Justifying spending

ljona · 6th January 2012

I´m having hard time justifying buying new, better and more expencive gear.
And it sucks. My ability to track is good but my mixes are average and thats dragging me down. I guess I´m not dedicated enough to whatever it is to be whatever (should read as being "studio owner")
I have a place, instuments and semi pro gear and have the opportunity to buy
very good preamps but I´m torn what to do. It´s like, can I use the money better, in more useful way.

Come on and suck it up with me

Glenn Kuras · 6th January 2012

What's missing? What's lacking? Care to post a mix that you are not happy with?

ljona · 6th January 2012

Thanks for the interest. I guess the problem is the tendercy to compear you against the work of other and maybe I don´t know how to mix

I mean, there is some workflow and routine the pro have, first drums - tracks, find the right comps, verb, adjust low end whatever but I don´t have any.
It´s like fukcing ADHD mixing, lack of focus and a path which everything leads to. Like my life. And it shows in the mix.

"One thing you can´t, when you´re crippled inside"

Ain´t that the fukcing truth from the master of melodies and wit...

Glenn Kuras · 6th January 2012

Not sure if this will help you or not but I think this guy did a good job of laying things out. Not that there are any great secrets but may just get you out of your funk.
5 Minutes To A Better Mix: Mixing At Low Volumes - TheRecordingRevolution.com - YouTube

ljona · 6th January 2012

very nice thanks

aaeronn · 7th January 2012

My not so worldly, wise or sage advice

:

If you don't know what the problem is, don't spend any money on gear until you figure it out. You'll save yourself a lot of money, time, and grief by not blowing cash on gear that may not even be related to the issue. It's very easy to justify & rationalize buying gear (nothing wrong with picking up a cool new piece because it gives you something you don't already have though) - but don't do it thinking it will fix "the problem" when you don't have a clear idea of what the root cause is. Throwing gear at a problem hoping something will stick and magically fix it is an express train to frustration.

Don't mean to preach, but I've seen a few of my friends do this - wind up with a mountain of gear, still frustrated with their output, only to sell most of it, buckle down and dig in to learn what they were missing and come out on top at the end.

Zoom in on what you don't like about your mixes - focus on the bad so you can exorcise it. It takes time and persistence to stay focused enough (or develop the ability to focus in the first place) and develop a workflow that works for you.

good luck.

famousbass · 7th January 2012

It's not always about you.

If you don't buy the gear, the depressed guy who has to get up in the morning and man the audio shop/website has to justify to the boss why he didn't sell something when it's wages time.

Joe Haze · 7th January 2012

I hope we all strive to get better, especially with the "art" of mixing.

My first bit of advice is to establish a mixing template and a basic set of steps to follow not with the creative stuff, but with the basic nuts and bolts.
I will import tracks, make unnecessary stereo tracks mono, tune vocals, add fades then import my FX templates, then I start to get a balance with no eq or processing..

Setup an easy A/B situation so you can play something you think is mixed well agents your mixes.

choukette · 7th January 2012

"I´m having hard time justifying buying new, better and more expencive gear.
And it sucks."

nope

that just means consumerism is no more for you

that just means you don't need any more new gear to secure you

you are free now.

enjoy your new life

kafka · 7th January 2012

I'm having a hard time justifying spending, although that's a good thing. The more time I spend just listening carefully, the better I'm able to get results from my existing gear. The stock PT compressor is a good example. Lately, it's become my go-to ITB compressor for all except a few functions. By just tweaking carefully, I've been able to get better results than I was able to with just about any ITB tool I've used. It just doesn't make any sense to invest in anything other than signal chain at this point.

kennybro · 7th January 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by choukette

that just means consumerism is no more for you

that just means you don't need any more new gear to secure you

you are free now.

enjoy your new life

Agreed. Pull everything out of what you already have, and then add new "better" pieces very judiciously. It sounds like you might be very discriminating about gear, and you view marketing BS with a jaundiced eye. You don't seem to believe that a new expensive pre is going to magically send you to audio nirvana. Focus on the art, the work, and Rejoice!

piano · 7th January 2012

I'm a professional musician. 20 years ago I decided to ALWAYS buy the best I could afford.

I think Glen posted because the cheapest piece of gear you can get to improve recording is ------ yep, acoustic treatment. I have 130V DPA's, C12, 47, 414, Royer Ribbons... ect with all the high end pres - yada yada. As I found, no matter how good the mics are a non treated room just sounds bad.

It's not sexy, has no lights but it will give you the sound!

ljona · 8th January 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by choukette

"I´m having hard time justifying buying new, better and more expencive gear.
And it sucks."

nope

that just means consumerism is no more for you

that just means you don't need any more new gear to secure you

you are free now.

enjoy your new life

I like your take on the matter and it´s true, consumerism is not my
strongest point and in fact I like the idea of making of what you have.
But then again when I´m in the position of jusing this gear daily and liking it
it´s hard not to suck in and buy it. I´ll be paying for it of money I get/got from working on projects so I´m not really "bleeding" here.
Thanks for the point. Really good and valid.

ljona · 8th January 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by piano

I'm a professional musician. 20 years ago I decided to ALWAYS buy the best I could afford.

I think Glen posted because the cheapest piece of gear you can get to improve recording is ------ yep, acoustic treatment. I have 130V DPA's, C12, 47, 414, Royer Ribbons... ect with all the high end pres - yada yada. As I found, no matter how good the mics are a non treated room just sounds bad.

It's not sexy, has no lights but it will give you the sound!

I´ve been looking at improving my room and understand it´s something I have to do. Thanks.

ljona · 8th January 2012

The gear in question is SCA with 2 C84, 2 N72 and 4 empy slots for what could be the
A12b. I like the idea of 3 different colors. I´ve worked with Api 3124+ and it made me want something different from my Presonus Digimax.
Being able to use the AEA R92 also made a difference.
I couldn´t care less using my Behringer ADA8000 for A/D - it´s a good unit - ´cause the main difference for me lies in the preamps. For now.

ljona · 18th January 2012

Well, the agony is over. I´ve decided to go with the SCA and will order 4x a12b in february.

On a side note I gave my dad a ´82 Fender Jass Bass he always wanted.
Took him by surprise which was nice. He´s been playing for 20 years in his
bedroom and it was a time he got some decent instrument.
We should treat our fathers while we can

I quess this isn´t a moan then

6th January 2012	#1
ljona Gear nut Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 105 Thread Starter	Justifying spending I´m having hard time justifying buying new, better and more expencive gear. And it sucks. My ability to track is good but my mixes are average and thats dragging me down. I guess I´m not dedicated enough to whatever it is to be whatever (should read as being "studio owner") I have a place, instuments and semi pro gear and have the opportunity to buy very good preamps but I´m torn what to do. It´s like, can I use the money better, in more useful way. Come on and suck it up with me

6th January 2012	#2
Glenn Kuras Gear Guru Joined: Jul 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 11,995	What's missing? What's lacking? Care to post a mix that you are not happy with? __________________ Glenn Kuras GIK Acoustics USA GIK Acoustics Europe 770 986 2789 (USA) +44 (0) 20 7558 8976 (UK) See the NEW Scopus Tuned Trap

7th January 2012	#10
kafka Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 4,267	I'm having a hard time justifying spending, although that's a good thing. The more time I spend just listening carefully, the better I'm able to get results from my existing gear. The stock PT compressor is a good example. Lately, it's become my go-to ITB compressor for all except a few functions. By just tweaking carefully, I've been able to get better results than I was able to with just about any ITB tool I've used. It just doesn't make any sense to invest in anything other than signal chain at this point. __________________ - It looks just like a Telefunken U47 - with leather. You'll love it ... - Jazz is not dead - it just smells funny. - It doesn't make much difference how the paint is put on as long as something has been said. Technique is just a means of arriving at a statement.

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7th January 2012	#6
aaeronn Gear addict Joined: Nov 2006 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 370	My not so worldly, wise or sage advice : If you don't know what the problem is, don't spend any money on gear until you figure it out. You'll save yourself a lot of money, time, and grief by not blowing cash on gear that may not even be related to the issue. It's very easy to justify & rationalize buying gear (nothing wrong with picking up a cool new piece because it gives you something you don't already have though) - but don't do it thinking it will fix "the problem" when you don't have a clear idea of what the root cause is. Throwing gear at a problem hoping something will stick and magically fix it is an express train to frustration. Don't mean to preach, but I've seen a few of my friends do this - wind up with a mountain of gear, still frustrated with their output, only to sell most of it, buckle down and dig in to learn what they were missing and come out on top at the end. Zoom in on what you don't like about your mixes - focus on the bad so you can exorcise it. It takes time and persistence to stay focused enough (or develop the ability to focus in the first place) and develop a workflow that works for you. good luck.

7th January 2012	#7
famousbass Lives for gear Joined: May 2011 Location: Sydney Posts: 1,131	It's not always about you. If you don't buy the gear, the depressed guy who has to get up in the morning and man the audio shop/website has to justify to the boss why he didn't sell something when it's wages time.

7th January 2012	#8
Joe Haze Gear nut Joined: Oct 2011 Location: Utah Posts: 131	I hope we all strive to get better, especially with the "art" of mixing. My first bit of advice is to establish a mixing template and a basic set of steps to follow not with the creative stuff, but with the basic nuts and bolts. I will import tracks, make unnecessary stereo tracks mono, tune vocals, add fades then import my FX templates, then I start to get a balance with no eq or processing.. Setup an easy A/B situation so you can play something you think is mixed well agents your mixes.

7th January 2012	#9
choukette Gear maniac Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 292	"I´m having hard time justifying buying new, better and more expencive gear. And it sucks." nope that just means consumerism is no more for you that just means you don't need any more new gear to secure you you are free now. enjoy your new life

7th January 2012	#12
piano Lives for gear Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,367 1 Review written	I'm a professional musician. 20 years ago I decided to ALWAYS buy the best I could afford. I think Glen posted because the cheapest piece of gear you can get to improve recording is ------ yep, acoustic treatment. I have 130V DPA's, C12, 47, 414, Royer Ribbons... ect with all the high end pres - yada yada. As I found, no matter how good the mics are a non treated room just sounds bad. It's not sexy, has no lights but it will give you the sound!

8th January 2012	#15
ljona Gear nut Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 105 Thread Starter	The gear in question is SCA with 2 C84, 2 N72 and 4 empy slots for what could be the A12b. I like the idea of 3 different colors. I´ve worked with Api 3124+ and it made me want something different from my Presonus Digimax. Being able to use the AEA R92 also made a difference. I couldn´t care less using my Behringer ADA8000 for A/D - it´s a good unit - ´cause the main difference for me lies in the preamps. For now.

18th January 2012	#16
ljona Gear nut Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 105 Thread Starter	Well, the agony is over. I´ve decided to go with the SCA and will order 4x a12b in february. On a side note I gave my dad a ´82 Fender Jass Bass he always wanted. Took him by surprise which was nice. He´s been playing for 20 years in his bedroom and it was a time he got some decent instrument. We should treat our fathers while we can I quess this isn´t a moan then