The Dark Side of Audio Engineering

[@LexBravary]

To be fair this story could be any job. Eating crap food, overworking, and poor life balance isn't limited to the audio world. Thanks for sharing!

[@MyRackley]

No. The pressures in the music industry are great. I've worked in a recording studio.

[@LexBravary]

​@@MyRackley Never said the pressure wasn't great. I was adding I've seen a similar pattern in my friends with office jobs. It is easy to cut corners in lifestyle when you work a demanding job.

[@pavlvs_maximvs]

I totally agree. There are thousands of similar stories coming from remote software engineers, for example. Or from virtually any freelancer working with a computer.

[@sleaks414]

nah its a passion most jobs art like that

[@sboy1955]

Especially true for business owners..

[@wattage2007]

You've pretty much just described my life for about 10 years. Running a small studio, doing 10 hour days, 7 days a week and starting to dread sessions. About 7 years ago, I took a step back, did fewer sessions, ruled out ever working with rappers and became more picky about the jobs I took on. I can now have a life again.

[@Drnexxus]

lol working with rappers. He speaks the truth.

[@thedevilsadvocate5210]

is that bad? what's the buzz on rappers

[@GaryBradleymusic]

This is when a studio becomes a coffin. Been there. But there's no dark side of engineering. It's just understanding work-life balance, quality of life, and better business sense. Fully appreciate you sharing it. Others need to hear it. 😊

[@thebeatmajors_yt]

There's a dark side to everything. Don't undercut someone's personal journey to try to be "helpful"

[@GaryBradleymusic]

@thesoundmajors9858 its not undercutting. it's affirming but gaining clarity. Engineering is a process. The connotation of 'darkness' is an attribution of the person's experience. The journey or narrative is altered by the discovery of better life choices. Don't jump in when you don't have the expertise to appreciate the issue at a deeper level.

[@mikethebloodthirsty]

I knew a freind of a friend who ended up getting his dream job as a engineer in a studio. It ended up killing his passion for music, it's took him a decade to start his own music again. A lot of a commercial studio is working on music you don't really like...

[@ascgazz]

@@powerchord8971arguing that there isn’t a dark side, is obviously part of the dark side mate.

[@5050songs]

“There is no dark side of ‘engineering’ really. It’s all dark.”

[@perfectlygoodslouch5212]

This is great advice for all small business owners, I went thru all of this as well, as a Plumbing Contractor

[@QuincyKane]

Thanks for being open; there's a lot of value to learn from your story!

[@OwenAlekos-mh7yw]

A brutal notice for torrents and digital audio engineering workstation technologies: Quadrant 1 is (-x,+y), Quadrant 2 is (+x,+y), Quadrant 3 is (+x,-y), Quadrant 4 is (-x,-y). If people didn't discuss it and the acoustic physics specialists of audio engineering technology services didn't show it. The humor of people never being informed but potentially damaging so so so much. Like "clicks Q3. writes Q4. Clicks Q4. Writes Q3. Clicks file"... And it's like it's really not a quadrantillion job. A pillionaires quadrillion... Gimmicks that are priceless but potentially damaging. "Does have an audio engineering technology masters license?" "How!?" Cyber security prank of 'it really was something you could have found out and joined the influence privacy of...'. Who doesn't do a clockwise southwest quadrant four? Hmm...

[@angermanagementstudios]

So so true mate. 5 years ago I cut my working hours down by half. I only work with artists who I want to. I spend lots of time walking and cycling. I eat healthily and never, ever spend more than 8 hours at a time in the studio. Granted; I don’t make as much money but I’d much prefer good health, happiness and time with my family than more money! Great vid as always.

[@jazzylamel]

Can you get some tips on how to obtain new clients? I'm a small studio owner and just trying to keep the doors open by having at least one per day? ĺ

[@smartfacemusic]

I'm there right now. Was dropped from my label/publisher some months ago. Have been producing music full time for six years and I no longer have the motivation, drive or even desire to make music anymore. It's been incredibly hard to accept this burnout and I'm now stepping back from music for a while. Will get a "normal" job and have music as my hobby, until I have that fire and drive back. I'm scared it won't ever happen again, me working with music this way, but I know nothing is impossible and my main focus now have to be stability and health. Really sucks tho since I always identified so intensly with being "the producer".

[@RelievedMusic]

Hey man. How are you doing right now?

[@omgwtfrofltomato]

Yeah, need a checkup here.

[@dfnymusic3396]

This video is pure magic! And these standards go alongside almost any business. I was in the same boat as Jordan yet in the fitness business. I worked from 5am-9pm almost every day, I started hating exercise. Hating interacting with people and had no life. That’s the definition of a struggle. Not success Boundaries are the key to a happy life of longevity!

[@dafunkycanuck]

You're in Guelph! Right on, I live near there. Subbed.

[@IlhanYondemir]

"I was living the dream but it wasn't fun." I feel you man. Hope things get better for you. At least it's good to be aware. Just do what works out for you the best.

[@drjules888]

My father is Bruce Swedien, 5-time Grammy Award winning recording engineer and record producer and there is no dark side to working in the recording studio. You're there to create beautiful music, it's a privilege. Jesus, quit whining.

[@dmp0x]

as someone who over the last 2+ years have been on a journey to fix a lot of stuff that went wrong because i only focused on my career, all of this is just so critically important. i let myself get to 300 pounds, worked 14+ hours a day. Now today, i'm 130+ pounds lighter, i work no more than 8 hours, 5 days a week, workout regularly, eat actual real food! And by talking about any of this stuff is NOT showing you as a hypocrite. No, in fact it's demonstrating strength, and the ability to change course which so many people just refuse to do. The fixation on doubling-down on mistakes, missteps and miscalculations is quite disappointing to see in this time we are in. So yeah, eyes open wide and right the ship! Good for you! More people *need* to hear this from more people. Over and over again.

[@hardcoremusicstudio]

Thanks! And stoked to hear about your transformation

[@GenesisSoundLab]

Man this kind of message is why I keep coming back to this channel. It’s so important for any passion, not just music production, and it’s a side of things that so often gets overlooked. This channel is an absolute goldmine. Jordan, sir, you are doing some really incredible work here, I salute you.

[@chrisgreen4758]

Completely agree with all of us. I recently left a job at a studio due to similar reasons. Working 12-16 hours a day for 7 days a week for the past 5 years. Sometimes we get caught up in the end goal we want but don’t look at the life we end up creating. Leaving that job has brought me clarity and fun back to music. I love audio engineering and music production. But, I love the feeling we get from music even more.

[@hardcoremusicstudio]

Grab your free Mixing Cheatsheet to learn the go-to starting points for EQ and compression in heavy mixes: hardcoremusicstudio.com/mixcheatsheet

[@NisGaarde]

All the stuff you describe has nothing to do with audio engineering. It's just being over-worked and not taking care of yourself. This happens in almost all lines of work. Good to see you got better!

[@fclefjefff4041]

I said pretty much the same thing in a comment earlier today, but not as nicely. Characterizing this sort of thing as the "dark side" of audio engineering (or any other profession) is super dramatic and clickbaity. This is the first of this dude's videos I've seen, and it didn't make a great first impression.

[@NisGaarde]

@@fclefjefff4041 We love as humans to create narratives that we're somehow victims of something exterior. Put blame on someone or something else. That's way easier than taking responsibility. I've done it myself. But it's most often just a bunch of BS.

[@christopherharv]

Congrats on 100K subs Jordan!

[@cf5914]

In my mid 20s I had my studio essentially bought out by someone with access to millions and was tasked to run a multi-million dollar studio. I hated it. I worked all day, everyday, had no friends or personal life, and was surrounded by messed up people who just tried to take advantage of me. I walked away and have never regretted it.

[@Lilregpack]

in many ways this is my life right now

[@cf5914]

@@Lilregpack A job is still a job.

[@Lilregpack]

@@cf5914 yea in a decent place, but man running a studio sucks, and the people that make and mangae music are horrible people generally

[@cf5914]

@@Lilregpack yes! I found that the people were terrible the higher I climbed the ladder the worse they got.

[@thedevilsadvocate5210]

seems you could have exploited that situation

[@Landontewers]

This is good shit dude. Thanks for talking about this.

[@ProductionExpert]

Excellent video. We speak about this a lot, often when people hit the wall it can be too late. Great work.

[@shadimax8917]

Well done! a very important video also for music producers & artists I recently walked out of a 3 Years career as a "Ghost producer" for other DJs. Also after doing a "jerk move" on an artist while working on his project (it was around 70 % done) because i had a burnout and couldn't even force my self to complete the project. after losing the passion for what i thought my dream job would be, I had to move on to a different career. I'm currently studying to become a programmer. and now after taking a break from music and starting to look at it as a fun hobby and an art form instead of a way to make a full time living, i'm starting slowly to enjoy making my own music and performing live again. I feel other artists who want to make their art a full time career need to see this, be careful of what you're getting into, for me often working a boring part-time job with a stable income was less frustrating than doing projects with wrong-fit clients who request endless revisions and drain your mental & creative energy. You just have to find your own balance. sorry for the long comment and bad English lol greetings from Germany 😀

[@dyrkeschaefer]

I graduated from School of Audio Engineering in the early 90s. At the time, I was already working in the music industry ( not as an engineer ) and the only gigs were unpaid internships. I had bills and a paid job that I liked. So, I never ended up working regularly as an engineer. At a certain point, I was asked to help re-mix an album that the label I was working for had ready for release ( or so they thought until I listened to the final mix that the band delivered ). That was a great experience. I spent an entire week in UB40's studio in Birmingham working with a mix engineer as his assistent. By the end of the week, I had no idea what time it was anymore ( and only barely what day it was ). The studio had no daylight. That experience made me realise that, if I did ever get regular studio work, I'd have a very hard time grinding it out for 12 to 14 hours a day for days on end. Unfortunately, I never have been in a position since to even try to make a living mixing and / or recording. It's all just a pretty elaborate hobby for me.

[@DBellondatrack]

This is dope because I just went through a major crash mentally due to burnout a couple months ago. Dealing with majority rap/hip-hop acts, tracking everyday for 5+ got pretty mundane especially with the state of music quality today. I’m still recovering from the guilt of leaving so many of my die-hard clients hanging, but the tips you’ve provided helps me see foresight getting back to doing what I love eventually.

[@harishparekh1874]

I graduated from a film school in India in sound engineering in 1977. In last 45 years I have worked for 12 or more hours for almost 30 years.Now i have my studio just for Passion.It is irrelevant whether I make money from the studio as my passive income takes care of all my expenses but I can't live without my studio.I want to run it till I am fit to run it.Audio engineering has given me name fame and fortune.I have 3 kids but myself and my wife consider the studio as our 4 th child.I have got the greatest joy more than any carmal desire when I got the mix right , appreciated by one and all and made money in the good old times when audio was more of a business and less of a promotion.If i have a rebirth then also I would do audio engineering only in my next incarnation.

[@SoundEngineEar]

Good video! That happened in SAE Institute Miami, with my teachers, for them, teaching was a way of balancing the crazy Studio hours, so it was more calm and chill just to teach…nice video sir!

[@spikeafrican8797]

One day I lost it and walked out of the studio and never went back. I couldn't even listen to music for 15 years! You did better than I did! Thanks for the share.

[@BrendonKPadjasek]

hahaha loved seeing the Structures EP pop up. Great times in that little farm. Love the channel and all you do Jordan, whenever someone asks about a course to follow I always suggest yours. Keep up the great work man!

[@hardcoremusicstudio]

Yo! Thanks man

[@BrendonKPadjasek]

@@hardcoremusicstudio Thank you my man. So glad to see you doing so well on here. You definitely deserve it

[@LightsandMotion]

I relate so much. there was a time when I couldn't even go to the studio, I literally had to turn back halfway there because my throat would just seize up out of anxiety. balance is harder than it would seem at first glance

[@MrNelsonpinto]

I totally agree ... I lost my family to studio life because I simply did not have the time for them... Strangely today at 56 I still go for it, make a lot of money and donate most of it to the needy.... I simply love, what I do... there is no dark side for me today... just a shade of Grey.... But a super video Bro...the younger generation needs this ... in this fast paced world ... (wish I had this advice 20 years ago) thank you.

[@TheSafetysheep]

This is my story exactly. I was playing in 2 bands, recording bands from all over the USA. I didn’t know how to manage the business side of it well, but I loved what I did. The money never equaled the amount of hours I put in because I was obsessed with quality. Making people play well and doing everything awesome upfront. Anyway. I feel ya man. It made me age 20 years 😂

[@kelvinfunkner]

I crashed hard about 15 years ago...booking the studio up to two years in advance...but through that I also realized that the world doesn't stop if I need a break, and although lots of clients have hard deadlines that need to be met, many just created false deadlines to get their project fast tracked, which meant I lost sleep and family time, but in the end, after they got their masters, they would sit the project for another six months while they figured out artwork and release strategies...that lesson alone allowed me to relax my schedule, be selective about clients and ultimately be able to do my job again.

[@zeyawinaung9400]

Exactly what I'm experiencing at the moment, since some clients are annoyed by my tardiness and irresponsibility, which has cost me some great opportunities. I also feel that I am not as productive or creative when I am doing what I love. I don't feel like I'm improving myself, but rather getting down and having no joy. I should start getting back on track now. Gosh! Your words tell me what I'm facing and how to overcome it. Thank you so much.

[@diegooliveirabenjamin]

Great video, as I’m right now in the middle of sorting new habits in the studio, and going that step up phase

[@digitaldesigner5284]

I like to record my instruments and I also hire some musicians to participate in the recording and playing the arrangements created by me. And at the end of the recording process I hire a mix engineer to mix the whole thing. So the process is much less stressful, more fun and plural, and a very nice end result.

[@IfuAintCrocin]

This reminds me a lot of adjusting to music school. It took the enjoyment out of music and I didn’t want to do anything after classes that hindered my growth.

[@Feerlyss]

Thank you!!! This happened to me also, almost to the T. My solution was for one i took a year off, which was the riskiest move ever, then when i came back I came back as a producer, mix, master engineer and I don't touch recording at all unless it's something I really want to do and even then, it's just vocals. Good vid

[@Feerlyss]

I went from $300 a song avg to $1000+

[@niklaskarlsson550]

My 9 to 5 is usually teaching people how to become truckdrivers in sweden. All shitty experiences i have had, i put on the table. And even if people can get a bit afraid it often comes back positive. There's lots to be learned from these situations across the board. At the moment i am in the midst of a burnout. And one of my go to "medicines" is to make, produce and learn about what you talk about. A huge fan of your content. My go 2! Keep the flame going!

[@sharktree1856]

Soooo true ! It’s extremely important to have a “normal day“ with meeting friends or just go skating… and that means you need a daily working routine. It helps me a lot

[@markgueren9633]

This topic is so important! It happened to me with working in the field I was passionate about...Music production and recording is also my passion but it's also my hobby. I'm a professional Bike mechanic. And I'm also passionate about cycling and sometimes you have to take a step back so you can appreciate how lucky you are to be able to do what you love for a living. I took a year break from cycling and it just allows the passion to come back...

[@sqlb3rn]

yup, as a software engineer I no longer have any desire to make video games, which used to be my passion when this was a hobby.

[@mitchelldries6628]

a needed video... after suffering a stroke a year ago likely due to poor health choices and stress in the studio, i've taken that year to recover and truly look at what is important to me and this reinforces my new decisions. i am now ready to start again and excited to push on and learn more, yet celebrate the experience i have EARNED over decades of recording... no joke there about raising rates... once i did, more professional and serious clients started calling.

[@hritikpaul]

Man i started mixing and mastering and it turned into a full time thing . Watching this video feels like u are speaking about me

[@RockSolidStudios]

I totally went through this, so it's awesome to hear your story. I am on the back end of that journey now I think - doing things again on my terms this time

[@von_Apa]

Great sharing; I'm happy to see you in good shape!

[@BrewerShettles]

Solid video. Took a lot of courage to do this. Breakdown to breakthrough!!

[@GunnardDoboze]

I do most of my videos about film scoring etc, outside of the studio! Fresh air, the gym, all of that stuff really improve the creative spirit.

[@NibirX]

Thank you so much brother, your experience helped me a lot. I was suffering before i saw this video.

[@musikbyjh]

You’re totally right about this my brother. And this mentality goes for just about anything. I’ve done the studio engineering thing, broadcast. Touring AS a band member…most recently, my wife and I went all in on a travel KZbin channel, and now I’m doing KZbin music reactions, and I’m also an advocate for a debilitating disease that I have… along side being a professional photographer as well. Giving a workshop in about 2 hours actually! Point is…too much of ANYTHING is bad. We’ve burned ourselves out of making travel videos…and this music reaction thing has picked up FAR more than I ever thought. Luckily, we’ve found that we HAVE to take our own time away from these things and decompress. Yes, money is good…but being happy is better. When “living the dream” is more of a hassle and turns depressing….well, then you gotta change that. It’s taken a while to figure all this out…just like it did with you….but we’re much happier! Now it’s about finding the balance between it all, and keeping it enjoyable! Cheers for this video…you’re going to help a lot of people out with this. Gained a sub my brother. 🤘🏽😎🤘🏽

[@nickikonomidis5027]

I used to be an assistant/runner for a studio in LA, and there was something that the studio owner said that really bothered me. They said something like “if you require a work/life balance, you should consider another career”. I never understood that. We are not robots. We all require balance. I think a lot of studios feel like they need to grind super hard in order to make enough money, but I often hear the work of many studios, and it’s not even good. Then I think “well, no wonder they can’t charge more”. There’s usually an answer to most solutions rather than having to accept a false reality. I also wanna say that I relate to flaking on artists. I was working with a rapper (different studio), and the guy was on drugs and extremely rude. Like, I hated my guts after doing my first session with him. I was thinking to myself “is this what being an engineer is like?”. The guy asked me to record him the very next day, and at first, I said yes. But right before the session, I told him that I can’t do it because I’ll be “busy with something else” in the studio. The guy got really pissed, and I overheard him calling me a “baby” and a “bitch” to other people after I left the room. I felt like shit, but I also thought “there’s no way this is worth being treated this way”. It was my fault for saying I would do the session in the first place, but some artists do not appreciate engineers nearly enough. We are treated like second-class citizens sometimes when we are the ones who will often make or break the sound and success of the record.

[@bulletproofzest]

Great video. I’ve been wrestling with these things as I’m currently in the “friendships diminishing” stage. I’ve been feeling like burnout is on the horizon and that I need to pull back somewhat.

[@dstevemixes]

I've experienced this on a smaller scale and it can definitely effect the passion. Breaks and respectful and creative artists remind me why I enjoy working in a music studio.

[@MusicLover-jn7vw]

Thank you VERY much! Living as the King of under the underground, and it was so good to hear someone else, say what I feel, for many reasons. Sorry for your bad experience, but thanx for sharing it. Now I know I am not that "Crazy" ! I am the kind that never had a problem making 6 songs short or may be a hole idea every awake minute! Sleep, work, school/LEARN youtube.. and one day I was Emty. Its 10 years since I played as a Dj regular, and I said one day, after keeping myself of the charts on top, of the tv programs woth starz"Idol" etc.. focusing on : NOW I WILL DO THIS, FOR EVERYCOST. 24/7. Its drained me, I see that now, and after 10 000 ours in Ableton, its My Kung Fu, but, I cant Work, use it , and its like you say. This is not "The Way". Life ,... wish I learned or could see it five years ago. When I still had hair ;) and music flowing. haha. Thanx again! Good luck to everyone. The ARtist is gone, Longing for the days that have been, when I had the Record Label doing things, and I could focuse on writing, entertaining.. but Know we all have 7 jobs instead of "Just" the artist part. Well.. Pandoras Mug/Box I remember, Its hope, even if its hanging in a litle thread. My first goal is Training, and maybe maaaaybe, a little love, from someone else than my Dwarf Puffer Pies - ( PS! Make Aquarium as your hobby, and you will Catch yourself taking 15min, even when you didnt thought you could make it, standing on one foot, wondering , locked, (STRESS) beetween this or that, or another breadmilkandbananafastenergytrip to get body energi just finishing that laaaast shit. The little boy in me are crying. somewhere inside.. and sometimes out loud. I thank god, I am not resting on a Cloud. Wow.. I had a little bit to express. ;)! Best regards . Mr. Dobbalina In Norway as I say, today. I go from 128 EDM now-- to som chill, and taking my Rc Drone for a spinn. Maybe someday - I can look back and be proud, but know I dont see it that way, and for the first time, I wonder , Whas this It, after working with music from 95 - I could not make it if its like that, pistol I want incase.. Dear God. Rest - ENdorfins - family. So ,,... all you wannabiz or Real G s homies or not , take care ! this cAN be dangerous, Learn I must! -- Twisted - Yoda - Adoy Thank x3 In da place 2 Be - Someday I am coming back!

[@linkwithtrev2720]

this has been the most helpful video i think you’ve ever posted. thanks for the honesty and transparency

[@DonnDeVoreMusic]

thanks for making this video. it's hard to find a healthy balance of work and personal life in the recording studio industry. I did it 12+ hours a day from 1998-2005 in Seattle studios, never took a break. got burned out and didn't like the clients and music I was working with and I was developing health problems. good tips.

[@Averag3Jo3]

Really appreciated you sharing this, man. Hustle is good, but balance is also key!

[@MadM4F14]

Me too bro. I ve stopped in a golden cage having had no inspiration and will. So i left with my korg kronos to the carribean and now i produce instrumentals and record for myself and artists i love.

[@jongriffin2608]

Not shared enough. Been here, its hard being creative everyday especially with bands that might only just be starting out and haven’t got the chops to make an engineer or producers life easy. I think early on you need that intensive experience to figure it out - I dread the idea of graduates believing they should be where you are now, but without experiencing why at a personal level. It’s certainly important to change the lifestyle once you’ve lived it as you describe. Today, I put myself first and only do projects I want to do and work when I have good ideas, not just to clock up hours, I honestly would rather do a part-time job than work 60 hours a week in the studio again.

[@whyage3473]

Damn, thanks for sharing this, this really took a load off. I start studying audio engineering in October and I really do value a good work-life balance and I always dreaded the thought that you can only make it in this bussines if you really more or less give up your life and only work for a more or less endlessly long time. Thanks for that video.

[@melrose_avenue]

I’ve been in this position over the past few months and lately I’m definitely taking a bit more time out of office (studio), and things have opened up in my life quite a bit 🙏🏼 - Red Curl

[@leearmitage]

It's always good to show both side the good and the bad, still waiting for my first client but fingers crossed with keep pushing my web site I will get one soon, and with the help I get from Bobby Torres and yourself my mixes are getting better

[@danepaulstewart8464]

Oh MAN!!…. This was totally me in the 90’s. Same exact course of action. 🤷‍♂️

[@theCloneman5]

Wow that hit me right where I live, thank you. I‘m 22 and founded a studio with a friend two years ago. Now just to sustain it, I‘m there basically ever day, 10am to 1am. Haven‘t had a proper workout all year. Especially since me and my partner separated, I‘ve been burying myself in work I don‘t even really enjoy most of the time. Yes, there is the occasional gem in there, but even then I‘m so burnt out I can‘t really do it justice. This is horrible advertising, but it‘s true. I‘ve been taking more days off recently, moved to a new place. A soft reboot. The studio still seems like a pit trying to pull me back in when I‘m around. It‘s still hard to just call it a day and go home. How did you figure out to convince yourself you‘d had enough for the day?

[@Bazzguit]

Hey Jordan, thanks for sharing this with us, specially that jerk move. It also happened to me, not with a band but with a relationship, I lived in another city where I had no friends or family and was completely burned out, the idea of being there was so unbearable that I decided to move back to my hometown and left this relationship out of the blue. I don't see how it could have gone any other way... It's very important to bring awareness on this type of mental health issues. We tend to undervalue how much we can take until we're too late to get out of it safely.

[@goldbergermusic863]

This motivational stimulated me to start my 'summer break- from teaching kids in school- with a plan to take the next important steps in my creative projects. Thanks! And, no, I'm not an audio engineer. You reached a home musician.

[@BryanPapic]

I needed this J. Im totally feeling burned out and lost. Thanks for sharing this.

[@countvlad8845]

When I was in Transylvania I had to record the whole Russian Army. They would bring their vodka and missiles into the studio and then would just party like it was 1984. They got me to hang on the rafter by my bat toes for days on end and then take potshots at me. It was fun I have to admit. I had studied recording and production (MIA) at Fanshawe, but they never prepared me to record the entire Russian Army. Most of their producers were told to go to California without a green card and had to work in the fields picking lettuce with the Mexicans, They were poor to begin with (as most students are) and didn't know anybody. I was lucky to record the Russians because my mother knew them, and also I had saved Western civilization from the Ottoman Turks back in 1498. Anyway, I want to do the Russian Navy next but don't know how I should record them. Any tips?

[@MusicChannel-rf5zz]

Thanks for sharing. Yes sometimes a plush studio can end up giving us claustrophobic or to feel cut off from the outside world & lacking exercise. I guess a studio should be set in a sort of sun room where we can see the outside world before the psyche is jolted. Unless there is a concrete purpose in our vocation it can turn into a nightmare of burnout.A purpose driven life is essential. I use my music at church & missions & it helps a lot to find meaning in life although it may not pay much always.

[@astroversace466]

thank you of opening up and sharing this to the world. i will take this into thought as i progress in life. :)

[@TheRealCalijokes01]

Reminds me of my life as a barber and now this it’s like you have to force your self to a balance/ you ain’t never lied

[@Stevo7388]

Took me 19 years to get to that mind state. I can relate.

[@catloverextreme]

It's like you are talking about my life...I've had a long full time career as a producer/mixer and the grind has definitely grizzled me and has taken away my joy for music to some degree. I've def taken some of your advice in recent years, I very rarely ever do an in person session longer than 4 hours, i raised my rates, and I've started saying no to projects that I'm not into or where I have concerns that things will get out of hand in ways that I don't want to experience anymore. I recently did a mix for probably one of the coolest bands I've ever worked with who sought me out and after reading their extensive mix revisions and realizing that at least one of the band members was an amateur mixer with serious "demo love" I just cracked and told them "I'm sorry but I'm not the guy". It was scary but ultimately liberating. The best part is they totally understood and I think they respected the fact that I was honest with them. Thanks for this video, I needed this and I'm sure a lot of other full timers do too. ❤

[@peterwierenga3182]

Just had to take a week with nothing planned for this exact reason. Excited to work smart and make boundaries coming home.

[@diegosua52]

I was literally entering this toxic spiral.... Thanks dude, you really helped me a lot.

[@markkilley2683]

I can relate. Our mental and physical health is very important. It's also important to consider that some people we just can't work with.

[@keithbroughton4476]

Your list of tips is quite good but turning down jobs you don't want to do is my favorite. As a live mix engineer it has taken a lot of time to get to the point where I can pass on those jobs I know are a PITA or unrewarding.

[@stevekirkby6570]

Ex studio owner here... Some things I agree with like ... grow your hair :) But you have to have a certain mentality regarding work life balance (in all self-employed professions) and make sure to get down time for youe ears, sanity and outside of recording relationships. I also agree it took its toll on relationships, but not in the way you think... I had just way too many social obligations and gigs to go to, parties and eventually session singers (well one in particular) took my mind off my partner :/ But the work was great and fun. But not outstandingly profitable. Always buying new gear, and this was in the day when a drum machine and sampler cost half the price of a house. 1980's-1990's and technology finally had a big impact as more small bands just went the route of home recording. Meanwhile I was planning an upgrade to 32/48 track and trying to get backers for the desk... Gulp. Yea, finance is a big one and just became too much of a headache. Difficult to concentrate on music/recording when you are looking at the accounts. Eventually, the best move I made was to education and 23 years of doing what I loved without worries. And a good pension I am now enjoying. Totally agree with your advice. Potential and young studio owners should pay heed :)

[@sassulusmagnus]

What you have experienced is a hazard in many different occupations. It's good to hear that you learned how to set reasonable boundaries in order to recover some balance rather than letting your work run/ruin your life.

[@GrumpyGr3g]

Definitely not on the same scale as yours, but for 3 years, I worked daily for my music job. I liked it at the beginning, but times goes, I lost the passion. As you mentioned, sat for countless hours on the chair, not doing lot of exercice, having no social life… I now make a break, have a half time daily job every morning, I see people, I work outside, on a kind of physical job and it makes me feel better and on the afternoon, I can work on music projects or chill. That's all I do now. Perfect balance for my lifestyle. Took time to admit, but yeah, feels better day after day. My words, take care of yourself first, then music business will be even better.

[@ejonesss]

other factors that could have brought you down was you was asked to work on a death metal band or a song that was a very powerful story and you was asked to apply an effect similar to beatles come together witch the combination of the beat and reversed voice that sounds like shick was beginning to re enforce the meanings of the stuff in the song and you was about to "end it" in a similar way to a certain ozzy ozborne song. the song was about a drunk driving death and maybe a sound similar to the opening of beatles come together was mis interpreted as shoot and caused the kid to pull the trigger.

[@marke.desade7338]

The issue is that when you are starting and hustling hard to build your name, almost anyone with the funds gets your time. As your success builds, most fail to reduce their available work hours and increase their hourly rate or production fee. This is where a good personal manager will help identify when it is time to reduce your available work hours and raise your fee or rates. If you are good, people will pay a premium for your limited availability as opposed to choosing to work with another less expensive producer. Never under-value yourself or give your work away. If you do, people will not appreciate it and always associate you and your work as entry level.

[@FullCampColby]

A really great guy I was friends with owned a very nice studio and ended up producing some music for a band I played with. He grew , traveled a good bit and was working tirelessly in his studio on various projects. His health also suffered. He also began to drink and party with the bands he was working with. It ended up killing him. His name was JJ Crews and I miss him. My uncle is in the same biz , he doesn’t party but I can see the wear it has taken on him.

[@jult2309]

I do actual physical work Monday through Friday then dj weddings on the weekends then my free time is spent with my kids and then my music this has been going on for 3 years. People get complacent and lazy

[@disklamer]

Thanks for sharing that, all too real, it is such a big nono to /not be always on when it comes to any creative field.

[@ampinghard111]

After making 32 years worth of mistakes & spending a nice chunk of those years in deep thought, I’ve learned that the key to life and the universe is BALANCE. It doesn’t matter who you are and what you do, or even what aspect of life youre focused on, you have to have balance. Too much water kills us, not enough kills us. Things that seem like they could never be bad like hard work or studying, can be detrimental to your life and health. BALANCE IS EVERYTHING GUYS. Going surfing or playing video games actually sparks a lot of my musical inspiration, just be perceptive and open by accepting that your next musical idea could come from literally ANYWHERE.

[@Infameous_1]

Im currently going through this on a less impactful scale. Its more of an addiction. A little over two years ago i joined the rap fame app. And just recorded over a beat on my phone. I noticed the top ranked people on the app had somewhat studio quality sounds. So i have been trying to achieve that studio quality sound relentlessly to the point where in broke and have no real relationships anymore. And its like if i stop now i would just be nothing. This video helped alot to make me realize im not alone, and its a real issue i need to address. No one knows the seriousness of this. Its led to severe depression and health decline. I also have high standards in sound quality. And working with a Jlab and Chromebook this entire time has been very costly as far as my time goes. Im barely now achieving the sound i wanted. But my partner wants to keep recording and its making me feek worse because we have 100+ songs in the queue that still need work and i dream of the day I'm fully caught up and can record and work on one song at a time. So i can enjoy it again. And experience new things instead of always feeling rushed, under looked, and poor. Its a long road for me, but i know with some adjustments i can get my life back in order and still do this. I have yet to release one of my songs on rap fame. This was all just to distract me from the loss of my dad from COVID. But instead its just become volunteer work. I wish my partner understood. Or at least tried to help with the mixing instead of just wanting to record. BTW we are a rap duo just to clarify. The Twenty One Club. If you look up the twenty one club podcast you will find some old stuff before the hole i was in became pitch black.

[@JonathanGShaw]

Thanks, that was my life for a long time! Ambition can be deteriorating a decade later. Tips are spot on

[@StereoAnthony]

I did the music industry arts program at Fanshawe from 99-04. We had a number of guests come in and talk about their real world experiences and what we could look forward to working in the industry. I have a very distinct memory of a rough looking fellow who had just finished engineering and editing a Michael Jackson record talk about how unhealthy it was doing that job. Working crazy hours, sitting in dark rooms for weeks at a time, and eating fast food and having no social life. He looked really beat down. At that moment I decided I wasn't going to pursue a career in a recording studio, and keep it as a fun hobby instead to avoid anything like that happening to me. I've very grateful to have made that decision. Now I'm a live sound tech instead which I love doing.

[@hardcoremusicstudio]

Interesting theme coming up in these comments with people saying they switched from studio work to live sound and enjoy it a lot more.

[@StereoAnthony]

@@hardcoremusicstudio Not surprising I feel as its very similar. For me I found my favourite part of studio work was mixing the recorded tracks, making them sound as good as possible. With live sound its the same thing but in real time.

[@chriswftdj]

Big up man! Very honest

[@henryvirgil8188]

The Takeaway : There's this guilt of not grinding hard enough, not sacrificing enough in order to be great at being a studio engineer. So you work so hard that you start to regret living your dream once it becomes a reality. You worked so hard to get on, that you become afraid to turn it off in fear of never getting back to that point again. Perspective is a hard thing to have when you're in the midst of it all. Things move in a continuous blur, so fast that you don't take the time to enjoy it. Thanks to @HardcoreMusicStudio for shining a light on this.

[@hardcoremusicstudio]

Yup, that sums it up! Thanks man

[@Yiannis2112]

Work to live, don't live to work. No matter how much you love it, the rabbit hole's always there.

[@AMax9D]

I've been suffering from Ear and Brain fatigue, need a balance view!! Thanks for sharing your story!!

[@henrikteinelund5437]

Thank you for sharing! This is tips that are valuable for other kinds of work than inside a studio. I work as a system developer. I see these things all the time. I also have been very stressed about work and wuality. All your tips are so true! All love from me!

[@johnaweiss]

You said you recorded every local band you possibly could. That led to more opportunities. So why advise a beginner to charge high rates and be picky about clients? They have to get a start and a reputation before they can be picky and charge high rates.

[@hardcoremusicstudio]

I don't recommend that for beginners

[@johnaweiss]

@@hardcoremusicstudio My bad, i misunderstood your target audience.

[@notyetskeletal4809]

Thanks for your ten cents. I feel better about staying inside with the curtains drawn watching an 80's movie today. I know I needed it.

[@elmolewis9123]

Great advice for any self-employed individual in any walk of life.

[@MistyMusicStudio]

Great advice! I've experienced a little of the burnout a while ago and have tried a few of these things - they really do help! Investing in tools to do the work faster was a huge one for me. A 20+ input interface / mixer means you're not unplugging all the drum mics to record other things hehe

[@dfgvjnkjdsnbkjsbdvjkhdsb]

so u're a sith or a jedi?

[@loredanamassini9484]

Its pretty clear Bro

[@punkemogeekrock]

Great video! I think it's very important to schedule downtime for sure and I'm not even a pro mixer. Just life in general will burn you out. You can't grind for ever without consequence! Thanks for sharing this story and putting out great content to absorb! All the best, Brooke

[@officialcisko]

Know this feeling. The fun is in the mixing. Recording process becomes dreadful