I have to get it. Some people have made awesome recording with 4 track tape recorders and a few SM57's and very little else. Others with a tone of high end gear have made crap recordings (probably because they haven’t taken the time to learn there equipment). A lot of people come to this site to learn and to record there music because they can't afford the studio costs, not because they want to be engineers (there are a few of us that do, I’m one) so these people don't need to invest into a grip of gear that they may not want or need to get results.
Ok my rants over. I've been reading a lot of post from other sites and to me this is home , this is the best site for recording help and info , lets keep it up , because everyone here rocks .
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Mar 04, 2005 08:56 am just like playing guitar, the magic is in the hands, not the gear
Mar 04, 2005 09:43 am I agree with Geoff, and I occassionally see HRC going that direction as well, where every problem can be cured with a new peice of gear.
Sometimes it's valid advice, sometimes it's not necessary, I try not to advise that unless necessary, but sometimes I am lazy and it's just the quickest answer...spend more money...I dunno, it's a conundrum. I always like the challenge of the "make do" attitude, and the knowledge and creativity it promotes, but sometimes it's just a long process...
Mar 04, 2005 10:19 am Yeah, i agree, i mean there are some things that make things 'better', but generally i've always been into creative recording, i like to have an interesting process behind what i do, like using different spaces instead of reverbs, playing instruments in unusual ways, home made percussion etc etc, and in a sense that's all making do, but it also keeps me more interested than just setting up that reverb unit, strumming another bloody guitar or forking out for yet another tuned tambour. If a huge wad of cash suddenly dropped in my lap i would indeed probably spend a chunk on new gear, but i'd still be trying to as creative as possible as that's what drives me on, i get bored too easily otherwise.
I think i was probably my most creative when i was four-tracking, as that making do brought out a hell of a lot of creativity. I mean i do like to keep an eye on signal to noise, 'unnecessary' frequencies on an instrument, gain staging etc etc, but in the end it's all about the spirit of something that defines whether you or anybody else actually likes what you've done eh?
Mar 04, 2005 10:56 pm I think if you upgraded to a toob monitor the posts you read on other sites would be warmer and less abrasive... :)
Mar 06, 2005 02:52 am Geoff,
I could not agree more. I remember hearing a story where Art Palmer stopped in the middle of a golf game having overheard someone in the crowd saying "I wish I could do that". He turned and started drilling the fan, telling the fan that he doubted that the fan really 'wished' for the ablilty, telling the fan how he practiced with bloodied hands for years to get where he is.
It's a 'pill' insta-fix world. This has been accepted for so long now that I am seeing folks who have reached very advanced ages with the mentality. Especially selling audio gear now, it just floors me. I don't know how many folks I have sent home with this web site's address, and quite frankly I havn't confirmed that one has actually taken the advice yet.
The question always boils down to what 'thing' don't I have that will make my mixes sound like the professional ones I hear on CD or radio. Often after a question and answer dialog the honest answer is talent. Talent that can be developed with time and practice. I get the deer in the headlights look that can't fathum that there isn't a 'box' that will fix it for them. Like the 'pro' industry has a 'secret' whosit #6 that will never be revealed to those who don't own a multi-million dollar studio.
On a couple of occasions I have played one of my mixes to those who do not just walk off in disbelief. I get this 'Wow, howed you do that?' what did you use? I usually respond with 'five years of recording'. Not what they want to hear.
One women in her 60's came in yesterday and wanted a box for $150 that would replace her drummer. She didn't want anything that had any degree of difficulty to use. I told her I knew of no such thing. She ended up ordering up a manager to sell her a box she had picked up and wanted the thing for cost. The box will be back next week guranteed. And I am sure the poor manager will get the blame for the box not being her pill for running out her drummer.
Mar 06, 2005 11:44 am Quote:
The question always boils down to what 'thing' don't I have that will make my mixes sound like the professional ones I hear on CD or radio. Often after a question and answer dialog the honest answer is talent.
baahhaaahahahahahahaaaaa!!!!!!
I'm sorry, but that cracked me up when I read it. Walt, I love the fact that you're an onry old goat.
Mar 06, 2005 04:43 pm Walt you have a way with taking a normal rant and making it soo much more . I love reading your posts.
Mar 06, 2005 07:47 pm [quote]I think if you upgraded to a toob monitor the posts you read on other sites would be warmer
our company recently switched to all flat panels, from the regular CRT and i well i miss my CRT :)
Mar 07, 2005 02:27 am Well thank you, and yes, I seem to take some skewed form of pride in being an onry ole goat.
My life's experiences have led me to believe that I can do most anything if I pursue it. If I can enjoy the pursuit, then it's truely a joy. There is always a deeper level regardless of how simple the task seems to be at face value. How people have come to the belief that abilities can be simply 'purchased' is beyond me. Especially among folks that have been kickin around for awhile.
Some guy came in last week with a Paul Read Smith guitar. It was the hit of the moment; object of much admiration. He orders up the biggest peddal board available. The thing could have doubled for a dance floor or a pshcho techno hop-scotch game. The most God-Awfull noises came out of that thing. Two hours of 2450 versions of nails on a chalkboard. If only thay had him as an early warning system for climatic desisters! He could have cleared the beaches... no doubt!
Mar 07, 2005 09:39 am I met a guy like that when I was a house drummer for a blues lounge... reciently divorced so he sunk $10,000 in a guitar rig... nobody could play with him. I tried but he would randomly change time signatures... I tried to find a pattern but after about 30 seconds with him myself, the bassest, and the host just walked off the stage and started drinking. He showed up one more day and he was told to not come back. ..he just threw a tantrum and shouted "Well I just signed a deal with ASCAP!" as he left...
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