Next time you put on your CONVERSE sneakers...

[Sigma]

Think about THIS!

dfegaddfegaddfegad


Rubber Tracks » Converse

RECORD FOR FREE!!!!!!! CONVERSE RUBBER TRACKS STUDIO BROOKLYN NY

October 5, 2010

We are opening a community-based recording studio in Brooklyn. For real.
Rubber Tracks will serve as a catalyst for originality by giving new and emerging bands the opportunity to record their songs in a high-quality studio setting. Musicians of all genres will be able to apply in advance for a time to use the studio – for free. As in no cost.

Rubber Tracks can also give bands the means to expose their music to a much larger audience through content captured while recording, including songs and behind-the-scenes video. Artists will have the option to utilize Converse.com and our social media channels to promote their content, potentially reaching millions.

If you’re ready, then register to hear about when we’ll be accepting applications for studio time.

In this video, a group of artists and music industry pros talk about starting out in music and their first studio experiences.

great to be a studio owner today!

[initialsBB]

Maybe it will become like stadiums (stadia?) and you can sell the naming rights to your studio to a corporation.

[j-uk]

Originally Posted by Sigma

Think about THIS!

dfegaddfegaddfegad


Rubber Tracks » Converse

RECORD FOR FREE!!!!!!! CONVERSE RUBBER TRACKS STUDIO BROOKLYN NY




great to be a studio owner today!

It's a community based recording studio aimed at local amateur bands.
Clearly it's aimed at acts that don't have the means to fund a recording of their own.....
I don't really see how this is a threat to any studio... if anything,
an act that does get recognition through this will surely go and make a recording in a commercial facility.

Community and school recording studios have been around for decades without having any major impact on commercial studios..

Not really sure why you're getting your huggers in a twist over this one....

[initialsBB]

Originally Posted by j-uk

It's a community based recording studio

No, it's a corporate marketing campaign for a company that's dabbling in an area they don't really care about in order to gain some cool points for their brand. It will end up taking some work away from someone, or at least further devaluing the concept of recording as a serious professional pursuit.

Not that I blame them for doing it, it's a good idea for their company. But it can't be good for other studio owners in the area. Why not simply fund recordings done elsewhere?

[Robert Randolph]

Originally Posted by initialsBB

No, it's a corporate marketing campaign for a company that's dabbling in an area they don't really care about in order to gain some cool points for their brand. It will end up taking some work away from someone, or at least further devaluing the concept of recording as a serious professional pursuit.

Not that I blame them for doing it, it's a good idea for their company. But it can't be good for other studio owners in the area. Why not simply fund recordings done elsewhere?

All those damn soup kitchens taking business away from starbucks!

Wait.. wait.. what?

[PlatinumSamples]

Well if Red Bull can have studios...

Los Angeles Studio :: Red Bull

[Whitecat]

Yes, the shoe company.

Where the Rubber Meets the Road: Converse Opens A Free Recording Studio in Brooklyn : SonicScoop – Creative, Technical & Business Connections For NYC

Could this portend things to come? "Branded"/sponsored studios? I'd be not terribly thrilled with this if I had a studio in the neighbourhood. That said, not everyone's gonna be able to use it...

Crazy times.

[Soundseed]

Originally Posted by whitecat

Yes, the shoe company.

Where the Rubber Meets the Road: Converse Opens A Free Recording Studio in Brooklyn : SonicScoop – Creative, Technical & Business Connections For NYC

Could this portend things to come? "Branded"/sponsored studios? I'd be not terribly thrilled with this if I had a studio in the neighbourhood. That said, not everyone's gonna be able to use it...

Crazy times.

Crazy indeed.

In some ways free recording is pretty common here in the UK. Do any one of hundreds of music related courses, and you get free at point of use of facilities at colleges, and university campuses in most decent sized towns and cities. Many of these studios invite in local acts to record free as test clients for students, and just to rub it in, some even operate commercially too, often at cut price rates. And as a final denouement they are preparing students with the skills to be able to operate at home, without ever entering a professional studio. Ouch.

------------------------------------------
Sign Me Up To Chemikal Underground
www.piethaag.com

[Dave C]

Originally Posted by Soundseed

Crazy indeed.

In some ways free recording is pretty common here in the UK. Do any one of hundreds of music related courses, ...

Good free recording isn't all that common though...

[MTStudios]

I see it being positive. So many people have NO IDEA what a professional recording studio is like, what it's capable of, what the benefits are, or anything. They lack the experience and imagination to figure out WHY it's worth paying for a recording.

The way I see it, the reason professionals are hired is because we have the experience to be able to imagine how much better and more powerful a song could be. But if you're not working with someone who has that ability, you'll never know your song hasn't peaked yet. It's the reason inexperienced people are happy with poor recordings and those who've been through it all a few times have higher standards and wind up in pro studio's.

[drBill]

Originally Posted by MTStudios

They lack the experience and imagination to figure out WHY it's worth paying for a recording.

And how is a free recording studio going to change that?

[oldeanalogueguy]

Originally Posted by whitecat

Yes, the shoe company.

Where the Rubber Meets the Road: Converse Opens A Free Recording Studio in Brooklyn : SonicScoop – Creative, Technical & Business Connections For NYC

Could this portend things to come? "Branded"/sponsored studios? I'd be not terribly thrilled with this if I had a studio in the neighbourhood. That said, not everyone's gonna be able to use it...

Crazy times.

Read the fine print!!

They can use the music you record.
They can film you and use that too.

TANSTAFFL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Whitecat]

Originally Posted by oldeanalogueguy

Read the fine print!!

They can use the music you record.
They can film you and use that too.

TANSTAFFL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Are you surprised by this?

[sleepwalker]

Originally Posted by oldeanalogueguy

Read the fine print!!

They can use the music you record.
They can film you and use that too.

TANSTAFFL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seems fair. Not free, but fair.

[oldeanalogueguy]

if you are recordign something with the intent to make money
then you may not think this is fair when they start using your material

and if they want to use me in an ad i want to be paid a lot more than some free studio time

[MTStudios]

Originally Posted by drBill

And how is a free recording studio going to change that?

Well, if what they say in the article is true, about it being one day and via an application process, then it'll do it by making them need more, or tuck their tails between their legs and go back to home recording after doing some great sounding studio stuff.

Bands generally try to make each release a sonic improvement on the last.

[itisnick]

Didn't really check it out but to me I see it relating to the sort of thing Levis is doing with their Film Workshop that opened in L.A..

I wouldn't think it's exploitation unless they are not up front about the details. I'm sure it's value to them is in good publicity and I'm sure their legal department has probably set them up so they can publicize anything good that might come out of it as well as avoid negative publicity of someone potentially going around saying they were ripped off.

Conceptually it's a good thing to enable people to create something.

[psycho_monkey]

Originally Posted by Soundseed

And as a final denouement they are preparing students with the skills to be able to operate at home, without ever entering a professional studio. Ouch.

Generally - they're not. At best, the student gets a bit of understanding of how some of the gear works. Most grads know little about running an actual session, regardless of what they think they know.

Most free recordings done by students are worth what they cost!

[Soundseed]

Originally Posted by psycho_monkey

Generally - they're not. At best, the student gets a bit of understanding of how some of the gear works. Most grads know little about running an actual session, regardless of what they think they know.

Most free recordings done by students are worth what they cost!

That wasn't the impression given by the local studio owners I interviewed. They were between marginally frustrated and downright foaming at the mouth discussing the subject.

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SXSW Not
www.piethaag.com

[ButchP]

its 21st century branding!!.The corps will use in house "artist" to promote their products and act like a label.The corps own the music and use it as an advertisement and they can have their commercials(artists) playing on the radio.It's the new millennium business model!!.....stay tuned.....the age of Armageddon coming soon to a planet near you!!

[MTStudios]

Originally Posted by Soundseed

That wasn't the impression given by the local studio owners I interviewed. They were between marginally frustrated and downright foaming at the mouth discussing the subject.

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SXSW Not
www.piethaag.com

It cuts out work, the "We really need a demo and you're a studio, since there's no other option we'll pay you" work that used to exist. It doesn't affect serious artists with serious money, people who actually go out and play gigs and work their asses off. In my experience, these people still value studios and competent engineers/producers.

When you hear about a band "Recording their debut album at home!" you usually never hear about the band ever again, nor heard of them ever before.

Or they put the tracks up on myspace/soundcloud/assplant and sit around twiddling their thumbs waiting for fans, fame, and success.

[psycho_monkey]

Originally Posted by Soundseed

That wasn't the impression given by the local studio owners I interviewed. They were between marginally frustrated and downright foaming at the mouth discussing the subject.

------------
SXSW Not
www.piethaag.com

Originally Posted by MTStudios

It cuts out work, the "We really need a demo and you're a studio, since there's no other option we'll pay you" work that used to exist. It doesn't affect serious artists with serious money, people who actually go out and play gigs and work their asses off. In my experience, these people still value studios and competent engineers/producers.

When you hear about a band "Recording their debut album at home!" you usually never hear about the band ever again, nor heard of them ever before.

Or they put the tracks up on myspace/soundcloud/assplant and sit around twiddling their thumbs waiting for fans, fame, and success.

Good point.

I've salvaged a couple of "student" recordings done for free for artists too tight/skint to pay. One managed to record 2 copies of the hihat mic, but didn't notice they weren't recording the kick mic....that's the level of competence I've seen!

On the flip side, I've spent most of this week mixing a home-recorded debut album (artist has publishing but not a record deal)...it's come out nice, esp since it's not super-polished, drum dependent rock...

[chrispy179]

Interesting. I wonder if its possible to use this idea in a modest way. In this case they are probably trading a few thousand worth of studio time for a commercial use that might normally pay $50000 or something.
However, without the brand name and deep pockets, has anyone thought of offering free or low cost studio time in exchange for licensing rights? Could be used to create a library of licensable material for tv, film, etc.
Might be a good way to benefit from clients that cant afford your rates otherwise and in the end, the band still gets their music recorded.

[crissmichaels]

Personally, I'm in the middle on this one. Yes, it's good that those who couldn't afford the time to record before are now getting a chance to do so, but the fact that it's taking away from the local studios is a bummer.

This studio is like communism. Good in theory, but not overall...

[dualflip]

Speechless.....

[steve 413]

I was searching GS for any info about this place...My band just got offered a day at Rubber Tracks next week.

From my perspective, I'm a working engineer in NYC (I work mostly in voiceover and news) but previously we were doing all of our recording from my rehearsal space because our budget is effectively....$0. Its not like they're taking away a band that was prepared to drop a few grand at a studio in the area.

Sure, its a corporation doing some marketing, but we have a day in a fantastic room with no guidelines on what we can do, and get to keep everything involved. I'm sure they're paying the engineer we're provided with, and they must have paid for the technicians to install everything...so it still seems like the local landscape is being supported somewhat?

[Granny Gremlin]

Yeah, but read the fine print - they probably get to pimp your song out in all of their advertising and PR. If they're really sly they'll take (partial) ownership of the songs themselves as well.

[steve 413]

We have the "option to give them limited rights to use in advertising" but arent forced to do it....we'll see the ultra fine print if they retain ownership, i really don't think they do.

[ObiK]

I think this is pretty cool on Converse. I love my chucks!

[drumdrum]

I give it at most a week before its ransacked and everything that isnt bolted down is nicked!

One thing I learned from doing free recordings, is that if money isn't exchanged, respect isn't either!