|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 483
Journeyman
|
Journeyman
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 483 |
Well I need mine for my sanity. With the threat of Covid19, with the California fires nearby and an orange sky with ashes everywhere, my home studio became a welcomed escape yesterday for 9 hours.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,703
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,703 |
I agree with Notes. Yep, Bob...I am running out of time to be a studio engineer...lol
The home studio is a good place to escape but real work needs to get done in a real studio.
I find it very distracting to look at a DAW, press keys on a keyboard, and play guitar.
The last California house I lived in was outside Corona, California. The day I moved in a fire came over a mountain and was stopped across the street from my new house. Air tankers were dropping that red stuff on my car!! Red sky is scary stuff.
“Amazing! I’ll be working with Jaco Pastorius, Charlie Parker, Art Tatum, and Buddy Rich, and you’re telling me it’s not that great of a gig?
“Well…” Saint Peter, hesitated, “God’s got this girlfriend who thinks she can sing…”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,504
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,504 |
To me there is a big spectrum of what is a real studio and a home studio. I have seem real studios that are top notch, and those that are simple and basic. I have seen home studio with the same features.
If your home studio is a rascal 8 track, or a cheap laptop and some co outer speaker run everything in through a $59 berhringer mixer. (What I used to have) you might get less than a pro studio results.
If your running a top flight PC or Mac, SSD hard drives, 32 gig of ram, in a dedicated space that does have sounds for the road outside the Ice maker, the HVAC coming on, the dog barking, etc. Basic sound treatments on walls top quality studio monitors. A pristine audio interface with a nice assortment of mikes and gear. You can get a very professional result.
As everyone mentioned above skills are important. If you invest in good equipment you can close that gap. Another thing is finding the effects that work for you. Finding the software that makes the process flow.
My 2 cents worth.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB 2025, Realband, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 9 32c , Melodyne 5 editor, Presonus Audiobox 1818VSL, Presonus control app.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
|
eddie1261
Unregistered
|
|
eddie1261
Unregistered
|
As we have had this discussion before I will add the same type of comment I have made in the past. This question can't be asked without also asking "What is your end game?" Do you need a CD out that shines like a perfect diamond so people will come to see you on your upcoming arena tour? There aren't but a few people here who are actually in that kind of situation. You don't need that level of engineering to play your favorite Hank Williams tunes down ta' the Iggles club.... If you have no distribution channels and dozens of rabid fans to buy 50,000 of your CDs, why waste all that money? I put out one CD and that was a bucket list thing for someone who was bogged down in cover bands his whole life and always thought he was the next Lennon/McCartney as a writer. Of course I am not. I am just some chump in Ohio with marginal talent and a massively inflated ego. I was happy to sell the 45-ish units I sold, and lost what to me is a a fair amount of money doing the thing. That in itself is relative, as losing a few hundred bucks on CD that really only mattered to me may not mean anything to someone with a mansion and his choice of Bentleys to drive down to where his yacht is docked. True fact is that I could have had George Martin and Geoff Emerick work on that CD and it wouldn't have been any better than it was. While the material mattered to me because they were stories of my life, real songwriters likely would have to stifle the laughter if they heard those songs.
In one of Tom Bukovac's videos he talks about doing a session and telling Bryan Sutton "I don't know. I just don't like anything I am playing." To which Sutton replied "Tom, THE SONG SUCKS!" That'd be me.
Another story involves some girl singer who recorded a CD in a friend's home studio. I did some work on it for him and happened to be at the house when she called to say she was picking up her CDs which had been delivered to the house because he wanted to hear the mastering. She came in, he popped a copy in, she listened for about 4 or 5 "A&R listens" of maybe 30 seconds on each song, shrieked "Oh my god! I SUCK!" threw the whole box of 100 CDs into a trash can and ran out crying. I don't remember if she even got out the door before we fell out of our chairs laughing. I mean she was TRULY awful. And then he told me how many takes he had her do on every song, and that those were the best of the bunch! And that started me laughing again.
So, a pro studio isn't necessarily a magic potion. You can suck for free at home or for hundreds of dollars per hour at Muscle Shoals. Inversely, you can also shine in a home studio. For free.
So yeah, for "real" bands, studios have a place. Otherwise it's a digital hole in a building into which you pour money.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,591
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,591 |
Though it is a fact that some once-busy music city studios are working to keep the lights on, it would be a mistake to say the growth of home studios is to blame. The former sysytemof production/distribution has been changed. It would be fair, though, to say that that cultural tastes, including pop culture, have changed. That could go back to Picasso, when people embraced other than "produced" art, and the artist became a public figure. (Then, too, there was the photo studio.)
Today's musicians are thought of as entrepreneurs, and expected to have commitments to social causes. We can see the taste change rendered by cell phone video. Perfection is not the standard. Being there at the scene of the content is. Home studio musicians are experimenters, explorers, hobbyists, and technocrats. Just look at the growth of home based video blogs on You Tube!As some of the posts on this thread suggest, we are not lookingat a choice between the two. Those great commercial studios might start thinking of being distribution points, as well, though.
That's what the Opry did.
Last edited by edshaw; 09/12/20 12:19 PM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
|
eddie1261
Unregistered
|
|
eddie1261
Unregistered
|
You can sum a lot of this up with "Then computers and the internet happened...."
I remember when bands got 1 million dollar advances to do an album. 1 million dollars. That led to them doing things like renting castles in England to record in. That studio clock runs whether you are working or playing ping pong in the rec room.
There's no better example for me personally than my working with Rog. We live 3600 miles apart, but when I send him files he has them in minutes. He works on them and sends them back usually the next day. I critique what he did, he makes changes as needed, and sends it again. Once I like the mix he pulls out that magic dust he uses to master and then I get them back one last time. We've never met, likely will never meet, but we have a fine, respectful working relationship.
A local band here in the Cleveland area (now long disbanded) went to England to have Hugh Padgham mix an album for them. And it didn't sound any better than the ones done by the local guy they usually use. We have a studio here called Suma. That was the home base for Ken Hamann, who won gold records for his work with Grand Funk. His son Paul took over when Ken passed, and every band in the area wanted to record there because he was just that good. Sadly we lost him a few years back to cancer.
Studios will always be needed but by a different demographic than in the past. A lot of "if we could only record in a real studio with a real engineer" bands will still rent studios to take their one shot at fame and fortune, but be realistic about the odds. Think about this. There are 32 teams in the NFL. That means that for the entire male workforce, there are 32 starting QB jobs. And the odds are probably better at you getting one of those jobs than being a major force in the music business.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,703
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,703 |
One of the things that come to my mind that many pro studios have that most home studios don't have is a selection of microphones. It is very easy to get thirty to fifty thousand dollars invested in microphones alone. Some studios have a lot more than that tied up in microphones.
A new Neumann U87, which is a common vocal microphone, cost over $3000 dollars. Old vintage
Neumann microphones are so sought after the price is insane.
Rooms designed for sound, isolation booths, B3 organs and other instruments , engineers with years of experience are common conditions of good studios world wide.
There are limits on everything. Money is a real issue. Home studios address part of the money issue. They provide a condition that provides a way for many people to produce music who otherwise could never afford it. There is a place for both.
I can assure you that professional recording studios are not going away anytime soon.
Billy
Billy
“Amazing! I’ll be working with Jaco Pastorius, Charlie Parker, Art Tatum, and Buddy Rich, and you’re telling me it’s not that great of a gig?
“Well…” Saint Peter, hesitated, “God’s got this girlfriend who thinks she can sing…”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 20,330
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 20,330 |
Quality Studios make a massive investment in procuring and delivering the best possible equipment. Quality sound engineers don't just happen. Years of development and skill precedes them.
When musicians wish to take advantage of the talent set and functionality that can be provided, well, it obviously comes at a price.
Indeed, there is still a relevant and warranted place for quality studios and engineers.
BIAB & RB2025 Win.(Audiophile), Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors, AKG K271 Studio H'phones
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,703
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,703 |
Platium New York  Abbey Road London  Unbelievable technology.
Last edited by Planobilly; 09/13/20 01:41 AM.
“Amazing! I’ll be working with Jaco Pastorius, Charlie Parker, Art Tatum, and Buddy Rich, and you’re telling me it’s not that great of a gig?
“Well…” Saint Peter, hesitated, “God’s got this girlfriend who thinks she can sing…”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,033
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,033 |
Unbelievable technology is right and unbelievable money too, even if you want to setup or upgrade your home studio you need only look at a music mag to see how much you can spend.
You sure can spend some serious money by just buying music equipment.
Last edited by musiclover; 09/13/20 02:05 AM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
|
eddie1261
Unregistered
|
|
eddie1261
Unregistered
|
Oh, it's quite believable. It's right there to see, thus it is believable. The quality and clarity of the channel strips in Neve consoles is beyond compare. The best part of watching Sound City is seeing Dave Grohl buy the Neve board from them He STILL will not divulge what he paid for it, but he does say that the studio paid $78k for it and they gave him a very reasonable deal on it. I still watch that movie 3-4 times a year. Great stuff.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,591
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,591 |
You can sum a lot of this up with "Then computers and the internet happened...." It has come around to another predicted stage, "on demand" radio programming. Some networks are introducing smart phone and laptop apps that permit users, for little money, now, to join a club that permits them to request custom playlists from the networks' huge databases. Goes without saying that Amazon is in this hunt, too. In the mid 90's, Bill Gates announced that Microsoft's intention was to own the copyrights of all material ever produced.
Last edited by edshaw; 09/13/20 06:41 AM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 15,423
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 15,423 |
Isn’t that what Apple Music and Spotify have been about for years? For $10 a month with Apple Music I have access to millions of songs on demand. They create weekly playlists for us and I can create one in a few seconds based on genre, song or artist. And as multi genre listeners I don’t recall ever looking for a song that wasn’t available. And since we uploaded our 400+ CD collection to iTunes years ago Apple Music has those for a reference as to our tastes in addition to our more recent listening habits. We love it.
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos are here on our website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,591
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,591 |
Thanks for the update. I've recently been listening to NPR, so when they announced the "program" badge, I thought it was something new.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2025!
We’ve expanded the Band-in-a-Box® RealTracks library with 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 449-467) across Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Pop, Rock, Country, Americana, and Praise & Worship—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Blues & World (Sets 449–455):
These RealTracks includes “Soul Jazz” with Neil Swainson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Charles Treadway (organ), Miles Black (piano), and Brent Mason (guitar). Enjoy “Requested ’60s” jazz, classic acoustic blues with Colin Linden, and more of our popular 2-handed piano soloing. Plus, a RealTracks first—Tango with bandoneon, recorded in Argentina!
Rock & Pop (Sets 456–461):
This collection includes Disco, slap bass ‘70s/‘80s pop, modern and ‘80s metal with Andy Wood, and a unique “Songwriter Potpourri” featuring Chinese folk instruments, piano, banjo, and more. You’ll also find a muted electric guitar style (a RealTracks first!) and “Producer Layered Guitar” styles for slick "produced" sound.
Country, Americana & Praise (Sets 462–467):
We’ve added new RealTracks across bro country, Americana, praise & worship, vintage country, and songwriter piano. Highlights include Brent Mason (electric guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums), Doug Jernigan (pedal steel), John Jarvis (piano), Glen Duncan (banjo, mandolin & fiddle), Mike Harrison (electric bass) and more—offering everything from modern sounds to heartfelt Americana styles
Check out all the 202 New RealTracks (in sets 456-467)
And, if you are looking for more, the 2025 49-PAK (for $49) includes an additional 20 RealTracks with exciting new sounds and genre-spanning styles. Enjoy RealTracks firsts like Chinese instruments (guzheng & dizi), the bandoneon in an authentic Argentine tango trio, and the classic “tic-tac” baritone guitar for vintage country.
You’ll also get slick ’80s metal guitar from Andy Wood, modern metal with guitarist Nico Santora, bass player Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Aaron Stechauner, more praise & worship, indie-folk, modern/bro country with Brent Mason, and “Songwriter Americana” with Johnny Hiland.
Plus, enjoy user-requested styles like Soul Jazz RealDrums, fast Celtic Strathspey guitar, and Chill Hop piano & drums!
The 2025 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2025 49-PAK!
Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Mac!
With your version 2025 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Or upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
- The 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 33 new RealTracks and 65+ new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 29 new RealTracks and 45+ new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 20 new RealStyles.
- Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
- Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
- Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
- Playable RealTracks Set 4
- RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark
- SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
- 128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
- 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
- FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
- Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
- Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
- Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
- RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®!
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 20.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Mac!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 9 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 20.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Windows!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 9 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: VST3 Plugin Support
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® now includes support for VST3 plugins, alongside VST and AU. Use them with MIDI or audio tracks for even more creative possibilities in your music production.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Macs®: VST3 Plugin Support
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: Using VST3 Plugins
Join the conversation on our forum.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums58
Topics84,397
Posts778,666
Members39,648
| |
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean