Do you lock the client out for the first few hours?

[Jules]

Do you ask em to stay out of your hair for a while?

Are they ever there when you first bring the tracks up?

[~ufo~]

Oh that's a good idea!

I should do that.

it's so disturbing when I'm focussing on a drum sound or something and the client's all like:

you're not gonna leave the keys this high in the mix are you ? those backings need to be higher. I don't think this is the vocal sound I'm after. The guitars really need to be wider......

[Simon Lomax]

Originally posted by ~ufo~
Oh that's a good idea!

I should do that.

it's so disturbing when I'm focussing on a drum sound or something and the client's all like:

you're not gonna leave the keys this high in the mix are you ? those backings need to be higher. I don't think this is the vocal sound I'm after. The guitars really need to be wider......

I get that too!!!!!! Which is why I do most of the mix without the clients present (although I discuss what they are after first), and then I can just tweak it with them.

Simon

[Dave Pensado]

I come from playing in bar bands up and down the east coast for 15 years, so I tend to miss the live audience. Unless the client is actually sitting at the console watching every move, I don't mind. I will usually test them early by making something sound really awful, and if they don't say anything we keep rockin'. I've only had to ask people to leave a couple of times, cause they were messin' with my vibe. But I truly think it is OK to get a couple of hours head start alone. When you finally get a reputation, they tend to love everything you do. The process is very individual, and what works for me might not work for you. Next time you want to clear the room, turn the air conditioning to freezing, turn the lights wide open, and cycle a beat that starts and stops at out of time wierd spots. Then excuse yourself to go pee, and when you come back 5 minutes later the room will be empty!

[Charles Dye]

Friggin' brilliant! Extreme yet subtle.

I knew I'd be learnin' something here.

[Jules]

The wisdom doth flow!!!!

[~ufo~]

Hey,

I've got it easier...

I'm in Holland, I can just tell 'em the coffee(read: weed)shop is closing in five minutes.......

and off they go...

[Charles Dye]

Originally posted by Labs
Youve never come back to a room with the AC turned back up, the lights dimmed, and a bandmember sitting in front of the console having turned off the beat ?

Labs

Then they really flunk the test + ya kick their ass out.

[Jules]

.... the horror........

[entropy]

Originally posted by Labs
Youve never come back to a room with the AC turned back up, the lights dimmed, and a bandmember sitting in front of the console having turned off the beat ?

Labs

or you return to find the guitarist has written a riff around the beat and wants to lay down some passes.

[toolstudio]

Originally posted by Labs
Youve never come back to a room with the AC turned back up, the lights dimmed, and a bandmember sitting in front of the console having turned off the beat ?

Labs

Ha,

that made my de-ja-vu today :-)

I always thought I only get the clients, who always solo/cut things.

I like to work alone or at least not discussing the first 2 hours to get a rough start to the track.
It doesn't matter as much for me if there are people behing/beside me as long as they don't kill my mood or the vibe with: mobile phones, Laptops,....
than I show them the lounge.

As I mix much in the HipHop/R&B area, you always have people (read as masses) in the control room hanging, smoking, chilling.

But at the end I serve customers, so
I don't have so much rules, unless they break my ba$%/s.


wolfgang

toolhouse studios, germany

[Extreme Mixing]

I actually like to have people in the room with me when I mix. It used to always be that way. Now that I do so much work in the box, I mostly work alone.

I did have one guy who wanted to sit right next to me, with his elbows on the console, watching my every move. That really creaped me out and after a few minutes, I told him that he would have to leave or sit on the couch, or something. It seemed to really hurt his feelings, but I just couldn't take it. He was too close and I just knew that i wouldn't be able to relax and have fun with his big ass in the middle of my space.

Another room where I worked had a very small control room. There was no place to hang out without being in the way. Excuse me, I need to get to the patchbay. Excuse me, I need to adjust the compressor. The owner was cool though. He changed the room around and put the console in the big room, and made the old control room an iso booth.

Steve

[MJGreene Audio]

Steve,
That must have been Blue Nile. What ever happened to them? I worked at the Bakery for 4 years and also over at Tiny Lights with Michael Momm.

Michael Greene

[Extreme Mixing]

Michael,

Blue Nile, like Tiny Lights and the Bakery, closed up. Stephan saw the writing on the wall when he couldn't decide what to buy, and decided to just rent DA-88s and ADATs when he booked sessions. He wouldn't buy Pro Tools, so I did. He is living in Thailand with his new wife, Angie. Big changes! Have you heard from Michael Momm?

What are you doing these days?

Steve

[MJGreene Audio]

Steve,
I sent you an email..
Talk with you soon,
Michael Greene

[Gie-Sound]

I like to give myself 2 to 4 hours headstart.
So I just tell the bandmembers/A&R that I will start round 1 o'clock. And start out at 11 myself...
And whenever I start to work on a new song (same day), I ask people to give me 15 minutes alone...