Turtlerock Forum

What makes a studio have a good vibe?
What gives a studio a bad vibe?

I'm just curious to see what you good folk like and dislike about studios.

Define vibe.

Lighting and people! No fluoros, no wankers and you'll probably have a pretty good time.

I guess I mean what aspects do you like or dislike in a studio. What makes you feel good or not so good. Are there things that make you not feel like you don't want to go back? Is it the gear or the people or things people do or don't do? I'm just trying to see what people expect in a studio from a producers perspective or from an artists perspective. What do you have to do to get it right? What are the reasons you continue to go back to the same places. I hope i have defined where I'm going with this well enough.

The owner.
Everything comes from that really.

1. The people, their attitude, and open-mindedness.

2. The room, no bad echo/reverb, bright and comfortable.

3. The equipment, good quality, well maintained, and well understood by the staff.

JMO, YMMV.

History

1. hospitality.

everyone likes going somewhere where they're offered something, when they're at a meeting, someone's home, a studio....keep cool drinks, cold water, coffee, and tea...oh, and biscuits....mmm biscuits. And obviously, like previously mentioned...be open minded and accomodation when it comes to the business end of recording.

2. Ergonomics.

I'm reading a book at the moment called the "Psychology of Everyday Things"....its great and talks about how much frustrating crap we have to deal with daily....get rid of things which dont make sense in your space, or things which you need to explain how to use...if you have guitars in a recording room, they should be there for people to play....
if you have anything tactile, make sure its something which someone can use, or that it is something which doesnt cause grief to its user or observer. This might sound left of field, but think about your space, and you might be surprised what you'd think of. If there is gear which frustrates an owner too (like annoying gear, digital racks with 2 billion menus im looking at you)...get rid of it, you'll probably be more pleasant after doing so! Simplicity as a concept has died in the ass in the modern age, we need to get back to it.

Like Chris said ..the owners

Historically If you come to my place or any place
I have ever had you get a big piece of me ..
Wether that is appropiate isn't actually my concern
Plenty of people don't work at my studios
Plenty of people do

The kinds of people that like to come to my place
Historically are not the same people that go to
Say studio 301 for instance ..
The owner of that place has a different setup
Different wants in a studio
And different clients .. Well the ones they stick to either mine or his
..
I don't think it's about gear or too much of anything
Specific .. My advice is seemily age old ..
Owning a studio is a lot like owning a yacht
It's a personal lifestyle choice ..

Your never going to make a bunch of money owning a yacht
But you will live a varied and interesting life
And at times share it with really interesting people .


Just make your studio how you like it vibe wise
If something sombody else does lights you up do it as well
If nobody else does anything like you do but it
Still lights you up
Do that too ..

Hell ..my new place is made out of floating rendered strawbales
The lights are flouros hidden behind lead lights that my mum made

I have the Allah of all man sheds out the back
My fishing boat is parked downstairs .. I am surround by my stuff
And I am there more then anywhere else in my life
That's the way it is .. Right or wrong

Oh yes I cannot remember the last time I made somebody a cup of coffee
But I am pretty sure it was back in the eighties
But I am not afraid if buying clients free lunches
Everybody smiles at a free lunch .


( coffee shop next door .. )

I agree with Rick, it has to be about the interaction with the people in the studio.

It has to be about people, if you had the best equipment money could buy and had assholes communicating with you, you would never come back.

People are the most important.

great thai restaurant across the road (rick can attest to that - he got a free lunch - which yes - everyone loves)
beer in the fridge
TIMELY (whether that be turning up to a session, or delivering a file)
great couch.
lots of nice light in the control room

i like to try and not do anything too "crazy" my place certainly has my feel on it.. but like when im on tour - i try to keep the appearance of most things pretty standard.

Friendly, easy going staff. Reasonably well maintained gear.
I've worked in studios with staff who seem uninterested and for whom any request is too much to ask. Also worked in studios where every time you want to use a mic, or some outboard, it takes an hour to get it working, or it never works.
Both are vibe killers.

The vibe of my studio has improved markedly since I stopped doing most of the sessions there.

;-0

something frightening about that joke chris

Well I think wade is cool and I'd be happy to book a session with him any day.