Studio Security?

[npatton]

Hey, all,
My brother-in-law and his family were just robbed today, and it got me thinkin' 'bout upping security for my studio. What do you all recommend from your experience? Brands? Makes/models? Breeds of pit-bulls? (Obviously, don't give away anything that would compromise the security of your own workspace.)

(BTW, everyone is OK in my brother-in-law's family. They got a DVD player, a Wii and some games and some jewelry. Tried to take his iMac, but he had it locked to the table! Very upsetting for his young children and his wife.)

Thanks,
n

[Frodo]

Dude-- sorry to hear about the theft. That's awful no matter how much or little was taken. Glad to know everyone is safe.

As for security, the first thing would be to make a break-in as problematic and frustrating as possible. Heavy duty locks and bolts are nearly useless if mounted on wooden doors and door frames that can be easily knocked in. Same for windows.

For security systems, ADT may be a good place to start looking. Brinks and Protection One are two more from what is certainly a long list of options. Aside from installation and monthly fees, caveats can abound. For example, some systems are wired into your phone line-- so if your phone line stops working, so does your security system.

[twistedtom]

Back up all your music and get a lot of insurance keep the doors open and buy new stuff.

One house I put bars on the windows but that made me feel like I was in jail.
We have been thinking about putting up a gate on our road.

A friend of mine had an alarm but all they did was to call a contact to check it out (me).
By the time I got there the crooks could have run off with what ever they wanted.
If you want an alarm just go to the mall or some place and enter some contest you will amazingly win a free alarm system, I have won lots of them. It comes with a monthly bill although and they will not just give you the gear.

[AlMacMeister]

For my project studio, I make sure that there is nothing on the outside of the house that indicates there's a studio inside. You can't see in any windows and see the studio. It's all heavily insulated for sound (the drums leak out a little, but not much; to anyone outside, they would think it's just a stereo playing inside).

When I moved in to the house, all the gear and big items like piano, drums, lotsa guitars etc. went in covertly. So no one ever saw any music gear coming into the house. If I take stuff out of the house, it gets loaded discretely into the car from the back of the house. I don't go around telling neighbours or people i don't know really well what's in my house. So from the outside, it's just a plain house and even the neighbours have no idea what's going on inside.

I have a motion detector installed in the studio, but I haven't as of yet hooked up the alarm system.

Don't laugh, but I'm very paranoid, so I'm SERIOUSLY considering building a fake bookshelf onto the door to the studio, so that when the door is closed, you can't tell there's a room behind it. There would be no indication of a room on the other side of the wall. I saw a guy on TV once who had this huge sports memorabilia collection and he had his room hidden like that. Just like the batcave...

http://blogs.move.com/behind-the-walls/ ... oset-door/

[FMiguelez]

.

When it comes to this, I doubt there can be ANYONE more paranoid than I...

For starters, I live in Mexico City. I MUST be always careful with everything.

So, I think the best you can do (directly proportional to your paranoia depth) is treat everything in layers.

First of all, you need some great insurance. Read the fine prints.
Start with steel doors, and put 2 or 3 high security locks. My studio looks like a jail-house, but once you're in it feels cozy. I also have double doors (each with a steel frame and high security locks.

I reduced ALL the windows in size, so unless I get a 3 year old thief, none goes through the windows.

Get ADT, with the mobile option. This is, a secondary cell phone kicks in if someone attempts to cut your phone lines. This cell phone then calls ADT's center.

Talk to your (trusted) neighbors. Let them have your mobile and home phones. Tell them what is "normal" and what is not "normal", in terms of movement and visitors (so if they see a Van full of thugs stealing your stuff, then they KNOW that's not ok and they can call you.

Make sure there are no trees whose branches lead to higher windows.

Make sure the street is always well lit.

NEVER advertise as a recording studio, and NEVER put your physical address on your business cards.

Actually, my neighbors think I am running some kind of boring office thing.

Always have off-site backups of your music, projects and sample libraries.

Have a gun under your mixing desk.

Get 2 or 3 cameras. Put one outside (out of reach and protected), and a few others strategically positioned. This is something I haven't done yet, but I'm planning on getting the cameras that are motion-activated, and send you live feeds to where ever you are, so you can see in real time what's going on.

Every 6 months I try to improve or upgrade something regarding security. The cameras will be my next step.

And last, but not least, all this works for times where you are not there. But what if you are there and you get violently robbed, as it happens so often here? For this you need those outside cameras that let you know who's ringing the bell, and have double doors, like in the banks. You let someone in and the door behind gets closed. You don't open the next gate (the access to the property) until you see everything if ok. THEN you open the last door.

Instal a panic alarm in strategic places.

Always try to make your routine different, or at least vary it a little.

I have actually 2 separate ADT systems (one for the main building and one for the studio).

A few of these suggestions might seem a bit paranoid, but believe me. I sleep MUCH better at night. The more I do security-wise, the sweeter dreams I have. Living in this bad city can do many nasty things to your paranoia thresholds

Good luck!!!

[FMiguelez]

.

Thinking about it, the best we can do is at least discourage the thieves into looking for an easier target. This is where the different security LAYERS come into play. The less things that are favorable to thieves, the better and the more likely they'll just rob your neighbor's house instead of your studio.

But, as the ADT guy who installed my system told me: "if someone REALLY wants to break in, they will. All you can do is make it harder."

He then proceeded to tell me dozens of horror stories of how ingenious these low-lives actually are. Some carry this thing (soplete?) that looks like a can and produce insane amounts of heat to melt steel doors

I know in my mind, I would have NO PROBLEM, what so ever, shooting a thief. I'm defending my loved ones and my property. If the need came, I'd gladly shoot the bastards. As long as they fall inside my property then I wouldn't go to jail, and it would be considered self-defense.
Not before, of course, I'd be detained and jailed while there's an investigation. Here in Mexico you are always GUILTY until proven innocent...

Ok, time for me to stop before I start ranting about the state of affairs here

[James Steele]

I really agree with the low profile strategy as being one of the most important elements. I don't tell anybody about my studio. If delivery people come to my house they don't see the studio. When I've sold stuff on craigslist and people have come to the house, they don't know about the studio. In fact, I like to say that I "got rid of my studio" and the piece I'm selling is one of the last remaining pieces of my audio gear and I'm "giving it up."

But HERE IS A VERY IMPORTANT tip also:

If you have a website for your studio with your own domain name, make certain you have not listed your physical address in the contact information for that domain. Use a post office box, or if you must, make up a phony address (but not a real one so thieves won't go to someone else's home).

Thieves can find look up your domain name in your domain registrar's "whois" directory and find your address if you entered it when you registered your domain. If you don't know what a whois directory here's an example:

http://www.betterwhois.com

[AlMacMeister]

The low profile strategy is rough on the ego though isn't it! It's so tempting to want to show off your pride and joy--your studio

[jgest]

I really agree with the low profile strategy as being one of the most important elements. I don't tell anybody about my studio. If delivery people come to my house they don't see the studio. When I've sold stuff on craigslist and people have come to the house, they don't know about the studio. In fact, I like to say that I "got rid of my studio" and the piece I'm selling is one of the last remaining pieces of my audio gear and I'm "giving it up."

But HERE IS A VERY IMPORTANT tip also:

If you have a website for your studio with your own domain name, make certain you have not listed your physical address in the contact information for that domain. Use a post office box, or if you must, make up a phony address (but not a real one so thieves won't go to someone else's home).



Thieves can find look up your domain name in your domain registrar's "whois" directory and find your address if you entered it when you registered your domain. If you don't know what a whois directory here's an example:

http://www.betterwhois.com

Good tip thanks for this info.

Npatton-

Sorry to hear about the unfortunate events......

[Phil O]

Umm, I'm licensed to carry concealed.

Phil

[James Steele]

Umm, I'm licensed to carry concealed.

Phil

Are you Phil O... or Phil S? (Spector)

[Shooshie]

Back up all your music and get a lot of insurance keep the doors open and buy new stuff.

One house I put bars on the windows but that made me feel like I was in jail.
We have been thinking about putting up a gate on our road.

A friend of mine had an alarm but all they did was to call a contact to check it out (me).
By the time I got there the crooks could have run off with what ever they wanted.

And if they had NOT run off... what then? You introduce yourself and have tea? Shootout at the OK Corral? Car chase in the French Connection?



Shooshie

[npatton]

Wow! Thanks for all the input! I truly appreciate it. Time to do some shopping. Some things about my office location are perfect for your suggestions, others need work and/or adjustment.

BTW, my brother-in-law went out today and bought a $1700 ADT system for his house.

Thanks again!
n

[kassonica]

I'm sorry to hear of your families plight with thieves.

Dark desperate times we live in

[twistedtom]

A gate is looking better all the time; I will put it about 1/4 mile from the house. I have been thinking of cameras also. People do not go down private roads around here, it could be dangerous.