ericn
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Balance Engineer
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Post by ericn on Sept 27, 2024 19:13:54 GMT -6
I’ll be honest the most fulfilling sub $200 purchases have been taking a risk on old dynamics! Like my AKG D790’s and D770! Thinking older, ie D1000, D1200, d190 etc but yeah. |
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ericn
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Balance Engineer
Posts: 16,083
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Post by ericn on Sept 27, 2024 19:30:48 GMT -6
This probably isn’t what you really want to hear, but listen/ read😁. In the old days, pre internet ( DrBill, Ward, Nobtwiddler back me up here) we didn’t have eBay, Reverb, GC used or MGR listing all their inventory. Nope we had to walk in or subscribe to a brokers list, this really lead to something special. It wasn’t a world where every idiot and some damn insightful pros gave us recommendations, it was a world where you took a flyer something that fit your budget. We all learned the hard way, we took a risk, if it sucked it sucked. But what we all learned is our needs / desires were not all the same, there is a tone of quality outboard that flys under the radar, it’s just not necessarily the fashionable in stuff.
Look take a look at just about any Tchad Blake interview, no we are not talking specifics but Tchad will always mention basically dumpster diving for gear. Yeah dude I’m not talking down to you but at $200 take some fing riscks! It might be the secret sauce that sets you apart, it might be a me too piece, it might suck. The thing about $200 is that we are not talking UA, Neve, API etc nope we are talking the chance to define your sound. Take a flyer, if it sucks flip it, if it doesn’t learn it. Just don’t become another sheep of an AE!
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Post by nobtwiddler on Sept 27, 2024 19:56:03 GMT -6
Haha,
Spoken Eric, like a true lifer~!
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Post by eyebytwomuchgeer on Sept 27, 2024 20:27:41 GMT -6
Since the 160X has already been mentioned, how about the Symetrix 501? They have a decent amount of features. Just gotta make sure you get one in decent shape.
You could probably score a pair of DBX 163X as well. Dead simple compression, and from what I remember, you can mix/match with the 463X gate, and set them to basically mirror the main driving unit. So drive the 463X gate from the 163X compressor, and the gate actually becomes a second compressor. Switch it around, and you'd get a stereo gate. They're half-rack-width units, so a pair fits a single rack space. It is a pain though to find the correct mounting hardware if you don't use a rack shelf.
A cheap re-amp interface like the DIYRE one is pretty handy if you have some pedals or guitar amps. You can get a lot of new sounds using stuff you may already have sitting around.
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Post by bikescene on Sept 27, 2024 20:28:27 GMT -6
A reamp box would be a very useful utility piece under $200. You could either reamp DI guitars into amps, or use guitar pedals as outboard.
Some fun outboard that I've bought for sub $200, and even sub $100:
-Symetrix 501 Compressor
-Ashly SC-50
-Ashly PQX571 Parametric EQ
-DBX 163X for bass
-Klark 76-KT
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Post by bikescene on Sept 27, 2024 20:31:41 GMT -6
Since the 160X has already been mentioned, how about the Symetrix 501? They have a decent amount of features. Just gotta make sure you get one in decent shape. You could probably score a pair of DBX 163X as well. Dead simple compression, and from what I remember, you can mix/match with the 463X gate, and set them to basically mirror the main driving unit. So drive the 463X gate from the 163X compressor, and the gate actually becomes a second compressor. Switch it around, and you'd get a stereo gate. They're half-rack-width units, so a pair fits a single rack space. It is a pain though to find the correct mounting hardware if you don't use a rack shelf. A cheap re-amp interface like the DIYRE one is pretty handy if you have some pedals or guitar amps. You can get a lot of new sounds using stuff you may already have sitting around. You pretty much nailed everything I was going to suggest. |
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Post by eyebytwomuchgeer on Sept 27, 2024 20:38:51 GMT -6
Since the 160X has already been mentioned, how about the Symetrix 501? They have a decent amount of features. Just gotta make sure you get one in decent shape. You could probably score a pair of DBX 163X as well. Dead simple compression, and from what I remember, you can mix/match with the 463X gate, and set them to basically mirror the main driving unit. So drive the 463X gate from the 163X compressor, and the gate actually becomes a second compressor. Switch it around, and you'd get a stereo gate. They're half-rack-width units, so a pair fits a single rack space. It is a pain though to find the correct mounting hardware if you don't use a rack shelf. A cheap re-amp interface like the DIYRE one is pretty handy if you have some pedals or guitar amps. You can get a lot of new sounds using stuff you may already have sitting around. You pretty much nailed everything I was going to suggest. Freaky! We posted at basically the same time. I never heard of the PQX571. Gotta check that out!! |
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 16,083
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Post by ericn on Sept 27, 2024 21:20:50 GMT -6
Since the 160X has already been mentioned, how about the Symetrix 501? They have a decent amount of features. Just gotta make sure you get one in decent shape. You could probably score a pair of DBX 163X as well. Dead simple compression, and from what I remember, you can mix/match with the 463X gate, and set them to basically mirror the main driving unit. So drive the 463X gate from the 163X compressor, and the gate actually becomes a second compressor. Switch it around, and you'd get a stereo gate. They're half-rack-width units, so a pair fits a single rack space. It is a pain though to find the correct mounting hardware if you don't use a rack shelf. A cheap re-amp interface like the DIYRE one is pretty handy if you have some pedals or guitar amps. You can get a lot of new sounds using stuff you may already have sitting around. The 501 might, be a better VCA comp than any of the single space DBX160’s BUT those damn meters on the DBX’s will teach you. More and more quickly thank any comp out there! |
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Post by bikescene on Sept 27, 2024 21:24:03 GMT -6
You pretty much nailed everything I was going to suggest. Freaky! We posted at basically the same time. I never heard of the PQX571. Gotta check that out!! It is quite the coincidence. I built the DIYRE reamp box myself, and it's one of my most used pieces of hardware. I've been able to interface level sensitive pedals like the Deluxe Memory Man into mixing this way. The Palmer Trave is another cheap reamp box that gets recommended a lot. The Walrus Canvas is at the upper end of the price limit that can achieve unity gain. All of those forum-hyped Symetrix and Ashly pieces fluctuate in price. Sometimes they can drop below $100 when Reverb is flooded with them, or they can reach the $200 range. The Ashly PQX571 isn't a character piece, but I've come to prefer turning physical knobs when I can and it has 7 bands. I got it around $100 a few years back. Another piece that can be cool for parallel duties: the Alesis Microlimiter (~$50). I read that it was used on some Peter Katis-produced albums in the mid 2000s. I've had fun destroying drums in parallel with it. I was hunting for sub-$200 gear exclusively when I started out recording. |
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Post by bluesholyman on Sept 28, 2024 4:58:55 GMT -6
This probably isn’t what you really want to hear, but listen/ read😁. In the old days, pre internet ( DrBill, Ward, Nobtwiddler back me up here) we didn’t have eBay, Reverb, GC used or MGR listing all their inventory. Nope we had to walk in or subscribe to a brokers list, this really lead to something special. It wasn’t a world where every idiot and some damn insightful pros gave us recommendations, it was a world where you took a flyer something that fit your budget. We all learned the hard way, we took a risk, if it sucked it sucked. But what we all learned is our needs / desires were not all the same, there is a tone of quality outboard that flys under the radar, it’s just not necessarily the fashionable in stuff. Look take a look at just about any Tchad Blake interview, no we are not talking specifics but Tchad will always mention basically dumpster diving for gear. Yeah dude I’m not talking down to you but at $200 take some fing riscks! It might be the secret sauce that sets you apart, it might be a me too piece, it might suck. The thing about $200 is that we are not talking UA, Neve, API etc nope we are talking the chance to define your sound. Take a flyer, if it sucks flip it, if it doesn’t learn it. Just don’t become another sheep of an AE! Fair enough. No problem taking a risk, although I prefer calculated risks. This question is part of the calculation... |
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Post by sean on Sept 28, 2024 7:26:22 GMT -6
Probably the best “values” in this range is getting into stuff like the DBX 900/Aphex 9000 series or the ADR Scamp Rack. Lots of very usable modules, often affordable (especially the 900 series) and all (fairly) easy to maintain and work on (unless you get into the rarer stuff like a DBX 906 or ADR S23)
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Post by drumsound on Sept 28, 2024 19:34:49 GMT -6
I’ll be honest the most fulfilling sub $200 purchases have been taking a risk on old dynamics! +1 Like my AKG D790’s and D770! Thinking older, ie D1000, D1200, d190 etc but yeah. shhh A reamp box would be a very useful utility piece under $200. You could either reamp DI guitars into amps, or use guitar pedals as outboard. Some fun outboard that I've bought for sub $200, and even sub $100: -Symetrix 501 Compressor -Ashly SC-50 -Ashly PQX571 Parametric EQ -DBX 163X for bass -Klark 76-KT I really need to use my SC-50 more. It was my bass comp of choice for a long while. |
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Post by geoff738 on Sept 29, 2024 12:28:25 GMT -6
I did a quick google for the dbx242 eq. Saw that one had sold on Reverb. Four years ago! Dunno if there just aren’t many out there or people are holding onto them or what.
Cheers,
Geoff
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 16,083
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Post by ericn on Sept 29, 2024 12:34:33 GMT -6
I did a quick google for the dbx242 eq. Saw that one had sold on Reverb. Four years ago! Dunno if there just aren’t many out there or people are holding onto them or what. Cheers, Geoff Both! |
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Post by antipodesjosh on Sept 29, 2024 12:45:49 GMT -6
For under $200 I’d be looking at a Kilchoman Sanaig or Ancnoc 18 yr.
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Post by chessparov on Sept 29, 2024 17:22:31 GMT -6
I did a quick google for the dbx242 eq. Saw that one had sold on Reverb. Four years ago! Dunno if there just aren’t many out there or people are holding onto them or what. Cheers, Geoff Both! Sold my mint 242 around 16 years ago… To Harvey Gerst. BTW another “don’t laugh” thing. The Presonus Audiobox’s have nice/smooth Pre’s. Too anemic in Gain for Conventional Dynamics usually. But the Budget USB Prosumer “Cat’s Meow” for taming assertiveness, in my original Soyuz Launcher. *  Or good for Condensers. Smoother than UA Volt/Scarlett 3rd Gen/Blue Mbox2 Mini. Even Mackie Onyx Blackjack.  Chris *Much like Aphex 107 (had one!) |
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Post by bluesholyman on Sept 29, 2024 18:55:03 GMT -6
For under $200 I’d be looking at a Kilchoman Sanaig or Ancnoc 18 yr. This will definitely make my music sound better! Edit: To me at least. |
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Post by gravesnumber9 on Sept 29, 2024 19:38:46 GMT -6
You can get an Aphex 661 for around that. I picked one up on the RGO classifieds and it's a really useful tool. Plus you won't be using the same thing that every single other AE has. It was made for broadcast (I think) so you can do pretty dramatic dynamic control transparently.
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Post by nicksteinborn on Sept 30, 2024 0:57:09 GMT -6
Seconding an Alesis Micro Limiter. Purely for smashing/vibe, but has a lot in there. Yamaha SPX90s are kinda crappy but 100% legendary reverb/chorus boxes. Worth the price for the Symphonic preset alone if you're getting your Andy Wallace on. Radial EXTC is rad for using guitar pedals on line level sources. Lots of potential if you have some pedals lying around. Also kinda doubles as a reamp box and a DI.
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Post by griffinpb on Sept 30, 2024 1:37:05 GMT -6
Budget recommendations in the sonic realm for me usually depend on aesthetic/genre preferences and enthusiasm for certain types of dirt imo. I like the old Alesis Micro Limiters and their verbs (quadriverb, midiverb, microverb etc). Aphex and Art stuff is also really cool stuff. I'm more of a software guy these days, but whenever I get a wild hare to spend a couple hundred it's usually either something utility oriented (a nice stand, a good chair, etc) or something with a unique sound/workflow that's hard to replicate with other tools. A good DI box is certainly within your budget! |
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Post by bluesholyman on Sept 30, 2024 10:18:53 GMT -6
Sometimes you can find the old Aphex Tube Essence series units at under 200. The 107 and 109 are good buys. I did manage to find a 107 with power supply, but one of the gain knobs has what feels like a click detent when dialed fully clockwise, while the other channel knob does not. I don't know what to make of this so I am probably not going to do anything on it, unless I know whats going on - just don't have time to buy something and not have it work for me. Do you have a decent chair? Noticed I never answered this: Yes, I have a "professional" all day chair for Big & Tall (& wide) people, which I partially resemble at certain angles. |
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Post by bluesholyman on Sept 30, 2024 10:20:21 GMT -6
I found an Ashley CLx-52 for $150 (New Old Stock) still in the box. Looks like a good deal. I understand they had a manufacturing issue with these during a certain production window, but not sure if this is one of those. Just need to make sure if there is an issue, they are willing to fix it. Haven't pulled the trigger, but seems like a solid option for me at that price.
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Post by Tbone81 on Sept 30, 2024 10:52:26 GMT -6
I found an Ashley CLx-52 for $150 (New Old Stock) still in the box. Looks like a good deal. I understand they had a manufacturing issue with these during a certain production window, but not sure if this is one of those. Just need to make sure if there is an issue, they are willing to fix it. Haven't pulled the trigger, but seems like a solid option for me at that price. Id pull the trigger on that asap, hard to go wrong for $150. |
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Post by doubledog on Sept 30, 2024 12:25:42 GMT -6
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Post by chessparov on Sept 30, 2024 13:40:42 GMT -6
Aphex 107 Gain knob? Only things left after the Nuclear Apocalypse... Cockroaches/Keith Richards/My Audiobox. * Chris *May_be my Toshiba Satellite too. The PC "that never dies". Still running W7! John E. would be proud. |
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Or good for Condensers.
