Posted by JohnV on March 2, 2003, at 19:25:22
In reply to Re:JohnV-Can I please ask you some questions?? » JohnV, posted by bluedog on March 1, 2003, at 9:26:39
> Hi John
>
> I hope you don't mind me asking you a heap of questions? Just tell me to get lost if you don't feel like answering any of my questions!
>
> Are you a sound engineer and programmer. Do you do the above as a full time living?
>Hey, no problem! I'll try to answer as best as possible. You asked for
it..:-)Well, yep I am actually a musical instrument technician, and my main area of
'expertise' is with synthesizer and digital interface technology systems, in
particular. (Which is what midi pretty much started from.) This includes so
much, from digital drum technology to guitar sound shaping and effects. So,
it's not like I just work with what would be considered "keyboards".> Do you love what you do? It sounds a hell of a lot better than working in an office shuffling paperwork for a living.
>
> My brother is an electronic technician by training but has been driving the whole family crazy (other than myself who has already been officially diagnosed as crazy by a psychiatrist) with his constant talk of wanting to change directions into sound engineering, editing, mastering etc. He already has a great little studio set up with most of the necessary equipment.
>Well, this is difficult to answer, and in a basic sense, yes I love the creativity of what I do. But, sadly reality often doesn't mix a lot with "art". As far as my work goes, though, it is "all" exclusive contract work. I got
into the business because my entire family has been in the musical retail
business for over 40 years.(My folks started it all and have owned a large
music and instrument store here in town.) I took odd courses in sound
technology and engineering, but have no complete formal education in the
field. I guess I was, uh, born into it, and with the "who you know" thing
and experience, it became more of an appreticeship. Some of the good money I
have made was in a 'lump sum', and I have lacked a steady income in this
business. So, I am working half-time on a University degree which is
completely unrelated, because the music business is just too unpredictable.
I will continue as a "hobby", and pick up the odd job if the money is good,
but it's better to do it with a "hobby" mentality because then it is truly a
labour of love. These private schools that offer musical engineering
programs, technician programs, in honesty, cost way too much and guarantee
WAY too little. It is really "who" you know, and many, many lucky breaks.I don't mean to sound discouraging, though, and am sorry if I am a bit
cynical. The music business in general is just absolute "hell" these days,
and is also at it's lowest point in a long time not just artistically, but
record companies package and sell images, not artists.> Can you explain exactly what your job involves? I live in Australia (as does my brother) and I'd be very interested to know what sort of training and background you have that led you into your current field so that I can pass this information onto my brother. Do you know of any places in Australia that can provide the necessary FORMAL training as my brother already has the necessary informal skills that provide a solid foundation and starting point for his desired change of career.
>Ok. One is studio work, which is uaually not working with great musicians or
such, but in multimedia houses, doing commercial work for advertising
(majority of work), many cheesy t.v. shows that run once and are never to be
seen again, and the odd movie. (I never worked on any large or popular
movies, but have some friends who worked on "Death to Smoochy", which was
filmed in Toronto.) I also don't even do almost none of the composing of
course, but deliver the particular sounds ("patches" they are called) shaped
by, crunched, (which is programing) and rendered into soundbanks that are usually fit into the
sampler of a synth, and then those sounds can be played on the synth or any sampler trigger. To
develop a particular patch, though, can take weeks for one particular sound. It's like looking for a sound that you only have in your head.
There are so many ways to manipulate what often starts out as "noise".Second, when you go to see a large rock or pop concert, there is usually a
ton of technology that goes on behind and underneath (litterally!) the
stage. This is what involves computers that are the engine behind sound
samplers, added vocal sounds, many string and horn sounds, and
heck..thousands of sounds and effects most of the audience doesn't pick up
on but make an artist sound just like they do on their albums. Like in some
large IT rooms, there are stacks of hard drives and computer workstations.
Here is a page of pics with what powers (behind the scenes) your usual
rock/pop concert, besides the instruments you see an artist play.
http://www.savedbytechnology.com/main/picgallery.htm> I want to give him a good kick up the behind to stop talking about the change and to make some positive moves to actually make it happen.
>
> Thank you for your patience.
>
> warm regards
> bluedogWell, hey thanks..really. If he can do as much as possible in "hobby" fashion, that kinda takes the pressure off when you can't make a living at it. I'd tell him to get in touch with local music instrument stores, and find out if there are any local bands he can even start just by giving his time to. Once he gets his name out there, that is what counts. Even doing a small club show with 30 people is quite the complex routine. I have learn't P.A. and sound engineering for live situations as well as studio work, so it's best to know both. There is plenty to read on the web, in bookstores, and from music stores, on music technology (all aspects), and if he starts off by offering his services for free, he will get to learn a lot, quick. He does have one major advantage right now, and that is using computers in music. Entire albums are often recorded direct to hard disk these days, and I would suggest he take his time to learn the entire Pro Tools suite of technology. (I think there are about 600 pieces that make up the Le version used in a studio environment. I fell in love with computers and music when it all first came out, so anybody can learn the applications and such. Instead of using a fader or knob, you use a mouse.)
That is as much as I can offer (sorry for rambling:-) now, but it is tough to explain much of this in an email/letter format. Any "specific" questions I can help with, please let me know. Best to you..and to your brother! John.
poster:JohnV
thread:204909
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20030301/msgs/205353.html