What are your favorite bang for the buck equipment secrets
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From: Rick Paul on 3 Apr 2008 03:02 "malachi" <junk(a)trentes.com> wrote in message news:b2RIj.26789$Ch6.6281(a)newssvr11.news.prodigy.net... > You know what I mean, that rare piece of gear or software that is > ridiculously cheap, yet performs like gear many times its price. Check this one out: For a little under $500 you get: * A high quality, multitrack digital recorder. How many tracks? How many do you need? There's at least that many. * A high quality digital mixer with complete automation. How many channels and buses? How many do you need? There's at least that many. * A rack full of audio processors and effects, including multiple compressors (including a couple of multiband ones), digital delay, multiple reverbs (including one by Lexicon), vintage mixer channel, various creative processors (e.g. chorus, flanger, etc.), mastering limiter, multiple EQs, and more. How many of each? How many do you need? There's at least that many. * A rack full of MIDI sound modules, including various synths, sample players, drum machines, and more. How many do you get of each? How many do you need? There's at least that many. * Lots more... On the order of 10-20 years ago, depending on the specific components, I paid something like: * $1,500 (or was it a lot more?) for an 8-channel, 16-bit/48 kHz digital recorder * $3,500 (I think) for a 32-channel, 8-bus analog mixer * $200 to $500 apiece for each audio processor and effect I had. * $1,500 apiece (approximately) for my high-end sound modules, none of which could play more than 8 parts at a time, and some of which could only play one part at a time. * $200 to $1,000 apiece for somewhat lower end sound modules with similar limitations on what they could be doing at any one time. Just trying to do some rough head calculations from memory of specifics from my rack and studio setup at one point, I'd guess the total cost for a system that really didn't do a fraction of what the above-referenced system does cost me upwards of $15K. Of course, you've probably guessed that I'm talking about SONAR 7 Producer Edition, but, with slightly differing details, I could probably be talking about most any DAW today. It is truly amazing the kind of value we get now from a software solution that used to require some pretty pricey hardware in the past, even for the prosumer level stuff that I'm generally talking about here. Even when you add in the computer to run it, audio interface, speakers, etc., we're still talking a major bargain for more functionality. And, of course, the other one is the general softsynth category and software effects category. Just to give one specific point of reference: Back around 1983 or 1984 I bought a Roland Juno 60 synth. I think it was somewhere in the neighborhood of $1,500 at the time, though I may be remembering wrong. Maybe it was in the $500 to $1,000 range. The specific number doesn't really matter so much. In July 2007, I picked up the Arturia V Collection. I paid less than $500 for that after some bargaining (current AudioMIDI price is $579, so it's still easy to get it under $600), and got the equivalent of: * Roland Jupiter 8 * ARP 2600 * Moog Modular * Moog MiniMoog * Sequential Prophet V * Sequential Prophet VS * Yamaha CS-80 I don't even want to think about what the prices on that stuff would have been if I'd ever been able to swing them or the divorce costs that would have ensued if I'd tried. Shoot, even if I'd been able to get a Jupiter 6 for $600 back when it was being manufactured, I'd have been over the moon (and most likely would have had one). And that would have only gotten me the ability to use one of them at a time, whereas I could have a whole Jupiter 8V orchestra in the softsynth world should I desire to do that. Man, we live in great times for music making! Rick -- ======================================= Rick Paul Closet Cowboy Music (ASCAP) Web: www.RickPaul.info MySpace: www.myspace.com/rickpaulmusic =======================================
From: BobF on 3 Apr 2008 09:17 "Rick Paul" <rickpaul(a)earthlink.net> wrote in message news:aKidnbridb1WHWnanZ2dnUVZ_sednZ2d(a)earthlink.com... > "malachi" <junk(a)trentes.com> wrote in message > news:b2RIj.26789$Ch6.6281(a)newssvr11.news.prodigy.net... >> You know what I mean, that rare piece of gear or software that is >> ridiculously cheap, yet performs like gear many times its price. > > Check this one out: > > For a little under $500 you get: > > * A high quality, multitrack digital recorder. How many tracks? How > many do you need? There's at least that many. > > * A high quality digital mixer with complete automation. How many > channels and buses? How many do you need? There's at least that many. > > * A rack full of audio processors and effects, including multiple > compressors (including a couple of multiband ones), digital delay, > multiple reverbs (including one by Lexicon), vintage mixer channel, > various creative processors (e.g. chorus, flanger, etc.), mastering > limiter, multiple EQs, and more. How many of each? How many do you need? > There's at least that many. > > * A rack full of MIDI sound modules, including various synths, sample > players, drum machines, and more. How many do you get of each? How many > do you need? There's at least that many. > > * Lots more... > > On the order of 10-20 years ago, depending on the specific components, I > paid something like: > > * $1,500 (or was it a lot more?) for an 8-channel, 16-bit/48 kHz > digital recorder > * $3,500 (I think) for a 32-channel, 8-bus analog mixer > * $200 to $500 apiece for each audio processor and effect I had. > * $1,500 apiece (approximately) for my high-end sound modules, none of > which could play more than 8 parts at a time, and some of which could only > play one part at a time. > * $200 to $1,000 apiece for somewhat lower end sound modules with > similar limitations on what they could be doing at any one time. > > Just trying to do some rough head calculations from memory of specifics > from my rack and studio setup at one point, I'd guess the total cost for a > system that really didn't do a fraction of what the above-referenced > system does cost me upwards of $15K. > > Of course, you've probably guessed that I'm talking about SONAR 7 Producer > Edition, but, with slightly differing details, I could probably be talking > about most any DAW today. It is truly amazing the kind of value we get > now from a software solution that used to require some pretty pricey > hardware in the past, even for the prosumer level stuff that I'm generally > talking about here. Even when you add in the computer to run it, audio > interface, speakers, etc., we're still talking a major bargain for more > functionality. > > And, of course, the other one is the general softsynth category and > software effects category. Just to give one specific point of reference: > > Back around 1983 or 1984 I bought a Roland Juno 60 synth. I think it was > somewhere in the neighborhood of $1,500 at the time, though I may be > remembering wrong. Maybe it was in the $500 to $1,000 range. The > specific number doesn't really matter so much. In July 2007, I picked up > the Arturia V Collection. I paid less than $500 for that after some > bargaining (current AudioMIDI price is $579, so it's still easy to get it > under $600), and got the equivalent of: > > * Roland Jupiter 8 > * ARP 2600 > * Moog Modular > * Moog MiniMoog > * Sequential Prophet V > * Sequential Prophet VS > * Yamaha CS-80 > > I don't even want to think about what the prices on that stuff would have > been if I'd ever been able to swing them or the divorce costs that would > have ensued if I'd tried. Shoot, even if I'd been able to get a Jupiter 6 > for $600 back when it was being manufactured, I'd have been over the moon > (and most likely would have had one). And that would have only gotten me > the ability to use one of them at a time, whereas I could have a whole > Jupiter 8V orchestra in the softsynth world should I desire to do that. > > Man, we live in great times for music making! > Just make sure you factor in the cost of the host for all of the software!!!!!! Still a great deal, IMO.
From: Neil Rutman on 3 Apr 2008 10:16 I bought a Peavey VMP-2 2 channel vacuum tube preamp for about $600 on ebay. This thing sounds really great on gtrs, vocals, bass and just about everything else. Nothing else compares in this price range. I got an Oscar Scmidt ES 335 knock off for $75 which is truly a great gtr. Neil R "AKA gray asphalt" <benvhoff(a)gmail.com> wrote in message news:CFSIj.1475$xd5.811(a)newsfe17.phx... > Midiox and Midiyoke > I know that prob shows how much of a newbie > I am, but I love what they do. > ________ > > Hotkey Master > Lets me kill hung programs with a hotkey when > the system has slowed down so much that waiting > for Windows Task Master takes too long. > ________ > > "malachi" <junk(a)trentes.com> wrote in message > news:b2RIj.26789$Ch6.6281(a)newssvr11.news.prodigy.net... >> You know what I mean, that rare piece of gear or software that is >> ridiculously cheap, yet performs like gear many times its price. >> >> Who can forget when TP and Pete L first raved in here about the Studio >> Projects C1? Or the VTB1? >> >> Or the Oktava MC012? >> >> We should start a running list of found deals like this. >> >> Here's my list: >> >> 1) Roland SRV-3030D Digital Reverb. ($175 - $300) This is a 24 bit >> hardware reverb unit that sounds spectacular. If you buy one, know that >> they come in two flavors, one without digital ins and outs (SRV-3030) and >> one with spdif ins and outs (SRV-3030D). The analog ins and outs sound >> pretty good but the digital inputs and outputs sound incredible. You can >> probably find one of these on eBay for about $250.00. They originally >> sold in 1999 for about a grand. The unit has 100 presets and 100 user >> defined programs, and if you can find an obsolete and very elusive 2 or >> 4Mb 5V smartmedia card, you can expand the program memory to 1000 user >> defined programs as well as your own sampled preview sounds. >> >> http://cgi.ebay.com/Roland-SRV-3030D-24bit-Digital-Reverb-with-Digital-I-O_W0QQitemZ350018325970QQihZ022QQcategoryZ23790QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQ_trksidZp1638.m118.l1247QQcmdZViewItem >> >> >> 2) MCA SP1 Microphone ($39.00) Yes, you read that price correctly. No, >> it's not a piece of junk. But this one is qualified. It sounds ok out >> of the "box" (actually, it comes packaged in a blister pak), but modified >> with two dollars worth of better capacitors, and burned in for about 24 >> hours, it sounds really really nice. It's a medium diaphragm side >> address condenser and once modded, it's easily worth ten times the price. >> A pair would be great on drum OH's and it does a very honest, non-boomy >> job on acoustic guitar. It's also a pretty fine VO mike. >> >> Here's where I bought mine: >> >> http://www.pssl.com/Search?q=sp1&by=s&x=31&y=8 >> >> Here's how to modify it (these instructions are for an MXL 603, but it's >> the same circuit board): >> >> http://www.prodigy-pro.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5156&highlight=mxl+603+mods >> >> The numbers of the capacitors you need: >> >> Digikey Part No. ECQ-V1H224JL (.22uf Metal Film Panasonic caps. You'll >> need two per mic.) >> >> Mouser Part No. 23PW210 (.001uf/1000pf Xicon Styroflex polystyrene cap. >> You'll need one per mic.) >> >> The mod is quick and easy for anyone with minimal soldiering skills. If >> I could do it, you can do it. >> >> After you have done the mod, hook the mic up to phantom power and let it >> cook for at least 24 hours, afterwards you'll notice a beautiful full >> bottom end, a smooth mid and high end without the strident highs you >> often hear in mics from the far east. >> >> 3) ART PRO VLA stereo tube compressor. I know, I know, if it has to tell >> you it's "pro", it ain't. >> And to be honest, for $200.00 new, don't expect an LA-2A. But it's a >> very nice, quiet, transparent compressor that will warm up the sound >> beautifully without a fakey vintage plugin sound. At this price you >> can't go wrong with at least one of these. (And don't rule it out >> because it's from ART. Just don't, Ok?) >> >> http://www.samedaymusic.com/product--ART212 >> >> These are my finds, how about yours? >> >> malachi >> >> > >
From: Sue Morton on 3 Apr 2008 10:26 I agree with G'Bo, I too have the blue one and it does sound the best of all of them!!!! LOL -- Sue Morton Glennbo wrote: > In news:y7idnb0e6PNKe2nanZ2dnUVZ_gSdnZ2d(a)speakeasy.net the killer > robot "Neil Rutman" <neilrut(a)speakeasy.net> grabbed the controls of > the spaceship cakewalk.audio and pressed these buttons... > >> I got an Oscar >> Scmidt ES 335 knock off for $75 which is truly a great gtr. > > > Agreed! The blue one sounds best! ;) > > http://members.cox.net/glennbo/OE30.jpg
From: jtougas on 3 Apr 2008 20:45
On Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:22:47 GMT, "malachi" <junk(a)trentes.com> trained 100 monkeys to jump on the keyboard and write: >You know what I mean, that rare piece of gear or software that is >ridiculously cheap, yet performs like gear many times its price. > 1) FMR RNC - Really Nice Compressor - $175 2) MXL V67G Large Diaprhagm Condensor Mic - $50 3) Multivox MXD-5 Analog Echo & Spring Reverb -$25 4) Crate V18-112 All tube guitar amp - $250 Yeah, it's a Crate, but it does sound *really* good. Caveat : needed warranty work right off the bat, but it sounds *goood* (and LOUD). Cheers- -- jtougas "listen- there's a hell of a good universe next door let's go" - e.e. cummings |