Top 10 Things Clients Say That Drive Audio Engineers Crazy
The Top 10 Things Clients Say That Drive Audio Engineers Crazy
If you've spent any time in a recording studio, you've probably heard a few phrases that make every engineer smile... or cringe.
After more than 40 years in live sound and recording studios, I've heard just about everything.
Some comments are funny.
Some are frustrating.
And some have become so common that every engineer knows exactly what's coming the moment a client opens their mouth.
The funny thing is, most clients aren't trying to be difficult. They simply don't know what we know. That's part of our job—translating their vision into something that actually works.
Here are ten classics.
10. "We'll Fix It in the Mix."
Probably the most famous phrase in recording history.
Can we fix things in the mix?
Sometimes.
Can we fix a bad performance?
Not really.
The best recordings always begin with the best performance you can capture.
The mix should enhance a great performance—not rescue a bad one.
9. "It'll Only Take Five Minutes."
Every engineer smiles when they hear this.
Five minutes usually becomes thirty.
Thirty becomes an hour.
An hour becomes, "Since we're here..."
The lesson?
Always leave a little extra time in your schedule.
8. "Can You Make Me Sound Like..."
Morgan Freeman.
Taylor Swift.
Chris Stapleton.
Metallica.
I've heard them all.
The truth is, I can help you sound like the best version of you.
And that's always better than trying to imitate someone else.
7. "We Don't Need to Tune It."
Yes.
Yes, we do.
Whether it's vocals, guitars, drums, or bass, the better everything sounds before you hit Record, the easier the entire session becomes.
Good recordings start long before the microphones are turned on.
6. "My Buddy Has Pro Tools."
That's great.
Seriously.
The tools aren't what make a recording sound professional.
Experience does.
Knowing when to place a microphone.
Knowing when to stop recording.
Knowing how to coach a performance.
Software is just one small part of the process.
5. "Can You Turn the Vocals Up?"
Every engineer reading this is laughing.
No matter how many revisions you send...
Someone always asks for the vocals to come up.
Sometimes they're right.
Sometimes they're not.
The important part is listening to what the client is really asking for.
4. "Can You Make It Pop?"
What does that actually mean?
Sometimes "pop" means louder.
Sometimes it means brighter.
Sometimes it means more exciting.
One of the most valuable skills an engineer can develop is learning to ask better questions before making changes.
3. "This Will Be Great Exposure."
Exposure is nice.
Unfortunately, it doesn't pay rent.
One of the hardest lessons for creative professionals is learning the difference between opportunity and being taken advantage of.
Your time has value.
Your experience has value.
Don't forget that.
2. "I Forgot..."
The lyrics.
The guitar.
The hard drive.
The click track.
The session files.
It happens.
That's why preparation is one of the most underrated skills in the audio business.
The smoother the session starts, the smoother it usually ends.
1. "Can We Just Do One More Thing?"
You've already shut everything down.
The session is over.
Everyone's packing up.
Then...
"Can we just..."
Every engineer knows exactly where this story goes.
One more thing usually becomes five more things.
That's why clear communication and expectations are just as important as great microphones.
What These Comments Really Mean
After four decades in this business, these phrases don't frustrate me the way they used to.
In fact, most of them make me smile.
Because clients aren't audio engineers.
They're musicians.
Business owners.
Voice actors.
Content creators.
They're speaking their language.
It's our job to translate that into technical decisions without making them feel intimidated.
That's one of the biggest differences between a hobbyist and a professional.
Professionals don't just understand audio.
They understand people.
Final Thoughts
The longer I work in this industry, the more I realize that great engineering has very little to do with gear and everything to do with communication.
If you can make people feel comfortable...
Understand what they're trying to achieve...
And help them create something they're proud of...
You'll build a career that lasts much longer than any piece of equipment ever will.
And if a client tells you they'll "fix it in the mix"...
Just smile.
We've all been there.
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