Possible studio futures
mastering engineer is the record company now
"labels" should be partnerships between one ME and artist
ME in label capacity should offer:
- consultation on specific ways the artist's work isn't ready to make them both
money from the master they create together
- production, vocal recording or song-writing (with additional help if needed)
toward fixing identified problems
- stem masters for live, remix and artist re-production
- promotion to network of peers and hand-off to modern streaming-driven pr group
The physical studio is not irrelevant, it must however change to offer more of
what artists need -- good microphones and gear are a
given, but the space itself must be artist-first. vocal booth should be large, inviting
and have the tech capability to stream video,
take nice pics, and for the artist to directly control the session with a daw, monitor,
keyboard and mouse
there must be separate (if only psychic) producer and engineer sections
within a modern music space, the producer must occupy a
leadership space physically as well as have easy access to daw screen and "toys"
the engineer must be able to focus and accomplish difficult work without direct
distraction, but still be connected to artist/producer
whenever possible one should consider establishing these roles on ad hoc basis;
most musical situations now consist of generalists,
but at any given moment the artist, producer and engineer should embrace one role of three
The modern studio is mostly a mastering desk, with pleasant areas to add production
flourishes or record vocals.
Large amounts of live instruments should be recorded in special places "a la carte" with
equipment relevant to the date --
these happen so rarely now that they should be considered "mobile recording" which allows for
extreme creativity & inspiration
booking is built around days, not hours. wherever possible one artist will be booked per day
we must accept afterpay/klarna/etc as artist income is sporadic