We have diversified.
We use to be a mastering and restoration operation.
Today there are too many people doing "mastering" in their bedrooms and
basements with out the necessary knowledge, equipment or listening
environment and the only thing they have going for them is that they are
cheap and are taking a lot of the business away from real mastering
houses. When the stuff sounds like gold plated doggie do do the people
who got taken either decide to do it themselves the next time OR the
don't get their stuff mastered anymore or the recording engineer straps
a limiter/compressor across the 2 buss mix and calls it mastering.
We now do video production, video restoration, on location video
recording and editing, limited run CD duplication, limited run DVD
duplication and transfers from film and obsolete video formats to DVD. I
also rebuild old Neotek and Ampex tape decks and sell equipment for
myself and others on EBAY. I also do consulting and technical support
for studios in this area.
The days of doing only one thing and making a living out of doing it are
long gone.
-TOM-
Thomas W. Bethel
Managing Director
Acoustik Musik, Ltd.
Room with a View Productions
Oberlin, OH 44074
440-775-3681
www.acoustikmusik.com
Jim wrote:
Hi Patrick,
Well, I'm with you on your mission! However most of industry (and most
of the public) probably don't agree. Consider than almost an entire
generation has been brought up thinking that hi fidelity is MP3 and ear
buds! Those of us that subscribe to analog tape and consoles, minimal
micing, high quality, "pure" audio are in a small and probably shrinking
minority. We either have a major up hill battle to fight or end up
preaching to the (small) choir. The industry is in a pretty bad place
right now and honestly, I really see things getting worse.
If I were to make any suggestions it would be to:
1. Find your little niche and work it hard. Be the best you can be as a
small fish in a slowly evaporating pond. Find like minded bands, labels,
musicians, etc. and do your best.
2. Diversify to your strengths! As Ike and Don mentioned, and I
absolutely concur, one aspect of this business no longer seems able to
put the food on the table. What else can you do? Set up high quality
home systems, produce bands, work on arrangements, fix gear, do
location recording, build widgets, so session playing, consult, whatever.
Having "love" of what you do is probably your strong point. This will
help you get going each day and keep at it. However, fiscal realities
have a way of rearing their heads. Try to think long and hard about how
else you and your business can serve any potential clients beyond your
core function and give it a shot.
Best of luck!
Regards, Jim
At 02:21 AM 1/4/2009, you wrote:
Hey guys,
long time snooper first time poster. I feel like as a community we
all have a certain amount of dedication to things sounding right,
hence the Neoteks. I was just curious how everybody is doing under
the current economic/record company circumstances. Our studio just
got under way about a year ago and I know for a fact we don't have a
good business plan, in a city with no labels, dedicated to recording
live instruments in a live room the way they sound to a human ear or a
ribbon microphone. We love what we are doing and having started with
no clients every day we book the studio is a wonder and a plus: but I
wonder if we are in some way entering a golden age where talent and
fidelity may replace the machine and marketing.
So what I am curious about is whether you all feel the high fidelity
is making a come back. Do you think 2009 will be a good year?
p.s. I love having a neotek, it's weird and has joy-sticks I have no
use for, but go++amn it sounds like what is happening on the otherside
of the glass.
p.p.s. I am totally open to the "talent is dead pro-tools is the
future" response as much as it breaks my heart I want to know how we
are all doing. I've seen too many Neoteks or studios for sale.
__patrick
------
You can unsubscribe at anytime by sending an email to
mailto:[email protected] with "unsubscribe neotek" in the message
body. If you have any difficulties, or questions --please send an email
to [email protected].
The Neotek list is lovingly hosted by Catapult Web Development. Remember
that any message or reply sent to the list will be automatically
forwarded to all subscribers.
Vive Le Neotek !
Thanks.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.10.2/1876 - Release Date: 1/5/2009 9:44 AM
------
You can unsubscribe at anytime by sending an email to mailto:[email protected] with
"unsubscribe neotek" in the message body. If you have any difficulties, or
questions --please send an email to [email protected].
The Neotek list is lovingly hosted by Catapult Web Development. Remember that
any message or reply sent to the list will be automatically forwarded to all
subscribers.
Vive Le Neotek !
Thanks.
