They like my sound but not my program, so they don't want to record with me.

[TonyB]

I get that asked on occasion too and 100% of the time the band (never a single artist) was pretty amateur anyway. I didn't want to work with them and politely gave them the names of other studios.

But I agree with GB. Just do it. They don't know what Pro Toos looks like. I have a desktop wallpaper that has the Pro Tools logo prominently displayed.

I never use Pro Tools to record; always use Sonar (not that one is technically better than the other, but because I know my way around Sonar). However, sometimes I will mix in Pro Tools.

In any case most bands don't even know the difference. They believe that a "Pro Tools studio" is the only one that can make them sound good..... I got news for most of those bands I've dealt with.... CAN I HAVE MORE TALENT IN THE MONITORS PLEASE.

Bottom line: if a band is focusing on what software the studio is running, they got their priorities out of whack.

[irawan gani]

Originally Posted by garageband

Can you imagine if I told people I used Digital Performer? For most people, "Pro Tools" is almost a generic reference, anyway. Consider the expression "Pro Tooled" for describing digital audio monkey business.

I like Paul's suggestion of quickly swamping the conversation with technical jargon/concerns so they can turn their minds to the task at hand.

well, pros never tell other people which DAWs are better or worse. ive never heard anyone say one is better than the other. as long as the files are all transferable.

we use anything that works. which reminds me, propellerhead is coming up with a version that is audio enabled. i think that might shake the industry up a bit.

[garageband]

Originally Posted by TonyB

I have a desktop wallpaper that has the Pro Tools logo prominently displayed.

Holy crap, that's savvy! I've got to do that!

[irawan gani]

Originally Posted by TonyB

I have a desktop wallpaper that has the Pro Tools logo prominently displayed.

agreed. that's hot and savvy.

[jagcmos]

Just tell them that you looked at using Pro Tools, but did not like the fact you would be limited to a certain set of hardware interfaces.
While these interfaces were good, the limitations did not outweigh the advantage of having complete freedom in choosing a interface that would translate into the best possible results for my clients.

[TonyB]

Originally Posted by jagcmos

Just tell them that you looked at using Pro Tools, but did not like the fact you would be limited to a certain set of hardware interfaces.
While these interfaces were good, the limitations did not outweigh the advantage of having complete freedom in choosing a interface that would translate into the best possible results for my clients.

Now you're really talking over their heads. The folks who asked the Pro Tools question have no clue about recording, mixing, interfacing, hw, sw, etc.
In most cases I've found they need to learn their craft (i.e., vocals, performance, etc) before getting into the engineering realm.

I don't even bother anymore.

[glenlata]

ahh man there are some great suggestions in here, the pro tools wall paper is classic, and lying to them, it seems so simple but i never thought to do that, this being the 5th time this month you'd think i would have figured that out, i'm normally just an engineer as alot of them prefer to have there homeboy from down the street produce it so i normally don't talk alot just tell them if its a good take or a bad take, and little things that might help them out. Its mostly hip hop so you know how that goes, if you don't lucky you, but every rapper out there thinks they are an expert at all areas of music. even after they say this is my first time recording they go on to talk about all the stuff they know cause they heard it from there homeboys. my clients bring these guys over cause they want me to do this full time and the only way they think that will happen is if they bring me lots of business so i can quit my job. which is something i was considering until i started reading alot of you guys post on living off your studio, now i think i will stay with my 9-5. one of the reason i don't use pro tools tho is its limitations on interfaces, nothing against pro tools again like i said, i also started recording awhile back with magix's studio 7, so moving up to samplitude a while back was an easy transition for me, i know my way around that program better then i know my way around my house. thanks for the tips, i guess it is just me tho as you all seem to be smart enough not to lose business over something as small as this.

[glenlata]

yeah elastic audio is cool, a pro tools using friend of mine came over the other day all happy about it, i was like "ummm, im happy for you, but magix has had elastic audio for awhile now, if you would have used the disc and not laughed at me for handing you a cheapo program you would have known that."

ahh well i guess there aren't that many magix users out there, even on the samplitude forums there aren't that many people, well that many that post anyway.

[jclampitt]

Originally Posted by glenlata

my clients bring these guys over cause they want me to do this full time and the only way they think that will happen is if they bring me lots of business so i can quit my job. which is something i was considering until i started reading alot of you guys post on living off your studio, now i think i will stay with my 9-5.

If you can actually get enough business to quit your job, i'd say do it. i think the reason a lot of people say not to try to live off your studio is that it's really hard to get enough business from people willing to spend the money to be recorded when anyone can start recording at home nowadays. But hey if you can actually manage to make enough money to support yourself by recording then thats awesome.

[glenlata]

well i still suck at mixing anything but rap and r&b, just started listening to rock and country and stuff, just to learn to mix it, so i don't think i'm ready just yet anyway. all that is at least 6-8 months off anyway probably. got a few guys that are making major movies with music so well see.