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Hi friends!
I confess that I have never been into similar situation but I would like to ask you.

The band records, edit, mix and master with you. You provide them your DAw back CD-Rs where most of the recording sessions are properly labled, edited and compacted.

Would you guys or do you guys also provide floppy disks with automation data of your digital consoles?
I mean, is this silly or is it a part of "copyright" of the engineers'arts. Supose you deliver the bulk data floppy, there you might have your board compressors, efx, etc patches. Is it fair, normal in the USa?
How do you guys analyze this?
Kevin, I would like to hear your opinion and experience with this!
Thanks

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Comments

Doug Milton Wed, 05/14/2003 - 21:08

Alecio,

I certainly think you should both return client submitted material to them and give them back ups of tape or hard drive material you’ve worked on. It’s also a good idea to make an archive copy for you to keep if you choose.

Giving clients written records of what you’ve done is a little like a restaurant giving out recipes of all their meals. A few years ago when this question came up with a client here, I looked at what the big guns were doing. Bob Ludwig’s Gateway mastering web site says that all records of processing are the property of Gateway and will not be given out.

Ultimately you must do what seems right to you…

wwittman Thu, 05/15/2003 - 09:56

This isn't a STUDIO issue, it's a MIXER issue.
If you are being paid to mix the record you might well make the case that your ART is what they pay you for and that they are not entitled to try to recreate it later at another place.

I know a good friend of mine (big name mixer) who stopped giving client's recall sheets becasue he found they would hire him for a song or two and then use "his" drum EQ on the rest of the album mixed without him.
if you want ME, hire ME, being the concept.

you could certainly make that same case with automation data.
it comes down to your relationship with the artiste in question.

KurtFoster Thu, 05/15/2003 - 11:17

ACB,
I agree with these guys.. All the raw tracks are their property but anything that you have added, mix moves, level settings and effects lists, plug in listings.. that's all your work and what they hire you for. You should be copyrighting your mixs anyway. That is pretty standard these days. Ask yourself, what could they possibly want that data for? It can only be to cut you out of the process. Why should you be required to help them do that to you? "Here, let me help you poke that in just a bit further!"

I actually would have a problem doing any more work for anyone that would have the balls to ask for that, knowing that they were looking for a way to cut my throat. People like that are only out for themselves and at some point will they f#%k you over. Protect yourself. Copyright! Kurt

Bowisc Fri, 05/16/2003 - 04:41

I usually hold the policy of not providing anything other than the final product, a 2-track mix.

Any means of getting there, to me, is considered part of the "brush strokes". I just hand over the canvas in the end, not the tools or methods of their uses.

Client is well-aware of this from the get-go. If they do want CD-R's of individual tracks, I will provide copies for additional fees.

I am discreet about giving out too many details on mixer/outboard/plug-in, without making it a conspiracy.

Bowisc