Studio without acoustic drums?

[unstruck]

Is it realitic to set up a studio without the capability to record acoustic drums and expect to develop a decent client base? I'm renting a house that's attached on both sides, and I don't think I can afford to build a room within the room for live drums. If I focus on projects that don't need live drums, will I cut myself out of 90% of my potential biz? Any insights would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Nate

[lofi]

not at all....

samples + real instruments.

if needed drums tracked elswhere.

nothing wrong with that.

[MFactProd]

I worked for years that way. I have several drummer friends in town that have a similar rig as I do, so it was just a matter of dragging a hard drive over to their place. The kit was already set up, tuned, and mic'ed. Once I had what i needed, I brought it back to my place for editing. It worked out pretty well.

I now have my own kit and a place to record it. But....It's a lot more work...let me tell you!

[The dman]

As long as you do what you do well, they'll come. There's a lot of projects that don't use acoustic drums, some use something like BFD or some genres don't even use acoustic drums. I record drums but some projects don't have the budget for it, that's when Samples comes in handy.

[Protools Guy]

I have a very good friend who never records live drums. He's a great programmer, and stays so busy that he doesn't even have time to go to the bathroom!

Go for it!

[The Byre]

Originally Posted by unstruck

Is it realitic to set up a studio without the capability to record acoustic drums and expect to develop a decent client base? I'm renting a house that's attached on both sides, and I don't think I can afford to build a room within the room for live drums. If I focus on projects that don't need live drums, will I cut myself out of 90% of my potential biz? Any insights would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Nate

People go to a studio to record those things that they cannot record at home.

Also it is perfectly possible to sound-proof your rooms by setting up a room within a room. Read Rod Gervais' book on how to do this.

[cajonezzz]

I think it's smart.

Just make sure that you build into your budgets, drum tracking at a kik ass mothership studio. I know a LOT of guys doing this ( like me) building nice home/small commercial rooms for overdubs/mixing, and doing your principal tracking in bigger rooms that are already invested.

Create that relationship with a few studios and you'll rapidly grow your rep as an AE / producer.

SO many rooms going under now, it's very doable to spread some of your budget for yoiur heavy lifting ( drum tracking, nice piano, or where you need a room to put a full band) among the larger rooms, then do the tweezing and overdubs at your place.

just a thought. I'ts working really well for me.

of course, depends on your area. I'm really close to a lot of kik ass studios.


cz

[Kenny Gioia]

I think it will be harder as a studio owner but a really great idea as a Producer.

I can't afford to book studios (at a day rate) everyday.

So my plan (which has changed) was to build a room for everything but drums.

It's much cheaper to build and would afford me to cut drums in rooms that I could never afford to (or want to) build myself.

[Acoustic Cloud]

Do it. Your name and abilities have to be shoved out there everywhere though.
The December issue of EQ mag has some really good articles on advertising etc.

Craig is doing a great job since he took over the publication.

No good advise on "unassisted mastering" though.

Seems that fell through the crak-k-ks........

[stevep]

Originally Posted by unstruck

Is it realitic to set up a studio without the capability to record acoustic drums

Nate

Now days it can work, I do lots of sessions of just drum tracking for smaller studios that want a good room sound for there drums, Its fun for me cus i LOVE to record drums