MapexDrummer

thanks for the feedback guys! Take it for what it is MG... he doesn't plan on charging $20 forever. He's still just starting off and gaining the experience, like ProgRock mentioned. It wouldn't make much sense to start charging $50/hr right off the bat. We'll be like the 6th or 7th band he's recorded, so he's definitely still in the learning stage. We're satisfied with what we got the amount we paid. I'm sure whatever he decides to charge in the future will still be reasonable enough for starting bands, yet sufficient enough for him to make a living doing it on his own. If his recordings sound this way right now with 15k worth of equipment, I can't wait to see what they'll sound like two years from now with another 10k invested and that much more experience.

Markets change. Industries change. Most people can fix their own PCs nowadays and don't need a technician. People lose jobs because of that. Audio engineers were lucky that gear was expensive to the point that the industry was small enough to make big profits. Thank god that is no longer true. The world is a better place because of it. well said. He's not doing bad at all for his age.. he could either work at a grocery for store for 10$/hr or do what he loves for 8 hours a day and get paid $20/hr for it. Eventually once he starts investing more into his gear and builds a better portfolio, I'm sure he'll have no problem increasing his rate to $30.00. By doing this he'll beat out the competition by far and make a pretty good living.

...Doesn't charge for mixing and mastering ...21 and lives with his parents ...something most people won't notice I'll throw a hand grenade here: You realize it's guys like this who have made it almost impossible to have a viable career as an audio engineer, don't you? Hopefully all of you are just interested in recording as a hobby, let alone spending thosuands to study it at a recording school... Try living in a major music center and keeping a roof over your head and food on the table for the $15-20 hr. you'll top out at, IF you can get work at all. There's always going to be a handful of "A-listers" who make good money, but you'd be SHOCKED at what the "A-minus" and below engineers are willing to work for, nowadays. Guys w/Gold and Platinum records on their walls... Interested in everyone's thoughts on this. MG he'll eventually start charging more as he gets more experience and buys more gear. With his current portfolio he's booked for months ahead, and his only form of advertisement is craigslist. He posts his myspace page on CL which has a player with the best songs he's mixed and mastered. Anyone who contacts him about booking gets a reply within 10 minutes. He makes 150$ a day on average doing this alone. There's studios in town with hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of recording equipment, state of the art facilities that charge $65/hr...yet they can't pull off the quality that he does. Did I mention that he provides all the instruments. He's got a maple kit already mic'd, a marshall/mesa triple rect and soon orange head. There may be some pumping issues with our songs, but overall we're happy. If we would have taken more time with it, it could have easily been resolved. and eventually it will be once we bring it to his attention. If you listen to his other recordings at myspace.com/amhstudios you'll see what I mean by "quality". I love the "north of never" demo he's got on there. He recorded the drums n bass while his friend did all the guitar tracks. I'm glad that people like him are around, it'll cause these other studios to step up their game.

I have a friend who does something similar. Working out of his parents basement, 20 bucks an hour, free mixing and mastering. As far as this guy goes...yeah the mastering job is bad. Things are pumping like crazy! The recording/mix isn't half bad, especially for the 20$ an hour. what's the best way to fix "pumping"?

I mean that the whole mix "ducks" when the kick and the snare hit because the limiter is reacting to them. It has a "squashed" feel that lacks some finesse. That tends to be the case when you take a mix and ram it into a limiter for increased volume. Though there is some disagreement here, mastering is an art form...it's very difficult to get volume and maintain the sonic integrity of the mix. That said, heck...for $20 it's just fine. Frank yeah I edited my previous post after i read the other reply.. thanks for the feedback, keep it coming!

Sounds pretty good, but it's mastered too hot. It's pumping like crazy...it also has a fatiguing feel to it...kinda peaky. How did he master it, do you know? Frank I agree, it is pumping. can't complain much for 20$/hr though and it's something that most people wont notice. As a drummer and you guys as studio engineerins/musicians it's def. more noticeable. The studio guy is 21 and lives with his parents, which is cool..good way to save money. He's pretty much just saving up to buy more gear and building up his portfolio right now. We were lucky to find him. he has a protools setup.. the software is amazing. He's really good at producing also. Check out his other recordings: www.myspace.com/amhstudios

myspace.com/memoryofamelody our studio guy is awesome. He doesn't charge for mixing/mastering. i kinda screwed up the title of this thread, but oh well.