Blazing Heart Studios

sharpics asked:


Photo studio is something which consists of several things and is all a real set of things which include all that is needed to bring up the real photo effect. The place would be just fine if it is in the studio itself where everything is all set earlier itself. Today, the changing trends have resulted in bringing up something new in the market known as the portable photo studio.

It consists of a box where everything is set inside. The product also looks something similar to a briefcase where it is possible for you to take it along wherever you go. One special feature which is outstanding in this studio is that, it does not involve any kind of lighting. The resulting photographs would look bright and perfect by reflecting the light emerging from the camera.

There are different types of portable studios which could be easily seen in the online markets as well at the nearest stores. Portable kits are being present where the price also varies according to the size of the kit. The latest portable photo studio was brought in line by Sharpics Inc and it was known as the D-Flector.

The most important factor which makes this product stand apart is the portability feature. An innovative and creative reflective material is placed on the background. This gets activated when the photography takes place with the help of either strobe or flash as the light source which is the primary one. With this you get a plain, white and pure background.

The portable photo studio is specially made for both earning as well as to save money. You loose a lot of money if you are to waste your time. With this you can take it along wherever you are and thus expand your business and your trade.

Sharpics is extending their line in producing more trendy products which could be useful for both the common people as well as the professionals. One among them was the portable photo studio for high quality and perfect picture. Another important advantage of the studio was the deep and detailed view of the picture. It is considered to be unique and detailed whatever the object is. It includes jewelry, collectibles, gem stones or anything minute and tiny.

The portable studio is simple easy to use as everything could be done just with the touch on a switch. Special and natural lighting effects could be easily created when you are ready for the take. With this you can take photos which could possibly be published in several newspapers, magazines, eBay, brochures, websites, catalogs and all those ventures where high quality pictures are asked for.

The box in which it is available is made up of wood and it has a completely build in lighting system. Some of the specialities of the studio are shadowless true white colour lighting along with some specially designed lighting options which are colored. They include blue, red and green LED spot lights. Portable photo studio is simply the best way to ride along the professional way for taking product photographs.

http://www.sharpics.com/

Dave Buchanan asked:


Our industry is broken

I took some time to really look at the state of the professional photography industry today. I looked at it objectively as both a photographer and as a client to really try to figure out the next direction for the industry.

We know as photographers the industry is under a great deal of pressure form different sources and different reasons.

One of the most radical changes in the photographic industry is the emergence of high-quality affordable equipment. Anybody with a few grand can go pick up a high end Nikon or Canon and hang out a shingle. Yesterday they were working at the Waffle House today they are a photographer. In the past these new photographers were relegated to the sidelines because they could not produce the quality of image that the buying public required. They were snap shooters. Nothing more and nothing less.

Today those snap shooters are using the same gear the full-time professional photographer is and delivering the same basic quality.

Because the amateur-pro has none of the overhead requirements (insurance, licensing, advertising and other such business expenses) they can comfortably undercut the full-time pro from a pricing standpoint. Sometimes considerably. And their customer is happy because in their mind they saved a boatload of money.

This brings up the next issue that I see. We and a industry do not get the point that the pricing paradigm has changed. Because of the abundance of competent amateur-pros out there, full-time professional photographers, no matter of how much we scream about it are at a distinct cost disadvantage.

Let me give an example.

I do a lot of event photography. I go to the event take the pictures process them and post them for sale. My 5X7 print is 15.50 (which I have been told is way too inexpensive by my peers).

At an event recently there was a amateur-pro there who shot the same show and posted images for sale. You could tell the distinct difference in quality of capture, exposure and use of available lighting. His prints 5X7 prints were $5.00. He outsold me by more than $500 on that show.

Customers look for the big “V” word when deciding where to spend their money. VALUE is the name of the game. And value is perceived by the customer not defined by the photographer.

Even in a studio setting I have seen this value paradigm play out.

I was in a mall over the weekend. And we all have shown our professional contempt for the mall studios but have we really looked at them from a purely economic point of view?

The studio that I watched was a independent operation. Not one of the mall studios that we all know. Their packages that ranged from $12 to $36. The “portraits” were shot on green screen (that was clearly not lit properly). They offered “hundreds of backgrounds” and their output was done on an inkjet printer. Not fine art photography by any stretch of the imagination. They had the store full and there was a 2.5 hour wait for a sitting.

I was able to talk to a employee of this operation and she gave me some insights on their volume. On a weekend they will do 300 settings and about 150 through the rest of the week 450 settings a week is a astounding number. Each setting takes about 5 to 7 minutes. They have 2 camera positions to maintain that volume. They use a commercially available software package to do the chroma key.

Their target sale is 20.00 some more some less.

If we stop down and play with the numbers we can come up with a rough estimate on the profitability of this operation.

450X20 gives you $9000 gross a week and 36K a month.

What “conventional” studio would not love to have that amount of gross sales. And remember they are in a MALL location with all of the overhead attached to that.

The normal comeback for most studio owners is that these are low end customers that don’t spend money. Right answer they DON’T spend 300 bucks for a 8×10 but they DO spend money. The problem is that they want “pictures” and not “heirloom artistry that will be part of your family heritage for all time” They are a different customer that we as a industry have ignored. Moreover, we marginalize anyone that goes after that market because they are hurting OUR business. Nothing could be future from the truth.

We don’t want that customer. As professional photographers and ARTISTS that customer is beneath us. “We simply need to educate them on what quality is and they will come around” is a statement that I hear a lot … well that is poppycock they are never going to come around to our pricing mix. So we forget about that customer.

36K a month… I’d take that.

As a industry we also are guilty of positioning our product in a way that doesn’t attract customers that have a higher value threshold.

I looked at the senior portrait market as an example. Most studios advertise this just as they advertise their other services. Go to most web sites that focus on senior portraits and they are the same boring pretty piano music with the same “family heirloom” catch lines. It seems that the attitude is that we are going to overwhelm with our class to get 17 year olds that shop at Abercrombie and Fitch and would rather be online that in the real world to come in for beautiful senior portraits.

The most successful senior portrait studios have geared their marketing to that segment of the population. They get it. Many of us don’t and we wonder why we are not getting senior business. We are positioning our advertising to a traditional market that frankly hates pretty piano music.

We need to look at our customer and be much more responsive to their wants. Having a few acid treated images on your website does not make you a senior portrait studio. It is about attitude and for most of us the attitude that we project is “naptime”.

I think that for the photography industry to awaken, we have some major issues to address. We must change our pricing paradigm as it simply is not getting customers in the studio. Change our attitude. Most customers want great pictures not family heirlooms. They want to be excited and have a experience not bored to tears in studio

I think if we start there we will be well on our way to recovering a once great industry.

.

Ed Byrd asked:


A lot of musicians have started their recording careers from simple beginnings, ie, recording in their basements, a spare room or a friend’s garage. This is because recording in a professional studio is very costly, and since it will take a long time to perfect that particular cut, recording costs will just be too much. For bands who are just hoping to get the attention of potential record producers, spending a lot on renting studios will not seem like an economically viable option. Hence, most start-up bands turn to making a home studio to cut costs. It saves precious dollars and even makes the experience much more fun.

Basic Home Studio Costs

It takes triple the effort to record in your home studio: remember that you are not only a musician now; you’re also the producer of the record and the sound engineer, too. This requires some technical knowledge on both hardware and software necessary to recording. Some of the things you need to know are the tools and tricks available to you that can help you produce a better-sounding record. If you are not yet confident with your technical capabilities, better do your research first on the many things you need to know such as what type of recorder to use, what software goes best with your hardware, how to record vocals and other instruments, and how to cut, edit and mix tracks. Of course, it goes without saying that there will be some money involved here so you also need to outline your resource plan - do you buy the things you need, borrow them, or rent them? You can also find a friend who understands these things and is willing to lend a helping hand for free. Once you have these things sorted out, have comfort in the fact that you can record any kind of music with your very own home studio.

Basic Home Studio Gear

There is no shortage of music and recording supplies and these will range from the affordable to quite ridiculous. Make sure to know the specifications you need for your home recording studio prior to shopping. When you shop for these supplies, take some time and have a few options and choose one that fits your budget. You can do this shopping online and to stretch your budget, you should hunt for discounts and promotions that stores will be offering. Consider as well the warranties and maintenance services offered, as this might also be a significant cost in the future.

Basic Home Studio Long Game

As with any other difficult tasks, the first and most crucial step is committing to the task at hand. There are a few questions you should answer to have a clear picture of your end goal in mind. Be very objective when you make your initial assessment of the room you intend to convert into a recording studio. You might find out that it will take a very ridiculous amount of money to convert it into a decent studio and it may turn out that renting is far more practical. On the other hand, you can even get some profit from your home studio when you rent it out to other aspiring musicians. So, start your home studio now and have a wonderful experience like no other!

Brooke Hayles asked:


Universal Studios has become more popular each year and is known around the world. With its vast array of attractions and rides it appeals to people of every age and interest. It started in the U.S.A., but now has a global location.

How Universal Studio Came To Be

The first Universal City was officially opened in 1915 in Hollywood, CA. A man by the name of Carl Laemmle had a vision and is the one credited with giving Universal its place on the map. Before the first Universal City opened in 1915 Lawmmle’s start in the studio business began in 1906 in Chicago. This is when the first Nickelodeon theater opened and gave Laemmle his vision for the great Universal Studios.

In the beginning, Universal Studios was strictly aimed at developing the television and film industry. The Studio didn’t evolve into more of a tourist attraction until it opened its Orlando, FL location. The Florida location was an immediate hit and named the best theme park in the world. Not bad for what started as a purely functional studio atmosphere. After the Orlando success, Japan opened a Universal Studios in 2001 that was even bigger and better.

So What Can One Do At The Studios?

Each studio has its own draws and specific attractions. Depending on location, your experience will vary.

Florida

This is one of the more popular studios to visit. It houses two amusement parks, incredible rides and enthralling attractions. One of the current popular rides at the Orland location is the ‘Incredible Hulk Coaster.’ This coaster is for the daredevil in the group. It whips around at speeds up to 67 mph. An attraction that truly entertains all ages is the 4D Shrek ride. This ride takes off from the original Shrek film and allows you to be a part of the action with the ability to not only see and hear, but feel what is going on.

Since this is not Disney you won’t see Mickey or Minnie, but you will see other animal actors running and frolicking about to entertain the children. The actors have mixed performances, which include live animals; funny videos and they even ask the audience to participate!

Japan

As the baby in the group, the Japan Universal Studios has catered to shoppers by developing attraction boutiques and numerous dinning options. But not to disappoint, it has its fair share of entertaining rides and attractions.

An exclusive attraction to the Japan Universal Studios is ‘Animation Celebration.’ Children are spellbound as the creation of “Woody Woodpecker” comes to life right before their eyes.

The Japan location actually has a number of exclusive rides and attractions. For the amusement park buff, a visit to the Japan Universal is promised to captivate!

As a family vacation, Universal Studios deserves an A+. The studios have achieved the delicate balance of developing a park that offers intriguing attractions for the kids, thrill-producing rides for the teens and thoroughly entertaining attractions for the adults. A trip to the studios is well worth it and is sure to delight.

Summary:

If you are planning a family vacation, a trip to Universal Studios could take you to not only Hollywood and Orlando, but Japan! As far as amusement parks go, it’s hard to beat a park that was named ‘Best Park in the World.’ Not only will your family be entertained, but they may just learn a little something about the magic of movies.

Wayne Johnson asked:


Regarding an inexpensive but effective Home Recording Studio, the first thing to do is to carefully go over your budget, because once you get going it will be the little bits and pieces that can nickel and dime you to death. Know how much you can safely spend without putting yourself into financial jeopardy. So many people talk about getting Financial Backers but that isn’t always the best answer since they will often want the lion’s share of any rewards plus interest until the debt is paid back in full. Backers are also very impatient about repayment and don’t want to hear excuses as to why you had to pay your Rent before you pay them! When it comes to Bank loans, the Banks usually look at the Music Business as if it were smoke, something that you can see but cannot touch or hold in your hands.

They are very practical and cautious when it comes to giving out money for the Music Industry despite the incredible amount of money that is generated every year from it. Unless you have a lot of collateral to back such a loan, wait until you can show regular income from your initial endeavors first. Thinking big is fine, but starting out small and wisely is the best policy in putting together your own studio. The terms “Starving Artists” and “Starving Producers” come from the usual way of supplying your musical interests by means of a Day Job until you can wisely transition from one to the other. Almost everyone does it and there is no shame in admitting it. Only the most obnoxious of Industry Professional will criticize you for it.

The next subject to ponder is what you will use your home studio for. Is it for your own solo material, a Band, or are you planning to take on clients? Each situation can vary greatly depending upon the quality and workload you are seeking from your studio. As an example, I have worked, Managed, Recorded and Produced in 7 Recording Studios ranging from simple but effective equipment in a basement, all the way up to a current multi-million dollar Recording Facility here in Connecticut. Please note that as you move up in the degree of Studio you work in, your abilities, ears, and skills also need to improve dramatically! But the good thing is that if you start out small and determined to succeed, and keep an open mind to learning from others, you can eventually develop into whatever level you wish to as long as you can handle it. Recording Schools are invaluable for learning the Recording Industry, but they are not inexpensive, so you may wish to invest in books and videos about recording first. They can be purchased from many local Musical Instrument stores and national chains, including mail order.

Another option is to try to develop a relationship with someone experienced that can act as a Mentor, it can be invaluable to you and that person can help to further advance your career with their knowledge and influential assistance. The rule of thumb is that everyone in the business knows somebody else in the business at higher levels of power and success. But as with any Professional in any field of business, be respectful, honest, humble, tactful, and become an “invited guest” as opposed to a character that they will regret knowing! So after figuring out what level of experience you are at now and what you wish to use your studio for, it is time to start making a shopping list. If you are a beginner or even an experienced veteran, the best choices would be either a good home computer with lots of memory since there are many great programs that you can purchase along with the proper interface equipment, or purchase an all-in-one Recorder/Mixer/CD Burner unit. My suggestion is that when it comes to efficiency and cost effectiveness, the all-in-one units are outstanding and can create some wonderful results if you take your time to study and learn the functions, and then practice with them. The better ones are advisable and can range from approximately $800 to around $4000 to purchase. These units usually include extremely useful options and functions such as built in effects and editing programs, processors, mixers, and CD burners that can be very expensive if purchased separately. Since technology has improved so much over the years, these types of units can sound as if you recorded in a full blown recording studio. While they won’t replace a Professional Recording Studio with all of the bells and whistles, not to mention seriously sound-proofed recording rooms, you can purchase and own the all-in-one units for much less than the cost of recording a full CD of songs in a major studio.

To give you an example of this, while I often work in a big studio, I have my own Roland all-in-one unit and record my own clients I Manage, Song write, and Produce music for on it. This way, I don’t have to worry about paying for recording time costs or high utility bills that go hand in hand with a big studio. I can take as much time as I wish or that my clients need without watching the clock and can still get the results I want without the added pressures. Since I do know what I am doing and have a lot of experience recording and Producing, I recorded my Country Artist “Miss Marie” Wuhrer’s first CD “Bad Reputation” on it and it received airplay in approximately 75% of the US and many Record Label inquiries to boot!!! So the all-in-one units can be quite cost effective while returning professional quality results, and they are also very portable if need be. Portability can be a major plus! The next issue on the list is to get some very good recording microphones and perhaps a few stage microphones for good measure. Consider a minimum of a vocal and an instrument microphone. The recording ones are Condenser microphones and they require phantom power to operate them, which is simply a low voltage power source from 9 to 18 volts. This can come from putting batteries in the microphone or is usually included in the all-in-one units as standard equipment power supplies. The stage microphones are called Dynamic microphones and just require connection to a preamp or mixer channel input. Never run phantom power on dynamic microphones or you could easily and quickly damage them or the power source itself. Remember, if you plug the microphone into the unit and it doesn’t work in any of the channels as is, then you probably have a condenser microphone and must press the “phantom power” button to turn on the phantom power unit so the microphone will operate. Most decent condenser microphones have a Led light that comes on to show when it is in operation.

Condenser microphones are extremely sensitive and can pick up stray noises in the room so be careful when they are on during recording as to not have a very noisy environment you are working in. While it is crucial to “clean” your recorded tracks one-by-one of any stray sounds such as breathing noises BEFORE you mix them into the final result, there are times when you can’t remove excessive noise and must accept it or do the track over. Keep it quiet around you and you will save yourself a lot of time and trouble. All microphones have sensitivity specs, and to avoid a lengthy explanation here and distortion when you are recording, look for a microphone that has a 40 decibel or higher rating for sensitivity. This way, if you have a loud singer you won’t overdrive the microphone easily and get distortion in the vocal tracks. Next, you have to determine where you are going to record, especially if it is in your home. Most studios are in the basement areas and require deadening of the room to make it quiet for recording. When using an all-in-one unit, you can do most of your recording directly into the mixer/recorder without worrying about the noise you or others are making, it is all very quiet. This is especially true when using a drum machine instead of an actual Drummer and live drums! Except for vocals and live drums, you can record a full song in a bedroom while your family members or roommates are in other rooms and they won’t even hear you doing it! If you do designate a specific area, your recording room should not get too hot or too cold, and dampness is not good for any electronic equipment so be careful. When going for the cheap but effective recording studio, you can put up heavy rugs on the walls or use other deadening material to quiet down the room accordingly. Whether you are making a formal recording studio or a simple one, always remember to use Non-flammable materials to deaden the room to avoid a potential disaster.

To continue with our list, I recommend getting good headphones for yourself and some spares for others to use, as well as a headphone amplifier that will run multiple sets of headphones. For the best results, you should use the same brand and model closed back headphones which are essential for recording with live microphones. Semi-open or open-backed headphones allow the sounds coming through to be picked up and fed back into the microphone and recorder. The more isolation the headphones offer the better. Last in the chain would be a pair of powered studio monitors for playback and mixing. The best ones have the Bass ports in the front so they can be used in any location if necessary. The ones with Bass ports in the rear require a reflex action off of a wall for sound quality and this may not be practical for a home studio. As with all of the equipment I mentioned, there are many good brands and models out there and the costs vary greatly. Be ringer, Samson, and Event make some great units for home studios, and the bigger the Bass speaker i.e.: 6 or 8 inches, the better the quality of the sound you’ll get in final mixing and playback. I don’t recommend getting subwoofers until you really know what you are doing and can get a great mix on regular speakers. If you cannot mix on regular speakers, then adding subwoofers won’t help the final product and usually makes it sound horrible. And if while you are mixing your final product the dogs in your neighborhood are howling and running for cover, then Turn down the volume and back off on the Bass and high treble frequencies. If you blow out your hearing, it is gone forever. For optional equipment in your arsenal, a fairly inexpensive boom box is a great tool to have after making a mix. When I finish a mix of a song, I usually make both a CD and a cassette copy of it and play it on a good stereo, a cheap boom box, and a car radio just to see if it sounds good and fairly consistent for quality. If it sounds good on all of them, then I know that I have a good mix for the final product. I also have a separate stand alone CD burner that I can use to make copies while I am using the all-in-one unit for other songs and projects, rather than tying up the unit’s built in CD Burner for making multiple copies other than a Master copy. They cost from $200 to $500 or more, but I find it invaluable for my needs.

Other than some patch cords, spare microphone cables, telescoping microphone stands, music stands, a good comfortable rolling chair, decorating your recording room to taste, and some blank CDs to put product on, you should be able to get some very good results with your projects at a reasonable cost with these recommendations. As your skills improve, you can always upgrade your equipment and studio to fit your needs and dreams. Think toward the future career you are seeking and not just for showing off! I’ve seen some very basic equipment outdo some much more expensive setups. The main goal is to concentrate on getting good results.

Besides, as you begin to make your fortune, you can hire professional studio designers and builders to create your dream Palace. And please don’t forget to cover yourself legally if you are a Studio for hire. Write down ALL recording dates and notes about what transpired during them rather than relying on memory or hear-say, keep track of expenses compared to profits, and write down on the receipt you give the client that the final product is what he or she asked for and accepted as complete and both you and the client need to initial it. This is extremely important for every situation, but especially when a client wants to keep bad musicianship or singing on a project that you would never have kept yourself even if you were tone deaf! Once that client takes the product from you and lets friends and family criticize it accordingly, You will be blamed for letting it get out of your door like that and not the client for wanting it that way and refusing your subtle hints to change it during the recording session such as uncontrollable laughter or vomiting. If that client later chooses to sue you to get his or her money back and it goes before a Judge or Jury with NO Music Industry experience or taste, your note on the signed, dated and initialed may be all that saves you from getting ripped off and having to pay back what you legitimately earned. Good luck to all of you and God Bless. Wayne I. Johnson-Wildcard Music Productions and Artist/Model Management-Waterbury, Connecticut

Kenneth Scott asked:


Universal studio was founded by Carl Laemmle, a German Jewish and is the second oldest studio in Hollywood. He realized the potential of the moving pictures and the success of Universal Studio has proved him right.

Hollywood has been credited with many successful and memorable movies over the years. The movie industry began in the early 1900s and as of now, there are many famous studios involved in the production of movies and their brand names and logos have become familiar among people.

Of these studios, Universal studio is credited with some of the biggest hits that Hollywood has seen. It goes to the credit of Universal studio that they have been successfully able to tide over the hard times that the movie industry had to face from time to time. It started with the switch from the era of silent movies to the talkies and Universal Studio was able to manage the transition successfully.

The next issue that faced the movie industry was the breaking away of movie stars from the production houses in an effort to be more independent. This happened in the 1950s and Universal Studio again managed to pull up act together by channeling its energy into making of TV shows and movies made especially for television.

In the initial years, Hollywood was churning out low budget westerns and serials. Over time, the standards of scripts and production also improved. In the 1930s, Universal Studio released All Quiet on the Western Front, a movie based on World War I. It went on to win the Academy Award for the Best picture.

Subsequently, Universal Studios became synonymous with horror movies after they produced successful movies like Frankenstein and The Mummy and Dracula. Some of their lighthearted movies have featured memorable performances from Mae West, Deanna Durbin and WC Fields. In the 1950s, many stars including the heartthrob Cary Grant were on contract with Universal Studio. Other stars like Doris Day and Rock Hudson helped create magic with the romantic comedy Pillow Talk whereas James Stewart helped create another sensation by talking to a giant rabbit in the movie Harvey.

Universal Studio has taken risks to produce movies that had difficult subjects. These movies like the depiction of **** Germany through the holocaust movie The Schindlers List was not supposed to appeal to a larger audience. But its success took everyone by surprise. Similarly, Twelve Monkeys, a movie dealing with the subject of mental illness also received critical acclaim. And who can forget the blockbusters like the Jurassic Park and ET. It is surprising to note that Universal Studio has had hits to its credit in every decade.

Stephanie Ciccarelli asked:


When a business is in startup mode, usually the entrepreneur looks for ways to cut costs while obtaining all of the necessary objectives to run their business.

In the case of a voice talent, building a home recording studio is paramount to their success and fundamental to conducting business on a daily basis.

That being said, a voice talent entrepreneur’s highest expense when getting started is the equipment to build their home recording studio. Ideally, a professional-grade home recording studio comprises of a computer, recording and editing software, a professional microphone, a microphone stand, head phones, mixing board, speakers (to hear the balance of your mix with), and a proper room to record in. This recording studio, or room, may be a full-out sound booth or a spare bedroom depending on the resources available to the voice talent.

To give us an idea of what’s out there, professional recording studios are worth tens of thousands of dollars. The most expensive recording studios cost well over 1 million dollars to construct.

On average, a professional-grade home recording studio costs in the neighborhood of $10,000 to $25,000. Smaller project studios or freelance voice talent home studios could range between $2,500 to $5,000, brand new.

Regardless of industry sector or creative background prior to the start of an imminent voice career, the purchase of a professional-grade home recording studio is the largest, most tangible investment that will be made in the life of a voice-over career.

The equipment, once purchased by the business owner, becomes a hard asset, and if need be, can be sold in order to raise funds to purchase newer, more efficient equipment in the future.

Keep in mind that these hard assets are also subject to depreciation. In Canada, computers and electronic equipment depreciate at 50% a year. That’s quite a hefty sum, meaning that a new piece of equipment could depreciate significantly in less than 3 years.

When someone is in the market to buy gently used recording studio equipment, the odds that they will be getting a great deal and equipment in good condition are definitely in their favor. There are many places that buy and sell used equipment ranging from the local newspaper classifieds to online listings on eBay.

There is no shortage of second-hand equipment looking for a good home, that’s for certain, but how can you tell if the equipment is worth the asking price and if it will happily meet your needs?

First off, always be sure to seek out photographs of the object you are interested in. If you are networking locally with someone, setup a meeting to evaluate the equipment in person, including a test-drive of what the piece can do for you and how it operates.

Check for scratches, dents, loose items, and quality. Brand names the likes of Shure, Neumann, and Digi002 are high-end whereas a microphone from an all-purpose electronics store in the mall may be less professional.

Ask where the item was purchased, how much it was purchased for, and when it was purchased. Knowing these variables will give you the leverage you need to decide whether the price for the equipment is fair or way off base. You can also request a copy of the original receipt.

Ask for original boxes, warranties, and user guides. This documentation will prove that you are purchasing from the original owner.

Some manufacturers offer “transfer of ownership” papers allowing you to benefit from free software and hardware upgrades or promotions in the future. The serial number would then be registered under the purchasers name, thus making you eligible to receive bonuses and free upgrades by virtue of your business dealings.

Your return on investment will be evident in good usage of your equipment. As long as you are learning how to use it, you will get something out of it.

Martin asked:


There are hundreds of recording studios in London, but finding the right one for your project presents a problem due to the ‘all or nothing’ nature of the industry. With the explosion of home based set ups, many of the larger studios can not afford to continue so we are left with void, studios that are either well established larger establishments such as Abby Road and Metropolis or home set ups.

The problem for the everyday musician trying to get a high quality recording with an experienced engineer is obvious, either pay top whack for the larger studios, or risk working from a home set up and potentially come away with something you wouldn’t play to the dog!

A London based company called Apple Beam Studios is bridging the gap by building a small group of professionals who have excellent quality residential or small commercial set-ups. The focus is on the engineers themselves as Apple Beam believe, “experienced engineers combined with talented producers are what create professional results for musicians”

As well as affordable rates, they have a range of services that work well for today’s musicians such as their ‘one-stop-shop’ music video production, which offers high quality video directors for you music, something that until now has cost bands thousands of pounds to do.

Apple Beam producer Darren comments, “we are growing, but at a slow manageable speed. Our aim is to keep things consistent and to a high standard, making sure the engineers and producers are working to their own strengths. Whether you are into Hip Hop, House, Rock or Techno, the Apple Beam engineer will specialise in that particular genre”

So I guess that is the key, a ‘team’ studio environment. Could this be the answer to the ‘recording studio void’ problem? Maybe we will see more of this, groups of producers creating an alliance so as to provide better quality at lower costs. A syndicate like this can advertise more effectively and use one another’s main skills for particular sessions, instead of trying to be everything to everyone.

It used to be that a song was created by a team of people from lyricists to engineers and arrangers. Might we be seeing a modern day version of this with four or five producers working together to create a modern studio businesses?

What’s for sure is that the home studio is here to stay, and what is more important than ever for those thinking of recording is to hear examples of producers work before you pay. Make sure the songs they play you were produced within the number of hours you can afford as many producers will spend a week on a song and say, ‘this is what I can do for you’ … sure, if you can afford a week, but then you may as well have gone to Abby Road!