What hapened to the dream, Mr Dye??

[Hans Hitmachine]

When you started out didn't you (like most of us) wanted to have a big console, with tape machines everywhere and lot's of outboard gear with the looking phat mod?

With all respect, but it's hard to believe if someone says "All I wanted was a computer and Ricky Martin in the vocal booth".
So did you have a "dream studio", or did you only care for the best (in your eyes, I disagree) way of recording music, from the first day on?


Regards,

Hans H.

[Charles Dye]

Please call me Charles, Hans. And with no disrespect intended to you, I feel these discussions really aren't very productive. I'll be glad to answer your question, but I'd prefer not to have a circular conversation we'll never reach agreement on.

When I started out SSL's + Sony 48 trks were on the cover of Mix mag every month. Sure, I wanted to work in the big rooms, with the big boards. Who didn't in the '90's? But it was not my love for expensive gear or posh studios that attracted me to record making, it was my love for music. And that love was what lead me to build my first project studio, realizing that it would allow me to express myself as an engineer + producer with more control over my work.

This might be heresy around here, but it's not the gear that gets me off, it's the results. One of the most exciting things for me is listening back to a song that I mixed or produced and loving how it sounds. For me, knowing that I contributed to that is an unmatched feeling.

If a keyboard, screen + trackball got me there. Whatever. My dream has always been to create music.

[djui5]

Damm.......If that's not inspiration I don't know what is...nice reply Charles.

[Hans Hitmachine]

Thanks for your reply. I didn't want to start a discussion about the same old topic an I bet I could learn a lot from you, I just wonder about things like that.

[Curve Dominant]

posted by Charles:
My dream has always been to create music.

RIGHT ON!!!

[alphajerk]

Originally posted by Charles Dye
If a keyboard, screen + trackball got me there. Whatever. My dream has always been to create music.

this was my entire reason to get into recording... and of course for years was seduces by the large console control rooms. then i worked in them and all the sudden i had this depression of not having my computer right there as my main source to work on. it was like seeing this HOT HOT HOT chick and wanting to get on her, then when you do... you just find out shes a deadfuk in bed.

romance about large consoles.... nah.

[Hans Hitmachine]

That's exactly what I mean, that moment when you realize it's not what you thought it was. A big bummer, interesting from a psycho point of view.
I must say I have the deepest respect for you all.
I'm a musician too, heart and soul, and the only reason I went into soundengineering was because having a cool studio with big consoles and tape recorders was a cool thing to have and of course because I loved the sound coming from these beasts (let's not argue, please:).
But, if a studio would have been nothing more than a mac and a microphone, I would have found it extremely boring and let someone else do the job and focus on my music only.
I thought recording was boring untill I saw an MCI console for the first time.
Bad attitude? I guess so, but that's the way it goes.
Of course, that is just in the beginning, later on you realize that there's much more to recording and that the most interesting part of it isn't the gear.
Although I've kept my love for gear that breaks down every session, some people don't and it's an interesting turning point when you realize you don't want to all these things you thought were so cool... just what Alpha jerk says.

[Curve Dominant]

posted by alphajerk:
it was like seeing this HOT HOT HOT chick and wanting to get on her, then when you do... you just find out shes a deadfuk in bed.

romance about large consoles.... nah.

Yo dawg,

That's an interesting analogy.

[Curve Dominant]

posted by Hans:
if a studio would have been nothing more than a mac and a microphone, I would have found it extremely boring

Yo Hans,

Good brother, you really oversimplify the scenario.

Many/most DAW studios run by the more serious among us, although absent the SSL and 2" reel machine, have all the same stuff as your trad rooms. Or at least much of it.

Personally, I need tube mic pres going into PT. Vintage/semi-vintage compressors are nice too. I will ALWAYS be collecting that stuff.

Some sort of tracking console is still needed.

Not to mention lots of good instruments and amps for visiting musos to play.

A room with some usable ambience will always be optimal.

We're not all simple mouse-wankers here.

[alphajerk]

Originally posted by Hans Hitmachine
Although I've kept my love for gear that breaks down every session, some people don't and it's an interesting turning point when you realize you don't want to all these things you thought were so cool... just what Alpha jerk says.

i think it realyl comes down to what you feel most comfortable on... and quickness of working. PERSONALLY, when i am tracking [being a musician] i hate being taken "out of the moment"... especialyl waiting for a rewind. so as an engineer, i love being able to pound the artist in the live room with instant locations for ODs or whatnot... or just simply moving quicker through setting stuff up. it just ended up working best for ME that way. i never really was into the paranoia of a 5th take of a 5 minute song running the tape towards the 30 minute mark and HOPING it fit.... and that happened more than i would like, especially when the band went off in a new direction and the song kept going... now i dont have that paranoia.... now mine is "dont crash! dont crash!" in some sort of mantra that keeps the vibe alive.

[alphajerk]

Originally posted by Hans Hitmachine
But, if a studio would have been nothing more than a mac and a microphone, I would have found it extremely boring

and isnt their something romantic about that as well? just a mac and a microphone...

[Hans Hitmachine]

Well, yes. You got a point, Alphajerk and Curve dominant:)

[De chromium cob]

Originally posted by Charles Dye

This might be heresy around here, but it's not the gear that gets me off, it's the results.

He's a WITCH! Burn him at the stake! Only satan himself could cause such blasphemy to be spoken here on gearslutz!


Sorry Charles, but to see if you're really a witch, we'll have to put you on the scale to see if you weigh the same as a duck....(I get all my scientific info from Monty Python movies.....)

[Charles Dye]

[De chromium cob]

Originally posted by Charles Dye

I knew it!

[Charles Dye]

[Hans Hitmachine]

Real witches don't need protools! It's a fake! Burn the fake witch!

[Morningstar]

Sorry to break up this little chat, but I have to ask what is obviously the REALLY important question here:

What the hell does the witch say when she gets off of the wooden scale thing?????? Would a kindly Briton please chime in?

You know the scene. After being left dangling in the air, this caused by being outweighed by the foul, our witch says something in parting. Sounds like "It's not fair a cob" or whatever the hell....

[Hans Hitmachine]

Oh dear. Anyone? Good question man.

[De chromium cob]

She says- "It's a fair cop."