| Recently an email from a high profile online guitar | | | | $600 to $12,000 to get started. |
| teacher reached my inbox. The message went on | | | | (b) Musical cost: The original role of the recording |
| to praise all the advancements in recording | | | | studio was to "capture an event" nowadays this |
| technology and "how easy" it is to create your | | | | concept has largely been replaced by the idea of |
| own home recording studio. | | | | trying desperately to "create an event". |
| While everything this guitarist said was true, it | | | | No matter how you look at it a hack guitar player |
| failed to present the whole picture, so I thought it | | | | armed with two power chords and a pentatonic |
| was about time somebody set the record | | | | scale isn't going to produce much in the way of |
| straight! (pun intended) | | | | meaningful music. |
| What follows is a list of low tech, common sense | | | | Of course that's where layers of distortion and |
| attitudes relating to the recording scene that will | | | | video clips come in ... they help distract the |
| give you the whole story. You can make up your | | | | listener, at least until they buy the CD and get it |
| own mind from there. | | | | home. |
| Myth: The myth created by the marketing people | | | | How many recent albums sound better without |
| who promote musical instruments and recording | | | | the video clip? |
| equipment to the unsuspecting public goes | | | | Reality Time: |
| something like this ... | | | | Nothing can replace hard work ... if you asked me |
| " if you buy the latest brand "X", guitar, mixing | | | | about talented players, I would have to say a |
| console, digital processor you won't have to | | | | talented player is one who has the ability to work |
| worry about learning to play the guitar ... | | | | harder than anyone else! |
| everything will just work out fine and very soon | | | | Benefits of going with reality: |
| you will be top of the charts." | | | | Nobody can take away from you the skills and |
| Of course there are variations of this myth, such | | | | knowledge that you have acquired through your |
| as "your only problem will be beating off large | | | | own hard work. |
| hoards of adoring groupies etc " ... but I'm sure | | | | Everything in life has a price ... pay the price and |
| you get the general idea. | | | | it's yours. |
| Cost of believing the myth: | | | | A hack golfer with an expensive set of golf clubs |
| (a) Financial cost: Recording studios are like a | | | | is still a hack golfer! |
| "black hole" that have the capability of swallowing | | | | I invite you to use these tips and tools when you |
| any amount of money you are prepared to | | | | play the guitar. |
| throw at them! Expect to outlay anything from | | | | |