In our continuing series profiling the companies on our Audio Market page where we offer smaller developers and businesses the opportunity to reach the Pro Tools community at a much lower price, we profile Location Recordings run by our very own James Ivey.
PTE: How did you start? Tell us about your journey to setting up your company.
James: Well it just sort of fell into place. I started playing drums when I was 8 years old.... Getting into bands and then of course you want to be able to hear what you just played. So I started to dabble getting my first proper 4 track tape machine (A Tascam Porta 01) when I was about 12..... Never has productivity been so good. Band mates and I made so many recordings because it was so easy... It sounded dreadful but that didn't matter to us back then.
Skip a year or 5 and after deciding not to go to university to study graphic design and now being quite an established drummer I decided to move to London to study Music Tech at London Guildhall. Many and various jobs in the industry (both playing music and being a techie) saw me end up at Sibelius the music notation software company. They in turn were snapped up by Avid where I got back into Pro Tools and recording. Nearly 7 years ago I was made redundant from Avid which was the kick I needed to get up and start my own studio and be able to play and record at home. Location Recordings is a facility where any time day or night I can be in the studio making music for myself or other people.
PTE: Tell us a bit about your company and the products you produce?
James: First and foremost I am a drummer. But I also play guitar, bass and enough keyboards to get by and I sing. So I decided to turn these skills in the a way to make a buck. Think of me as your one man band just without a mouth organ and a bass drum strapped to my back.
PTE: What challenges are you facing at the moment?
James: The industry is constantly changing. Trying to keep up can be fun and expensive. I have finally realised after 20 something years of playing that my gear is not only good enough but that it is better than most. I know what I'm doing with it and I know in most cases what my clients want. Because in most cases these days they would not have come to me if they didn't want what I do. Which is make their song or project sound better.
PTE: What plans do you have for the future that you can share with the community?
James: I am very lucky that over the years I have made many great friends in both the performing and tech side of the music industry. My plan is to be able to offer an any instrument recording service. Say you want a horn section or string quartet. Location Recordings will be able to find you the players, do the musical arrangement for you and record the ensemble. All you have to do is come up with, and approve the idea, then sit back and wait for your track to arrive in your in box.
PTE: What is your favourite audio tool (excluding any of your own products)?
James: I am a great fan of anything that makes my working life easier. I normally work alone so remote control apps and systems are very important to me. As a Slate Raven MTi owner and user I love the Slate Remote ap. I have some custom macro buttons called Got it Wrong and Drop in... None of this hi tech lingo.
I have also gone back to using hardware a little more. Once you get it set up right and it sound great.... well it just sounds great. The Warm WA76 sounds amazing on the Kick and Snare drums Im using at the moment. But I choose the gear and the instrument for the project.
PTE: What one thing gets you annoyed about the audio business?
James: Music is an art form. No matter how we try and spin it, music is about creating something that without our input would not have been there. Forget that and it all means nothing. No matter how much tech and toys you have, if the art does not move you on an emotional level then you may as well not bother. You can read into that what you will. Unfortunately too many people in the "industry" on both sides of the glass forget this.
PTE: Anything else you would like to share with the Pro Tools Expert community.
James: Thanks to the PTE community on the site and on Facebook and YouTube for your support. May you all continue to gain from what this amazing team has to offer you. Learn all you can and use it in everything you do in audio. And if you need a player for your project where ever you are in the world you are only an internet connection away from great players, fantastic performances and top notch recordings.
PTE: Thanks James for sharing journey and experiences.
Remember to visit the Audio Market page and support all the small developers, all trying to punch above their weight.