These are things I like (in no particular order).
1. I like Old School almost always. I like New School when it isn’t ignorant.
2. I like drummers who can play to a click but don’t need to.
3. I like live show mixes that aren’t mostly kick drum.
4. I like tape. I like the smell, the sound and the visual of a recorder as big as a washing machine spinning ribbons of iron.
5. I like a clean studio without pests or vermin.
6. I like to listen to music and not look at it (whether for work or pleasure).
7. I like songwriters who are well read.
8. I like musicians who can read.
9. I like musicians who are bold enough not to have a tatoo.
10. I like well tuned drums.
11. I like guitarists who don’t have to rely on pedals.
12. I like pedals sometimes.
13. I like the excitement of musicians playing together in the studio.
14. I like any song that can be played simply on an acoustic guitar and still be recognized as a great song.
15. I like old instruments.
16. I like tube amplifiers.
17. I like musicians who know their craft.
18. I like mixing on an analog console.
19. I like cell phones turned off in the studio (even producers).
20. I like well made mics that aren’t Chinese or Austrailian.
21. I like music that doesn’t have talking in it.
22. I like musicians who can dance a whole lot better than dancers who are musicians.
23. I like to listen to music at a better quality than MP3.
24. I like assistant engineers who don’t talk much.
25. I like producers who don’t talk much.
26. I like girlfriends who don’t talk at all.
27. I like being payed in cash way better than forgetting the checkbook.
28. I like all music that isn’t elevator music.
29. I like people who know my definition of elevator music.
30. I like four string basses better than five string basses.
31. I like the mechanical noises that a real piano makes.
32. I like drummers and bass players who have decided who owns the bottom.
33. I like producers who allow me to be the engineer.
34. I like artists who allow the producer to be the producer.
35. I like singing all the choruses.
36. I like recording until I get a performance rather than trying to create a performance through editing.
37. I like #36 a lot!
38. I like great songs played well.
39. I like mastering engineers only when they make it better.
40. I like recording more songs than an album needs and dropping the stinkers.
41. I like bands that don’t fall in love with the stinkers.
42. I like bands that can recognize the stinkers.
43. I like albums with about ten songs.
44. I like recording on rainy days.
45. I like tea in the afternoon.
46. I like drummers who don’t try to play through the drum.
47. I like budgets that match ambition.
48. I like ego that matches talent.
49. I like musicians who know it’s a business.
50. I like having time to think about it.
51. I like doing business with a handshake.
52. I like not having to deal with lawyers.
53. I like great vocalists.
54. I like great songwriters better than great vocalists.
55. I like recording at 96/24 and mixing to tape or DSD.
56. I like not having to chase the demo.
57. I like mistakes when they are magical.
58. I like a studio to be quiet and cool (comfortable) at the same time.
59. I like studios that are cool. (asthetically)
60. I like the way music stores used to be.
61. I like conceptual albums.
62. I like things to be very organized.
63. I like recording music that doesn’t come with pre-dictated sound sets.
64. I like bands that don’t want to sound like Nickelback (or any other band).
65. I like jazz that isn’t Dixieland.
66. I like country music the way it used to be.
67. I like how country music is what rock used to be.
68. I like how alternative is no longer alternative when everyone is down with it.
69. I like the fact that NARAS still gives a Grammy to polka.
70. I like bands that leave their image at the door.
71. I like recording drums without triggers.
72. I like making decisions as I record and not saving them for later.
73. I like comping complete lead vocal takes.
74. I like dynamics.
75. I like deposits.
76. I like Remo heads better than Evans.
77. I like when everything serves the song.
78. I like American made drums and guitars.
79. I like people who do what they say they are going to do.
80. I like melody.
81. I like VU meters.
82. I like when song timing is revered.
83. I like the excitement of an artist’s first time in a real studio more than the complacency of a veteren.
84. I like studio musicians for what they can bring to a session.
85. I like the pizza delivery boy for what he can bring to a session.
86. I like the fact that there is no competition in true art but plenty of competition in commerce.
87. I like real music made by real musicians in real time.
88. I like how recording forum moderators don’t know the basics of recording that entry level second engineers had to know before digital recording came along.
89. I like the fact that nobody knows it all.
90. I like assistant engineers who understand that they don’t know it all.
91. I like ‘tone’, and ‘tone’ does contain midrange.
92. I like to have time for experimentation.
93. I like recording instruments knowing I won’t have to resort to using samples or modeling.
94. I like having pictures of fun times while recording.
95. I like Zildjian cymbals the best.
96. I like musicians who bring their game to the studio.
97. I like musicians who don’t bring their games to the studio.
98. I like mics that cost as much as a good vacation.
99. I like being in the studio with people I admire.
100. I like what I like.
