OK, look.
The whole thing that kicked me off down this path was TB's comment about selling gear to 'producers' so they can 'double-dip'. And then his reference to keeping the 'large console' business alive (Alluding to another aspect of the audio sales/support industry).
But he didn't actually answer the topics question.
I don't care if that's what producers ARE doing, I wonder if it's a good thing.
And yes, generally speaking, if said producer creates a space that he honestly knows can produce results that at least equal, if not exceed, what he could achive in a big dollar studio, then I do think it's a good thing.
But with EVERYBODY bitching and complaining about the fact that there's no more money industry, we need to tighten our belts. ALL OF US.
John, your right, the record companies just want things to get cheaper and cheaper. Why? Because sales are down. But that's only ONE reason. They also want things cheaper because they KNOW they can get them cheaper.
I mean, how many labels are going to complain if they think they can give little Billy Bob $2000 extra dollars so he can do all his vocals and guitars in his bedroom and then give the recordings to BMG (Big Mix Guy) who makes it sound ALMOST like it was all done for top dollar?
That's the reality.
THAT'S where most of the big guys (studios and engineers and producers) are losing out.
And how is that going to change? By making the financial trade-off of ALMOST top-dollar-sounding and TOP DOLLAR SOUNDING too negligable to matter.
And how can we do that? By REAL producers having their own equipment.
It IS the way forward.
But not if greedy producers think that they'll be able to get the same amount of money just because they have a 251, 1073, some Apogee's and a computer at home.
I'm telling you, the corporate bean counters ain't going to let it happen. It's their job to save money and they'll be damned if a record sounds good or not.
They see:
Hit Factory - 10 days vocals - $20,000 (all inc. just for chuckles. I'm KNOW there's deals going on left, right and center but...)
Billy Bob - Pro Tools/Focusrite Platinum Voice Channel/Rode 'Vocal' Condenser (I mean even though, as we all know, the mBox actually HAS the 'really great' Focusrite pre's we still need something 'more PRO' right?) - $2,000
And then there's you...
Where do we fit in? Somewhere inbetween and you can pretty much gaurantee it's gonna have to be much closer to Billy Bob than previously thought comfortable.
OK, I gotta go...
Gonna go see 'Racing Stripes' (a film about a zebra that wants to be a race horse...) with my daughter now and she doesn't want to miss it.
And who can blame her?
As long as Girls Alound are on Top Of The Pops she's happy.
Come to think of it, I wonder where THEY did the vocals for those songs?
Take it easy...
R.