Radial Q3 review

Quality Does Matter

Let's talk quality. Quality costs, and quality sells. I don’t know when and why but somewhere along the way some artists and engineers are under the assumption that quality no longer matters. Maybe they are making the excuse that they don’t have the high end gear professional studios have so they shouldn’t be held to a high standard. Maybe they realized that the quality of music (mainly hip-hop) has decreased over the years and think that it's the new standard. Maybe it's because people are just too cheap to pay someone to do quality work. (Yes I said it). Now I’m not knocking anyone for not being able to pay premium prices to get work done, but there is a nice median between affordable, and good quality work. Everyone has a budget of how much they want to spend on a project, and there are plenty people out there (including myself) that can give you quality for what I would call affordable prices. It's no secret the rates studios charge has gone down over the years to due to the popularity of the home studio. And I’m sure engineering rates have dropped due to the plethora of people getting into engineering over the last decade.
When asked for some feedback on a mixtape someone wanted me to listen to I had to question the quality of it. The mixtape sounded like a bunch of raw recordings. After pointing this out the artist told me, “Well it’s just a mixtape.” I replied that mixtape songs need to be mixed to. Putting out a mixtape or album without any mixing and mastering is like showing your car at a car show that has not been washed and waxed and is covered in mud. In this analogy the mixing is the washing and the mastering is waxing. So make sure your music is washed and waxed before presenting it. Remember you only have once to make a first impression. Just like you won’t get taken seriously with a dirty car at a car show, you won’t get taken seriously without some form of quality control for your music. Now I know there are people who are just recording for fun who are not caring about the quality because for them is just a hobby. I’m speaking to those who want to release their music in hopes of making money. Or the people uploading music online trying to create a buzz. Trust me, with bad quality you will acquire a buzz for the wrong reason.  If your music is good, and has good quality, people will listen and will buy it.
Quality costs. If you expect someone to do quality work for you, expect to pay for it. Because when you get that quality product, you're going to want to sell it. Just remember, quality still matters, excuses don’t.

Welcome To 1979. An All Analog Studio

This weekend me and Darius Lyles went to the Gear Slutz 10 year anniversary party at Welcome To 1979 Studios. Welcome to 1979 is an analog studio. No Computer, no pro tools, no software. just vintage gear and tape machines galore. This studio will make you want to own a tape machine. The console is an MCI and the first one I've ever seen in person. I'm thinking of doing a session here for the experience of analog. Here are some pics I took. You can check out the studio's site at http://www.welcometo1979.com

Affordable 500 Series Modules

Alta Moda Audio recently announced their successor to the am-20, the am-25, which is a four band parametric EQ. It seems like every time you turn around there is a new 500 series module announced, but this one is listed at only $499. And has a special introductory price of $299! A few posts ago I did a write up on Lindell audio who is releasing three 500 series modules at $299. I know a lot of people complain that 500 series gear is too expensive. If a few more companies can come in at this $299-499 price point things can get interesting. Chameleon Labs is already there with the 581 mic pre for $399. And you can add Radial to this group with their Power Pre ($499) and their Komit compressor ($499). If you go $100 up you can get modules $599 like the Radial Q3 (which I own and love) and JDK audio V14. JDK audio also just announced  their 500 series pre based off the R20, and a compressor based off the R22, the V10 and V12. Likely these will both be priced $599 to match the V14. Black Lion audio is gearing up to ship their auteur pre in the 500 series format for $349. Looks like some really cool units are coming at an affordable price tag.