Sufjan Stevens - Gear Doesn't Matter

[partyofone]

Check out the latest issue of Tape Op for the most inspiring and refreshing article on recording that I've ever read. There is an interview with Sufjan Stevens in which he goes into detail about how he recorded and mixed his 'Michigan' and 'Illinois' albums on a VS-880 with pretty much 2 mics (mostly with an SM57) in 32KHz no less!!! What's more... he doesn't own monitors and he mixed it on headphones!! I'd heard some stories about his minimal setup but this interview really drove home the point that GEAR DOESN'T MATTER! What's SO ironic is how meticulous, complex, and hi-fi the albums sound! After talking to Sufjan the interviewer even concludes that gear is last on the list of most important things.I'm as guilty as anyone of having the gear acquisition syndrome sometimes, but after reading this I have resolved to NEVER complain about my gear again!

[partyofone]

He he.. I think posted this thread in the wrong area... we're all gear slutz in here after all right?

[guscave]

I can sort of relate. As years go by I notice that my recording gear gets smaller (not just in size but quantity too). I find that I can get a lot more done when I don't have to filter through a whole bunch of different plugins and softwares which basically all do the same things.

[mojobone]

Just wanted to finish the article before chiming in. Yeah, lots of folks place too much emphasis on the gear; technique and having something worth recording in the first place are far more important.The article reminded me of another about a fella, ferget the name, that did an entire album with nothing but a mic, a Mac and a Manley Massive Passive EQ, all in a college dorm room while his roommate was sleeping.

[matthoggard]

Well that justifies things for me. My recording space is minimal and my gear is also. I think with more practice and a better ear, we can get good sounds with very little equipment.I do believe in quality mics and preamps though. And plenty of bourbon!

[ggalen]

Makes you wonder as you look through Sound on Sound at the prices on the equipment they review... I do enjoy the magazine. But I have been skeptical about the "audiophile" aspect and the stratospheric price levels of some of that stuff.A bit of "Monster Cable syndrome", perhaps?

[mazz]

It's not the gear, it's the ear.Sure it might be "easier" to get a great sound with great gear, but guess what, you still need to know what you're doing, otherwise it will still sound like crap. Just because you put a Stradivarius in my hand doesn't mean I can suddenly make music with it!Mazz

[silvercord]

and wow..if you haven't heard his "come on feel the Illinois" album, DO it!..the production is awesome(not to mention the song writing)

[mojobone]

I'd also recommend heading over to Tape Op and signing up for the free magazine, for those that haven't already done so. Though it may seem they love every piece of gear they review, it's really more that they like to talk about gear they love, and they love gear that saves them time and money. They really seem to like finding cost-effective alternatives to high-dollar recreations of rare and expensive vintage hardware, for one.

[ciskokidd]

I agree totally Patrick.In the end if you have a weak song it won't matter what kinda gear you own.I once picked up a record that completely floored me (in the wrong way)!The record was by some female singer songwriter whose name I will never be able to remember. In any event, the record was produced by Patrick Leonard and had just about every top notch musician in LA playing on it. I bought the record just on looking at the credits, thinking this has to be good!!To my dismay the album was the single biggest waste of talent I have ever heard. The songs (if you can call them that) were absolutely horrid.It was a brilliantly performed and produced piece of crap, which is really not any better than a cassette recording of a piece a crap.Best,Cisko