by Scott
in Norton's Notebook
on 02/05/10
at 08:00 am
(0) Comments
Just F*#king Record!
I have been thinking a lot lately about how easy it is to get caught up in the ‘gear chase.’ I have often prided myself in being pragmatic about buying new equipment, holding off on the big purchases until I had enough money, but also until I had a real need for the gear itself. But it has not always been this way - I’ve had the gear chase experience too.
I have been speaking with a friend who is in the process of obtaining a bunch of new recording gear. The excitement is overwhelming – and he has kept me up to date with each new option, purchase, and arrival of the stuff that will make his record amazing! I join in the fun, offering opinions and experience with certain pieces, helping him make the “right” choices.
After about a week of this, we finally had a conversation about the fact that none of these things will actually make the record better. It will only help make the record sound better, and make capturing his performance easier. The fact that a room is filled with the best stuff on earth (sorry Snapple) doesn’t make a song superior. Good equipment helps the process along, making the session smoother. It doesn’t make the lyric stand out, or cause the poorly composed bridge to shine.
We all have heard people talk about being able to make a great record with just a few SM 57s. Ideal? No. True? Yes. I personally like having choices, options and variety. But at the heart of this conversation lies the practical reality - it is absolutely true that you can make a great record with just basic mics.
Here is my point...the focus that we put on gear is staggering. I have witnessed many sessions comprised of engineers who are not listening to the track. They’re not concentrating on the vibe of the song, or what the vocalist is really trying to convey. Sometimes, they don’t even know the name of the bass player! I have been guilty of this in the past. It is not something I am proud of.
Many years ago, I realized that all the gear in the world would not lead to me making a better record. I need to be in the moment of the song, recognize the intricacies of the band, soothe the personality of the singer (almost always). Without these things, all the gear in the world will not make me a better engineer. Figuring out a balance between gear lust and focus on the task at hand is paramount. Loving and craving gear is what makes us human. Learning to work efficiently and smoothly, with what we are given, is what makes us engineers.
