Becoming a father, and getting new gear!

[mr jkn]

Me and my girlfriend are expecting a new person in our household, late september!
This is the numero uno so I don´t know what to expect really. I guess we´re prepared.

Also, I have worked a year now on my new job at the university, so for the first time in a long time I have had the possibilities to update my private recording gear. No fancy updates, but everything sounds much better.

Check ot my new myspace-site where I promote my services:
MySpace.com - Bortom gott och ont - ljudproduktion - SE - Pop / Rock / Soul - www.myspace.com/bortomgottochontljudproduktion
..it´s in swedish, but the music speaks universally.

Well, I think it was a good idea to acquire some gear before the baby shows up..
I heard they can be expensive (?)

[mr jkn]

This isn´t a shameless plug for my bizniz, btw.

Great things are happening to me, just wanted to share my joy.

So, any tips for a first time dad? Will there be time any over music making?

[Tube World]

First suggestion; if you love her, marry her. Having the same last name as your child and wife just makes things fit nicer. It's more of a complete family commitment to each other. You both will always be bonded due to the child, and will always be in each other's life so why not?

Buy the gear you want now, later on it will be more difficult since she will have more of a say about what you get later on.

[kzkingsley]

Whoa. I can't think of a better reason to get married other than "Why not?".

[pjplayer]

well, i have no parenting tips, but i like the stuff on yer myspace. a nice guided by voices feel to some of it.

[mr jkn]

Mm, marriage, we haven´t thought about it that much! Maybe a cultural thing - Sweden is so damn secular these days. Most of our friends with children are not married - yet. We have been going steady for about 8 years now (I´m 30), so maybe it is time, as you guys put it, to tie the knot.

Anyone with name suggestions?! We dunno if it´s a boy or a girl, so we need to consider many alternatives! Any audio-related suggestions? Neve? (Poor child)

[Tube World]

Originally Posted by mr jkn

Mm, marriage, we haven´t thought about it that much! Maybe a cultural thing - Sweden is so damn secular these days. Most of our friends with children are not married - yet. We have been going steady for about 8 years now (I´m 30), so maybe it is time, as you guys put it, to tie the knot.

Anyone with name suggestions?! We dunno if it´s a boy or a girl, so we need to consider many alternatives! Any audio-related suggestions? Neve? (Poor child)

Name should be one that you and your girl friend find special and meaning to you.

[ddp]

Originally Posted by mr jkn

So, any tips for a first time dad? Will there be time any over music making?

I have two kids. At first they take most of your time and music can suffer. But it is not forever. My oldest (5 years) sings tracks on songs and is already working the transport on cubase when I am recording myself.

Talk about fun!!

Welcome to the great adventure.

[ddp]

Originally Posted by mr jkn

I heard they can be expensive (?)

If you are smart they don't have to be too expensive at first.
Find other families with older kids and you can get tons on used clothes and other kid stuff like strollers, cribs, high chairs etc.

Where I live there are lots of Garage sales where people sell this kind of stuff very cheap. Craigslist is also a great resource. You can look for Gear and Kids stuff at the same time

[ddp]

I almost forgot.

Congratulations!!!

[tsvisser]

Congratulations...

With a baby on the way, it is time to become more aware of you finances and stop spending so much money on gear. My girlfriend and I are using cloth diapers, which really helps the environment and of course diaper costs. You should look into them. They aren't just a rag with a safety pin that you might envision. The modern ones are quite convenient and are not much more difficult to use than disposables.

With that being said, you should start diverting your finances into other baby stuff... you know, like a baby monitor. I think the Neve 4081 would do nicely, because of its remote control capabilities. At first the baby will be pretty quiet, so a nice sensitive condenser mic would be appropriate - Sennheiser MKH 800 twin perhpas, so you can remotely mix down to different polar patterns, but as the levels start to rise, you might need to change over to a higher SPL and darker (to tame the highs) dynamic mic like an RE20.

[nukmusic]

big ups..

1st parenting tip: No Peanut Butter on the Preamps

[mr jkn]

Thank you for your congrats, and your insights!

We are thinking of naming the baby Ellen, after my grandma - if it turns out to be a girl. We have a hard time agree on boy-names.

I guess we are financially prepared for this. I´m just a bit unused to have a few extra bucks over for myself - bought a sm58 and an akg d112 yesterday. Taking my partner to Copenhagen in two weeks also. Should be fun.

[jude]

Originally Posted by tsvisser

With that being said, you should start diverting your finances into other baby stuff... you know, like a baby monitor. I think the Neve 4081 would do nicely, because of its remote control capabilities. At first the baby will be pretty quiet, so a nice sensitive condenser mic would be appropriate - Sennheiser MKH 800 twin perhpas, so you can remotely mix down to different polar patterns, but as the levels start to rise, you might need to change over to a higher SPL and darker (to tame the highs) dynamic mic like an RE20.

congratulations from me as well

[mr jkn]

Originally Posted by jude

congratulations from me as well

Thank you!

I´m really looking forward to this.

[mdjice]

Congrats and yes...DO BUY AS MUCH GEAR AS YOU CAN BEFORE SEPT!! lol ;)
and for a boy name why not: RUPERT!!!! loool

[Glenn Kuras]

Originally Posted by mr jkn

So, any tips for a first time dad?

As someone with a 18 year old daughter, (who is now going off to collage) enjoy EVERY MOMENT you can with your child. I swear 18 years seems like a long time to get to know you kids but REALLLLLLY it goes WAY to fast.


Good luck!!!!!!!!!


Glenn

[basstracker7769]

Congrats
I had my daughter about 3 years ago
And as far as her taking away time sure she does but time well spent
In fact as a new father I wrote 7 songs ( something i had never done before I had many ideas for years kicking around)
And completed my Personal studio
My daughter loves music loves coming in the studio So its a real pleasure to see her eyes light up when she comes in sees daddy at work
She loves to sing and dance and of course play her toy piano etc
I even bought her a Heil Pink microphone PR20 so one day very soon she will have her own to perform
Its in her blood as I would think most musicians attest to about their kids sharing their parents musicial interests
Trust me this child will bring you joy beyond your wildest dreams
And a ton of inspiration to your work
You will be a better musician for it

[seaneldon]

Congratulations!

I've told my ball and chain that one of me is enough. No offspring necessary. I would LOVE a tiny little assistant though!

You need one of these before you need any new equipment.

[rackdude]

It won't be too long till this thread gets moved to the moan zone....

[mr jkn]

Thank you again for your cheerful comments.

The tummy is getting bigger and bigger - well not mine! I was told a lot of men gain weight when their partners get pregnant, but I´ve lost four kilos!

[ddp]

Originally Posted by seaneldon

Congratulations!
I would LOVE a tiny little assistant though!

My 5 year old has already learned to work the transport on Cubase and has engineered his first session. (recording me on the talkbox)

He also has quite the ear already "Daddy the Bass it too loud"

[5thString]

Believe me, as long as you can get the kids (and wife ;) ) involved in your musical projects, you'll be able to buy some new gear. They do indeed cost quite a lot, but they take away more time than money from you.

Congrats!!