Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Lynn Fuston on February 24, 2009 at 7:23am

I'm with you Sharon and George.

George and I have this talk about twice a month. For 4 or 5 years now. I have many awesome memories of sessions at Classic and Sound Kitchen. I've done all but one of my comparison CD recordings at Classic. I could have gone anywhere. My last big orchestra date, 54 players on the floor (rhythm, strings, brass, winds, percussion), all live at the same time was at Sound Kitchen last February. Those just can't be done in small studios.

The thing I love about Nashville is that we still get the chance to work with live musicians in a group all the time. Even if it's only a rhythm section (4 or 5) or strings (12-24) or brass (4-9). There's magic in making music, especially in the interaction between players, that you don't get when you do things one at a time.

I don't want to see any of the big rooms go away. I love working at them. I hope there's a way to keep them all in the current economy. But we're operating in a new world here and complaining about it isn't going to change things.

Kyle Lehning made one point at the NRW (daring to veer back ON topic again) that he checked with codes before building his personal use studio and they told him "We don't really care what you do inside your four walls, so long as your neighbors don't complain. If they do, then you'll be hearing from us." He was up front with his neighbors about the traffic (no cartage trucks) and number of visitors and they were fine with it. That's the new reality. Codes isn't going to shut anybody down for doing business out of their home. (Well, if cartage trucks are coming and going, that may be a different matter.) It's certainly not the same situation now as when HARP was trying to run home studios out of LA back in the 90s (or was it 80s?).

I just think we're past the point where complaining is going to help. To me, the new reality dictates that no matter how much the carriage builders complain about those newfangled auto-mobiles, you have to realize that the old playing field has changed. And changed irreversibly. DAWs and home studios aren't going away.

What the NRW was about is reaching out to those people, some of which are the future of this business (Let's not kids ourselves about that). Just like the teenager who got a four track and recorded his friends in his bedroom back in the 70s (or like me who actually dreamed of having a four track and settled for bouncing back and forth between two stereo recorders), and then went on to an 8 track, then 24, then Dig 48, then ADAT, then ProTools, some of these "weekend warriors" will be the clients of the future. Make no mistake: alienating them or shutting them out will NOT benefit your business. Maybe not in the traditional sense of them booking two weeks to track, OD and mix in your studio, but maybe when it comes time to record a 40 voice choir or strings or something they can't handle at home.

That's my (not too abbreviated) take on the situation.

Does it help to pay the bills? Not right now, I know.

It is amazing to look back at what electricity rates, tax rates, insurance, real estate were costing in the 70s and 80s compared to studio rates back then. Then fast forward to today and everything has gone up, a lot, except for studio rates. They are actually lower now than they were 30 years ago. That hurts.
So when does that change? Are studio rates going to see a reversal? Sure, as soon as CDs start selling for $40 each. Ain't gonna happen.

We're living in an MP3 world. Like it or not, we have to get used to it and make plans to survive this new reality. And make the most of it, trying to achieve affordable quality in a world that doesn't seem to care. Oh, and make a living at the same time, if possible.

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Permalink Reply by KK Proffitt on February 25, 2009 at 9:32am

I am totally against this as it really goes against what non-profits are intended to do. You already have Belmont students advertising "free time at Oceanway", which is leveraging a branded name to compete with studios that have to pay taxes (this is NOT OK, legally speaking, but then, a lot of non-legal stuff appears to go on in Nashville, always has, always will, I reckon.)

Where does this end? A world with the arts mandated by the state and studios stocked by a zillion trade schools? Shall the studio system just become another name for welfare? At that point, what is the reason for starting a studio at all?

And, BTW, an audio engineering conference that only has male engineers and girl songwriters is hardly representative of what's going on in the world. On the one hand, the good old boy network is still the same as it was 20, no, 40 years ago. Or as one engineer said at a SPARS conference not too long ago, "women in the studio are OK as long as they have big breasts and bring baked goods". I glanced over at Leslie Ann Jones to see what she was thinking, but she was looking at the floor. I stopped looking at the floor years ago...

O Brave New World...new boss same as the old boss and a studio system based on welfare.

NO THANK YOU!

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Permalink Reply by Mike Porter on February 25, 2009 at 10:08am

KK, quoting you above, "I am totally against this as it really goes against what non-profits are intended to do." Please explain what you mean by this. Are you saying you are against AES holding this type of conference? I want to be clear on what you are referring to.
MIke

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Permalink Reply by KK Proffitt on February 25, 2009 at 11:01am

No, I was replying to the idea that large studios should apply for non-profit status. If they cannot provide a service that is profitable, they should go away. Sorry, but if you make a Model T and everyone is looking to buy hybrids, you shouldn't be getting the public's money (but then, the tide seems to be going in the opposite direction...

BTW, I suggested 20 years ago that the AES apply for non-profit status for their engineer's fund and was met with opposition. Did that ever happen?

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Permalink Reply by Bret Teegarden on February 25, 2009 at 9:41am

Sharon,

I kind of have to agree with KK on your non-profit suggestion. I know you said, "until we get beyond" to imply temporariness but history shows that once we enter temporary measures, they more often than not become permanent policies. Also, non-profits do not "lose money" and survive. My wife works for a non-profit and the same rules governing good business decisions apply. If a business can't make it financially, it needs to be dissolved. The growing trend to believe that no one should fail, in the name of fairness, is a very dangerous mindset, to me. I share your desire for a better way, but in someways, moving the studio business into a welfare status, is more of the same stuff that has gotten us in this mess in the first place.

And KK, any engineer who would make a statement like that at an official organization's conference should be asked to leave and turn in his membership card.

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Permalink Reply by KK Proffitt on February 25, 2009 at 11:01am

They're welcome to exclude me...they didn't have any women engineers there anyway and there are several in this town. The official AES has had two female presidents. The Nashville section is a boy's club. They have a female "secretary", but didn't include one woman engineer in the conference. One has to ask how relevant they are to the national organization. I was accepted under the national organization and I invite you or anyone else to suggest to them that I be excluded because I dared to ask an obvious question.

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Permalink Reply by Bret Teegarden on February 25, 2009 at 11:11am

I'm confused, are you responding to my reply? did you think I was talking about your statement? I was talking about the bigoted statement made by an engineer at the SPARS conference...

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Permalink Reply by KK Proffitt on February 25, 2009 at 11:20am

Sorry, Bret...I just ASSumed you were referring to me! I apologize and agree that the guy (a very well-known producer in these parts) probably doesn't exemplify the best and brightest of SPARS.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Bradley on February 25, 2009 at 11:59am

The codes law for a home business in Williamson county state that anyone can operate a home business as long as they acquire a business liscense and do not employ anyone who does not live in the home. Also, no commerce shall take place in the home. Any product or service you provide must be delivered unless you are zoned commercial.

So as long as you bring no one into your studio except your spouse or kids...or if you're willing to let the band move in with you.. Rock On!!

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Permalink Reply by George Cumbee on February 25, 2009 at 3:46pm

Mike(Bradley):

This is exactly what I have been trying to convey for a long time....I think City of Franklin is the same. And I would suspect that many of the more 'pro' studios DO employ directly and indirectly as in 2nds, tuners, maint and also musicians and singers and others as in contract labor. I know of many places doing tracking, vocals, choral and strings, brass etc. Happens every day under the radar....

I have a friend in Thompson Station who told me his subdivision convenants specifically forbid recording studios in homes.

George, Classic

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Permalink Reply by Lynn Fuston on February 24, 2009 at 10:25am

I would like to thank Kurt Howell of Marshall Graphics for providing the PT system for my presentation. I forgot to say it during my presentation and, even though I ran out of time and didn't get to use it, I still appreciate him bringing it down.

And for Kurt taking the reins on the PT system during George Massenburg's vocal miking presentation instead of me. That way HIS neck was on the block instead of mine.

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Permalink Reply by Lynn Fuston on February 25, 2009 at 12:56pm

I think "Women in Engineering-Why and Why Not?" would be a great subject for another thread.

I saw Erica (UA), Linda (EARS), Kazuri (GML) and Cosette (MTSU) there, along with other females I don't know. Most trade shows feature EveAnna Manley and Samara Krugman (rounding out the short women in audio contingent along with Linda and Erica) as well as Roxanne Buchanan from AT. There ARE women in pro audio. Just not as many as men.

Is that by design? By some villainous plan? By exclusion?

I, for one, welcome women in audio. Most of the women in audio that I know in this town are not active participants in AES though. You tell me why. I don't know.

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