Am I Insane When it Comes to Gear?

[noah330]

I see a lot of threads about how people need to buy ten different preamps, 50 different LDCs, one person told me I "must own a ribbon".

Here's the deal - I work mainly at home and 90% of the time I'm recording guitars, bass, vocals and VIs.

I only have four pres - a UA 610 (the rack one), a Urei 7510 (12 channels), a Digitech VTP-1 (stereo - which sounds pretty good) and the pres in my DM-3200.

I have about 5 mics - 2 Mojave MA-200s, a MA-201, U87, SM-57 and something else that I can't remember.

I have a ton of cool guitars, basses and amplifiers. If I want a great acoustic guitar I grab one that fits - be it a 50s Martin, 60s Gibson, 70s Guild, or something new from Martin or the Gibson CS.

I have found all my pres and mics sound good on all my sources. Some sound better then others but there have been a lot of times I tracked an acoustic through the mic/pre that was setup for vocals because it was all setup - and it sounds fine.

I have found (and continue to find) that having great guitars and amps (and being able to sing and play well) is about 400x more important then having 50 different preamps to choose from.

Anyone else out there that has a decent collection of stuff but just doesn't really care what they're using as long as it's good quality?

I should also say that I am a staff writer for a big company and I do a lot of guitar tracking at home - and nobody is complaining about the lack of quality in my recordings (not that I'm Eddie Kramer or anything) but since I have stopped buying gear (and sold a bunch) I feel so friggin' liberated and my work flow is so fast and easy.

I love reading GS - I lurk a lot more then I post but does it just ever get mind numbing - I mean debating for hours on why some $200 piece of gear is as good as some $2000 piece of gear and why another $200 piece is better then both?

[Chrisc_o]

I'm sure that there are many people here who will agree with you (I *may* be one of them ).

Your arsenal of gear is a very personal thing: it is tailored to your workflow and sense of aesthetics. Don't let anyone tell you what you need to add to your gear set. Use your gear long enough and you'll be able to figure out what works, what doesn't, what needs to be replaced, what needs to be added...

That being said, it can be important to try out a variety of things to know just what your options really are, but in reality it's not THAT important, as long as you're satisfied with your results (or at least realize that your results will improve more with your level of knowledge and experience rather than a wider assortment of toys).

EDIT: adding to the thought...

99% of the time I will use the same LDC for vocals. 99% of the time I use that same mic for acoustic guitar. It also makes a great mono room mic, percussion mic, string mic, brass mic, kick mic, ....pretty much anything. I like to work fast when tracking and being able to trust a mic to be able to do this is key.

I'm not mentioning which mic it is because as I'm thinking about it, I used to do this with my former main mic and was also able to make it work on an array of sources. Probably has more to do with the monkey at the controls than the mic perhaps?

[noah330]

I mean, don't get me wrong. I graduated from Berklee as MPE/Music Synth - and I have worked on all the good stuff (I also played on some records that did ok and were recorded in great rooms) but for working at home for actual clients I simply don't have the time to figure out all this different stuff - or to keep up with the latest and greatest.

Give me a nice instrument, mic, pre and DAW (I use PTHD, DP7 and Nuendo) and I'm happy - I can get the job done and it will sound cool - and everyone will be happy.

I would think today with the client crunch that a lot of studios face that the focus would be on doing more with less - or at least getting the most out of what you have.

It seems like there are a million $200 - $500 boxes out there that people are dropping their money on. I just don't get it.

[soul&folk]

Here's the simple answer. You are right. The rest of us wish we had day jobs that allowed us to play more music and be able to own an arsenal of high quality guitars and amps and drums and time to be better musicians. But alas... we have day jobs... and thank God, families too that occupy the bulk of our lives.

So in our spare time at work, and when we're home when we can be in front of a computer but not in front of an instrument, we think about this stuff and it makes us feel more like the musicians we long to be ...

I think there's much truth in this.

[Jimbo]

Originally Posted by soul&folk

Here's the simple answer. You are right. The rest of us wish we had day jobs that allowed us to play more music and be able to own an arsenal of high quality guitars and amps and drums and time to be better musicians. But alas... we have day jobs... and thank God, families too that occupy the bulk of our lives.

So in our spare time at work, and when we're home when we can be in front of a computer but not in front of an instrument, we think about this stuff and it makes us feel more like the musicians we long to be ...

I think there's much truth in this.

You are not allowed to point this out in these forums, man!

Let me live my little, expensive fantasy in peace

[cdog]

Originally Posted by noah330

Anyone else out there that has a decent collection of stuff but just doesn't really care what they're using as long as it's good quality?

Yes. For those of us who are musicians, its important to focus on the music, People dont buy your music because you used XYZ mic pre or ABC compression.

[decocco]

Yes, most people on GS seem to be insane.

But seriously... why don't you have a ribbon mic?

[Eric Pederson]

Originally Posted by soul&folk

Here's the simple answer. You are right. The rest of us wish we had day jobs that allowed us to play more music and be able to own an arsenal of high quality guitars and amps and drums and time to be better musicians. But alas... we have day jobs... and thank God, families too that occupy the bulk of our lives.

So in our spare time at work, and when we're home when we can be in front of a computer but not in front of an instrument, we think about this stuff and it makes us feel more like the musicians we long to be ...

I think there's much truth in this.

Lol, yeah sorry guys but Ill come out of the gear closet here too.

I spend probably 10 times more time anally wrapping cables, yearning for an ergonomic and simple setup and workflow, and reading and replying on these forums than actually USING THE DAMN STUFF!!

I might be crazy too, but honestly sometimes my meager setup feels like an over expensive lego set

However, this forum also helps me slowly crawl towards my goal of having my first paying client and helping them record. And it helps me remember all the stuff I learned in super duper over-expensive recording school.

lol Thanks to OP for bringing this up, more power to you brother

[G-Spot]

Originally Posted by noah330

Anyone else out there that has a decent collection of stuff but just doesn't really care what they're using as long as it's good quality?

I only have to add, "as long as it sounds good".
I'm working with a guy who records vocals with a cheap mic, an even cheaper pre-amp, and a very cheap converter. When I get his tracks I say... "How the hell did you managed to record this with that???" Sounds great! I have better (and more expensive) mics, pres and converters, but I won't even try to remake the vocal track, the vibe is good and it sounds great!

[soul&folk]

One of these days, I really should sell off about $1000 worth of the recording gear I don't need or use often enough, then sell my not too bad Alvarez acoustic guitar, and buy a quite good acoustic guitar. I think I'll be a lot happier with the results on so many levels! But then what will I think about during my downtime at work? Maybe I should start reading books!

[Jimsi]

I am familar with my mics and preamps-guitars-amps as i am with my kids and know each and what they can do with each other... for slow and fast rock to blues to jazz...I have this feel for what I have and what it can do .... so...to answer your question, I dont own any ribbon mics...but i own tube and transformer and transformerless pres(they DO make a difference) and know what each does and how to use them (and still learning) as I do all else...clear now?..lol

[Bill@WelcomeHome]

You need to have what you need to have to get the job done.

I've been selling off stuff, because I retired and don't have a studio anymore... but I've got one hell of a nice music room. (probably $30k in mics.) it is stupid for me to haver all this stuff now, but it made perfect sense when I was in business.

But I do like quality, and I do tend to have more upscale stuff... no Pacific Rim guitars or mics, vintage guitars, amps, mics; mid-level converters (Mytek), good speakers (Dunlavy) and amp (Bel Canto) ..... if I only owned ONE tool, it would be a good one.

The love for various mic pres comes from the desire to have more sounds. If you owned a Neve console, you might still like to have the sound of a Gordon or Fearn or Forssell or....

[Eric Pederson]

Everyone on gearslutz is insane!!
dfegad

[thejwoshow]

Options are nice,but not required. I work in MUCH nicer studios than my home studio,so in my case,I'm constantly trying to "Catch up" to them with my own gear (I'm assuming alot of guys on here are in the same boat).

But to the OP,I concurr. People tend to get gear crazy and forget about the music (myself included).

[John N]

sounds like you've got your head screwed on straight. Then again you already have some great gear AND what sounds like a boatload of great old instruments and amps.

congrats!

jn

[popmann]

I have found (and continue to find) that having great guitars and amps (and being able to sing and play well) is about 400x more important then having 50 different preamps to choose from.

Agreed. Source first. Capture gear second. I've had 20+ mics through here, and far more rentals over the last couple decades...you know what records 90% of my tracks?

Royer 121.
Pair of Sm81s.
Sm7b.
Vintage Gefell UM70s.

In fact, at this point, I've sold off just about everything else. I have a vintage 414 for the occasional time I need a mid scooped mic (visiting singer or honky acoustic) or Hypercardioid pickup...and a 421 that is sometimes THAT amp sound for lead guitars that need to cut through a dense mix.

That's it. Preamps? UA LA610. Millenia Hv3. My Akai DPS24 pres--that are only used when I'm doing a session with more than a few live inputs. And, frankly, I'd love to have a channel or two of API 512c, as they are THE bomb on Egtr amps. Hard to justify a couple grand for something I KNOW is only going to improve one thing...and only a little.

I've used better mics--that cost the price of a small car...EACH. But, that rather modest mic closet and preamp collection is responsible for some of the highest fidelity recordings I've made here, OR in my past life in a commercial studio.

I really have considered add a pair of old 451s (or maybe replacing the 81s) since I got a nice piano in here...and, have always wanted a nice M269c for my voice...but, whatcha gonna do? Big money...small improvement.

Meanwhile, I've got a wall of guitars with hand wound PUs...Reinhardt, VVT, Fender, and a custom EL84 amps...a 1972 Hammond C3/122...a Yamaha U3...a computer full of really nice orchestral samples...racks of hardware synths collected over a quarter century...so, yes--source first.

[Eric Pederson]

Originally Posted by soul&folk

One of these days, I really should sell off about $1000 worth of the recording gear I don't need or use often enough, then sell my not too bad Alvarez acoustic guitar, and buy a quite good acoustic guitar. I think I'll be a lot happier with the results on so many levels! But then what will I think about during my downtime at work? Maybe I should start reading books!

Nah, that will take alot of work. Just PM me and I'll give you my shipping adress

[Eric Pederson]

Any longtimers pretty much using the same pre on everything? Or a console?

I would sell my soul for 16 tracks of Great River!

[John Paul]

All of the answers are correct and another reason which I haven't seen yet is this "the cheap gear really can sound good", and with a good song and musician it can be very good.

alas, we have come to the point in music production where the playing field has gotten much more level than it's ever been.

20-30 years ago if I guy wanted to start a small demo studio in his garage he was VERY limited with what was available with a modest budget, and the 4 track casseete, or fostex 1/4" 8 track never sounded close to a 2" studio.

These days, many of the big studios are gone and many of the pros that used to engineer in these places work out of their home. There has been a 180 degree turn.

Then you look at the music biz and recorded music is nowhere like it used to be (records stores closed, and many people don't buy music)

Record companies which had a tight control of the biz are irrevelant now, and there is no quarantee that their new model will ever work and they might just about be non-existent within 10 years except for a few players.

[Insomniaclown]

I spent a lot of time thinking about gear. Thinking that because I didn't have X mic or Y pre that I couldn't make good music. I actually stopped for a long time, without even thinking about it. I just stopped writing and recording. When all I had was a firebox and an Apex 435, I was writing and recording every freakin day. Didn't really give a crap about gear. Anyways, after I stopped writing and recording, which was just over a year ago, I started to get sick a lot. I even woke up one day with double vision, and have been battling eye problems for the last year, but I have started writing and recording again, and the battle is all but over. Music is so much more to me than gear or money.

My setup is modest, but good. I have been able to come to terms with it, and realize that I have the right gear to get a pro sound. No problem. Time to make music baby!

Well, not right now. I am at work. Stupid day job.

[Eric Pederson]

Originally Posted by Insomniaclown

I spent a lot of time thinking about gear. Thinking that because I didn't have X mic or Y pre that I couldn't make good music. I actually stopped for a long time, without even thinking about it. I just stopped writing and recording. When all I had was a firebox and an Apex 435, I was writing and recording every freakin day. Didn't really give a crap about gear. Anyways, after I stopped writing and recording, which was just over a year ago, I started to get sick a lot. I even woke up one day with double vision, and have been battling eye problems for the last year, but I have started writing and recording again, and the battle is all but over. Music is so much more to me than gear or money.

My setup is modest, but good. I have been able to come to terms with it, and realize that I have the right gear to get a pro sound. No problem. Time to make music baby!

Well, not right now. I am at work. Stupid day job.

Sometimes I feel like pent up melodies or songs are bad for me too! Mostly emotionally

[henryrobinett]

Originally Posted by cdog

Yes. For those of us who are musicians, its important to focus on the music, People dont buy your music because you used XYZ mic pre or ABC compression.

Yes. This.

[Dirk Parker]

Yeah - I only recently starting getting into recording/producing and all of this. Sometimes when I'm reading on here I get overwhelmed...

I've got the "talent" to write good songs, and perform them well - that's always come pretty easy -

BUT now I have to capture all of it (recording) so people can listen to my music whenever they want ... IT's HARD - And I WANT MORE GEAR - Because that seems to make this part easier AND better.

The talent IS definitely what matters most - and should be first on the list - but the Gear DOES help, a lot.

When I look at all the gear I want... I think it's more likely I'll get a record deal before I accumulate all the gear I wanna get...

Which isn't really a bad thing - I'm a musician first - then a learning producer/...blahblahblah - but Idk - Constantly aquiring more gear is addictive.

I do think I'll have a record deal ONE DAY ('tis a goal) - until then - it's learning from gear sluts, practicing, and making good music!

[Bill@WelcomeHome]

Originally Posted by Eric Pederson

Any longtimers pretty much using the same pre on everything? Or a console?

I would sell my soul for 16 tracks of Great River!

When I left my studio I took a John Hardy (2 ch), a Great River (2ch), a Midas XL42, and two channels of DataMix (vintage mic pres, like was in the original Electric Ladyland studios). A pair of clean, a pair of Neve-vibe, a pair of a live console with which I am intimately familiar and with great EQ, and a pair of something odd and cool.

I sold the Wall 'O' Amps, but I maintained a THD, Reverend, 1960s Vox and 1940s Valco/Silvertone guitar amps.

Many musicians are compulsive obsessive opinionated and decided. Once a guy decides that XX sucks, nothing will ever change his mind. Such a guy will buy a given amp and guitar and never use anything else for the rest of his life. And if you ask him, anything else is junk.

Other musicians are detail oriented (also obsessive) and constantly looking for better or more, or to achieve extra textures and sound differences. These guys might own 50 guitars, 50 amps, and constantly mix and match them to vary the sounds that they get.

That guy might understand that in recording, different mics, different pres, etc etc all bring additional colors to the sound canvas. But as has been shown in this thread, he also might not.


If you can't hear the difference among a group of microphones, or preamps or whatever, your monitoring system may be at fault. When you can hear the differences, then you can decide for yourself if these differences are worth the investment.

[Andysw]

For some people art is a never ending quest for excellence and not just a segment but the bigger picture.

Playing and singing with great instruments is awesome and will always be the primal force behind everything we do, but when you also apply the obsessive part of your brain that allowed you to figure out your instrument and achieve excellence to every other part of the recording process..

Well, you spend a lot of time thinking about it and sometimes this involves more money to get the sound you want.

Personally I don't understand the opposite point of view, that less is more.
Less is only more if you do something badly.
But if you want to master something you have to explore everything, even if it was only to discard it and move on with the knowledge that it didn't work.



i've been drinking beer.

[henryrobinett]

Let's say I have 400 good songs still in me. Maybe half have been basically written already but haven't been recorded. If I'm working hard between work, life and family I might have 10 hours a week to record. More or maybe less. It varies week to week.

If I'm limited in my gear, but yet it's top notch I might be able to record half of those tunes. Or I might get all of them. Maybe more, maybe a little less. But if I'm a curmudgeon and perfectionist and try out various mics and pres and compressors and DAWs and rooms, and amps and speakers to record a SINGLE GUITAR PART, for example, forget it. It'll take me 6 months to record one song and given my personality type, I won't be satisfied with THAT. Forget the other tunes. It'd be good if I get 6-10 song done.

My POV is to be prepared. Play my ass off. It starts in my mind and is realized in my fingers through my vision and my heart. I work hard on the musical part every day. THEN I have great, top notch gear to record it. It's not that I can't HEAR the difference between various pres and mics. I can. But I'll never stop, or start or continue if I allow that much confusion to enter into the creative process.

I see the choice of mics and pres, etc, less a part of the creative process. I see those more as creative DISTRACTIONS.

I use the ULN-8. I have some Millennia pres. I have a bunch of mics. I know what I like to use on acoustic guitar. Sometimes that mic is at my external studio and not at my home studio and I'm at home. So I grab what I have, which is still pretty good. If I play my ass off on the part, it doesn't matter so much. It's all about the music. It's all about the music. The music comes first. Almost everything else is a distraction.

[noah330]

Well, I'm usually on a schedule myself.

I get a project and I'm told, "we need four takes of three guitar parts on this by date X" or if it's for TV/film I need to work with an editor, make changes, etc....

Like I said, this is pretty much my full time thing - and I'm very comfortable in my meager room but I have pretty much figured out what works and I don't get complaints from the people I send masters (or parts) to.

I have also worked in a lot of great rooms and I have learned a lot by being recorded in those places and I know what sounds good - which I think is a big part of the battle.

For me, grabbing a different guitar or plugging into a different amp does more then changing pres. I have nice solid state pres and nice tube pres - and certain mics work better in a certain pre but I honestly am never out thinking about what I have to improve. I'm just thinking about getting stuff out the door.

[Bill@WelcomeHome]

Originally Posted by henryrobinett

I see the choice of mics and pres, etc, less a part of the creative process. I see those more as creative DISTRACTIONS.

Because you are not familiar with them. It is kinda funny to see you say this, given the guitar rig that you have.

It's almost like saying that having six strings is a distraction if you are only used to playing a tenor guitar with four strings. Or having a 120 piece orchestra available is a bad thing.

I agree that people go nuts with gathering effects that they then do not ever master. I have a couple of effects, one big package, and no desire to pick up another reverb, compressor, or eq... don't need them. (Though I would take the algorithmix plugs if offered because of their sound, but I ain't gonna buy them anytime soon.) I know how to use what I have. I know where to move a mic when I hear what I hear and what mic -I- want to use.... it is not experimentation, I've been doing this for years. So it is in no way a distraction, it is a creative decision based on experience.

[henryrobinett]

Well that's just right. I know them. I am familiar with them. But at a certain point I've got to shit or get off the pot.

I do a lot less tweaking than my gear might suggest. That's why I've invested in a few pieces of great gear I can rely upon.

I've gone through several years of RTFM, being stuck in the water, which added to little production. I'm not going to spin my wheels too much more auditioning mics and pres. I've got very good mics and great pres and conversion. I'm not interested in a fantastic variety of pres. Not interested. I've used plenty of Neve, Neve clones, API, Telefunken, Bottle, 47, 67, . . . I'm done with that. It's all about the music.

[henryrobinett]

But I've always been like this. I get my guitars and I don't shop for more. I get my rig and I don't shop. I have it so I use it. The only reason I got my present guitar rig, as you might recall Bill, was my other amps started crapping out.

Lately I have a friend who has been building me guitars. But I have my Strats, my Paul, my Gibsons, my Tele is on the way. I have my acoustics and a Bass. That's it for me, you know. I don't need no 'mo. I have my great converters, pres, comps, mics. That's it. I don't need no 'mo. They do the job. Is it possible I can find something better? Of course! Is it going to change the result of my music in any discernable way? I seriously, seriously doubt it. My gear is top notch and is going to sound great, if it is great, regardless. OK, I'm not using Realistic, Radio Shack gear, OK?