Happy New Year!

OK. So we’ve gone from only a guitar, a cable, and an amp, to full on digital recording systems ranging from hardware 8-Track digital recorders, to full on mega 64 plus track computer workstations with multiple screens and drives.

And we all know that the list of toys just never ends. There’s always a new widget available, and a better one just around the corner.

It’s 2005 now. The beginning of a New Year, and whether or not you have all of the latest gear, it’s time for our New Year’s Resolutions:

1. I will make sure to back up all of my files!

As you know, and I’ve said it before, in the digital world, if it’s not in two places it doesn’t exist. Back-up, Back-up Back-up your data! There are new DVD RW drives available for about $100 US. Re-writeable DVD’s means you can make probably in most cases, one DVDRW disc per song, and continually back-up to the same DVD over & over again! These come with USB & Firewire connections, and they work on both Mac & PC. Right out of the box. So now there’s no excuse! As soon as the session is done, drop in the disc & back it up! These write at up to 12X normal speed, and work great. Because I don’t care what mega-quadrillion-terrabite hard drive you have, sooner or later, you’ll have to back it up. Before it crashes, gets stolen, damaged, power surged, or just plain wears out.
Nuff Said.

2. I will read (more) this year!

Stay informed! There are great resources for staying on top of the technology game. Great books, magazines, emagazines, columns, and web-sites that can help you stay on the leading edge. Being on the leading edge isn’t just a know-it-all-bragging-rights kind of thing. (Although that can be fun sometimes.)

Knowledge IS power! Power to know whether the latest gadget is going to help, or hinder you’re studio, and the way you work. Not all new things are good for you. To quote a favorite movie line: Paul Newman’s character “Luke” says “ Yeah, well, sometimes nothin’ is a real cool hand.” Think about your purchases. Knowing a trend versus a function may save you in the long run. If you see something w/ a black & white(monochrome) screen that you are on the fence about whether to purchase or not, and you really need color, read up. You’ll probably see that the color version is only six months away, and you’ll be able to budget for that, against more pressing purchasing issues now.

A guide I use is the two year rule. If I need to buy something, will it be out-right, or amortized on my taxes as a legitimate business expense over a few years? (this is if you have a business legally established) Will I outgrow this product in a year? If so, should I move up to the next level in product now? And grow into this over say, two years? For instance, if you need a small computer to do basic record keeping on, do you next the killer computer? Maybe not. But if the computer is going to be the heart of your recording process, yeah, maybe it should be the fully blown model that has maybe more than you need right now, but not more than you’ll need over the next 24 months. That way you can get the most out of it, and after two years the new stuff is out & you’re still not too far behind in technology, making the transition smooth.

3. I will be more organized this year!

Nothing can be more hateful than trying to find a file amongst 50 back-up discs. Organize!!! Perhaps the next hateful thing is getting all of those receipts together before tax time. Organize!!

Organize you’re receipts by just putting them in a designated spot as you get home (or to the studio) to rip into the new gear. I have a rule that I can’t open the new toy ‘till the receipt is filed. Kind of “the job isn’t finished until the paperwork is done” kind of thing.

Another organizational trick I use for back-ups is to take a screen shot of the CD or DVDRW I’m burning in Toast, or whatever CD DVD burning software you have that shows the folders/files being backed up. Make that a jpeg, and then use it as the CD or DVDRW artwork when you make a label for the disc. You won’t have to type all of that stuff anywhere, and when you simply look at the disc, you’ll know what’s on it. Easy.

Manage your hard drives. Keep the files & folders clean and orderly. Know where things are.

4. I will do my maintenance this year!

Take care of the gear, and it will take care of you. Get the firewall software to keep unscrupulous jerks from putting viruses, and spyware on your system. Get the Tech Tools, or Disk Warrior, or Norton Utilities to do drive maintenance, then DO IT! Back up all of your files, then de-fragment the hard drive. Or even re- format it. Do the long surface scan. All of these can be done every 30 days at least. Rebuild the desktop, delete old files, check the file structure. If you’ve never done that stuff before, the larger computer maintenance software (like those mentioned above) will have an auto test suite that will do almost everything right away.

Even most of the tabletop hard disk recorders have some way to de-fragment , or initialize the drive & re-format. You MUST back-up your files first. Be very aware that if you initialize your hard drive, you will lose all of the data, music, or whatever was on it. It will go away forever. This is why you MUST back-up first!

Keep your software registered & up to date, Keep your System software up to date, and take care of your drives!

So these are my Big Four New Year’s Resolutions for 2005. Take ‘em or leave ‘em. I submit them for your thought process. I wish everyone a great 2005, and a fun 2005.

Take Care,
Phil
makintrax@philgates.com
www.philgates.com