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Self-Produced or Pro Studio Engineered?

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Before I started buying serious recording gear, I checked out a big studio in Toronto. At that time I had some cash saved and a band together and considered booking the big studio to record some songs. Even back then they were charging $100 an hour + tape. I opted for getting my own gear instead and I'm so glad I did. After getting the gear set up, my band and I started trying to record. As soon as I hit the record button, it became painfully obvious that we weren't ready. If that clock would have been ticking at $100 an hour, I'd have lost my hard earned cash and ended up with no recording. Even if we were totally ready, that $100 an hour clock would add a lot of extra pressure. I really like the recording process and I'm glad I can work on it without the pressure.

On the other hand, a band that is ready could really make good use of the big studio and the pro engineers. Deadlines could even be a good thing! I often think I need somebody to tell me when I'm done. You can work on miniscule details forever. Often, you make it different but not necessarily better.

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Like everything - if you want something done, but don't have the time of inclination to do it yourself, then you pay a premium and get the experts to do it for you. I've paid out a pile of dosh over the years to have cars fixed, because I couldn't be arsed to learn how to do the work myself - you choose your battles.

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I tend to do everything myself and learn as I go but then again, nothing in my world ends up quite perfect. I guess if I had more money than time, I'd leave a lot more to the pros.

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Originally Posted by Steve Ambroise:
I tend to do everything myself and learn as I go but then again, nothing in my world ends up quite perfect. I guess if I had more money than time, I'd leave a lot more to the pros.

That's the trade off. If you don't have the dosh, you do without or you do it yourself.

One of the biggest problems with working in studios is 'red light fever'. Working as I did for several years as a recording engineer, I was very familiar with the 'not ready' scenario. Steve - don't think it's unusual. I recorded any number of bands (greater than 200) , who were supposedly professional, who just weren't ready to record in the studio. Oh the hours, days, weeks, months that I saw wasted in the studio while musicians brought themselves up to speed.

The single best thing about having your own set-up is that you have time. Time to fiddle with parts, time to listen back and figure out that you can do it better or differently. Time to get it right, with no restriction other than the danger of just becoming bored with the track before you're done.

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I'm surprised by the number of musical friends that I have that bought their own gear to record but really have no songs. Lots of them are fantastic players and many have good bands that they work with. Somehow they think that building a studio is the answer, like once they get set up the songs will magically appear! Most of these folks end up with a lot of jam recordings. I suppose a person could build songs from them after the fact but usually, they still sound like jam tapes. I guess my point is that all the gear or recording proffessionals in the world still can't create a great song. They can frame it like a picture and make it shine like a good coat of laquer but you still need songs. A guitar, a pen and a notebook are essential pieces of equipment for me. Too many people invest little or no time/energy into this important first step.

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I do have a problem with inspiration at the moment. (I was going to say 'these days', but that sounds too permanent; I'm hoping I'll be able to get back on the train at some point).

What I'm finding is that although I've got a few ideas for songs, I just can't develop them. Can't get any more lyrics, can't find an interesting musical phrase to develop. Going back a few years with the band, I was regularly coming up with musical ideas, though I didn't need to come up with lyrics at that point.

I'm hoping that by learning a whole bunch of other people's songs, I'll break out of the infertile furrow I seem to be stuck in. It's the only thing I can think to do.

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Originally Posted by Martin Giles:
I do have a problem with inspiration at the moment. (I was going to say 'these days', but that sounds too permanent; I'm hoping I'll be able to get back on the train at some point).

What I'm finding is that although I've got a few ideas for songs, I just can't develop them. Can't get any more lyrics, can't find an interesting musical phrase to develop. Going back a few years with the band, I was regularly coming up with musical ideas, though I didn't need to come up with lyrics at that point.

I'm hoping that by learning a whole bunch of other people's songs, I'll break out of the infertile furrow I seem to be stuck in. It's the only thing I can think to do.

I have found that learning covers does help. Another thing that I found helped me when I was stuck part way through writing a song was walking. I used to have a trail around my property. It was short but I'd walk around a few times singing in my head or out loud sometimes and another verse of lyrics would roll out. Fresh air and mild excercise got the blood going to my head I guess.

Sorry, I think I've dragged this thread off course.

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When I'm throwing something today, I record at home. When I put together a cd (which I've done only once so far) I paid for a prof studio. But I question that decision now. I'm not very willing to promote myself or give up comfort for publicity...1) very attached to the financial security of a day job 2) very attached to down time when I'm not at the day job 3) I laugh at myself
So, as I consider my next cd...I also consider that what I'm willing to put into promotion doesn't warrant a professional studio.

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Good point Vee.

It's all very well deciding to go for a brilliantly produced sound, with all the expense that that implies - but if you're not prepared to promote the hell out of it, it's vanity publishing really.

Stryngs' second album (which I think is a damn good album) has sold about 250 copies. It just worked out that things started getting in the way of gigging not long after we released it. Strings and I sold perhaps 60 copies in the US at the house concerts we did, and since then of course we've disbanded. It's nice to have the album, but it's a damned good thing that we didn't have to pay for studio time and expertise!