The biggest "wow" effect

[Maber]

An Amek Mozart desk! when I as a student, used only to semi-pro stuff and poor control rooms, did some recording in a proper studio. WOW what a difference....

[Reptil]

impossible to answer.
IME the whole thing just moved with steps from to
it starts at a good source/player, but doesn't end there.
a good idea and musicianship will make a great song, but good gear and engineering qualities can help to get a great tone in the end result.

[reid]

You've missed possibly the no.1 option in your poll - acoustic treatment.

Gets my vote every time....

[The Byre]

A line on the desk and a dead prositute under the piano.

[AllAboutTone]

A Studer 089 pre /eq on a bass guitar or vocals, but still the bass thru 089s is something ive never heard before except on a very few records.

2nd would be a session player.

[Protools Guy]

The end result.

[preben]

Re-discovering the Telecaster

[macr0w]

I love my gear and love to go see other people studios. But so far it has been some of the players I have seen that make me really say wow.

[JonCraig]

the talent in front of the mic matters infinitely more than any talent (or lack thereof) behind the mic.

players all the way, baby.

--jon

[ntimkovich]

to me, gear is substantially different than the player. (i mean, is a session player considered "gear"?)

the first time i worked in a treated, accurately built tracking room, i was BLOWN AWAY. such a tremendous difference in recording quality!

but truthfully that doesn't compare to the "wow" i felt when seeing some really great players put on their instruments. i just don't think "players" and "gear" are in the same category.

just my thoughts, yo.
nick

[Kenny Gioia]

Talent will continue to amaze me.

Great players just make our job soo much easier. A pleasure. But many great records have been made with mediocre players. We just have to work harder.

The one thing I can't overcome is a bad recording room. I'll always PAY for a great drum room.

I can cut corners just about everywhere else.

[Jamzone]

When listening to my new 8050's in my newlybuilt controlroom... Wow... separation, intimacy!


///Jamzone

[RainbowStorm]

Thanks for voting!

[Bob Ross]

I'm not sure what you mean about causing the biggest "wow" effect in your career... I've seen some studios that made me say "wow" due to their extravagence/oppulence. I've heard some audio playback that made me say "wow" on a number of occasions (not sure if that was due to the playback equipment, the room acoustics, the source material, or all three).

But the thing that's made me say "wow" most often is inspired, talented musicians playing excellent material. The ability to recognize that this is a #1 priority has probably had a positive effect on my career.

Did I answer the question?

[big country]

I guessed with session player , did I get an A

[JonCraig]

i think it's important to note that, at least as of now, all the gear options COMBINED have a smaller percentage than either player or room. food for thought when you're thinking about where to spend money. but a preamp? or pay for GREAT players on the record. i know which i'd pick.

cool thread! thumbsup

--jon

[Musiclab]

Originally Posted by The Byre

A line on the desk and a dead prositute under the piano.

This may be the greatest answer I've ever read on Gearslutz!

[16/44.1]

No gear, just my hands, skills, ears and brains.

[chetatkinsdiet]

I wasn't really sure if I answered correctly as I chose "sound source". I didn't choose "session player" as I took this to mean a professional session guy. That's not what I was thinking. So, for me, the biggest thing is guys that can really play. Take a guitarist that really has great tone...it's really hard to mess it up. You can literally stick a 57 anywhere near the amp and it's going to sound good. Get it in the right general area and it sounds great. Get it set in just the right spot and you get magic.
That's the biggest wow factor ever. Great talent makes everyone sound better, even the engineer.

m

[Forkleg]

Originally Posted by preben

Re-discovering the Telecaster

...just bought a new 52' reissue...beautiful!

[mikey]

thats easy..the UA 1176 and the LA2a

[yeloocproducer]

Just saw a young guitarist (20?) last night who had the "wow" factor and reminded me of how aptly named the "game of inches" is (diminishing returns) that we deal with in pro-audio most of the time. He reminds me of a young Gilmore/ Frusciante/ Ribot... incredible. You could have recorded him on an answering machine and known he was just killing it.

Option B: player

[Jamzone]

Pay for GREAT players and PLAY in a good sounding room... That's what dreams are made of!!



///Jamzone

[sneezebomb]

For myself, the biggest WOW factor currently in my studio is the smell. Like my girlfriend walks in and says, "Damn, someone has been layin' down the FUNK in here!" Thankfully (kind of) i don't rely on my studio for income.

Oddly enough, when i was in high school and my band was going to a real studio to record our first demo tape, the major WOW factor in that joint was also the odor. Whole place smelled like rotten eggs. One of the other bands we knew had just recorded there a month prior and had warned us about it. Still, we were a little unprepared for the real thing.

Of course, my studio doesn't smell nearly as bad as that one did... but then again, that guy was a pro.

[Jim vanBergen]

Interesting thread. My clients seem to think that our relationship is the single item they can't live without. Guess I should be glad we're not dating.