Band Aid

Jan 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Dave Malekpour

GET TIPS ABOUT THE STEPS TO TAKE TO BUILD YOUR STUDIO AND KEEP IT RUNNING SMOOTHLY

I was a musician throughout my childhood and eventually wrote my own songs and became experienced at recording my own music. Eventually I got a 4-track recorder, then an 8-track, and eventually did a lot of recording in professional studios. While I enjoyed it, I came to the conclusion that I wouldn't be able to make the income if I wanted to stay in Boston. Also, I realized that engineers have very demanding hours — I wanted a social life.

So I got a job with a company that was selling recording studio services. They wanted someone to come in and help them be more successful in selling equipment. So I started putting that division together and spotted a niche that wasn't really tapped: combining sales and service in a comprehensive way. As I became more experienced, I realized a lot of people didn't know what to buy or what they really need. That helped me determine my own strategy, which entailed not only selling equipment, but also figuring out how it made sense as part of a system.

Why did you decide to start PADTech, your technical problem-solving service for studios?

In the past, recording studios were often giant facilities with multiple rooms and staffs. Among the staffs would be a group of technical people, perhaps a chief engineer who would be expected to know recording technology, and how to repair the console and equipment. Behind them, there would be a technical staff and assistant techs. Over time, budgets shrank and people began doing work in places that were smaller and more focused. Suddenly, the idea of a full-time technical person became inconceivable because of the associated expense.

People now work in so many different ways that are purpose-oriented and particular to their type of work flow. One day they might need an analog technician, the next a digital technician, and then maybe they need a piece of vintage gear repaired. You look at all of these things, and it becomes clear that people need the benefit of having somebody who knows their studio inside and out and is available only when they need him. What we put together with PADTech is a means for people to have the benefit of an in-house technical staff, as well as various other types of specialists.

What are some important tips you'd give to studio owners to help them maintain their studios?

One of the most important things is to keep your environment clean. People forget about things that make equipment fail — for example, a dusty environment because air-conditioning filters haven't been cleaned, or perhaps an owner allows smoking in the studio, which can leave residue in the faders and contacts and other things. You need to keep your fans, power supplies and other equipment free of dust, debris and dirt.

Secondly, and most importantly, your equipment requires ongoing maintenance. Sometimes people wait for failure to call in the technician — that is the worst time to be calling someone in. It is also the most expensive because you are paying for emergency services and also experiencing downtime. When we measure a system, we go through it channel by channel, function by function to make sure that everything in the studio is operating at an optimal level. By going through and looking at everything, whether it is every year or every month, you need to make sure you are able to deliver predictably good quality.

Your Pro Audio Design company helps people through the stages of studio ownership. From designing and constructing a studio to selecting the gear, why is it important to take the time to do the research rather than rushing to build a space quickly?

Most of us get very excited about equipment — that is part of the fun, as well as the disease of this job! But what really makes a great studio is a great space, not just the equipment in it. The environment is key — whether it is the vibe of the control room, the aesthetics of the space, how comfortable it is or how it sounds. Those things have a direct impact on how the recording will come out.

During design and construction, consider your program and what your workflow will be. You have to understand who your client base is and stay focused with your program — this may take time, but it is critical before you do any work.

Every business should have a business plan before opening its doors. Any advice for what's important to include in a commercial studio business plan?

The first thing is that you need to have a plan for maintaining your investment — maintenance is a big piece of this. Also, plan out exactly how much time you think you can really sell. Ask yourself what is realistic. Beyond that, you should have a plan for how you are going to get new business. Above all, and as I stated earlier, you need to know who you are serving. Knowing that helps you understand what kind of space to have, as well as what kind of equipment you need to buy.

What are some mistakes studio owners have made?

Sometimes people feel like they can do things on their own for cheaper rather than hiring an expert. But when you are working with an expert, you are also buying the mistakes that have been made. This experience can help you avoid a pitfall.

I recently worked on a project where the client had designed the control room themselves, and along the way they'd asked for some help on the acoustics. I told them to get professionals involved because it was a complex project. When we went to put in some of the equipment, we found that the air-conditioning system was unacceptably noisy and very distracting. Clearly, they designed it without knowing what was needed for a proper recording studio. They ended up rebuilding it, but the second time, it still wasn't good enough. Finally, the third time they had the system redesigned and built properly. When you add up everything they spent, a real professional could have provided design and oversight for the whole process at a lower overall cost.

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