Next investment - a designed/treated room

[gainreduction]

Had an experience recently that was a true wake-up call. Some years ago I had my studio in a place designed by an acoustic expert/designer and it was well built with no expenses cut. I had to move out of there and I have been through a couple of places since. My recent studio is allright, it's not designed/built like a professional studio but close to, and it's very functional. However, I had to open some sessions I had done in the old place and jeez, the tracks sounded extremely good ! My equipment and skills has improved 100 times over since so I get better overall results now but I was floored by how good the tracks sounded although they were recorded with crappy equipment. It's the room, I can promise you that ! Now that I have all this great gear and improved skills, the next step is a great room. that will make more difference than any piece of gear out there. The downside beeing it will probably cost more than all my gear together...

[T_R_S]

Next investment - a designed/treated room.

That was my first investment. A properly professional design can make or break you. I can record drums @ 4.00 AM never disturb the neighbours. I can sleep upstairs and they can record vocals and mix all night long. I can 'trust' what I hear.
It's expensive it doesn't fit in a rack - I call it the studio X Factor.
Plus when clients walk in it looks pro instead of a bunch a racks and gear piled up in a room.