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Post by M57 on Jan 7, 2023 9:25:38 GMT -6
Why is it that when someone asks for advice regarding a purchase and they give a specific price range, invariably folks here manage to recommend gear that is double ..or even triple the price? I hate you all! Well, maybe not ..but my wife does   |
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Post by drumsound on Jan 7, 2023 10:03:30 GMT -6
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Post by gwlee7 on Jan 7, 2023 10:13:39 GMT -6
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Post by gravesnumber9 on Jan 7, 2023 10:31:47 GMT -6
Why is it that when someone asks for advice regarding a purchase and they give a specific price range, invariably folks here manage to recommend gear that is double ..or even triple the price? I hate you all! Well, maybe not ..but my wife does A few reasons. First, you can't get anything quality at that price. You just can't, not unless you want to buy disposable Chinese junk. Second, this is one area where you really get what you pay for. Third it's on sale, and that NEVER happens. And then finally, it's the same one they used on Dark Side Of The Moon. What's confusing about this? |
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Post by bchurch on Jan 7, 2023 10:37:20 GMT -6
At the same time, when someone asks about a $3000 compressor, there will always be those who insist the $29 plug-in is better.
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Post by kcatthedog on Jan 7, 2023 11:00:39 GMT -6
Ah, someone’s partner: asking for a friend ?
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Post by thehightenor on Jan 7, 2023 11:05:52 GMT -6
Why is it that when someone asks for advice regarding a purchase and they give a specific price range, invariably folks here manage to recommend gear that is double ..or even triple the price? I hate you all! Well, maybe not ..but my wife does Joking aside, I’ve been grateful as it taught me, there are almost no bargains in pro audio and you truly get what you pay for. So over the last 10 years I’ve bought less often, saved longer and bought some classic quality boutique pieces that not only sound fantastic but have increased in value. So when some says I’m going to buy a budget 1073 clone (which they’ll be looking to upgrade in a few years) I always suggest - if you can - hold out, keep saving and buy (for example) a BAE 1073 hand wired 1073 and then when you’re done with it you’ll be handing it down to your grandchildren  As a general rule, I think this approach has served me well, though my racks are relatively empty. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2023 11:09:04 GMT -6
Why is it that when someone asks for advice regarding a purchase and they give a specific price range, invariably folks here manage to recommend gear that is double ..or even triple the price? I hate you all! Well, maybe not ..but my wife does You mean I have a $3.5K budget, okay go buy some Core 59's or ATC SCM 25's?
Because they're awesome, that's all. |
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Post by bchurch on Jan 7, 2023 11:45:50 GMT -6
I dunno - I think there are PLENTY of bargains in pro audio! The low-mid grade stuff like Klark Teknik and so on are definitely not the thing they look like - cut corners like weak power supplies and dirt-floor components on the circuit board don't help. But if I wanted, let's say for the sake of argument... a Fairchild 670 (business must be doing pretty good)... do I pay the absurd upcharge for a restored relic or do I go for the $5000 Stam recreation? Source a vintage LA-2A or go with the AudioScape?
But beyond that, there are some awesome bargains to be had that are every bit the fantastic studio tool. I've got several B&B/Aphex CX-1's that are amazing on the right sources and no plug-in is ever gonna touch. Same for the GB-1 Gain Brain clones. Same for a lot of things that have three figure price tags.
Maybe this is just Neve envy.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2023 12:13:23 GMT -6
I dunno - I think there are PLENTY of bargains in pro audio! Maybe this is just Neve envy. I'm just pouring more GAS on the fire  ..
Anyway, audio is a subjective medium and there is a dunning effect in place until you adapt or even test out certain equipment. I'm still on a universal quest to find a mic that suits my voice better than a cheap(ish) import I bought on a whim via a purple site recommendation. My original Tele 2A's were replaced with Stam and Acme, can't say I miss them and I've had a lot of cheap / mid or high end stuff that I didn't like.
The only place where I've found price to be a consistent factor is monitors, the more you pay the better they are (usually, there are some exceptions to that rule as well). The thing about renowned classics (which are usually expensive) is they've already been used ad nauseum, you know that they will work for that specific application IF you like their recordings. Doing what I did, as in searching through a vast array of cheap / mid level equipment lead to interesting results, I won't deny it I found a few pieces that no high equipment can equal but ultimately it is a risk. Whether that's time or money, something will give..
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Post by notneeson on Jan 7, 2023 12:31:08 GMT -6
Why is it that when someone asks for advice regarding a purchase and they give a specific price range, invariably folks here manage to recommend gear that is double ..or even triple the price? I hate you all! Well, maybe not ..but my wife does Meh, don’t let the cork sniffers get ya down. There have never been better sounding affordable tools in audio than right now. This forum is a great resource for tools at various price points, the expensive stuff just hogs the limelight because its price to lust ratio is a self fulfilling prophecy. If you want to Jones for something, Jones for killer acoustic spaces. Just my opinion having bounced from commercial studios to project studios to home spaces and back again. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2023 16:15:56 GMT -6
400 dollar plugin compressors smokes 400 19” rack unit compressor and makes 4000 dollar compressor sound like plastic
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Post by gwlee7 on Jan 7, 2023 19:25:18 GMT -6
In all seriousness, the people here will help you spend your money but, they have always been honest and willing to share their experiences. I have some really, really, quality things in my little studio because of listening and reading here.
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Post by cj on Jan 8, 2023 19:41:28 GMT -6
Why is it that when someone asks for advice regarding a purchase and they give a specific price range, invariably folks here manage to recommend gear that is double ..or even triple the price? I hate you all! Well, maybe not ..but my wife does A few reasons. First, you can't get anything quality at that price. You just can't, not unless you want to buy disposable Chinese junk. Second, this is one area where you really get what you pay for. Third it's on sale, and that NEVER happens. And then finally, it's the same one they used on Dark Side Of The Moon. What's confusing about this?
LOL! One of the funnier comments I read tonight! |
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Post by ericn on Jan 8, 2023 20:22:54 GMT -6
Its a former gearpimp thing! Seriously, often it comes down to the fact that we have been there tried your solution and learned we should have just spent the money to begin with. It really sucks to see someone make the same mistake you or someone you know already did! The most classic example is my first rule of consoles; if you think you need "x" size always buy the next size up. Lots of guys thought I was up selling simply to make more $, but if you bought the 24 you thought you needed and came back 2 years later and bought the 36 I made a hell of a lot more!
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Post by gwlee7 on Jan 8, 2023 20:51:36 GMT -6
Its a former gearpimp thing! Seriously, often it comes down to the fact that we have been there tried your solution and learned we should have just spent the money to begin with. It really sucks to see someone make the same mistake you or someone you know already did! The most classic example is my first rule of consoles; if you think you need "x" size always buy the next size up. Lots of guys thought I was up selling simply to make more $, but if you bought the 24 you thought you needed and came back 2 years later and bought the 36 I made a hell of a lot more! I have done my best to remember not to settle and just get what I want to start with. It’s cheaper in the long run when I do. |
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Post by copperx on Jan 8, 2023 21:36:01 GMT -6
400 dollar plugin compressors smokes 400 19” rack unit compressor and makes 4000 dollar compressor sound like plastic Obviously you're talking about MDWDRC2, right? In what sense does it smoke pricier compressors? In terms of dynamic control, in adding vibe, in color? |
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Post by Bat Lanyard on Jan 8, 2023 21:37:21 GMT -6
Spending the money to begin with isn't always possible though, right? This shit's a journey and sometimes it's expensive, incredibly expensive and sometimes it's getting stuff done with whatever you have on hand or can add to the picture.
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Post by Bat Lanyard on Jan 8, 2023 21:38:35 GMT -6
400 dollar plugin compressors smokes 400 19” rack unit compressor and makes 4000 dollar compressor sound like plastic Obviously you're talking about MDWDRC2, right? In what sense does it smoke pricier compressors? In terms of dynamic control, in adding vibe, in color? For me that plugin is mostly about dynamic control. Very transparent dynamic control. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2023 21:48:41 GMT -6
400 dollar plugin compressors smokes 400 19” rack unit compressor and makes 4000 dollar compressor sound like plastic Obviously you're talking about MDWDRC2, right? In what sense does it smoke pricier compressors? In terms of dynamic control, in adding vibe, in color? Exactly what Bat Lanyard said. The same as Kotelnikov. People seek out color they like for compression because the classic compressors are distorted and behave weird. VCAs can behave better, e.g. Aphex, but most of them sound like plastic garbage. The modern compressors that don't get outsold by ersatz "classics" and still can't do what the MDWDRC2 and the Tokyo Dawn compressors can do. Most of the super expensive compressors you can buy that are still made are distortion boxes with okay to cool behavior. There are exceptions but most of them don't cost well over 2000 dollars or so. Many of the super expensive designs are SERIOUSLY CONFUSED like most of the ones with RMS/PEAK switches, feedforward / feedback switches, and limited stereo linking of parameters and the designer wasn't sure what the hell to do or what the hell the customer would potentially want to do with it. |
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Post by ab101 on Jan 8, 2023 21:55:16 GMT -6
Obviously you're talking about MDWDRC2, right? In what sense does it smoke pricier compressors? In terms of dynamic control, in adding vibe, in color? Exactly what Bat Lanyard said. The same as Kotelnikov. People seek out color they like for compression because the classic compressors are distorted and behave weird. VCAs can behave better, e.g. Aphex, but most of them sound like plastic garbage. The modern compressors that don't get outsold by ersatz "classics" and still can't do what the MDWDRC2 and the Tokyo Dawn compressors can do. Yes - I love that mastering-tight preset in Kotelnikov on particular busses. It takes a lot more money in hardware to do what that preset does and I can put it on multiple tracks at no extra cost. But this goes totally against my nature which loves lots of molecules. (I have only scratched the surface of the Kotelnikov - and the good news - no rack rash! It looks brand new! ) |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2023 5:26:06 GMT -6
Spending the money to begin with isn't always possible though, right? This shit's a journey and sometimes it's expensive, incredibly expensive and sometimes it's getting stuff done with whatever you have on hand or can add to the picture. I'm not a gear snob or cork sniffer and if I could sell every piece of HW I own I'd do it in a heartbeat. Yes, I do on occasion exaggerate the effects of pro audio equipment because it's a game of inches but in this instance I find it impossible to mimic my hybrid setup with plugs alone and believe me I've tried (many times). I bought the entire Tokyo Dawn suite and whilst they are amazing (especially when you consider the cost) the compressors / limiters still crap out long before my HW does, the amount of compression you can do without extensively damaging artefacts or imbalances is entirely different.
Then again irrelevant of how it sounds I need ITB EQ's, you can't physically do the same with outboard. For every benefit of HW there's an opposite positive with SW, simply put to achieve what I'm looking for I need copious amounts of both. It's also worth noting that HW hasn't stood still either, some of the newer designs from Gainlabs and Bettermaker for example are comprehensive, different and welcomed.
It's not all doom and gloom in the expense department though, IME it's tracking and 2-bus that makes the biggest difference.
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Post by kcatthedog on Jan 9, 2023 6:24:08 GMT -6
Don’t disagree, but with those two HW reference back to the investment point, not cheap clones, solid performers that cost what they cost.
I do regularly see BM gear for sale used, not cheap but down around a 1/3, but for me by the time you had in shipping/insurance
and no warranty, I’d be tempted to buy new.
Anybody know, if for BM repairs, you need to send to Poland ? Just curious.
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Post by kcatthedog on Jan 9, 2023 6:27:34 GMT -6
Ps just reading the GL product descriptions and the eye candy, makes you want to buy 1 of everything ! gainlabaudio.com/ |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2023 7:14:47 GMT -6
kcatthedog I believe so yes, I like the look of the GL Bishop but I'm flat broke at the moment (damn houses).. I might get a few bits Xmas time.
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