Have Your Music Mixed Online At Abbey Road Studios For Less Than $1000
London's famed Abbey Road Studios recently announced the addition of online mixing services for musicians who can't make the trek. It's a smart way for Abbey Road to expand their services, but it does raise the question of whether or not this service is an appeal to vanity or one that might be worthwhile for serious musicians.
Abbey Road Studios have hosted a wide range of musicians, including The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Tony Bennett and Amy Winehouse seeking world class professional service and perhaps a connection to history.
With the introduction of Online Mixing at Abbey Road Studios, musicians around the world can have their music mixed at Abbey Road by one of their engineers using a "combination of vintage analogue gear and the latest digital technology." Prices begin at under $900 per song.
The basic concept is that you upload your files, including a rough mix or commercially released reference song if you have it, along with your ideas about how the music should sound from comparing it to a particular band or getting into specific details.
The FAQ includes basic pricing in the sidebar as well as a variety of limitations. For example, you cannot pick a studio or engineer and it appears that you won't be informed of the specific studio at which it was mixed.
More details are available here. Keep in mind that mixing does not include mastering though online mastering is also available.
So what do you think? Is this a good deal for professional services delivered online? Would you consider it for an upcoming project?
News via Clash Music.
Hypebot contributor Clyde Smith is a freelance writer and blogger. He blogs about web business models at Flux Research and the world of dance at All World Dance. To suggest music services and related topics for review at Hypebot, please contact: clyde(at)fluxresearch(dot)com.
Interesting and novel idea…but also a bad idea.
If your music isn’t “hands-on”…it’s “hands off”.
This sounds amazing in theory. The only downside is, well, you’re talking to screen about how you want the music to sound. There’s only so much you can describe in words…the rest is feeling. That’s not some idealistic, profound, statement. It’s the truth. Typing “I want it to be an upbeat, rock song” is much different than describing it.
However, professional studios are professional studios. I can mix on my laptop and make something pretty good, but if you have the cash to spend, why not give this a try as a novelty.
…I do not have the cash, so someone try this and let me know.
$900 a song = $9000 an album. With that much money you can buy a lot of gear/software, acoustic treatment, and a couple of books on recording and mixing. I bet you’d still have spare money for outsourcing the mastering too.
Let’s face it, people who are willing to shell out for this are paying for the name, not the mix.
What does this tell me? It tells me that studios are really hurting for cash. Of course, the prices they are asking are completely rediculous still. When one can get mixing and mastering for 25% of that cost, i don’t see them bringing in any customers especially when most indie/DIY musicians can’t afford it. I will admit that I got a little excited by the prospect of using their services (their name will add credit to your name and brand), but still too rich for my blood! It’s a shame because the musicians who can afford this don’t need the extra cred and the ones who can’t afford it do! 🙁