Why All This Expensive Recording Gear for Music? Does it Matter?

This is a question I think about a lot. What is all this expensive recording gear? Why are we so obsessed with all this stuff? Why do I care so much about it? Does it all really matter? Will my $200 home studio setup be good enough for my music?

Record Thredwood at Bigfish Recording, San Diego

The big answer is yes and no.

What matters the absolute most in making music is the people, the ideas and the situation we put ourselves in that lend us

to making music that can move our emotions and the people around us. Beyond anything, this is what matters. People matter, talent matters. Without your beautiful talent, all it would be is noise, the air isn't all that fun to record (though apparently the amazing engineer, Shawn Everett (Brittany Howard, War on Drugs) loves to tune up air conditioner noise when bored?). People are inspiring, their ideas are inspiring and seeing how far we can push ourselves and are songs gives such incredible meaning to a day spent in the studio.

Gear is just a tool. And, we should think of it that way. Of course, I have a huge problem wanting the next mic, the next synth, another guitar, a fancy compressor - the list is so long. But why is it so long, or why is that going to a fancy studio with all the gear is so desirable? It's because great tools create great results. Better tools means creating sounds more easily, to get the job done faster, better and there are so many tools specific for different jobs (please go ask your carpenter friend how many tools they have and if quality matters!). Musicians are inspired when the sounds feel right, when it's over the top good - that is why we record, to make our music sound good, right?

Now I have mixed records that were mainly recorded on a $200 preamp/interface with a $100 mic and I understand budget limits, so I'm happy to mix it. I do want the artist to understand that there's only so much that can be done in mixing as mixing is it just that, taking what's been recorded and making the most of it. So, if the sounds are simply not all that inspiring, there's only so much further we can take it in mix - damn we'll try are best, but it could be a fight!

Headwaves recording our second record, Studio Litho, Seattle, WA.

That said, I'm so happy such a cheap setup exist. I used it for years, still have it! That means you can sit down at anytime and make demos! Like forever! You can become a better musician, songwriting, and even producer by sitting down and learning how to use a mic, your DAW and all that, what an amazing tool available to us. This is such a gift of modern technology.

But, what I do really hope is that once all the songs and ideas are shaped into a beautiful demo and we've worked with the band to get them up

Recording the Ferocious Few at Faust, Prague, CZ

to speed, let's spend time in a cool studio (cause a good sounding room is even more important than the gear), with some decent gear to get it all done and mixed well. After all, spending time with some great people in an inspiring environment leads to inspiring music, which is what we're all after.