Tell me something about that fancy new plugin or microphone you want to buy: how well do you know your current gear? If you’re like many people, you probably have only used your current gear for one or two projects and you already want to buy something else. You’re looking for that elusive magic bullet. Instead you should be learning your gear.
Owning Does Not Equal Knowing
Here’s something to consider. Just because you own a certain piece of gear (hardware or software) doesn’t mean you really know it. Just because a certain mic preamp or plugin has been sitting in your studio for two years does not mean it has been put through its paces. And if you don’t really use your gear enough, how can you ever know what it truly is capable of?
You can’t, that’s the issue. Just simply buying a set of studio monitors doesn’t mean you will know how they sound in your room instantly. Or how they will affect your mixes after an afternoon. It takes time to learn gear, which means you really aren’t in a position to give an opinion on something unless you’ve used it enough.
The 3 Project Rule
Something that I’ve loosely been following in my own studio adventures is what I call the 3 project rule. Simply put, until I have used a piece of gear on three complete projects (generally EPs or albums) I can’t come to a conclusion about its worth in my studio. This goes for audio interfaces, studio monitors, plugins, microphones, etc. I try to use any new piece of gear on at least 3 projects before I have an official opinion.
This does two things for me. First it keeps me from buying something to replace something I already have. If I’m feeling the itch to replace my audio interface I ask myself the question, have I used my current interface for at least 3 projects? If the answer is “no”, then I’m not educated enough about my current interface to know whether it needs replacing. This is true whether I’ve had it for two months or two years. If I’ve only used it to record one album, then I still don’t know squat about it.
The second thing the 3 project rule does for me is it forces me to take my time when becoming familiar with gear. If I get a new plugin and use it somewhat unsuccessfully on a mix, I’m not worried. I know that I need at least 2 other projects worth of trial and error to learn it and get it comfortable with it. By the third time of using a certain piece of gear I feel a lot more confident knowing what it does and does not give me in the studio.
User Error
If you don’t know your gear very well, then your lack of success with said gear is likely do to user error and not your equipment. If you don’t know much about a tool, then you shouldn’t go out and buy another tool to replace it. Learn how to use the darn thing well (by actually using it), become familiar with its strengths and weaknesses, and you will be better for it.
Gear gets better overtime as you become more comfortable using it. Know your gear inside and out and your music will benefit.
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My name is Graham Cochrane and I'm the founder of The Recording Revolution, one of the world's most loved audio recording and mixing blogs with over 200,000 readers each month. 
That’s good advice, Graham. I do have one nit-pick though: you’re operating on the assumption that everything is functioning as intended without actually saying so.
Take your audio interface example: an unstable interface isn’t going to be able to perform to the degree necessary to complete even ONE project, much less three. I spent 2 years with a particular interface trying to iron out the bugs (diligently working, too: not just trying every 6 months for a couple of hours), and at the end of that span still only had it working properly maybe 90% of the time. That might sound pretty good, but would you want to be to engineer who has to tell the client that 1 take in every 10 got messed up because of a computer glitches? In the end, I did 1 project with it when I thought it was stable and when it proved not to be (despite numerous optimizations/tweaks to the system), I replaced it immediately for something that had a better reputation for stability. Once I made that swap, suddenly my system worked again and I could get down to the business of GETTING down to business.
Hal, I don’t think he is refering to malfunctioning equipment, which we all have to deal with from time to time. If it doesn’t work reliably then it’s not worth the time. There is no shame in replacing a malfunctioning piece of gear. I think he is refering to those who think they need new gear or software because they are not able to get the sound they want using the gear they already have that works (I have been guilty of this myself). If it works reliably, then learn how to use it well and, as you said, “get down to business”.
Good post Graham.
That’s good advice, Graham. I do have one nit-pick though: you’re operating on the assumption that everything is functioning as intended without actually saying so.
Take your audio interface example: an unstable interface isn’t going to be able to perform to the degree necessary to complete even ONE project, much less three. I spent 2 years with a particular interface trying to iron out the bugs (diligently working, too: not just trying every 6 months for a couple of hours), and at the end of that span still only had it working properly maybe 90% of the time. That might sound pretty good, but would you want to be to engineer who has to tell the client that 1 take in every 10 got messed up because of a computer glitches? In the end, I did 1 project with it when I thought it was stable and when it proved not to be (despite numerous optimizations/tweaks to the system), I replaced it immediately for something that had a better reputation for stability. Once I made that swap, suddenly my system worked again and I could get down to the business of GETTING down to business.
This is a good post for beginners. Just so you know im not a pro as well, still find my way to get there though. This kind of case happened to me before. When i was still looking for the great sounding mixes i always kept blaming my current gears – plugins, mics, recording interface,etc, not my ears and understanding in using the current gears i have. Then i started to buy expensive plugins from Waves audio. The first time i got them i got confused and took me pretty long time to get used to it. In the end i never used them up until recently after i know the basic how to use EQ, compressors, and noise gates. I must admit the stock plugins arent bad at all you jst need to know how to use them properly. Its true though third party plugins sounds different and have its own characteristic. In a case for my recording interface, i upgraded my mbox2 to focusrite liquid saffire. The first time i unboxed the saffire i got confused(again) and took me the whole day figuring it out to operate it. As for mics i only bought couple times because they are expensive and i dont really need to buy fancy mics because i know how to maximize my own low budget gears. Hope this helps those who want to jump into new plugins without knowing properly how to use your current gears.
This is a good post for beginners. Just so you know im not a pro as well, still find my way to get there though. This kind of case happened to me before. When i was still looking for the great sounding mixes i always kept blaming my current gears – plugins, mics, recording interface,etc, not my ears and understanding in using the current gears i have. Then i started to buy expensive plugins from Waves audio. The first time i got them i got confused and took me pretty long time to get used to it. In the end i never used them up until recently after i know the basic how to use EQ, compressors, and noise gates. I must admit the stock plugins arent bad at all you jst need to know how to use them properly. Its true though third party plugins sounds different and have its own characteristic. In a case for my recording interface, i upgraded my mbox2 to focusrite liquid saffire. The first time i unboxed the saffire i got confused(again) and took me the whole day figuring it out to operate it. As for mics i only bought couple times because they are expensive and i dont really need to buy fancy mics because i know how to maximize my own low budget gears. Hope this helps those who want to jump into new plugins without knowing properly how to use your current gears.
A few years back I started adding to my “mic locker”, which ended up being…
Behringer C3 multi-pattern & C2 pair of small diaphragm mics
A Nady RSM-4 Ribbon & a ART Studio MP Tube mic pre to drive it
I already owned a MXL990, 2 Sm58’s, a DAK ECM2000, and a cheap plastic AS-400 mic. All of this is ran into a M-Audio OMNI box (discontinued) that has 2 DMP2 mic pre’s and connects to a Delta66 card.
And after all this time I am STILL learning how to use them all to good effect!! I am looking at a “true” large diaphragm mic like the B1-2 or the MXLV67G to add to the collection for vocals, but ATM I really don’t lack for much…..except time!
Another good article Graham!
Great advice once again Graham. I’ve been using my ATH M50 headphones for tracking and mixing for about 8 months, and have made a point to listen to my favorite albums on these bad boys quite often. I’ve learned quite well how these cans relate my mixes to my ears. Just today I finished a few guitar tracks and an organ track, threw together a quick mix, and smiled all the way to work. Yep folks it pays to learn your gear. Cheers!
I feel awful, but I had to break that rule. My M-Audio MobilePre bit the dust. Like, plugging it into 3 different computers and no lights, not recognized. Kills me because I’m actually part-way through the third of the 3 projects. But then it’s such a hassle, getting a new interface, learning it, figuring out how to blend new recordings and “old” tracks from the previous device. And don’t get me started on the included software. It’s a Focusrite Scarlett 8i6 (I bought Focusrite on Graham’s excellent review of the Liquid 56 but I didn’t want to spend nearly that much money) and the Scarlett Mix Control software is crazy weird. But life goes on and I’m sure this isn’t what the point of the article is.
Graham,
I have been playing drums for over 13 years now and Im am barley getting into recording and things of that nature. I am so grateful for your videos and you sharing the knowledge you have with the world. I guess my first and main question to you is: what computer are you using? Do you have a place on your website with a list of “gear” you use. I am very interested in purchasing a new computer but would like someone to kind of point me in the right direction. Thanks again!
GB,
Isaac Murillo
Hi Isaac, I’m currently running Pro Tools 10 on a Mac Mini Server of all things. It’s a beast of a little machine 🙂 The best thing you can do is get as much CPU and RAM as you can afford.
Graham,
I have been playing drums for over 13 years now and Im am barley getting into recording and things of that nature. I am so grateful for your videos and you sharing the knowledge you have with the world. I guess my first and main question to you is: what computer are you using? Do you have a place on your website with a list of “gear” you use. I am very interested in purchasing a new computer but would like someone to kind of point me in the right direction. Thanks again!
GB,
Isaac Murillo
The Beatles had cheap. Guitars and mics but they knew how to craft a song and put thir touch on iy
I could not agree more, in my instance,as a photographer for 40 years,
we just bought the equipment to get the job done.Now on the B.S. internet
every one has an opionion( most of which are kids,with absolutely NO
experience,trashing one manufacture over another,when then don’t even own
the equipment in the first place).Its pathetic B.S.and a total waste of
internet time. I on the other hand, will be getting one piece at a time
to learn full use of the piece,just like I had to do with a good pro camera,back in the 70’s.Thanks for reading. And children,STOP, put your
worthless opinions on the web.