It's okay why pay to record when I can do it for free?

[Lori]

So it frustrates me the amount of bands locally, that will say " we need to record a demo, something, and we would like you to do it." Okay, let's talk budgets and money. Then later times goes by and nothing. Come to find one of the band members decides to do it himself, and go figure it sounds like s***! Then they are like, " So why pay you to have you record our band or anyone, if I can do it, and for free! and it sounds fine. It sounds awesome!" Gripes. No way? then what are we around for???????

[narcoman]

because it DOESNT sound fine and sooner or later they realise it.

I absolutely identify -
I was going to ask, how do people deal with these kinds of clients - the ones who come in and say "Hey, I just want you to record it because I don't have the time but I can totally do this all myself, I don't need your studio", as some kind of territorial-pissing alpha-male horseshit?
If they didn't need you, why are they there? If they're there, why are they bothering? I don't care, I just want to get the music down.
m@

[Lori]

Most of these guys just don't realize, it's great that your band is "awesome" but when people go to shows and they can't hear you. When people go on your myspace and they can't hear you clearly....cause everything sounds like crap. Why complain about the local music scene, and no one wanting to buy anything, when most of you guys don't care about the way you sound or want to put even a dollar to your recording????!!!! just venting. But i can't help but be upset every know and then with these people. I know everyone has these and some of you are fortunate enougth to work with more professional, high dollar people, but some of us are in places where the bands, the artists and the overall city want something for nothing, and expect to make money off of it. While i am at it.... even the ads that say " need sound person for _____. No pay. Need someone with lots of experience and resume." F U!!!!!........k. I am done. Thank you.

[BeerHunter]

I've seen this happen before. I used to be in the graphic design (trade show) business. In the late '90's everyone with Photoshop thought they could be a graphic designer. They would of course create horrible designs. Eventually it was realised that while they may have the tools, they do not have the skills so they began hiring graphic designers again. I am hopefull the music industry will see bands recording with proper studios once again after this trend runs full cycle.

[artbeat77]

I have heard others compare this phenomenon to the photography industry. There are hobbyists for the day-to-day, not really that important stuff, and then there are the professionals that get great shots, lighting and put together a great package. Both exist harmoniously. I think Bob Ohlsson said this, but I could be wrong.

[jeremy.c.]

Originally Posted by BeerHunter

I've seen this happen before. I used to be in the graphic design (trade show) business. In the late '90's everyone with Photoshop thought they could be a graphic designer. They would of course create horrible designs. Eventually it was realised that while they may have the tools, they do not have the skills so they began hiring graphic designers again. I am hopefull the music industry will see bands recording with proper studios once again after this trend runs full cycle.

That's a good point. I think it will run itself out and recordists at nice studios will come into demand again. I already have helped out a few friends who thought they were going to do it on their own and realized quickly they weren't getting the results they figured they should be getting. The "home studio" is still a fairly recent phenomenon so it may be a few years before a thicker line between "studios" and "laptops with Garageband" gets drawn.

[joelpatterson]

I think maybe the "line" will come down to "people who are serious about doing something that sounds decent" and "bascially hobbyists/or fools who can't tell/don't care."

[psycho_monkey]

Originally Posted by joelpatterson

I think maybe the "line" will come down to "people who are serious about doing something that sounds decent" and "bascially hobbyists/or fools who can't tell/don't care."

Definitely - I've done quite a bit recently for unsigned bands who came to the studios I work for (who've hosted some of the biggest acts in the world), and booked and paid for a "proper" recording.

Ok - there may be a few corners cut due to budget. But they go away very happy, with a great sounding product.

I saw one of these bands the other night at Bush Hall - they're not from London, but pulled a good couple of hundred people to the show, proper merch stall doing good business, etc etc. They're the sorts of bands who do well - the "we've got no money" brigade generally doesn't care enough, or aren't dedicated enough to work a bit of overtime or save up some beer money between them to get a good product. And as people have pointed out - they're the ones who lose out in the end.

[Tibbon]

I pay to have a professional pushing the buttons.
I pay to have someone (hopefully) better than me doing it.
I pay to have a second set of ears.
I pay so that I can focus on my instrument
I pay to use equipment I otherwise couldn't afford
I pay to have a room that's actually designed for audio
I pay for instruments to be available that I don't otherwise own
I pay for musicians that are better than myself
I pay for an environment that is non-distracting, unlike home
I pay to do it right.

Perhaps my parents instilled on me something that many other parents didn't. If something isn't worth doing right, then it isn't worth doing.

Budget vary. I figure out how many hours I think i'll need and then double it.

I'll pay damn good money for perfection in mastering. Zero flaws.

As a sales pitch: Keep a dentist drill around that you find somewhere online. Turn it on and ask them if they do their own dental work too.

All quality things cost the same. You either pay for it in having an inferior product, or having a product that is done right.

Then again, if a band doesn't get it, you probably don't want to work with them. Professionals understand this.