Three minute reads for artists and producers
who want to make better records

By Thomas Dulin

Hey Reader, hope you're having a great week so far. Here's this week's Take Three email.

TAKE ONE: QUICK LINKS

• Sean McConnell has started a podcast, episode 1 features Taylor McCall. Worth your time for sure. Apple Podcasts link​
• Developers in major US cities are starting to include recording studios in their residential buildings (via Financial Times)​
• Researchers at Cornell have developed a tool that integrates with Cubase and allows machine learning to build a mix of up to 20 tracks. See it here.​

TAKE TWO: A POLL

I'm working on something fun that I've wanted to build for a while, and I'm curious about something.

Don't worry - clicking an answer just opens a little window showing you the current results of the poll.

TAKE THREE: What’s Missing From My Studio? I Asked the People Who Work in It.

Buying gear is one of the most fun and most dangerous parts of running a studio.

When you love what you do, it's so tempting to think of the tools of your business as toys, and some tools are better investments than others.

Over time, I’ve landed on some simple frameworks for deciding what to buy next. If you’re building your studio, here are 3 ideas to help you figure out what should be next on your list.

1. Make a spreadsheet

This has been my north star for years.

I made a simple Google Sheet with all the gear I wanted to own, and I’ve kept updating it as I go. I still use it today!

Each row has:

• the item name
• its new price
• high and low used prices
• category (mic, preamp, speakers, furniture, etc.)
• an “order” column I can move around based on priority

I keep my Reverb Feed emails up to date and regularly check Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace for stuff I know is high on the list.

If something pops up for a great price, even if it’s further down the list, I’ll grab it. But I’m always starting my search with the top few items and the sheet helps me keep track of it all.

2. Ask people who work in your studio

A few years ago, I started bringing this question up in conversations during lunch at the studio:

“What do you think is the biggest thing lacking in my studio, gear-wise?”

I LOVE this question. It requires you to set your ego down, swallow your pride, and ask for honest feedback.

One friend replied:
“Well, since you asked… I think it’d be nice if you had more tube gear.”

He was right.

I now have a Soyuz 017 Tube Condenser and an Audioscape LA-2A with NOS tubes that have added something really special to vocals here when the tube thing is called for.

Another friend was gracious enough to directly say:
“Your headphone system isn’t great.”

Also true.

I ended up upgrading to Hear Back Pro personal mixers with digital overlays, and now artists comment all the time on how easy and fun it is to dial in their headphone mixes.

Sometimes the people you’re serving can help you prioritize better than you can on your own, you just have to be willing to ask humbly and receive feedback.

3. When in doubt, follow this order

If you’re just starting out and you're overwhelmed by it all, here’s the way I'd think about all your gear purchases:

1. Fix anything broken that’s holding you back. "Am I losing money by not buying it?"
2. Invest in tools that will unlock income or immediately raise the quality of your work. "Will buying this make me money?"
3. Chase efficiency. "Can I get more work done in less time if I buy this?"

And if you want a rough list of importance by category, here’s how I’d rank things:

• Acoustic treatment
• Monitoring
• Microphones
• Preamps
• Interfaces
• Furniture / ergonomics
• Plugins / software

Plugins are last on purpose! Not because they aren’t great tools, but because everything higher up on the list makes such a bigger difference and a microphone never needs a software update to keep working. I wish I could have back the $199 I spent several times on plugins that I never use anymore from 2016.

Your gear is a tool, not a toy or a trophy.

Prioritize like a business owner, not a collector.

If you’re building out your setup and want help thinking through your list, hit reply and let me know (briefly) what you’re considering. I’d be happy to weigh in.

And if you have more detailed problems you're trying to think through, I offer a limited number of 1:1 coaching calls every month. Check that out if you think it might be helpful.​

Until next week, happy music making, Reader.

Thomas Dulin Producer / Engineer / Mixer