Hey guys,

So I'm down to the end of my semester in the Recording Technology program that I'm in (Certificate completed in August!). Anyway, I'm writing a paper entitled "Engineering Decisions: Home Project Studio vs. Professional Studio". I've got the basics down (budget, size, equipment, etc), but the last part of my paper is going to be called "Opinions from the Field". So, when you're engineering and or producing a project, when do you decide to use your home studio and when do you call in the big guns?

Thanks in advance!

one must realize that the quality possible with recording equipment located in a home space versus a recording studio space can be exactly the same given the same equipment... that said a quiet space in a basement can sound identical to an expensive studio... especially when utilizing sound stage technology such as ultimizers and certain time delay designs.

compound this desire with the interest generated with new sound shaping software designed to remove room noise, hiss and excess crosstalk and one may end up with a recording superior to a professional studio... ie... an average tec at a professional studio may create an overly hot recording that will not show errors simply because it was compressed out in the mastering process... as it stands the recording may seem first rate until further processed and distortion may show up... whereas one who concerns themselves with perfectly clean individual tracks may end up with a superior rough mix before mastering

that said... when you want to charge a high fee... a professional studio setting is desired... if its your own project... your studio, which MAY be higher quality may be used... keep in mind, if anyone in your group is in a fantasy world, they absolutely are not going to see recording in your basement as professional and the word of mouth about your venue may KILL your projected sales

Thanks 7! Anyone else? I need about one or two more opinions.

In my own chosen genre of music it isn't commonplace to go over to commercial studios because records typically only reach the sales of several thousand copies (globally). In any case I would only go hire studio time in a well-equipped studio if I needed to record live drums.

And have a friend drum for free, of course.

Novabreaker said:

Thanks, Nova!