How I Record Part #6_I've no F-ing Idea

Robert Lang Studios Duality Room

The most attractive element of my business is its people, and the relationships built from those interactions. My business is one that will eat you alive if you are not of strong character.

My business is music capture & blending for mass delivery.

I am not and never will be a musician. I am an audio magician. In my world of audio, to quote the late George Carlin, “…I sit around and think up goofy shit”. I have been doing this job for so long now that I can now honestly say to you …I’ve got no f-kin idea of what I’m doing.

Sometimes truth hurts. It cost me a dear friend of decades. They thought of me as disingenuous when I explained that working style to them. Their mortal creative self is dying from lack of trust; it does not trust in itself or of its own mortality. Their need for an answer of "how to be a creative mixdown engineer" will never come because they are too busy looking for it.

Eric "Janks" painting with his instrument

Recording arts and science is so open to interpretation and objective thought that to say what is the best way to do any one thing is absurd. Would've, should've and could've have been all unacceptable in my world. To succumb to them denotes low portions of understanding in the people & systems of professional music capture.

Music capture engineer is just an attractive term for someone who has devoted a lifetime to reaching a deep operational understanding of their tools. The tools used for capturing, processing and delivering to a mass audience the profound emotional display of artisans. These tools are not all mechanical.

The only way to capture the show to its upmost potential is to jump in with no preconceived ideas …to be comfortable having no f-kin idea supported by decades of applicable empirical information.

Bob, the producer of the film "Baked", asked if I had any ideas for his segment about "the caddy".  I told him ..."I've no f'n idea Bob" He said "Perfect. Let the piece speak to you".