Every issue of Recording Engineer's Quarterly is a new adventure for me.  As an editor, I think a lot like an instructor.  This is, of course, has a lot to do with the fact that I am an instructor.  With each issue I look for a "theme" and try to put together articles that fit into that theme.  The "theme" is like a "subject" or "section" of a class - at least in my mind.  Thinking like this, however, may be part of the reason we have a relatively large readership.  Unfortunately, in a way, it may also be the reason we don't have more readers. 

An editor is supposed to think in deadlines.  "The publication is due by April 1st, so articles are due March 21st, and you must get your ad copy to us by...."  "So it's not the best article, it made the deadline."  Every editor and publisher of a "periodical" knows that the deadline is supreme; every publisher knows that the magazine will lose readership and advertising dollars if it doesn't meet the publication deadline.  The world, to an editor, runs on a strict clock.  The fact of the matter is that I don't think this way - so maybe I'm not the best editor.  Why Am I this way?

I have posted many "from the editor" articles that have said something to the effect: "We're a little late getting it out but content quality is first priority with us and deadlines are secondary."  Why do I think like this?  To find out, we only need to look at my "upbringing" in the music field.

When I started out in the music industry in the mid-1960's I worked at a company run by a music-industry genius, Berry Gordy Jr..  Berry directed the company, Motown Records, to become the biggest independent record company in the world with over 75% of its releases gaining national "hit" status between the years of 1964 and 1967.  He was the one who gave me the idea of content quality being more important than deadlines.

Probably a huge reason why Motown put out mostly hit records came from Berry Gordy refusing to release a record unless, in his considered opinion, it had hit potential and a hit sound.  If he thought he didn't have a hit tune to release on an established artist, he wouldn't release a record until a "hit song" was written and recorded. If he thought there could be a significantly better mix, he would hold up the release until that mix was obtained.  The Sales Vice President would say, "I have to have the next Supremes release NOW - we're losing 2000 sales per day because it isn't out!" and Berry would say, "We need a better mix."  The biggest and best example of this attitude was the Motown release of the Supremes, "Love Child."  The story of this release is the subject of my next Motown Recording Heritage article (due out next issue).

Recording Engineer's Quarterly issues will be on an indefinite schedule.  There will be one, or more issues that come out quarterly.  When an issue posts, the next issue will be out within 3 months.  We will be posting projected release dates at the front door and at our very regular "tip of the week" feature.

Recording Engineer's Quarterly issues will be "updated" by adding additional articles as deemed appropriate by the editor. Many times I will be working on an article that fits right into the theme of an issue, but it doesn't get done in time to make it in an issue.  Rather than "hold up" an otherwise complete issue, or (worse yet) not finish the article, I'll add the article late.  I project that this will happen for one or two articles per issue.  I'll keep you informed with front door notices, and again notices in the "Tip Of The Week" postings. 

THE TIP OF THE WEEK has had more than 6 years of posting regularly at the end of each week.  On a handful of occasions there's been a late post, but this occurs only one out of 50 times (or so).  We intend to keep deadlines a much higher priority for these postings.  With the shorter tip articles and a wealth of archived articles, we can maintain a much more deadline orientated feature.  Maybe the regular posting schedule is a big reason why the weekly tips are our most popular feature.  Simply by accessing the "Tip Of The Week": you can find out about when and what we are posting to our quarterly "issue."

What was being said (the text) has always been more important than things like layout and appearances.  As we enter out 8th year, I want to raise the standards on this a bit and I would like any feedback that you have on our more colorful and different formatting.

I wanted to take my "from the editor" space this issue to let you, the reader. know what to expect out of REQ with the new posting schedule.  The theme of this issue is "Preparing For The Harvest."  For a guide on what we're covering on this, read my article with this title.