[djui5]

Originally Posted by Rodney Gene

...How dare anyone be talented or experienced enough to do that...!!

Actually some people enjoy the creative process in all of those areas...and ...they are often the best choice for the job.

And then you have those who argue that the individual processes 'suffer' because someone is wearing too many hats...then the flip coin is that the person enjoys wearing the hats and can pull it off because love it, they are skilled and they are happy with the results ...but someone then complains or argues that the individual process suffers because someone is wearing too many hats...

...then the flip coin is that the person enjoys wearing the hats and can pull it off because love it, they are skilled and they are happy with the results...but someone then complains or argues that the individual process suffers because someone is wearing too many hats...

...then the flip coin is that the person enjoys wearing the hats and can pull it off because love it, they are skilled and they are happy with the results...but someone then complains or argues that the individual process suffers because someone is wearing too many hats...

I see your point.

I personally wouldn't ever discourage anyone wanting to experience the process of several creative roles if they had a vision and the moxy to see it through There is just too much talent in the world....(despite the sentiments of some)

I agree, but not all at the same time. "don't bite off more than you can chew", "My eyes are bigger than my stomach"
I have seen it many times, producers trying to do too much at once. It's a lot of work to focus on production (even if you've done proper pre-production) in the studio while doing all the Engineering, then mixing the record (a lot of producers are great at mixing, I'm not discrediting them), and even possibly mastering it too? Then I've seen some play parts on the record, re-write songs or re-arrange songs. They don't just do it on one session, but every record they deal with. It's sickening to me personally. It's one thing if your doing everything in your bedroom studio making demos or getting started, but making professional records this way? I disagree. It's too much work and one looses focus on the important things. I personally think it does more harm than good.

Then it gives this "producer" leverage for not only his producer points, but engineering fee's, mixing fee's, songwriting credits and mechanical royalties, publishing rights, studio rental fee's if the producer owns his/her own studio, storage fee's, mastering fee's. See the greed? That's what annoys me. It's just plain greedy.

I can understand the love and passion for the industry. I have it too. I'd love to play drums, play keyboards, play percussion and bass guitar, record and mix, and be a producer on top of owning my own studio. For God sakes, find a place and stick your butt there. There's no way I could do all those tasks, and do them at my best. I don't see the sense in half assing something just to get a lot accomplished. Not only is it bad for me and my stress level, but it DOES NOT serve the client/record well in the end.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying we need someone to do every little nitpicking thing in a studio. A band, a producer, an Engineer and his assistant is all you really need to make a record. I never fully understood the Pro-Tools op position as the Engineer should be ample for this task, but whatever. It's a throwback to the old tape-op position which is somewhat understandable.

If you do use outside help you better find the right folks for you....I have recently had material mixed...and material mastered by 'professionals' in thier field...it was a genuine waste of time and cash. All of it needed to be redone and taken to someone else or do it ourselves to get it done right.

This happens, quite often in this industry, and it's always sad to hear about it.

The bottom line for me is that there just isn't one right way to do anything...and if you are locked into a set of unmoldable standards you will suffer in your rigidness and find yourself with less clients and less options.

I agree entirely. Breaking the mold if envigorating and advances technology, techniques, and the human race entirely. What I'm talking about is taking on more of a workload than one person should, not whether that person should pursue alternative avenues of work. I think it's great to "explore your options". I certaintly have done my fair share of different job titles. Cook, drywall finisher, painter, auto-mechanic, building computers, building web-sites, playing instruments, handyman duties, and now I'm a Recording/Mix Engineer. I found that focusing on one thing, and doing that one thing the best you can is what works for me personally.

I eat at home everday for all meals because I love my own cooking and most restaurants fall short of my expectations... I know just how much seasoning I like.

But on occassion I want something unique or something I can only get from an outside cook of another's experience.

Sure there alot of 'do it yourselfers'...but I wouldn't judge too harshly Randy, this is a small world bro and there is a ton of cool folks in it.

There are a ton of cool folks in it. I'm not trying to piss anyone off, just making a point. I think it would serve the industry well if these "do it all" people focused a little more on one or 2 tasks at a time. Who is really benefiting from someone who does everything on a record? Certaintly not the artist or the album IMO. It's all about the producer doing it. It's their "big night on the silver screen".