Topic: Overkill for a novice?

[Timmy!]

Hi all.  I'm a Long Time Reader, First Time Poster (LTRFTP)  .  I've been interested in taping for about six months now and I'm really pondering what setup I want to buy.  I've got my eye on AKG391's & and Edirol R4.  Is this a little overkill for a newby? Should I just go with a JB3 instead of an R4 (it would be cheaper)?   

I just don't want to spend an outragous amount of money only to make below average recordings.

I also want to say that you guys are awesome, you are always willing to help out a newbie.   And you guys are full of so much damned info, I'm amazed!   

[pfife]

I'f you've been lingering around, I'd bet you're gonna be addicted to the hobby... if that's so, then don't waste money getting newby stuff...

if you think you'll be sticking with it (which, if you've been interested for 6mos, you prolly will...) then go big!
 

[Tim]

buy the best gear that you can afford

newbie or not

[heath]

buy the best gear that you can afford

newbie or not

tim is so damn smart.  99.9% of the time he's right    This is one of those times.

[Tim]

great minds think alike heath

[admkrk]

I'f you've been lingering around, I'd bet you're gonna be addicted to the hobby... if that's so, then don't waste money getting newby stuff...

if you think you'll be sticking with it (which, if you've been interested for 6mos, you prolly will...) then go big!
 

yeah, don't get something you're going to want to upgrade instantly just to see if the tape will sound good or not. expecialy if you can afford better.

think of it like splitting wood w/ a hatchet or a sledge and wedge. better yet, go all out for the hydrolic log splitter!

[dnsacks]

you'd need something between the jb3 and mics to provide phantom power and gain (like a ua5) -- does the r4 provide phantom power and mic inputs?  If so, the r4 might well be the cheaper solution . . .

[heath]

have i mentioned recently that tim is a jedi?   

[Ray76]

Hi all.  I'm a Long Time Reader, First Time Poster (LTRFTP)  .  I've been interested in taping for about six months now and I'm really pondering what setup I want to buy.  I've got my eye on AKG391's & and Edirol R4.  Is this a little overkill for a newby? Should I just go with a JB3 instead of an R4 (it would be cheaper)?   

I just don't want to spend an outragous amount of money only to make below average recordings.

I also want to say that you guys are awesome, you are always willing to help out a newbie.   And you guys are full of so much damned info, I'm amazed!   

Like 15 folks asked me why I was getting a 722 and some mgs even though ive been taping for only like 8 or so months..My answer was cuz 1.) I knew i would keep at it 2) It looked and sounded great from what I heard and seemed to be user friendly and 3.) cuz i could.

get what you can afford,  do what it takes to make your ears happy. Its your money, noone should give a damn if you buy a midas mixing board and a fleet of u89s and goldchannels, do what you want with it. you are right about them being experts. I wouldnt know shit if it werent for these fine gentlemen(and ladies ) and eunuchs here

Ray
 

[heath]

get what you can afford,  do what it takes to make your ears happy. Its your money, noone should give a damn if you buy a midas mixing board and a fleet of u89s and goldchannels, do what you want with it.
 

qfmft

[Ray76]

get what you can afford,  do what it takes to make your ears happy. Its your money, noone should give a damn if you buy a midas mixing board and a fleet of u89s and goldchannels, do what you want with it.
 

qfmft

Or for that matter, who cares is you buy some at 4050s from a newer dude at 75 percent off cuz you know a lot and the dude dont +T heath

[kskreider]

have i mentioned recently that tim is a jedi?   

Really?  Welcome to the ranks, young jedi.   

I agree with Tim.  Buy what you can afford.  May the upgrade bug bite you hard. 

I should also point out that in most social situations folks are advised to avoid promiscuous and slutty situations, but around here it is encouraged.

[John R]

stay away from jbk

[mmmatt]

buy the best you can afford, but don't borrow the rent money to do it.  The more common newbie rigs like c-4's, 391's, c-1000's, ua-5, jb3, d-8 and the like, can be had for a reasonable price used and when you go to sell you won't take a very big hit and you'll sell quick to the next guy on the fence.  That being said, you can buy smart on the higher end stuff the same way.  Many times people will sell a complete rig or most of a rig and that is often a great way to buy.  Any of the more common posters here will always offer help after the sale also... part of the pleasure of buying and selling "within the family".

Matt

[Ray76]

buy the best you can afford, but don't borrow the rent money to do it.  The more common newbie rigs like c-4's, 391's, c-1000's, ua-5, jb3, d-8 and the like, can be had for a reasonable price used and when you go to sell you won't take a very big hit and you'll sell quick to the next guy on the fence.  That being said, you can buy smart on the higher end stuff the same way.  Many times people will sell a complete rig or most of a rig and that is often a great way to buy.  Any of the more common posters here will always offer help after the sale also... part of the pleasure of buying and selling "within the family".

Matt

spoken like a scholar matt.+T hoss. BTW, im sellin a complete rig ad-20>ps2>coresounds cardoids in the yar sale section for a darn good price. 

BigRay

[Tim]

well put Matt

really the gear is lowpriced, midpriced, and highpriced and once you buy into one of those levels you can generally buy and sell gear at little to no loss.... the initial buy-in can be tough but once you're in the amount of new money you need to put into the hobby is relatively minimal.

[Ray76]

well put Matt

really the gear is lowpriced, midpriced, and highpriced and once you buy into one of those levels you can generally buy and sell gear at little to no loss.... the initial buy-in can be tough but once you're in the amount of new money you need to put into the hobby is relatively minimal.

BTW Tim, hows the readin comin???
Ray

[Tim]

it sucks

I wish I had in class finals, 3 hours and it's done... instead I had to write 3 papers and do 2 two week take homes

I just want it to end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ray76]

it sucks

I wish I had in class finals, 3 hours and it's done... instead I had to write 3 papers and do 2 two week take homes

I just want it to end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Damn tim, poor bastard.  Makes me not miss college at all. Seemed like an awful ot of work to me to get my bachelors. I feel your pain..+T

Ray

[Tim]

backatcha bud

[Ray76]

backatcha bud

thanks counselor. Let me know when you finish, cuz ive got about 50 or so more volumes to send you. in the process of converting all paperbacks to hard.

Ray

[Timmy!]

Just because I"m curious....

  what did your first rig consist of? 

[Tim]

me?

akg 391->b18->d8
akg391->dmic20->d8
akg391->mv100->apogee ad500e
neumann k150->minime
neumann u89->minime, I also ran V3, an m148/modsbm1, v2minime, and m148/v3
now I run dpa4061->mma6000

all over the course of 6+ years... I ran the bluelines for about 3 years

[pfife]

sony 909A microphone -> Sony MD recorder.  $200 (approximately) spent, $35 of which I have recouped.

[nic]

Just because I"m curious....

  what did your first rig consist of? 

akg 391/3->b18->marantz pmd430

[Tim]

Just because I"m curious....

 what did your first rig consist of?

akg 391/3->b18->marantz pmd430

d00d.... nice selection

[fozzy]

Just because I"m curious....

  what did your first rig consist of? 

SM58 > line transformer > 1/4 splitter or SBD > teac 3head tape deck w/ line input and level on the front.  ~95
various borrowd mics > tascam 4track
various borrowed mics > tascam 8track
no rig (4 years)
mk012 > ua5 > JB3
akg481 > ua5 > jb3
akg 481/3 > borrowed pre > modSBM1 > JB3

current: akg 463 > borrowed pre > modSBM1 > JB3

~month or two out: ck61/63 > jk labs > sd722

[audBall]

it sucks

I wish I had in class finals, 3 hours and it's done... instead I had to write 3 papers and do 2 two week take homes

I just want it to end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Damn tim, poor bastard.  Makes me not miss college at all. Seemed like an awful ot of work to me to get my bachelors. I feel your pain..+T

Ray

That ain't shit considering the grand scheme of things.  I'm by no means trying to belittle the amount of work you gotta do.  I remember my last week with finals/projects/papers/presentations.  I thought'd it'd never die.  However, when it's all done - that's the scary part.  Real life sucks!

[Ray76]

it sucks

I wish I had in class finals, 3 hours and it's done... instead I had to write 3 papers and do 2 two week take homes

I just want it to end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Damn tim, poor bastard.  Makes me not miss college at all. Seemed like an awful ot of work to me to get my bachelors. I feel your pain..+T

Ray

That ain't shit considering the grand scheme of things.  I'm by no means trying to belittle the amount of work you gotta do.  I remember my last week with finals/projects/papers/presentations.  I thought'd it'd never die.  However, when it's all done - that's the scary part.  Real life sucks!

Aint that the damn truth. Why do you think im in the Military??

Ray

[Tim]

it sucks

I wish I had in class finals, 3 hours and it's done... instead I had to write 3 papers and do 2 two week take homes

I just want it to end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Damn tim, poor bastard.  Makes me not miss college at all. Seemed like an awful ot of work to me to get my bachelors. I feel your pain..+T

Ray

That ain't shit considering the grand scheme of things. I'm by no means trying to belittle the amount of work you gotta do. I remember my last week with finals/projects/papers/presentations. I thought'd it'd never die. However, when it's all done - that's the scary part. Real life sucks!

these aren't some undergrad papers that you can bang out in a night, and when they give you 2 weeks to take a test you'll need all 14 days. this is a little more strenous than getting my bachelors degree

[Ray76]

it sucks

I wish I had in class finals, 3 hours and it's done... instead I had to write 3 papers and do 2 two week take homes

I just want it to end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Damn tim, poor bastard.  Makes me not miss college at all. Seemed like an awful ot of work to me to get my bachelors. I feel your pain..+T

Ray

That ain't shit considering the grand scheme of things. I'm by no means trying to belittle the amount of work you gotta do. I remember my last week with finals/projects/papers/presentations. I thought'd it'd never die. However, when it's all done - that's the scary part. Real life sucks!

these aren't some undergrad papers that you can bang out in a night, and when they give you 2 weeks to take a test you'll need all 14 days. this is a little more strenous than getting my bachelors degree

i have no idea how i got my bachelors givewn the copious amount of poison i was putting in my body.
My music Bachelors was hard as fuck. On the average at my school, the music majors had to take about 20 more hours than any other course of study. Theory, pedagogy, and ear training, whupped my ass. i may go get my masters or doctorate if i get back on drugs. 

i wish you Godspeed man., the bar is some tough shit from what i hear.

Ray

[nickgregory]

these aren't some undergrad papers that you can bang out in a night, and when they give you 2 weeks to take a test you'll need all 14 days. this is a little more strenous than getting my bachelors degree

ah come on...how difficult can it be...I mean Davis is a lawyer



yes I am kidding

[mmmatt]

My music Bachelors was hard as fuck. On the average at my school, the music majors had to take about 20 more hours than any other course of study. Theory, pedagogy, and ear training, whupped my ass. i may go get my masters or doctorate if i get back on drugs. 


Ray

you ain't kidding here ray... I was a music major and know the grief wel.l  They give you 1/2 a class hour for a class that requires "lab time" of 8 hrs a week, plus the frigging 4 hrs a day in private practice with a piece of plumming hermetically sealed to your lips (I was a trumpet player), and the gigs, and the OTHER band, and the quartet, and then they wonder why you drink all night and sleep through english... sheesh!  That is a tough road to take, no doubt.  Some good times though!

Just because I"m curious....

 what did your first rig consist of?

rode nt-5's > behringer mxb1002 > jb3 (I only wanted to do matrix recordings at first)
Then I added a digimod ua5 and an svu-2, then went to 391's, then c-4's then c-4s and c-1s, then mbho's and I started ho'n it up pretty good after that, but mostly on the multitrack rig!  Although I just bought a v2 yesterday!


Matt

[Ray76]

My music Bachelors was hard as fuck. On the average at my school, the music majors had to take about 20 more hours than any other course of study. Theory, pedagogy, and ear training, whupped my ass. i may go get my masters or doctorate if i get back on drugs. 


Ray

you ain't kidding here ray... I was a music major and know the grief wel.l  They give you 1/2 a class hour for a class that requires "lab time" of 8 hrs a week, plus the frigging 4 hrs a day in private practice with a piece of plumming hermetically sealed to your lips (I was a trumpet player), and the gigs, and the OTHER band, and the quartet, and then they wonder why you drink all night and sleep through english... sheesh!  That is a tough road to take, no doubt.  Some good times though!

Just because I"m curious....

 what did your first rig consist of?

rode nt-5's > behringer mxb1002 > jb3 (I only wanted to do matrix recordings at first)
Then I added a digimod ua5 and an svu-2, then went to 391's, then c-4's then c-4s and c-1s, then mbho's and I started ho'n it up pretty good after that!  Just bought a v2 yesterday!


Matt

Nice man, another musician. !!I started out in vocal performance, then switched to music ed. my english minor was tons easier. I think im about to become a oretty big gearslut myself.

heres the final plan: open: mg200(21,27)>oadem148>722

not so much room or stealth: 4022s>sonosax m2>maudio tracker

that should hold me for a while.

good to focus my money on other things other than my guitar collection and books for a while.

BigRay

[Tim]

these aren't some undergrad papers that you can bang out in a night, and when they give you 2 weeks to take a test you'll need all 14 days. this is a little more strenous than getting my bachelors degree

ah come on...how difficult can it be...I mean Davis is a lawyer

that's a pretty good point