Quote:
Originally posted by covert
Jay, at this point it isn't a question of raising rates, since I haven't set any to begin with. You've drawn one line, but are cavilling at the idea that there might be another. You'd hesitate at a place with a Mackie and 3630's. What would be the base level at which you wouldn't hesitate? In some sense this is the reverse of the desert island gear question.
For example, here are lists from two local places. Knowing nothing else about them, which would you look into first?
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I would work at whichever of those places had the better mics, rooms, and the big one is whatever place I feel most comfortable at. I don't care what the gear and rooms are like. If the staff sucks and the enviornment isn't good I won't feel motivated to work. Based on the lists you posted, both of those rooms would be up to snuff for me. I would bring a few compressors to the first studio but only because a lot of the stuff they have is very similar.
What I really look for gear wise for is a good desk, at least 6 channels of non-sucky compressors (that aren't all the same or very similar) and at least two good effects boxes. If I'm tracking I' like to see at least 4 channels of good pres and then I'll use the desk for everything else and maybe bring a couple from my own stash if I really need to. But if I need to bring a lot of pres just to avoid the console, chances are pretty good that the console sucks like a Hoover and I wouldn't book the room in the first place. Honestly, I don't think I've ever booked a studio and not brought at least a few pieces of gear with me.
I'd say that 85% of the bands that book my place have no idea what the hell I'm using. Once in a while I'll have someone say "I've seen pictures of these before" but they STILL ask me what the Funk Logic Algorhythmic Prosecutor does and I just smile and tell them it's my secret weapon. The other 15% do know, care, ask questions and make suggestions on stuff. Those are also the same clients that I'll let sit at the console and turn knobs.
If you want to know what my "can't live without" pieces are, that's a whole other thing.