One more time. Most of those I know producing their own work are not looking for a major record deal. IF they were they would go to a WELL KNOW enginner. Not some dude down the street with no track record of real recognized commercial work!! And pay for it. I wouldn't. Home Recordists don;t HAVE to equal commercial work and in some cases sound better if they are not all squashed with no dynamic range,

Succeeding to me is selling 50 CDs a week. Thats plenty. I'm too old to want nor have I ever sought a record deal and those deals suck nowadays anyway. Independants abound with limited recources.

Yes Joe buys CDs at Wal Mart but they also buy CDs on gigs. They don't have the same expectation but knowing the artist up close helps.

I don't do nursing homes so I cannot speak for that market. Perhaps you can share your excperiences in those venues. But I sold a ton of home grown CDs when we were on the road. My wife sells them locally.

I have not heard anything that has either on this site or any other site that I could compare to a Steely Dan recording either. But that is so subjective it means nothing.

But the point is even if you and I may be able to tell the difference on some level. But the average customer can not. I CHOOSE not to buy expensive gear becasue we won't sell any more CDs. Simple economics. People are buying the songs, They don't expect to hear a $100,000 recording and nor do I expect it from anyone with a home studio,

ANd I have met many "producer engineers" in my travels with their own "floating studios with Pro Tools and all the goodies. Very few of those "unrecognized" self procalimed experts and engineers have good things to say about another's work. There is a certain a snob appeal to the gear used as well. Gear means othing if one does not know how to use it. On the other hand a good producer can squeeze a great recording from cheap gear. Many who make want to earn a living as a Producer have to have a list of certain the gear for advertsing purposes becasue they won't be taken seriously unless they have the likes of Pro Tools d Avalon VT-737SP, Maney, Portico, Neve 80 Series Consoles, U87s.......on and on. Thousands more for 5% better syndrome

I will say it again. Its all about the song. A great recording will not save a terrible song. But a great song can jump out of a 4 track cassette tape.