1968 Ludwig Kit mic'd for session
Here are a few things I have learned in my 35+ years of doing this…
- It’s the singer’s band. It doesn’t really matter if you own the PA, it’s the singer’s band.
- Sometimes you’re the pigeon, sometimes you’re the statue.
- In the studio, sometimes smaller is bigger.
- An engineer (or producer) will bring the same organizational skills to your session as they bring to their own life.
- At any given time there is a pimpled-faced thirteen year old who can play better than you.
- There is always a Yoko.
- The world is run by “C” students. (thanks, Joe. T.)
- Get your guitar’s intonation checked before the session (by a pro) and borrow the best guitar you can as a back up. Sessions will grind to a halt if not.
- Poor instrument tuning or intonation will turn your Master Recording into a DEMO.
- Incredible performance and feel can turn your DEMO into a Master Recording.
- The least heard phrase in Nashville, “Have you seen the banjo player’s new Mercedes.”
- Least heard phrase in Orlando, “Lou Pearlman gave us a great deal!”
- A relative, usually Mama, finances most studios these days.
- Monitoring is everything. Make sure your monitoring system costs more than your DAW.
- If you can’t afford to use new tape, you shouldn’t be in business. (I don’t know what the modern equivalent is yet)
- Those who “can” do. Those who “can’t,” teach. (This is an old one I’ve always heard.)
- Church musicians are never as good as they proclaim.
- Be nice to everybody because you’ll see the same folks on your way up and on your way down.
- Avoid stereotypes: not every African American can play drums or has rhythm.
- Expensive instruments do make a difference.
- People who post a lot on forums read magazines more than they work.
- In music, timing is the whole ball of wax.
- People who have great rote memory skills can be incredibly stupid.
- Learn something new everyday.
- Work out your publishing arrangements (as a band) before you come into the studio.
- The goal in the music business is to not hate anyone when you’re done. (or have them hate you)
- Don’t believe anyone at Guitar Center.
- There is more to modern music than a kick drum. (especially live)
- Look at an old sailor before you get that tattoo.
- Every children’s song sounds like The Ballad of Davy Crockett.
- The low end is the hardest thing to get right.
- Change bottom heads too.
- If you can’t stand plastic-tipped drumsticks why do you like plastic beaters?
- Credits cost you nothing. Give them away liberally.
- Put two recording engineers in a room and you’ll have three opinions.
- When recording there are no rules, only principles.
- There’s no competition in pure art.
- The need for a domineering producer is directly proportional to your lack of talent.
- Engineers who have ‘tone’ in their description (such as ‘The Tone King” or Tone Miester”, etc. etc.) usually don’t get it (tone).
- You save money and time when you hire studio musicians.
- Yellow is the new red.
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Tags: rant