Is the "project room" / mid-sized studio dead?

[centurymantra]

Inspired by the recent thread asking if the Big Studios are dead, I've decided to raise up this question for debate. In that thread, several folks note that they think the smaller project studio type of rooms are defunct due to availability of gear and proliferation of band-mate/engineers.

I've spent a few years developing a studio space. It is based in my house, but it is decidedly not a bedroom. It's a back addition that is an entirely seperate space from the house with it's own entry and such that does give it a little more of a studio feel. I've got a pretty nice selection of gear and, though I'm no master engineer, have a pretty good ear and am capable of producing a nice product...most of the time anyway.
I've found it somewhat difficult pulling in projects and have reached a sort of crossroad. I'm not looking to make a lot of money as I do this more for personal enjoyment and artistic satisfaction. That being said, I still feel like I need things happening in the studio to justify it's existence. My own projects are sort of few and far between and don't really justify it. I was getting around to finalizing and putting some final touches on my setup....a couple specific mics, a proper hard disc recorder...even looking at getting a used Radar unit. Suddenly...for reasons both personal and financial, I've started thinking about just bailing on the studio, selling off the gear and just putting it aside. The notion that the type of room I'm operating may be irrelevant merely pushes me in this direction. I haven't totally made my mind up on this, and am wondering if folks out there think the 'mid sized' room is a pointless endeavour. There's a link to my studio in my signature you can look at to see what type of room I'm referring to.

[ajcamlet]

i really dont think so. But then, it really depends on how we all define the parameters of the "project" studio or Mid size.

[centurymantra]

Originally Posted by ajcamlet

i really dont think so. But then, it really depends on how we all define the paramers of the "project" studio or Mid size.

Yes...this is quite true. That being said, I would consider your studio to be a little closer to a 'real' studio. I guess I think of the mid-sized "project" studio as something closer to my setup. Probably home-based, part time and operated on the side. Decent space, though possibly not a "great" space. I don't know, I guess it is an ambiguous concept.

[ajcamlet]

i suppose it is Bryan.

I guess it may depend on your operating budget/finances, or perhaps the amount of work you do, with whom, and for whom. I think we can all agree that Studios like what was the Hit Factory, and the Record Plant, Sear Sound, are certainly *not* . The middle seems very wide to me- thats why i really dont think these rooms are dead at all. Bands/Artists generally go thru the whole "I can do this myself and save a crap load of $$". they then proceed to get bogged down for years since they keep re-inventing the wheel- cannot make decisions and then lose focus. Usually, they end up scrapping all or part of this, or pull in a pinch hitter to re-group. This whole process usually happens just once, and then they realize that the amount of time they spent does not equate the perceived amount of savings

[balanceman]

I am building a new room in oakland. It will be in a 2000sf freestanding building. I have hired a studio designer/acoustician well known in the recording world for his designs. I am hoping that there are enough freelance engineers out there who appreciate the necessity of a great tuned room and monitor system.

More and more, I see folks doing most of the work @ their home studio + bringing files to my place (commercial, ghetto studio ina warehouse) to do the final sweetening/mixing/mastering/whatever.

My room right now probably isn't much better than what they have in their house, but I keep a lot of good outboard around and have a few sets of speakers.

I see this as a good studio model for the future. If you can offer things that can't be found in a computer or purchased on a visa, then you have something to sell.
If you have a lot of recording credits or maybe even a hit song or have been in a band with any popularity, then you can sell your personal skills as well.

[not_so_new]

Originally Posted by centurymantra

Inspired by the recent thread asking if the Big Studios are dead, I've decided to raise up this question for debate. In that thread, several folks note that they think the smaller project studio type of rooms are defunct due to availability of gear and proliferation of band-mate/engineers.

I've spent a few years developing a studio space. It is based in my house, but it is decidedly not a bedroom. It's a back addition that is an entirely seperate space from the house with it's own entry and such that does give it a little more of a studio feel. I've got a pretty nice selection of gear and, though I'm no master engineer, have a pretty good ear and am capable of producing a nice product...most of the time anyway.
I've found it somewhat difficult pulling in projects and have reached a sort of crossroad. I'm not looking to make a lot of money as I do this more for personal enjoyment and artistic satisfaction. That being said, I still feel like I need things happening in the studio to justify it's existence. My own projects are sort of few and far between and don't really justify it. I was getting around to finalizing and putting some final touches on my setup....a couple specific mics, a proper hard disc recorder...even looking at getting a used Radar unit. Suddenly...for reasons both personal and financial, I've started thinking about just bailing on the studio, selling off the gear and just putting it aside. The notion that the type of room I'm operating may be irrelevant merely pushes me in this direction. I haven't totally made my mind up on this, and am wondering if folks out there think the 'mid sized' room is a pointless endeavour. There's a link to my studio in my signature you can look at to see what type of room I'm referring to.

I am thinking of opening the exact same type of room as you have there balanceman. The way I look at it is

1) I LOVE recording and have been doing it for a long time so I know a thing or two about it.

2) My gear is very nice and all paid for, well I have a $1000 or so on a credit card but I could pay that off quickly enough.

3) I will not be paying anything monthly for the room. The build is going to come out of my own pocket, maybe a small loan but that is tied to the house value anyway so I am not losing much if anything on the space and an extra $75 a month for the addition is no big shakes.

The point is if you love doing it, you are good at it and the stuff is paid for it does not hurt to do a project here or there right? Eventually if you are good enough you might find more and more business coming your way and you might even have to turn some of it down. The better your work the harder it is for clients to justify doing it all themselves.

I know a few friends that are building their own stuff. One good friend of mine finally realized the other day that learning to record is like learning to play an instrument and he really does not want to spend the time on it. He still loves his little rig for flushing out song ideas but he really wants to take these songs to a real studio to let them deal with it. I think many musicians are going to come to this conclusion at some point when they can't get their product to sound like the big boys.

As far as the mid sized room being dead, I totally disagree. I disagreed on the thread where it was brought up as well. I think as ajcamlet said it depends on your definition of "project room," it depends on your monthly nut, it depends on your ability to get new work and your demo reel, it depends on your location, it depends on allot of things.

To say categorically that "all rooms of a certain size and a certain rate are dead" is just as wrong as saying "on every kick drum I always use a this EQ with this setting into this compressor." Too many variables to make blanket statements.

In the end, if you like doing it and you can aford to do so then keep doing it.

[drBill]

I think the days of just having a nice room and "the people will come" are over. if you're good at promoting yourself or have major credits or are willing to work for next to nothing, the work is still there. if not....prepare to have the studio go unused a large portion of the tiime.

[Snatchman]

I too, am sorta in this delimma. But...I've decided to focus more on just recording/producing my 16 year old Daughter's first CD...! This makes it a little more personal and gratifying if.... " they don't come". Just the look on her face and her excitement is worth it all for me! ( YMMV)

[Mondo]

i think those are the ones that are striving, personally. people don't like being "on the clock" and picking out engineers and other things like at a big studio, but at the same time don't want to be recording in a bedroom on a pc thats running warcraft at the same time as a pirated cubase.

[Brian M. Boykin]

I would put myself at the lower end of the catagory we're talking about. I got involved in recording almost 10 years ago. It has not been until about the last year that I have even considered trying to get payed for it. Until now it has been more of a hobby. I have a 400 square foot studio with a small control room, a sound lock room and a drum room. Not near as nice as what I saw pictured on that web page, but it's getting nicer and more professional looking everyday. Most potential clients I talk to always seem to have a buddy who is going to record them for free. I've decided on a sales pitch though, I'm going to tell them to go record a song with there buddy and then come record the same song with me. If they like what I have done they can pay for a copy of the song, if not they can walk. It puts all the pressure on me to perform. I'm a drummer and have spent countless hours working for the perfect drum sound. My kit is permanately set up and mic'ed. This is where I am hoping to make the biggest difference. Most home recordings use a drum machine or record the kit with little or no room treatments, and they rarely use gates to control phasing issues and mic bleed. I also mix otb to an otari mtr-10 and use outboard compressors, gates and effects. Don't know how it's going to turn out, but I can't imagine selling it all off. That's my two cents anyhow.

[warmer]

I don't think they are dead, you need to be apart of the local music scene though, having a good rehersal space helps bring bands into the studio. Also working with a couple of bands that you have real confidence in who you can offer a deal will give your studio a name. I know some small studios who have recorded acts who went on and got signed to major labels, these studios are now always booked up! so do all the rubbish that comes through but make sure you grab the good ones too!

[Musiclab]

What I'm discovering is how to advertise the most productively. I'm never going to win the price wars because I'm not terribly but that's OK. The client I want is the one who realizes what a bargain my 50 dollar an hour rate is. As far as mid sized place go, yes it's gotten much harder, thankfully my overhead is fairly low and I own everything just about outright.

[warhead]

I wouldn't bank on everybody discovering and appreciating what you do. It's going to take selling and advertising on your part to get the place booked. If there is a need in the area, you'd find out quickly by asking local engineers what they would think about your new room and if they might pay to use it. Getting the word out and being part of the scene as mentioned here would be top concerns for me.

My place is a glorified home studio that stays as busy as I want it to (sometimes I don't record for weeks, sometimes it's nightly for weeks). I don't advertise, and actually discourage probably half the people who ask me to engineer projects for them just because I either don't like their music or don't have the time.

Keep your budgets realisitic and use what you have, that will make things less scary without big bills hanging over your head. My first move would be to ask local engineers if they would take advantage of it, and go with your gut if that is the direction you want to take.

War