HackMake

Justin Lancy (who you should buy a drink if you find yourself in Southeast Asia any time soon) went to Abbey Road Studios to learn about how the types of equipment they had access to impacted the sound of the recordings:

But as the 60s went on, culture—specifically counter-culture—began seeping into the studio and changing that dynamic relationship between the engineers and their tools. Over time, the room became filled with incredibly skilled people who were willing to break any rule if it helped their artists create new and interesting sounds.

Our equipment dramatically impacts the creative work we do and the evolution of tools begets an evolution in our work:

What new tools do is force a reconsideration of the relative strengths and weaknesses of old tools. After some time goes by, creative professionals generally develop ways to blend the best aspects of both the old and the new.

It takes a mastery of tools to understand their capabilities but is ultimately up to the master to take those abilities and constraints and do something completely new with them. Respect the constraints but focus on the output. The techniques of the engineers at Abbey Road are studied but it’s the album itself that is loved so much.