How long would an engineer need to learn a new studio?

[drongo1]

Folks, here's the situation.

I have the opportunity to buy a small recording studio.

I don't have an engineer.

The question is, could an experienced engineer use any studio s/he find himself in and what's the learning curve for a new studio?

Would training be required? If so how much?

And any info on going rates for hiring an engineer would be tremendously useful.

I have not decided whether to go ahead with this or not yet.

Thanks, drongo1

[soundslikejoe]

I think if it were a good engineer they would only need a wiring schematic of the patches and panels. The rest should be "old hat."

That being said all rooms have their tricks to learn.... especially the sound of the room (peaks and nulls).

[glissando]

A good engineer could make almost any room work well, just as long as it is not a completely crappy situation. If it's decent, a good engineer will be just fine off the hop...but you are always learning new things. You could be in a room for five years straight and still learn a thing or two about it....also a good engineer is always looking to make things better...PM if you want to talk further

[shaneoconnor]

as a freelance engineer, i am in a new room about once a month. usually i have about five minutes to spot potential pitfalls and ask an idiot intern if he knows what the deal is (they almost never do... note to interns, know the patchbay)

there are lots of threads about what makes a studio ideal for a freelancer.

for me:

a great patchbay
PTHD (at least 2) or a decent tape machine
16+ i/o
proper cabling and general odds and ends.
good headphone distribution system

the rest is all subjective.

[Chrislpp]

Originally Posted by shaneoconnor

as a freelance engineer, i am in a new room about once a month. usually i have about five minutes to spot potential pitfalls and ask an idiot intern if he knows what the deal is (they almost never do... note to interns, know the patchbay)

there are lots of threads about what makes a studio ideal for a freelancer.

for me:

a great patchbay
PTHD (at least 2) or a decent tape machine
16+ i/o
proper cabling and general odds and ends.
good headphone distribution system

the rest is all subjective.

What is a 'great' patchbay to you

[soundslikejoe]

I don't know about him but a "great patchbay" for me is one that is labeled and has a schematic, located within a studio manual, that is complete and current. It should denote configuration (1/2, full, de) and connected equipment.

[shaneoconnor]

i second joenovice

[Melissa]

Originally Posted by shaneoconnor

as a freelance engineer, i am in a new room about once a month. usually i have about five minutes to spot potential pitfalls and ask an idiot intern if he knows what the deal is (they almost never do... note to interns, know the patchbay)

there are lots of threads about what makes a studio ideal for a freelancer.

for me:

a great patchbay
PTHD (at least 2) or a decent tape machine
16+ i/o
proper cabling and general odds and ends.
good headphone distribution system

the rest is all subjective.

Just wondering why you would expect an intern to know a studio inside out? I expect an intern to know where to get.make good coffee, good food fast, music supplies fast..to clean up so we're not all sitting in our own stink...and to be learning..I don't expect an intern to know the patch bay or how to run a session. If they do they should be working as an assistant and getting paid...just because they are learning doesn't make them an idiot. Or maybe I'm wrong.


also...from your post it seems like you mostly do tracking at these studios...why do you need such a fantastic patchbay to track. I like a great patchbay as much as the next gal, but for beds all I really need to know is where is the pre and where is the input to the converters...maybe an eq here and there...and where am I monitoring it ..

I do agree that a studio should have a great workflow to it...consulting a seasoned studio engineer would be well worth the one or three days pay.

[shaneoconnor]

heaphone feeds.

reamping

different monitoring scenarios (live room monitors)

bussing

just to name a few reasons why a great patchbay is helpful in tracking.

[Jules]

It may be unrealistic to expect a freelancer to be happy with opening up in the morning and locking up at night.

At 3am it might be too much of a stretch for the freelancer to know that

1) the small brass key needs to be pushed in and twisted at the same time
2) how to set the alarm
3) what to leave on and what to leave off (and where all the power switches are)
4) that the main gate to the parking lot MUST NOT BE LOCKED.

It does happen where studio owners toss the keys to a freelancer - but usually there is a lot to know about a place..

Thats what assistants are for..

[shaneoconnor]

i am often handed keys.

a lot of mid level rooms can't afford to pay assistants. there might be an intern there, but good luck if they have keys or are competent enough to actually lock up.