Out of the studio....and into the garage

[Unclenny]

For all you DIY, Singer/Songwriter, Songwriter for The Band types.......

I tend to track everything that comes. If I like it I put down some basic tracks before it's gone.

This time I have shut down the studio and moved the Blues Jr., the old SG, Stella and some basic pedals out to the garage. The plan is to work up some new material, in the process hopefully breaking out of a few ruts.

When, if ever, is it time to shut down the gear and get back to basics?

[Unclenny]

Nice out here in the garage.....'Lenny's Lounge'.

Wah, Sparkle Drive, Phase 90, DD3, Volume Pedal.

Studio is cold and dusty.

New tunes are happening........new licks, fresh perspective. The neighbors have taken to waving to me as they drive by.

Is this fun, or what?

[Rripror]

...hey unclenny, been out in the garage for a couple a' years now. been in bands for years and it was always good to change to other houses or rental spaces to rehearse in. it was good for the process.


...right now we track in the garage and bring it in the house for editing and mixing.

[Rripror]

...a few more.

[Rripror]

...last but not least.

[vernier]

Looks comfy cool ...I like the green sparkle kit.
'

[Rripror]

...switch off the overheads, hit some low lamps...a candle or two...incense...let's rock.


...my kid's band is out at a gig tonight so alot of the equipment is out with 'em.


... i don't think i have any neighbors that mind but we normally shut things down at 9:00 on week nights. gotta keep peace on the homefront.

[dbbubba]

I'm about to drag the F'ing sh*t BACK into the house b'cause it is so GAH-DAMNED HOT out there now!
It is in the mid '90s here in Dallas and walking through the studio room is too much almost!

Hopefully, I am about to pull the plasma meters off of the MCI 538C and swap them for VUs.
It'd fit through the door w/o removing the legs with the meter bridge off.
Taking the legs off is a MAJOR ordeal.
What am I saying?
Moving the thing a few inches is a MAJOT ordeal!

The AC is jammin' in the house!

I do have a 12' x 18' spare den that used to be my studio.
It is empty now.

The $500.00 for a 22K BTU window unit would pay for my entire re-cap on the 538C.
Window unit... noisey POS!

Summer SUXXXX!!!!!
In the winter it was never cold!
The 538 kept it toasty!

[dbbubba]

I'm about to drag the F'ing sh*t BACK into the house b'cause it is so GAH-DAMNED HOT out there now!
It is in the mid '90s here in Dallas and walking through the studio room is too much almost!

Hopefully, I am about to pull the plasma meters off of the MCI 538C and swap them for VUs.
It'd fit through the door w/o removing the legs with the meter bridge off.
Taking the legs off is a MAJOR ordeal.
What am I saying?
Moving the thing a few inches is a MAJOR ordeal!

The AC is jammin' in the house!

I do have a 12' x 18' spare den that used to be my studio.
It is empty now.

The $500.00 for a 22K BTU window unit would pay for my entire re-cap on the 538C.
Window unit... noisey POS!

Summer SUXXXX!!!!!
In the winter it was never cold!
The 538 kept it toasty!

[Oldone]

Timely thread. I just ordered a 30 foot snake to run from my mixing room to the garage. I just can't create while others in the house are sleeping or studying. I am taking my tracking efforts to the garage courtesy of the Tranzport from Frontier Design. I want to be able to record at all times of the day and moving things to the garage is going to help immensely.

I live in California so it's only occasionally hot or cold. Might lose a few weeks a year to the temperature but most of the time things should work out.

I am drilling holes this week to route the snake over the ceiling and into my tracking room. Life is good. Yeah for the garage!!

[dbbubba]

I forgot.... I have a family that also lives in the house.

I have a thirteen year old daughter and FOUR YEAR-OLD daughter who is a shape-shifting Curious George.
She appears to be a four year-old girl, but she's not.
She is attracted to anything I prize.
She drags stuff off all the time.... the dome to my plate reverb driver.... WHERE is that now?

They actually sleep and my activities don't coincide with their schedule.

The garage.... I guess it is inevitable.
Been shopping for window units.
Rent house/ trailer park window units.
Hillbilly shit, indeed!

[Rripror]

...stays cool in the 'garage studio' in the summer for about one hour or until everyones hot stinking breath , tube amps and all the other electronics make it stuffy and kind of brutal.

...but the winter is pretty nice ( i can't believe i said that ). i have a warehouse heater hangin' in the corner that keeps it warm and cozy. the downfall is when you're ready for the 'take' you have to turn the thermostat down so the furnace doesn't kick in.

[Croaker]

Garage all the way! I have an oversize garage with very high ceilings so it makes for a good sounding room. That and it is my room to escape to from the main house. Only problem is sometimes the old lady makes me watch the laundry.

I am in Maui so temp is pretty consistent except for the no trade wind days when the guitar amps and tube pre`s turn up the heat

if it gets too hot we just take a beer break outside and take in the view.

aloha

[Rripror]

...hey dbbubba, imagine what you look like through you 4 year olds eyes when you're workin' in your studio. she must think you're some kind of mad scientist.

[Rripror]

...croaker , man that is righteous.thumbsup i was on the 'big island' in march and i still go on the 'konaweb.com' site just to look out on the seawall web camera.

...the islands are one reason i keep playing the lottery.

[Croaker]

ha...you will need the lottery too. Gas was $4.50 today

I wont tell you how much food is.

aloha

[dbbubba]

My now thirteen and almost fourteen year-lod daughter pretty well grew up in a studio or on a stage.
She takes it SO for granted, but she knows A LOT of stuff, too!

When she was six we were at a studio that I used to own and the present owner was telling about all of the business he had.
Of course he was exaggerating... uhhh... lying his ass off, but I'm polite and I didn't bust him.

When we were driving down the street I said to my daughter, "yeah, old so-and-so tells some big stories doesn't he?"
She said, "Yeah, he said he is busy, but that place is empty EVERY TIME we ever go there!"
Busted by a six-year-old!

Then again, she spent many a day at the studio I worked at and we had seven rooms going 8 AM to 5 PM, M-F day-in, day-out.
She has seen a BUSY studio.
Can't fool her!
She has wandered through a studio doing a full orchestral date.
DAMMIT!! WHAT IS SHE DOING OUT THERE?

[Croaker]

Originally Posted by Rripror

...switch off the overheads, hit some low lamps...a candle or two...incense...let's rock.


...my kid's band is out at a gig tonight so alot of the equipment is out with 'em.


... i don't think i have any neighbors that mind but we normally shut things down at 9:00 on week nights. gotta keep peace on the homefront.

man you garge looks huge..nice My shutdown rule is 10 pm no matter what. I built a wall that covers my garage door with an airspace in between and that really helped get it to a manageable level. That and I only use small amps now. I have only had the cops come once in 10 yearstutt...knock on wood

it helps to have pineapple fields on one side

aloha

[dbbubba]

Originally Posted by Croaker

ha...you will need the lottery too. Gas was $4.50 today

I wont tell you how much food is.

aloha

I horde my AA Airmiles and take the family to Kauai every two years.
We love the place and really wish we could live there.
My wife works in healthcare and could get a job.
Still, the cost of living.... WOOOAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
$4.50 a gallon, eh?
Three years ago I recall paying $3.25 in Lihue.
That was the highest I had ever paid.
Even in Beverly Hills full service gas was lower then.
Not that I buy much gas in Berverly Hills, I'm just sayin'

I have a $265K house here in Texas, but that would BARELY buy anything I'd live in on Kauai!!!! I'm no snob either!
Once you hit $1.5M real estate evens out, but who's got that?
I do look at property, too when I'm there.

I have a fairly wealthy friend who lives in Kiluea on Kauai and he says that he spends about the same to live there as here in Dallas.
He says that some things on Kauai are sky high and some things like property taxes are low.
He says it is almost dead even.
Then again... like I said.... he is quite wealthy.

I dunno'... it gets kinda' warm-ish in late August/ early September on the south shore of Kauai. Actually, it gets too hot indoors w/o AC.
Being from the land of AIR CONDITIONING (Texas) I am spoiled!
If I had a studio there it'd need AC I'm afraid.

I could see shipping my JH-24, analog decks and MCI 538C in a sea-tainer!
As if!

[Croaker]

Originally Posted by dbbubba

I horde my AA Airmiles and take the family to Kauai every two years.
We love the place and really wish we could live there.
My wife works in healthcare and could get a job.
Still, the cost of living.... WOOOAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
$4.50 a gallon, eh?
Three years ago I recall paying $3.25 in Lihue.
That was the highest I had ever paid.
Even in Beverly Hills full service gas was lower then.
Not that I buy much gas in Berverly Hills, I'm just sayin'

I have a $265K house here in Texas, but that would BARELY buy anything I'd live in on Kauai!!!! I'm no snob either!
Once you hit $1.5M real estate evens out, but who's got that?
I do look at property, too when I'm there.

I have a fairly wealthy friend who lives in Kiluea on Kauai and he says that he spends about the same to live there as here in Dallas.
He says that some things on Kauai are sky high and some things like property taxes are low.
He says it is almost dead even.
Then again... like I said.... he is quite wealthy.

I dunno'... it gets kinda' warm-ish in late August/ early September on the south shore of Kauai. Actually, it gets too hot indoors w/o AC.
Being from the land of AIR CONDITIONING (Texas) I am spoiled!
If I had a studio there it'd need AC I'm afraid.

I could see shipping my JH-24, analog decks and MCI 538C in a sea-tainer!
As if!

ya lucky I dont have to drive that far to work and I am a chef so I dont have to buy that much food.....that and I wear t-shirts and shorts all the time.

Kauai is nice, not as built up as Maui...Oahu forget it. Housing went through the roof last couple years. I bought my house like 10 years or so ago for $325K. Beleive me I was tempted to sell it a few times a few years ago.

We live up on the mountain side (north shore) as you can see from the pic so its usally pretty cool 81 today with trades. August and september can get humid when the trades die. Summer is perfect weather here.

My other half works in healthcare too (RN) and there is a huge shortage. if you are ever out this way drop me a line and we will knock off a few mai tais.

aloha

[KingUgly]

Just had a mini split air conditioner installed in our garage. For keeping your sound isolated and without going full-on AC unit and ducting, these things can't be beat! I got the 12k but should have gone 18k btu. It's alright though, very quiet and keeps me under 80 which is fine. However, you can't install them yourself unless you have some serious know how.

[dbbubba]

Well, my MCI 538C displaces the equivalent of a TON of air-conditioning when idling!

If I bought a one ton unit, I'd be dead even!

Now, this is without the JH-24 running!

Stupid stuff!

[dbbubba]

Originally Posted by Croaker

ya lucky I dont have to drive that far to work and I am a chef so I dont have to buy that much food.....that and I wear t-shirts and shorts all the time.

Kauai is nice, not as built up as Maui...Oahu forget it. Housing went through the roof last couple years. I bought my house like 10 years or so ago for $325K. Beleive me I was tempted to sell it a few times a few years ago.

We live up on the mountain side (north shore) as you can see from the pic so its usally pretty cool 81 today with trades. August and september can get humid when the trades die. Summer is perfect weather here.

My other half works in healthcare too (RN) and there is a huge shortage. if you are ever out this way drop me a line and we will knock off a few mai tais.

aloha

You sound like my friend who lives on Kauai.
He talked about nowhere to drive.... everything is close / the island is small.
He talked about low clothing costs are because you ALWAYS dress casual.
He said that once you HAVE THE HOUSE it is about the same.

We might have to try Maui.
Still, the north shore of Kauai is pure heaven.
I could see being a Hanalei hippy type!
We have "deal" in Poipu, but I now know some folks that own condos in Princeville who would give me a deal, too.

We were on the beach at Haena (Tunnels) and I was talking to a lady that owns an awesome house right on the beach.
She was kinda' spacey and strange, but nice.
She let us sit with our towels and stuff on her "lawn" in the shade up from the beach.
I could just imagine having my rig in that living room looking out at that ocean!
Inspiration!

I almost said, "Lady, can I have your house? Surely you don't need it all year long."
I'd trade her for my house in Texas... bigger yard here!
Same size house!
You can hear the ocean there.
You can hear cows here!

The north shore of Kauai is kinda' remote.
Long drive to any job...
The only grocery store is the BIG SAVE... that is the wrong name!
LITTLE GREEN EXPENSIVE GROCERY STORE is more like it!
or... WE'RE THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN, SO GET OVER IT!

[Studioklocka]

Originally Posted by Rripror

...hey unclenny, been out in the garage for a couple a' years now. been in bands for years and it was always good to change to other houses or rental spaces to rehearse in. it was good for the process.


...right now we track in the garage and bring it in the house for editing and mixing.

What a great place to make some tracks! thumbsup

[greatgreatriver]

I took my laptop and minime out to our barn this weekend and recorded one song with my friend Per... Went well!

[Unclenny]

Originally Posted by dbbubba

I'm about to drag the F'ing sh*t BACK into the house b'cause it is so GAH-DAMNED HOT out there now!
It is in the mid '90s here in Dallas and walking through the studio room is too much almost!

Hell, Danny.........it's still cool as a cuke up here in Jersey. No sweat.....yet.

Originally Posted by Rripror

...hey unclenny, been out in the garage for a couple a' years now. been in bands for years and it was always good to change to other houses or rental spaces to rehearse in. it was good for the process.

...right now we track in the garage and bring it in the house for editing and mixing.

RESPECT for your garage setup, man....big time!! But I got the REAL DEAL right here.

[Unclenny]

Originally Posted by Croaker

My shutdown rule is 10 pm no matter what.

No shut down rule here. Of course since my garage is about the size of your average humuhumunukunukuapuaa the local authorities take little notice.

[Rripror]

...unclenny, i remember recording my first, and my son's bands first CD from start to finish. i was learning to use all the recording equipment used for the first time...protools included. when we were finally finished ,like three months later, i was flat out burnt from all the technical crap.

...i couldn't wait to just get back to something organic like playing my guitars.

[cjogo]

With prices on the main land -- Carmel, CA .......one has no choice but to record in the garage

Although we never need air conditioning > and rarely heat...'bout 70* year round

[ScumBum]

Originally Posted by cjogo

With prices on the main land -- Carmel, CA .......one has no choice but to record in the garage

Although we never need air conditioning > and rarely heat...'bout 70* year round

Ha , I like your new school ringo drum set .