Topic: Where do you buy your gear?

[Philthy]

If I decide to start taping, where should I be looking to purchase my gear.  I own a lot of pro audio gear, but none of it is portable...so I would be starting fresh.  Thanks for your help!

[super-phat-al]

http://cascademedia.net/
www.micsupply.com  (dave is a cool guy, but pricey)


im sure other people can fill in

[Brian Skalinder]

Most of my current gear I've bought used from either here or the Oade Bros forum.

I've dealt with all of these retailers at one point or another - all have been positive experiences:

Cascade Media
Mic Supply
Sonic Sense
Oade Bros (new, not used from forum)
Masterpiece AV (Dale Pro Audio)

For media, check out the Retail Space section.  You'll find info on a TS.com discount at Cascade Media.  Sonic Sense posts some discounts there, too.  And various people post links every so often about deals to be had.

[zhianosatch]

I buy used and have bought from Sonic Sense. Good times.

[wbrisette]

Some places I've used with positive results:

Media:

• Terrapin Tapes (usually has some of the best prices -- not always, but usually).
• Cassette House (sale items only. Otherwise can be pricey. Stocks real DAT tape cheaper than others though).
• Oade Brothers (stocks hard to find Maxell from Japan DAT tapes for a lot less than others -- although it looks like Maxell only uses tape from Japan now)

Decks:

• Terrapin Tapes (almost always cheaper than anybody else for new decks).

Other hardware (mics, windscreens, mixers, etc)

• Oade Brothers (very nice and knowledgeable)
• Klay Anderson Audio (Klay does a lot of high end studio stuff, and has been doing audio work himself for 35 years. He knows audio. Like Dave from Mic Supply a really nice guy too. About 80% of my gear comes from Klay. He is a distributor for a lot of stuff, so if you want something give him a call he is probably a distributor. He doesn't stock a lot, but can usually have stuff drop shipped from the factory very quickly.)
• Mic Supply (Dave is a taper himself, and a wonderful guy. But as already mentioned may not have the best pricing in the world).
• Sweetwater Audio (These guys move a lot of gear and thus have a lot of stuff. I always call because the price listed is not always what you can get it for if you talk to them. I tend to use these guys for software and more generic stuff because I really like to support the "little guys")

Anyhow, that's my list. Brian, maybe we could turn this into a FAQ type thing. (just an idea).

Wayne

[iphone]

macmidimusic.com

[DaryanLenz]

This is easy...I find the best price, I e-mail Jamie and Dan at masterpiece (Daleproaudio), and they beat it!  Yes, it is that simple!

Daryan

[Craig T]

My recent purchases have been from these retailers:
Oade
Terrapin Tapes
B&H Photo/Video
Full Compass
Markertek

I've also used Sonic Sense, Sound Professionals, Core-Sound, Masterpiece/Dale with no complaints.

I think all of the "taper friendly" retailers will match competitors' prices, but maybe not the big mail/web-order company prices.  Shop around and tell your favorite retailer what you've found - they will likely come close, if not match it, to keep your business.

[jlykos]

I buy mostly from Sonic Sense, but I have used all the retailers at some point or another.  One thing that I have been doing lately for microphone stuff is to contact the distributors directly and ask for their best price.  Usually none of the retailers can touch it.

[nickgregory]

Sonic Sense has always been great with questions and prices.

Ebay and used forums get quite a bit of business from me....

[John R]

Sonic Sense

jr

[Chuck]

It's also fairly safe to buy from other tapers on this forum or over at Oade Bros.

[Chris K]

got my current rig from sweetwater sound's trading post...i called it the taper starter package...got a d8, stock sbm1, rmr-3d and at822 stereo mic and a huge pelican case for under $600. I used this package for about a year....

i have since bought some new 391 mic off ebay

i am assembling all the things i need to run those mics now: the phantom power, line converters, good shock mounts(8410's) and a shure verticle stereo bar. all these items i have gotten used from people on this taperssection board, or the oade used gear board, or the dat heads list.

i have found that tapers are very friendly, and have a certain integrity to them above the average ebay transaction, possibly because we all know this ain't a cheap hobby

good luck on your quest....you may want to sell/trade some of your studio gear for the portable gear, that's what I did...sold a fostex model 80 analog 8 track 1/4" real-to-real deck, and adat xt(have 2 more though) to feed this habit

chris k

[JAH]

Most of my gear is either from the Oade Bros. or bought used.  Most all will price match.  If you want service then go Oade.  They do it in house and do it right.  They have gotten so busy that they don't work on "much" gear that they haven't sold from their shop...the customer comes first  Good techs, nice people and knowledgeable tapers, let alone a sound engineer.

my 0.02
jah

[wboswell]

I'll recomment buying used gear.  Much more economical.  Most questions can be answered on this forum by users.  If you require something new, call or email around and see who has the best price.  They are going to have similar prices, but service is the going to be the main difference.