Obsessives, we know who we are.

Partly a self gratifying game, partly a projected hope of helping or impressing others, I guess the two make me a sucker for detail, completeness and future potential needs.

Or maybe just a sucker.

Intense, hungry for knowledge, an eye for detail, sometimes needy in the extreme and single minded when we get going. We do have a purpose, a role in this world, well I hope we do. The people behind the scenes (and out front sometimes), need to be stoics and dreamers equally, but most importantly, they need obsession.

My obsessive nature helps me learn, and quickly.

Almost as important to me as obsession though is defining the shape and scope of that obsession.

For me, balance is the defining characteristic of my obsessive nature. I hate unbalanced choices and work very hard to define limits and work toward those. The one thing I actually hate more than being short of where I feel I need to be is to over extend in one area and have to re-find balance in all the others. It does not always work, nor though does it mean I compromise, I just set sensible limits and aim for maximum “bang for the buck”.

An example would be is someone said to me I could have a really good, but specialist mic for a bargain price, even free. The catch being I would have to look at my supporting mics, interface and work flow, I would likely pass, because I know myself well enough to see where it would lead, with little chance of noticeable return. I am over the time when I have to have the best, I just need the best that I need.

To be honest I have been known to cut an obsession loose completely if I cannot finish it off.

I use M43 cameras because I can have pro gear without some of the headaches that usually entails. Yes I can have reach and coverage, speed and ruggedness, flexibility and pro output, but by using the smaller sensor, I do not have to have a $50k outlay just to get started. The compromise is less capable very high ISO performance, but some of the factors above help there anyway. Balance.

For sound, my limit is the Zoom H5, which is a highly versatile crossing-point tool for my uses, but probably not a professional sound engineers last stop. It is more a content creator or hobbyists weapon of choice. This means mics are limited in number and in required quality to get a decent return ($200au maximum it seems, sub $150 even better) and the flow-on is the same with cables, post and other factors. Nothing needs to go crazy, just capable, balanced.

This seems to be a sweet spot in that field, often coughing up classics and work horse options like the SM58/57, Sennheisser e835 and sE V7/7x etc, which is well short of needing a paradigm ear and pro level recording suite, even though they are the choice of many professional users. The experts know that for most uses, well applied “entry level” gear is plenty, it just needs sound judgement and skill in application.

The double edged thingy though is the more you know and the harder you look, the more perilous the path to satisfaction. The difference between $4000 ribbon mic “X” and $6000 large diaphragm condenser mic “Y” may mean a lot to the right ear, but to musicians, roadies, engineers and most importantly listeners, many other factors come into play. Having a set of $200 mics, all with different character though can be a life saver.

Ok, I overplayed there. The recipient of a select part my overly researched microphone arsenal will not know the thought that went into my choice and would not realise if I made a miss step, but I would. Knowledge can be a dangerous thing or a useful one in well measured doses.

The reality is, obsessives are often only buying/reviewing/obsessing for themselves or each other, because most people could not care any less (fast road to boring my wife). Test charts and forums serve the knowledgeable, the vast majority of people out there do not see what we feel they should. Ignorant huh! Sure the obsessive make sure the rest of us are serviced well, but that extra bit, the bit that takes all the time and attention is often just for them.

Know your audience is the key here I guess, or more to the point, don’t try to preach to the unconvertible, just provide them with what they need.

How sharp is your lens and sensor at 400%? Only you and others like you actually care. Basically if you have to ask the question, you know you are one of the troubled few. Unsharp, noisy, over enlarged or flat images can be accepted by interested parties, if the subject is compelling enough (UFO spotting anyone?). The point is, content trumps process every time.

The same with video. Is it 4k, 8k, 16k? Few can tell the difference between well recorded 720 and 4k (or care), even if they are in the industry, let alone the average viewer. Poorly recorded footage however cannot be saved my more resolution.

Sound usually only comes to the attention of the listener when it is faulty, loud or worse, both.

Of course, the majority are not cringing at poor sound, slightly soft images or lower than ideal resolution footage, so for them ignorance is bliss. Those of us that know too much just have to smile and accept it.

Even an educated user like a famous singer who is no technical expert, but knows what they like trusts a technician to give them educated options, then leave them to go by their ear and their gut to choose the best microphone or mixer. The technician may know a vast amount more than is needed to get that done and regularly applies this without any fanfare using only a small part of their full knowledge pool. Such is the way of things, obsessives get used to it or perish.

We sometimes have to let things go and accept that what is liked is not always what should be liked by our measure. It just is what it is.

You do not need to be both driver and mechanic. Both are fully rounded professions, but each does need to understand the others role. No point in learning to work on the wrong type of vehicle and nobody likes an ignorant front person, riding on the hard work of others, then complaining about things they know too little about.

Balance.

Possibly the secret to happiness in this very busy and complicated world, especially for those of us who are control and impulse challenged.