I Wish I Knew BEFORE Opening A Recording Studio

[@kelvinfunkner]

just like so many others here, that last point hit me square in the face. 20yrs running a facility and have only released a handful of songs...no time like the present to make a change 🙂

[@SWATTECHNOLOGIES]

Yes, I'm a musician with an IT business. My WORST referrals were from Google. "Hey dude, how much you charge?" Best referrals are from collogues or other clients...Period.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

All the time…. I always ask have you checked the website. They never end up booking.

[@adamtroy4526]

So true! Completely agree. Have a business for the last 4 years and never did socials until this year for some events and workshops.. absolutely best clients were all word of mouth. :D

[@davidbadstubner4582]

Your last point hit home big time. And I appreciate you for saying it. At age 15 I knew I wanted to be a record producer and at age 33 it’s ~25% of what I do. The remaining 75% is live sound and just straight up recording engineering gigs. Which I love too, and it pays well, but I’ve often chosen the paycheck due to financial needs. I will say that these past two years have been the first time I am completely full time with music. So there’s progress. But hearing that last point really inspires me to get back into the initial spark, which is creation. I deeply appreciate that. Thank you.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

It’s real man. I struggle with that a lot. Cheers!

[@RhythmxRecords]

I can certainly say that the final statement was by far the most accurate! It is so easy to lose yourself in the business. Taking time for yourself becomes optional, which becomes nonexistent because of the monetary gain. I've learned to take time for myself and start to prioritize my happiness within. You will feel a lot better and that will ultimately make us better engineers!

[@TheChocDonk2000]

I want to hear about how you handle awful bands. people who are the nicest ever but just cant sing/play in time etc. Be good to get some insight into that

[@DiogoSarcinelli]

The last one is HUGE and is something that inevitably happens somewhere down the road. It certainly is something that's happening to me, though I'm fighting it. Remembering my tastes, my other hobbies, learning to make and manage time in my personal life. I love my job, bit I am not my job.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Yes. 💯

[@Steakhuis]

Great video. One thing I struggled with was the side chain compression on the dialogue when the graphics popped up. The sound effect caused the dialogue to drop too low to be clearly heard.

[@OSTEODERMFL]

I’m in the process of getting a studio going and this video has helped me a lot. Thanks 🤟

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Happy to help!

[@funeralbells]

"Even if nobody shares what you create, create." ⚡👊🏾

[@RicardoNevesMusic]

Thank you. This inspired me a lot.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

My pleasure

[@CreativeMindsAudio]

Great tips! I am grateful I do all of these already. Though getting clients is near impossible right now due to my lack of a real studio situation the last few years. I know i have made every one of these mistakes early on and that's how i've learned these lessons. I would say the one I gotta do more, is play with audio and stuff more.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Same dude... same

[@TheRealCalijokes01]

What you mean play with audio

[@davidscanlan]

Not a coffee drinker but I always make myself a hot tea to watch your videos. Thank you for the wisdom!

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

I should try tea. Probably better for me

[@davidcottrell1308]

@@RecordingStudioLoser no. coffee. it's the truth.

[@TheRealCalijokes01]

I’m the other way I like working on personal stuff more but I get your reasons hope I stay passionate

[@M.Holland]

I‘m starting a studio business right now. So this videos are gold!

[@biggrime]

Great video 📹 I hate working on other people's music if I do not like the song. Yes they are paying u but it feels like a job.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Yeah, I try to block that out in the initial meetings.... but sometimes you cant catch all of it.

[@bradzillarocks]

File management is a big one for me. I come up with a method that seems good then a while later decide it isn't and come up with something else, and end up with a mish-mash of naming schemes and have to keep track of it all.

[@battmanvonrichtoven]

Awesome stuff, I have a dream to mix local artists, here where I live. But I am starting to think it might be silly for me to think about. Right now I have a very good paying job, but in the next 10 years (hopefully) I will be done. I just don't know if I will be relivent. My desire is there I record and mix as much as possible, but I don't have a local mentor to bounce stuff off of and to see where I need to improve. It can be very frustrating. I love to see the people who have done it, and made it work that is inspiring. Thanks for the great videos.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

you can still work towards it with another job. Thats the perfect spot to be in!

[@justinbowen1183]

I remember buying a pack of ernie ball strings from sweet water and they sent me a small bag of candy with them which I want aware they did and it was really cool. Plus they send me catalogues every couple of months with candy so you can go wrong. Also i bought a pack of strings and while tuning, the B string broke so I called them and explained what happened and they happily sent me another pack even though I only needed 1 which I still have the other 5 I didnt use for backup.

[@alanrothrock6282]

You said Eraser Head, I subbed and liked. “Chasing the vibe”

[@willisjefferson5886]

Chris Lewis is my Sales rep, great guy. Loved your video

[@nickchrysis8628]

Thank you sir! Great video!

[@spencerratzlaff1861]

Opening my own studio in April. Thanks these tips really helped!

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Good luck!! Check in with how it goes!

[@mattkirkhamm]

As you were saying about your file management system. Just thought. Aswell as your “dated” folders. Could have an artist folder. Which has each artist you work with. Then have shortcut folders to the dated folders where all there work is. Probably an absolute arse to figure out how to do or automate though. Especially if it’s over multiple hard drives. How do you organise it all if it’s over multiple hard drives??

[@MatthewSwasta]

I have been sucked into the Spitfire Audio world...too many options...but they're so good! The paralysis is real dude!

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Same. So good tho

[@Da1Prophessor]

I enjoyed this video. I watched you from the sideline (nonsubscriber) but now I’ve become a subscriber. Thanks for putting yourself out there.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Love it. Thanks for subscribing! Serious question. What made the difference?

[@Da1Prophessor]

@@RecordingStudioLoser It was the fact that your points were straight forward, non-pretentious, and relatable. I’ve been reluctant to step “out there” with my craft and monetize my recording and mixing because “I don’t think I’m ready,” which I’ve been saying for over 15 years. You stated facts and your points hit home. Thanks a lot.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

I appreciate that. Thanks. Gotta put yourself out there. If it fails at least fail quick and move on. Most likely it will be fine.

[@Eleusis]

wow what a blessing from the algorithm, thanks for the advice

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Lol nice to meet ya

[@Eleusis]

@@RecordingStudioLoser nice to meet you too

[@timbranniganmusic3458]

Hi, this is the first video of yours that I’ve watched. I just want to say that your humanity compelled me to hit the subscribe button. Best wishes - Tim

[@xxway2frostyxx151]

I’m in video production and this was so good to hear

[@rockinvida1960]

Great vid…many good points that even us home project studio guys can learn from.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Right on!

[@NextKindMusic]

Hair like that don’t need a hat ! Rawk on. Thanks for all the awesome videos 🤘🏼

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Lol

[@JEBJOSH]

The part of getting gear. I feel the same too. Buy the cheaper gear and immediately regret not buying the more expensive one😅. Sometime you get an expensive gear and it just collects dust too 😂😢. But most of the time getting the overkill gear I’d rather save up and wait. Cus new gear comes out or you immediately find out there was another alternative which might have been better too. It’s an unending cycle

[@NoCoverCharge]

The greatest creative things …I dare say the most original ideas come from having limited resources and using those to push the limits…that’s why early punk rock was to me still the greatest art in the world because they made so much with very limited resources! Cheers bro

[@arcticfoxstudios2018]

Ha, over-research every purchase! My wife hates that about me. Lol, I just spent an hour over researching a pencil microphone shock mount.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

I've literally done the exact same thing.

[@guyeckelberger932]

Loved this. Spot on.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Awesome, thank you!

[@didcomusic]

So true. Thanks for reminds us 🙂 And so applicable in other business as well !

[@droneswasabi]

thanks for no blasting our ears with the intro and outro music...like most of the creators do nowadays

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Ha. Don’t watch my early videos then

[@NexuJin]

You started the video without addressing the most important question I have about that coffee: What type of coffee machine should a good recording studio have? A Nespresso type of thing or a one that makes coffee from freshly grinded beans? I hear some guys talking about the importance of a coffee machine in a studio. And once one is going down that caffeine hole: should a froth machine also be mandatory present? Or what about a freezer for ice coffee? Anyway, great hearing your thoughts. Agree especially on the file management thing. A good logical hierarchy system makes working generally more pleasant and effective in any field. But I'm a beginner in the field of live mixing and making music. I have always worked with computers prior.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Lol Anything with caffeine is fine by me. I’m no coffee snob. Just an appreciative sipper.

[@RocknRollkat]

Excellent presentation, thank you ! Calling yourself 'Loser' is troubling..............................

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

It’s a reminder to myself to stay humble

[@RocknRollkat]

@@RecordingStudioLoser I understand the concept. I also understand biofeedback, servomechanisms, and becoming what you think you are. You're one of the few people on these channels that doesn't need to be reminded about humility.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

I appreciate that. However I don’t want to fall into a survivorship bias

[@RocknRollkat]

@@RecordingStudioLoser Survivorship ? Beats me, but I'll leave it at that. 🙃

[@drunit8122]

Are those the new Adams? I just got my 77's and im blown away by how accurate they are.

[@charleswelles4192]

Needed this. Thanks so much! Subscribed.

[@ericpeters0n]

Tough gig. Ran a production studio for 10 years, and it's a grind and staying in the black is challenging. Best advice here is definitely focus on making your clients ecstatic and leveraging word of mouth. Definitely had meh and dicey "walk-in" clients and clients from marketing angles.... but also got some winners and opened new communities. Best advice about being a recording engineer: "If you can do anything else, you should" Best advice about the music industry: "The best way to make a million in the music insdustry is to start with two million." ;)

[@drindy5166]

Haha... awesome. Loved reading this one 👊🤣👍 on point!

[@MoXyiD]

Super slick production value bro. Well done

[@robertmazurowski5974]

Does it make sense to rent a small space for a project studio and buy nice gear like an Apollo X8p, used MAC, a couple of mikes, good amps, cabs, a good drumset, midi keyboard synth etc to rent it out? It would be a small space for tracking, not a professional studio. I can get a 10-15 m2 space for 100-200 USD per month. The point would be so the gear would be partially paying itself off, I don't really expect much profit.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

If it suits your needs. Absolutely. Everybody gauges needs/ success differently. Sounds like it’s right in line with what you need

[@robertmazurowski5974]

@@RecordingStudioLoser thank you for answer. It is a little bit vague but after reading my comment, it is not clear. What I mean I would like to rent the studio to bands, or other musicians who know how to record themselves. Charging 10 -15 USD per hour. On a self service base renting basically, via air bnb for example.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

It’s possible. But the tough part ( not knowing your local law) would be liability insurance and theft.

[@robertmazurowski5974]

​@@RecordingStudioLoser I need to check, what is liability insurance. Theft should not a problem as one of the rules will be the person paying for rent shows me ID, and they take responsibility for what happens. Also, there will be cameras, so stealing would be stupid.

[@kenwilliams7597]

Where file management is concerned, always give the client a copy at the end of the production. Just in case....

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Yes same. If they want it. Some clients want nothing to do with the tech.

[@pyratellamarecordingstudio1062]

Sweet water is the worst. Screwed me over plenty of times. They don’t know what they’re talking about. You are the exception. Unless someone is just buying the bottom budget stuff then they’re fine.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

What happened?

[@brinepacer]

This was rad, I really enjoyed it. Curious how you got so comfortable/natural on camera? Do you have like a person in your head that you're talking to when you're speaking to your camera and thus your audience?

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

It wasn’t natural in the beginning. It’s something I work on everytime. This may be too personal. But I find it hard to relate to some in the music scene. And so I try to talk like I want to be talked to.

[@brinepacer]

@@RecordingStudioLoser totally get it, that's awesome. Thanks dude.

[@satch72]

Hey Jeremy, a while back you mentioned an app your family uses for shopping list. What was that again?

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Mealime. It’s dope! You can pay for it. But the free version is awesome. You just get some more recipes for the paid version but honestly all of them are good.

[@satch72]

@@RecordingStudioLoser thanks man. The one we’ve been using has gotten annoying so I’ll check this out!

[@3CNBprod]

thank you so much dude ! it was great . keep it up and dont give up !

[@yikelu]

Question on the "buy for the future" point ... do you find any learning value with cheap gear? As in, it helps you learn to work with limitations and imperfections. And just learning the difference in quality between the price ranges first hand so you can make choices with the confidence that you've tried alternatives? Thanks for the video!

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

That’s the Fair point. I will say it’s hard to find cheap gear that isn’t modeled after something else finding a super discount “1176“ isn’t necessarily going to do the thing on 1176 does. Sometimes that doesn’t matter… Sometimes it might be better just to use a good plug-in emulation at that point, because the other side if you’re looking at cheap outboard gear, your conversion Hass to be up to snuff now if you’re talking cheap interfaces that becomes a harder discussion. There are tons of really good cheap interfaces, but it’s more about scalability to me. Not sure if I answer the question at all. Lol.

[@yikelu]

@@RecordingStudioLoser you make really good points. Having experienced cheap outboard, I agree generally plugins are better value especially because of recall. They can still be useful at trashy character. What I was imagining was more along the lines of mics. You might learn eg, can 57s be useful as overheads? Or this 20 dollar mic I have on snare... Sure I'll replace it with an i5, but maybe it's then useful as a mic for an extra snare, or lofi.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Ahhhhh yes I understand now. Yes I think you can learn principals with lower end mics. It will force you to work hard. But at the same time a nice mice will show you what you prefer and typically represent the source more accurately. (Obviously a lot of factors at play here )

[@yikelu]

@@RecordingStudioLoser Right! That makes sense too! Like, say I try cheap ribbons on drum overheads and hate them. Was it the fact they were ribbons or the fact that they were cheap? The expense eliminates a variable.

[@yikelu]

@@RecordingStudioLoser And actually that reminds me of me learning the wrong lesson back when I first started recording. I used a cheap electret plugged into an 1/8" jack on a consumer sound card to try to record electric guitar. Sounded horrible so I concluded recording electric guitar with mics was inherently mega hard. Years later and I realize it's not actually that bad.

[@queefbros11]

I’m signing my lease tomorrow for my studio. 700$ a month for the space + utilities. I want to know one or 2 must haves for my studio. I have Neumann tlm 102. MacBook Air m2 . Volt 276.

[@queefbros11]

Which speakers + a sub do you recommend? And any other hardware (eq) compressors ( besides plugins) 🤔

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

I use focal twin 6. And the sub 6. I know those speakers really well. Whatever they are pair them with sonorworks (sound Id) If you do vocals I highly Recomened a distressor. All my gear. I use that the most.

[@queefbros11]

@@RecordingStudioLoser send exact link plz to speakers plus distresser

[@danymalsound]

I spy Control Hub in the background! Good stuff!

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

It’s so good

[@danymalsound]

@@RecordingStudioLoser agreed! My intro to it was an invitation by Maor Appelbaum to try out and promote his pack. Been collecting them ever since lol

[@KellyDavidMusic]

Great advice !

[@TWELVE-1]

Keep these type of videos coming 👏🏾👏🏾

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

You got it!

[@blckprntbyshiftedshore]

Wise words, thanks for the insights!

[@kemicalbeats7502]

Who made that beat at the end of the video????🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@eddysel10]

Great and informative video. Pls give us a studio tour.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

I’ve got a couple up already!

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

Fire Video! Thanks dude.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

🔥🔥

[@jeremy_woods]

Hey there! New subscriber and i dig your content! You mentioned being short drive to Sweetwater. I’m on the south side of Indy myself working from a home studio. This vid was super informative

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

I’m in Kokomo! Not to far! I’m in Indy a couple weekends out of the month running sound at Northview in carmel

[@jeremy_woods]

@@RecordingStudioLoser Ha! I love it! You’re church tech! I’m the online production director for Emmanuel in Greenwood. We gotta link up sometime! Northview is killer. Viva La Black shirt!

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

​@@jeremy_woods I run broadcast audio down there. I'm there this weekend! lol

[@MaxwellEdison33344]

If your a musician a producer or anyone even interested in learning about music how can you not love Sweetwater and this guy! "People know when they're being patronized"

[@markozivanovic117]

Great video! Have you started listening to music less or differently because it's your job now for a while?

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Yes I have... I got in the habit of listening analytically... so I've gotten into listening to very flowy instrumental stuff. Plini, Snarky Puppy, it snaps me into just listening for enjoyment.

[@markozivanovic117]

@@RecordingStudioLoser after being a music engineer/producer for many years I got into gaming and animated movies sound design, it's hard to enjoy stuff as I used to. Sometimes music and movies can still make me cry how beautiful it is, but most of the time I don't get the same buzz as when everything was magical because I had no idea how it was made. If you like those, you should definitely check out David Micic and Organized Chaos (Divulgence album).

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

I’ll check it out!

[@LibertyWarrior68]

Great tips.

[@kingdommindset1462]

excellent!

[@kaibassaudio3836]

Speaking of that teaser 😉. You should try out the George Lever pack and give his individual capture of the empirical labs fatso a try. Absolutely killer.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

I have a UBK modded fatso. Its freaking killer. I'll check that out

[@Whanworld]

Your sir, speak my language and therefore I subbed.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Welcome to the party

[@RobinZV1]

Ayyy Controlhub! What packs are you using?

[@alanrothrock6282]

Dude, I don’t know where you came from but you’re god level. Hire me for free.

[@noirgrime]

Great video. How are you positioning the mic for these videos? The audio is sounding clean.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

I got a new mic! I’m glad it’s working!

[@noirgrime]

@@RecordingStudioLoser what’s the new mic?

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Sennheiser mke 400

[@NoCoverCharge]

Dude if I was near you I would come record with you anyday

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Ive got RV hookups at the studio ... wink wink

[@danielwiebe2123]

Is that the C6 behind you?

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

The what?

[@danielwiebe2123]

@@RecordingStudioLoser The Waves C6 multicomp

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Ah gotcha. No. STL tones. Control hub

[@billyrayvalentine7972]

Back in my day , the 1980s, Maintenance was the killer. You could sell studio time all month and lose a weeks worth repairing tape machines or the console.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Yeah, I have a few Vintage pieces that keep me working for sure. My old Neves always need some attention. Lol

[@aussie_philosopher8079]

It's about the single worst investment one could think of. Very very expensive, on going maintenance/uprades and high risk. I worked at many studio that shut down.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Ive worked at many that haven’t shut down. Including my own. It may someday. But everything is paid for. If you look at it as just that, an investment it’s difficult make a mistake. those who max out credit cards to get fancy gear and don’t know how to use it or have a solid plan to pay it off who get in trouble.

[@charlesrocks]

As long as you own a Burl Mothership, then it’s worth it.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

agreed

[@TheRealCalijokes01]

I’m the over kill guy too

[@KUM0]

I WISH I KNEW YOU WANTED ME

[@markclason2717]

You began by saying "... part two ..." Where's Part One?

[@BojanOstojicBlackflagStudio]

thanks for the video and knowing .... are you drunk??? hehehehehehee greatings from iquique Chile

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

What? No. I filmed this at 9:30 in the morning. Lol

[@BojanOstojicBlackflagStudio]

@@RecordingStudioLoser just joking!!

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

@@BojanOstojicBlackflagStudio lol

[@jonathantaylor5020]

👀

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

That was fast

[@WebWovenWars]

💯🎶🎵🔥

[@Symphonixz]

noice

[@gabriel_facedown]

STL control hub

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

😉

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

It’s insane

[@GoodmanRecordingsTokyo]

I drank my coffee :(

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Better to have coffee and drank, then to never have had coffee at all.

[@GoodmanRecordingsTokyo]

@@RecordingStudioLoser Honestly, you I made a second cup. And then forgot about the video. Gonna watch now

[@GoodmanRecordingsTokyo]

wait I've seen this one.

[@remuerto306]

you wanted me

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Coulda made a move

[@mickeybreezy]

Also, don't waste your money buying views.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

For a studio? What aspect do you mean?

[@funkymonkey529]

You had me at billboard. 😂 I'm guessing you're probably about my age. I don't know what it is but I felt like i needed a billboard to right until you said that. Lmao I detected a Bit of disgust from experience in your voice.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

…on the list of worst mistakes I’ve made. Lol

[@kromanoidx]

I wish I knew you wanted me 🕺🪩

[@mitchmcturtle6890]

Disliked for the cup of coffee intro. Overused and just plain annoying at this point.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

I dislike you. For the same reasons.😉

[@Kyp031]

Six sigma bro.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

What?