Ya know, I wouldn't say I was shocked by some of the posts in this thread but really, it almost seems like studio lobbyists are paying for testimonials: "Oh no you must go to a studio!"
I've been producing and recording in both the bedroom and in studios for years. Ya wanna know why people are using drum samples and amp sims?
Because they didn't network and have a friend-of-a-friend to get them into an industry that's impossible to wall-over.
Face it. The global economy is declining, which means people have LESS MONEY! $$$$$ <---- I mean really. When people can barely manage to afford to feed their kids, what do you expect them to do when it comes to getting their music recorded, let alone out there and HEARD.
Sure it takes less time, and less cash to use cab/tone-sims and resample triggered/sequenced drums.
But it's not because it's easier, it's because it severely cuts the budget that neither the artists or the label have.
Look, you "producers" or "tracking engineers" that do one job but refuse to do others, i.e. jack of all trade role, your time is coming.
You need to know DIY now, because that's where the market is. Cut out the fucking middle man, honestly they've been taking too much money for years anyway.
Don't get me wrong, nothing can replace a bad ass set of tubes roaring at 11 on top a real drumset.
But even before bedroom records became popular, how many times were you in the studio when they used the Eventide to fix a vocal, or they reamped the snare and toms because the original tracking had no balls.
Tisk tisk. You whiners are scared. People have to learn it all now. The music industry is fucked and it's because of their own accord, not because of poor artists/engineers like myself.
I've love to use old Royers and have five U87's but I need to be able to make sure I can even eat tomorrow.
Grow up, times are changing. Learn from the old and new, and keep using real equipment, because it DOES sound better.
The saying goes, smoke em' if you got em, and it's true. But when you don't have the 20,000+ to shell out on the tracking/mixing/mastering/marketing etc what do you expect?
Quit crying like babies and be grateful you have studio gear and access, because they are a dying breed.
Studios make NO profit. Consider the cost of owning, maintaining, rent, utilities, EQUIPMENT!
If you're rich enough to not have gotten an entertainment-loan then good for you, but most of these studios (yes even the 'big' ones) are in heavy debt.
Case in point, there's an artist. He has little money. He wants to put his music out there with whatever his little hands can muster. So he does. This is how it's being done