Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with studio

visual studio

amsterdam63 — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:02:54 -0800

The command window (in XP) flashes for just a second and then goes away when executing "Hello, World!" program written in Visual C++ express edition. I started with Win32 project, then Console Application, put in source code and built the solution (F7), and everything seemed to be going swimmingly, then of course, I tried to execute it using F5 (and by going to project folder in explorer and Debug-->start debugging. Pretty sure this isn't relevant, but here's the source code:

// Ex1.cpp : Defines the entry point for the console application.
//

#include "stdafx.h"
#include

int _tmain(int argc, _TCHAR* argv[])
{
std::cout << "Hello, World!\n";
return 0;
}

Looking for "house-warming" gift ideas for someone who just signed the lease on a new artist studio space.

Anonymous — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:46:05 -0800

I am looking for gift ideas for my boyfriend who is moving into his new studio soon. He won't be living there. It is just a work space. He's fully prepared with supplies- which are quite bulky and will take up a lot of space (type cabinets and huge letterpress machines).

I'd like to get him something small as "studio-warming" gift. I am the more organized and business-oriented one in the relationship. And since he definitely needs help in that area, a gift that will help keep him organized (w/ time-management, money, etc) could be a good idea. However, something funny or cute is totally an option as well. Bonus points if it's related to letterpress.

Other than offering my time in helping him paint, move boxes etc. is there anything else he might find especially useful for his new space?

You can email me at studiowarminggift@gmail.com if you want to know more. Thanks in advance!

How Best to Set Up a Furniture Rearrangement Question?

WCityMike — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:08:21 -0800

How can I best set up a question regarding furniture rearrangement (in terms of spatially rearranging things, with measurements) on the Internet, and is Ask Mefi the best source or are there other communities that would be better? Are there Flash tools that let you post furniture floorplans and let others come and rearrange things? Alternatively, for advice simply on arrangement of furniture, how much might a professional's advice be, and would an interior decorator be the profession to turn to? (Do they still call themselves interior decorators? It seems a '70s term.) I am going to be living in a small studio for a while to come now. It is a great landlord and a pleasant building. I have no use for a one-bedroom and also would prefer to reserve funds (funds that would then go for increased rent) for other quite important targets at the moment, not to mention I don't have people who could help me move at the moment.

The problem with the studio is space and outlets, however: I have only two outlets in the main living area, limiting where certain things can be placed (computer, TV/DVD/cable, etc.), and electricians have advised that new outlets can't be added without major renovation.

I think I've done the best for what I've got, but it does need fixing. And recently I realized I have two furniture-space crises coming down the pike: (i) I've been sleeping on a twin air mattress for a while. I plan to replace that with a "full" bed, but have no idea how that might be introduced to the space without seriously getting in the way. And (ii) my bookshelves are overflowing and another one needs to be added, but there's utterly nowhere to put it. (I had considered a futon, but I think that after a certain age, it says that something's a little weird about you if you're still on a futon. Or is that just an idea I picked up from "The Office"? Dunno.)

I'd like to turn to hiveminds for advice -- either Ask Mefi's hivemind or that of a "furniture rearrangement" community -- but I frankly don't know how to appropriately post the problem in a manner that people can give effective answers, given that it involves accurate measurement and rearrangement of things.

I already have all the measurements done, and have set up a little cardstock model with rearrangable furniture to try my own hand at moving things around. Is there a website -- probably something involving Flash -- where you can set up a sort of bird's-eye view of your apartment and then Joe Schmoe come in off the street and rearrange the things inside?

Alternatively, how much would it zing me, financially, to get a professional to walk in and say, "If you put this there, put this there, put this there, and replace this with this, your problems should be solved"? (I live in Chicago.)

Getting into Studio B

bkudria — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 15:04:33 -0800

How can an older-than-he-looks 20 year-old guy get into a 21+ music event in Studio B? I'd like to hear some music in Studio B in Brooklyn, but the event is listed as 21+ . I'm 20, but I look older (it's the goatee, I think) - I have no problems getting beers in restaurants and such. Am I likely to get in to Studio B? How can I improve my chances? Or, am I likely to get ID'ed at the door, and refused entry? Any tips? Also, anything else I should know? (I've never been there before).

How to run collective no-budget underground studio?

yoHighness — Sat, 31 May 2008 12:24:19 -0800

RecordingStudioFilter: Advice sought on how to run a collective no-budget underground (literally) studio; starting immediately. lots Affectionately nicknamed the "cave flat", two stories below the center of a largish UK city dwell five musicians, the emissions of their drumkits, amps, PA's (and occasionally, 100's of partygoers) shielded from the ears of neighbours or police through several feet of 1700's sandstone wall. The landlord is cool with it. Loads of bands come to practise as there is a lot of cavernous space. We have now raised enough £££ to rent cavernous space for a recording studio. As luck would have it, the "music room" cavern and what is to be the control cavern already have a room-to-room window between them. The latter is also much less echo-y and could be treated for echoes (I've been looking up related ask-me's).

We have all the musical gear and recording people, but on the recording gear side there's only:

Adequate silenced Dual-Core PC with 22" TFT (mine)
M-Audio USB interface with 4 preamps and 2 additional ins, 6 outs
Bunch of Shure SM-58 and some low-budget "studio" mikes (100£)
Nice Neumann KM-140's, AKG 414's I get to borrow from Uni, studios I get to mix in at Uni

We're gonna start on the 1st of June and run it for three months or so at first, and see if something happens. I've got three months of free time on my hands, collaborators, and many musicians are already on a waiting list to be recorded with a no-budget approach. There's few other studios around town and none central.W e might not have the sound gear, but the place is very cool. Decisions about running the studio will be voted on by the collective, and it is not linked to any commercial interests. We would never pass fire & safety regulations anyway, though.

The idea is to put out as many live sound low-budget demos, myspace tracks as possible, as well as some low-budget actual studio recordings with more work on overdubbing. And for all the flat's bands to be able to record their practise sessions in a jiffy.

If you have been in a similar situation, I would very much appreciate any advice you've got about how to pull this off. My apologies for lengthy posting.

How to go about finding an artist space?

Anonymous — Tue, 27 May 2008 15:44:25 -0800

How do I find artist space? Am I missing something here in demanding a space to work? All I want to do is look for an artist space that is separate from my living situation (crowded, no place to spread out). Looking around on the internet (NYC/NJ area) has turned up so few resources actually devoted to this topic that I'm confused for a minute. I can't be the only one with this dilemma. It's probably been a problem for as long as there's been creative people, but is there really no formal solution that doesn't require me to submit a portfolio to a nonprofit organization and wait?

I'm seriously confused. If you've had to deal with this situation (limited space at home, limited funds), what did you do? Am I supposed to tough it out and work at home, even though my concentration's all shot to hell by people wandering in and out of wherever I am? Did you team up with other people to split the rent, find a warehouse, renovate a room in your apartment, or just illegally use rented storage?

Please understand I'm not balking at the amount of work I'll have to do find a space or trying to be choosy about it. This just seems to be so obvious a problem that I'm surprised that I haven't found anyone's solution in how to deal with this yet. Am I going crazy or is there some tried-and-true method to looking for an artist space that I've just completely missed? I guess this is one of those every artist for herself, apply your own creative thinking in marking out a space for yourself type deals?

Rec. Studio in NYC: Records in Logic, gives me the files?

defenestration — Wed, 07 May 2008 09:36:43 -0800

I'm looking for a recording studio in Manhattan or Brooklyn that can record Drums, Standup Bass, and Ukulele (at the same time, not overdubbed), in Logic Studio. I'd then like to have the Logic Project files given to me, so I can work on the rest of the arrangement in my bedroom. I want everything to be recorded properly, by someone who knows what they're doing. I'm not even sure there is a common practice of requesting the project files from the studio, but that'd be extremely important as it'd just the be the basis for the rest of the recording.

A rate on the cheaper side would be nice...

recording studio lease

protocool — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 09:28:17 -0800

So I built a small but first rate recording studio on the back of my property for personal use and to make a little money on the side recording others. Two friends of mine ask to use the space half the week to make money for themselves recording commercial jingles. They have brought in a lot of nice equipment that I enjoy using almost exclusively. They've given me a small amount of money in the past but it's come time to discuss a more professional and fair arrangement of who owes who what. I am rather inept in business matters. What do you think about this? Anyone here with similar situation? How much should they pay me? Do I owe them any of my earnings (from use of the nice equipment of theirs)?

Pass the... studio.

eschatfische — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 10:37:23 -0800

Is there any sort of discography for albums created/recorded at Studio PASS? What was the story behind Studio PASS anyway? In the 80s, it seems like a lot of innovative music was being created at Studio PASS (the Public Access Synthesizer Studio in New York). They Might Be Giants' first album was recorded there, for example, as was David Van Tieghem's work. My understanding is that it was one of the only places underground artists had access to gear like the Fairlight CMI. Is there a definitive list of works recorded there? A description of the Studio PASS scene?

How to reduce/eliminate RF noise in my home studio?

scottandrew — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 13:31:45 -0800

My little bedroom studio could use some help. It's hard to find a spot where the mics and guitar pickups don't pick up RF noise. And when I do find a spot, it's usually closely facing a wall, and/or too far away from the recording computer. Actually, even with the computer off and the lights off, the guitar picks up a ton of gnarly RF static.

I also have a weird issue where my reference monitors pick up even *more* noise when I turn off the LCD monitor on my recording PC. I don't get it :/

I've googled up quite a bit of info on RF noise online, but most of it goes right over my head when they start talking impedance, Hz, etc. It helps to know the science, but I really just need some practical things to try at home. Tips, tricks, suggestions?

I'm trying to find a place that rents out soft boxes/umbrellas for outside rentals in Boston. (Studio Photoshoot)

cheero — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 08:06:04 -0800

I'm trying to find a place that rents out soft boxes/umbrellas for outside rentals in Boston. I have a studio in my school that I am using for photo shoots but I do not have a soft box nor an umbrella which I desperately need. I am wondering if there are any places that rent them out for a day or two. Thanks in advance! I'm trying to find a place that rents out soft boxes for outside rentals in Boston. I have a studio in my school that I am using for photo shoots but I do not have a soft box nor an umbrella which I desperately need. I am wondering if there are any places that rent them out for a day or two. Thanks in advance!

Help me find in studio music podcasts

markblasco — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 12:58:31 -0800

Help me find podcasts with musicians in the studio I watched the podcasts put out by the band Hanson, and they have a bunch that show them in the studio writing and recording music. Are there other bands that do the same thing? Are there any other in-studio videopodcasts that are worth watching? I am not looking for live music podcasts (although if there are any really good ones I would be interested in knowing about them) but for shows where they discuss the writing, production, and other aspects of putting together a record.

Simple home studio

kjl291 — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 10:54:12 -0800

Will you help me set up a simple yet functional home recording studio? This is for home use, and simplicity is the key - quality is not really a concern at this point (if you heard me play you would understand why). Here are my issues/constraints:

1.) Mic/Record Software - I don't mind free or cheap, but I am OK with paying, as well. I'd be happy using audacity, but would spring for ProTools LE if I felt that the basic functions/features could be use with simplicity.

2.) Mikes - I would like to record guitars using direct injection technology, instead of miking, but I don't know much about it. Any recommended units for the simple home musician?

3.) Drums - Software recommendations?

All help will be appreciated.

At least they're not filled with radioactive waste.

disillusioned — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 11:30:25 -0800

Garage studio advice: Help me best configure the space we have for recording. We have access to an industrial park space (about 1,500 square feet, open, in a roughly standard rectangular shape) that consists of concrete floors, 30 foot ceilings (with wooden crossbeam/rafters and a foil over insulation "ceiling") and cinderblock walls, with no insulation at all. My drum set is in there, we have a Vox AC-30 Custom Classic tube amp, the standard Shure 3x SM-57, Beta 52 drum mic kit and... I think another Shure SM58 for vocals.

We're not looking to necessarily record all of us live right now; we're focusing on getting the drums sound a bit more mellow.

Here's the thing: we also have about a dozen (or 18) 55-gallon PLASTIC drums (think these) in the space that we could use to surround ourselves or create baffles in some way...

With that, any advice on if we should touch them at all, or if they'll just fuck with our sound? Further, any tips on how to get the best sound out of everything considering the acoustics of the space? We're pushing into an Alesis Multimix 16, Firewired into a Macbook running, for no, Garageband '08.

Many thanks!

Help me pick an audio workstation

fourcheesemac — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 06:53:43 -0800

So I want to buy a standalone digital audio workstation for a small but serious project studio, and I'd love feedback from folks with hands-on experience. I've narrowed the choices to Yamaha's AW1600, the Boss BR-1600CD, and the newish Zoom HD16CD. Of course there is . . . We've got all kinds of computer-based gear (mostly MOTU), but looking at the options for 16-20 track standalones I see all kinds of reasons to want one, the primary reason being ease of use by a variety of different folks who will be using this studio to record everything from bluegrass to avant-garde jazz, and the portability factor as well.

As far as I can tell, these three units are quite comparable, with the Boss having what most people call the best effects processing, the Yamaha having the longest pedigree and maybe the best preamps (and we have had nice Yamaha digital I/O gear in the past, so I know it), and the Zoom being the most fully featured for the lowest price. The Zoom has not been widely reviewed yet, but we've been really impressed with their handheld digital recorders (they are branch of Samson).

Ease of use is a huge thing here. Musicians who don't know much about computer-based recording will be using it. Quality of mic preamps also, since we will be recording a lot of acoustic music (and using high quality mics). We don't need to record more than 8 channels simultaneously. A computer interface is necessary. Durability is also a real value to us.

So have you used or bought any of these models (or comparables from Tascam, Fostex, Edirol, and Korg)? Anything awful I should know about? Anything new coming right down the road? Thanks!

Where to get my birthday ink?

Glitter Ninja — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 17:44:11 -0800

Please help me make the best choice for a tattoo parlour in the Tempe, AZ area for my first ink. I will be in Tempe, AZ from September 14-18 for KoL Con IV. While I'm there, my birthday will occur, and I'd like to get my first ink. I want a small (1x1) solid-colour square, preferably in a vivid colour (bright blue, lime green, or pink) on my hip (yes, that is a pun, yes, this is a real question). Could you give me a reccomendation for your favourite shops in the area, and if you have any clue, what I should expect to pay?

Thanks in advance. :)

Cheapskate photoshoot

punkfloyd — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 06:42:40 -0800

Help with photo-shoot on the cheap! I am my company's resident photographer, if only because I am the one with a digital SLR (Nikon D50). I need tips on creating a simple backdrop and creative (cheap) lighting for photographing employees. We are using a conference room with dreadful flourescent lighting. We just don't have the budget to buy pro gear...but we have photoshop to make tweaks in the end.

I need a job title

yorick — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 11:12:25 -0800

Looking for a concise title / job description for the music-related service I provide. I'm running into many musicians (especially computer based ones) that have an arsenal of "almost done" material. Most of it is there, but they have difficulty getting through the final 10-20% needed to make it complete. Lately, people have been hiring me to take care of that final 10-20% of their song, whether it's drum fills, modifying the arrangement, or whatever else is needed to make it a song they like. It's enjoyable work, and it's looking like there are more people interested in this kind of service than I realized.

This being the case, I'd like to be more active about getting new clients, but I'm not sure how to describe the service I provide. "Song finishing" sounds kinda goofy, and "Mixing & arrangment services" sound too much like what conventional studios already offer. Remixing is the closest I can think of, but it's not exactly it either. Help me pimp my skillz!

In the dark

dogsbody — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 17:10:47 -0800

Bad Weather Photography-Filter: I'm photographing a wedding this Saturday at a beautiful estate in the country, the main venue being an ancient Tythe Barn. Lovely, but for one problem - according to the long-range forecast, we might be expecting torrential rain during the day so all the formals may need to be relocated inside a very dark building. Please, hive-mind, help a natural light photographer with some tips on shooting groups in a semi-studio set-up? The barn has very little natural light (a few small windows at eye-level) and a high timber roof, so bounce-flash is out of the question. I guess there are other (electrical) light sources but I won't be able to evaluate them until Friday, when I get there.

I've taken the precaution of hiring a couple of 500w strobes, but studio photography really isn't my thing. I've done a few single portrait shoots with one light and a reflector but nothing involving groups and multiple light sources. Do you have any tips? I'm guessing that a triangle layout (me in between the two lights) will be the rough idea, but I'd really like to try and get some contextual background in the pictures, without a criss-cross shadow behind.

Any ideas would be incredibly welcome (including "scrap the lights, go to 1600 ISO and use a tripod").

Help me find a good lighting solution for my studio/exhibition space

austinlee — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 21:23:15 -0800

I need help with lighting solutions for a exhibition space/studio. Hello! I've asked for help with this project before and have had lots of good suggestions so I thought I'd try again for some more specific help. I'm getting close to the first show I am having at my new exhibition space in the front room of my apartment. I use it for a studio the rest of the time. Here are some photos of the space to give you a better idea. The problem is the lighting. I've talked to the landlord and he is ok with me wiring some sort of new lighting in the room but doesn't want anything put into the Tin Ceiling. I'm not very experienced with electricity so I would prefer some solutions which would allow me to avoid wiring anything althought the landlord seems to be very knowledgable and has offered to help. He actually suggested a wire lighting system like this one offered from IKEA.
The idea would be to have the wire going from one end of the room to the top of the partition, I have an outlet in the bedroom area that I could plug them into. Has anyone used lights like these? Do you know how many lights can be added onto one wire? How bright are they etc.? The brighter the better! Any other places to get something like this? Any other suggestions altogether? I am completely open to any ideas. I am on a money and time budget but want it done right so am willing to sacrifice either for a better solution. Thanks for all your help! The space is called !

Is Music Jobs useful for getting gigs?

mjbraun — Tue, 29 May 2007 07:37:28 -0800

A friend of mine (reggae dj, sound engineer, A&R) called me about trying to get jobs through Music Jobs. She said it took her something like 30 minutes to fill out her profile, and only at the end did they hit her up for money. This gives me the willies: that sort of trick seems suspicious, and I wonder how legit or worthwhile the site really is. Has anyone had success (or otherwise) with these folks, and are they worth it?

What is the best way to start up a small scale art gallery?

austinlee — Fri, 11 May 2007 06:58:04 -0800

What is the best way to startup a small scale art gallery? I'm moving to a new apartment next week. The front room is an old store front. The previous tenant used it as a small art gallery. I'd like to continue this every so often. Not every month but when I get a really good show organized. I'm not concerned about making any money just mostly about showing off work I like. Do I have to register it as a business or non profit organization? Although, it's going to be small scale I would like to do some advertising as well. Not a whole lot but enough to get peoples attention. I'm really new to all this so I don't know very much about it. I've been thinking of some solutions like calling it an exhibition space and if someone wants to purchase something I'll just refer them to the artist and let them handle it themselves. Will that make things more complicated than necessary? Any advice would be very much appreciated.

Help me fill this room.

BE ADEQUITE — Tue, 08 May 2007 09:34:47 -0800

Suggestions for filling extra space in NYC apartment? My boyfriend is moving out. I'm planning on staying here to honor my rental agreement, and will be inheriting the full cost of the rent, $1065. I can survive this expense but it will basically devastate me financially. I am trying to find uses for the surplus space that might defray the added expense.

We share a one bedroom apartment in Brooklyn. The actual bedroom is tiny: 7' by 8' with 9 foot ceilings. It has a door to the large living room, but also an exit directly to the hall. I am perfectly comfortable using the living room as my bedroom, but can't imagine finding a new roommate for the tiny room who would be comfortable with it (or whom I would be comfortable living so close to). The room will be completely unfurnished, in a quiet neighborhood, and on the third floor.

So I've been considering renting it to an artist as a studio space. Taking a few simple precautions, and depending on the artist's medium, this could at least bring in up to a couple hundred dollars a month, which would be something. Because of its small size it's not particularly ideal as a studio space, but it is private.

I'm looking for other ideas along these lines-- in what ways can this small room pay for itself? I'm brainstorming right now so all ideas are on the table, no matter how wacky.

Many of these ideas will probably violate my lease in some way, but I'm not too worried about that. (This is Brooklyn. Things are considered flexible up to the very point where they are confirmed not to be.) My landlord is cool and is not inclined to ask questions about people coming and going.

Thanks, crew. In the meantime, if anyone needs an office to feel important in by day, you know where to find me!

Rat poison-mercury-vapor-radioactive-lead dust factory?

R. Mutt — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 07:40:18 -0800

What is the best, least expensive way to research the industrial history of a factory building in the Gowanus area of Brooklyn, NY? I have the chance to rent space in an old factory (for art studio/work, not living) but given the nature of the Gowanus Canal and the area's industrial history, I wonder about the past uses of this building. For instance, several blocks away is a building that still has the sign (I presume) from its past life: The Kentile Company. (I believe that Kentile made asbestos laden floor tile among other things.)

I have had several studios over the years, all in old factory type buildings, but the Gowanus area, while improving, does seem to have had a more hardcore past.

I was wondering what resources might exist for discovering where any given building falls on the range of, say: a cardboard box factory (the usual landlord favorite), to: a rat poison-mercury-vapor-radioactive-lead dust factory (my worst fear).

Photostudio on a Shoestring

inviolable — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 11:10:51 -0800

I've been asked to take some headshots for a friend of a friend who will be using the shots for entry into a beauty contest. I don't have a studio or studio lighting. Is there a way to rig up a portrait studio on a budget? What would I need? Equipment I have:

Canon 20D
50mm f1.8 (80mm with the 1.5 factor)
70-200 f2.8 (112mm - 320mm with 1.5 factor)
100mm f2.8 (160mm with the 1.5 factor)
580EX flash
420 EX flash

I'd like to take the photographs indoors if possible but she's willing to shoot outdoors as well (if the weather holds up).

Thanks for you help!