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anonymous 17 July 2004

Hi have a small home studio that gives me great results. Folks that I record says the music sounds very professional and are very happy with the results.

New folks that I come across interested in recording invariably ask if you have Pro Tools as if nothing else will work.

Soon I will open this home studio as more of a formal money maker (side job only). I am creating a web page, have business cards and will utilize flyers and word of mouth to grow the business.

The question is, How do you get past that initial concern for pro tools? Obvisously, hearing is believing but on a web page or before you can get them to listen you must make that first impression.

Speaking to the technology side of preamps, converters and software and how my custom picked components will do as well of a job just gets me some glazed over eyes in the interested party. They certainly don't understand the recording process in terms of equipment needs but this brand name has got them like a deer in the headlights

They have the Pro Tools mania.

From a marketing perspective, how can I break that mentality on introduction (web, flyer or in person)?

Thanks
Mark

Comments

anonymous Sun, 08/15/2004 - 10:37

there's a studio here in charlotte that has done some great werk for bands such as "Jolene" "Five times down" "etheric" and others and a band i was in before "Jyn." His business is called "Catalyst Recordings."

Rob, the engineer, does not use protools. in fact he just recently brought a computer into play. his newspaper add has a statement in it that werked for him and i think should werk for you. "Quality of Pro-Tools without sacrifices"

people who are ignorant to what makes a quality recording are only ganna miss out on opportunities for themselves. pro-tools is fine, but truth be known, if you know what you're doing, it doesn't matter what your using. you're recording/mixing audio!!! it's all the same!!! a brand name doesn't matter!!)

i agree, people need to get that through their heads. just cause it's not pro-tools, doesn't make it "generic."

Thomas W. Bethel Mon, 08/16/2004 - 05:10

I met an advertising person the other day who is into media production as part of his job. We exchanged business cards and he asked me what I do. I told him mastering and restoration and video editing and post production. He said "do you have Protools?" to which I said "no" He then proceeded to lecture me on the evils of NOT HAVING A PROTOOLS RIG and asked me how I could call myself a professional without one. I informed him that for what I do a Protools rig is not really what I need. He just kept up his mantra "Protools in the only system I use and if you don't have one you can't be professional" I excused myself from his presence and left. I really thought he was a bit of a religious zelot about the whole Protools thing.

I personally think Protools is becoming a cult of users and if you don't subscribe to the Protools way of doing things you are automatically suspect which we all know is NOT the case.

My mentor who owns the most professional studio in this area is all about professionalism and does not own a Protool's rig. He does have all Fairlight consoles in his various rooms and does very well without offering Protools. His site is at (Dead Link Removed) in case you want to see a non Protools enviornment that is doing quite well.

anonymous Mon, 08/30/2004 - 10:29

Oops, wasn't watching replies after Kurt posted.

Thank you very much everyone for the input. I got some good ideas now.

My studio is ready to go, had my first customer this past weekend. He is very excited about what I have done so far, so everything is looking good.

Just need to finish that damm web site, learning as I go. This info will help me complete the content, now I need to learn how to get it hosted.

Mark

anonymous Thu, 09/02/2004 - 12:51

I use ProTools at home, and I love it, but the bottom line is, you use what works. Id simply tell the clientele that Just because ProTools has the market, it doesnt necessarily mean they are the only way to go. Using a poor analogy, you could say something like, "Theres more than one form of transportation to get from Point A to Point B".

Same with Audio, there is more than one way to make a great record, CD, what have you.

Show them what you have done. The sound and quality will speak for itself.

anonymous Tue, 09/07/2004 - 13:13

I have to use Pro Tools to be compatable with my client base. I'd use it anyway, but do feel that the hardware is over-priced due to it's popularity.

It's like an adiction. OInce you have used it for a while, even if you find something you like better, you have to keep using it to remain compatable with your own session backup files.

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