Quote:
Originally Posted by bruceferraudi  Is this a bit of venting? .....yes
Is my situation unique? ....yes
Is there something to learn from what Im about to say? ....most likely
When I started I used a Korg workstation only and though I got my feet wet I would love the opportunity to go back in time and make another choice-probably an MPC2000/3000 but really almost anything besides that 1600 dollar piece of Japaneese plastic. Weak drums, cheap keys and build quality, and an annoying menu system and no realistic sounds. Made a couple of Ok tracks but was so limited with the pop-ish sounds and no sampling ability. Being self taught I had thought that was what people started with. I was wrong. Current value...$500 on a good day.
A little later I picked up my first PC mainly to use for recording as well as an Event EZBus mixer/USB interface. I struggled figuring out how to use it on my own but had very limited knowledge. Sure, the EZbus is a decent digital mixer but its worth less than a quarter of what I paid for it and is mostly unecessary for hip hop and limited to recording two tracks at once and only works with certain computers. Current value=about $100
I then picked up an MBox which crapped out in the first 6 months bc of failed hardware/connection. Ugly, cheap-feeling little plastic box too.
Current value=0
And then an EMU 1212M/Emulator soundcard/sampler/sound module. I like the sounds but latency was a problem and configuration of the mixer software difficult to understand. Use only as dedicated sound module for layering into another audio interface when Im really bored but usually have more latency than success.
Current value=less than $50
Tried using Reason by itself and boy does it suck programming everything with a mouse. And having to setup a midi controller can be a challenge-though this has become much easier-if not downright simple. With a midi controller Reason is drastically more useable but your looking at the cost of a dedicated computer, the controller and Reason. Thats going to cost you a thousand easy bc the computer you surf the net with and watch porn on is eventually going to get a virus or falter at some point with all the music you created.
Current value on current PC/Vista=0
Tried Cubase SL2 for $200 Didnt use any of its advanced features and didnt like the layout.
Current value=0 (free equivelant with many interfaces)
After that was a Digi 001 interface I bought used off a friend bc I knew it worked and which was reasonably reliable. Did the job but sound quality was noticably inferior to the middle end recording stuff made in the last couple of years. Pro Tools is great for editing audio but so are all the rest once you figure them out so dont waste your money on their overpriced, average performing interfaces. Their tech support blows too-and they charge you a dollar a minute no matter if the product is faulty or its user error. Not sure if it died for good but it eventually quit working on my aging PC.
Current value=0
I eventually picked up a Motif ES and an MPC1000BK. Guess what gear I use today that is still worth something, reliable and actually fun to make music with? The MPC and Motif.
If you add it up I spent almost $4000 on recording gear and audio interfaces and computers +$1600 on a Korg Workstation and all they do is take up space in storage now. I keep them as a sad reminder of how quickly most technology becomes obsolete-not even worth the hassle of selling. Lesson learned. If you add it all up I spent $6000 for gear that probably wouldn't even net you an used MPC25000/3000 today.
So what do I use now?
In order of use....
MPC1000 (Hardware sequencer, drum programming/playback, and sampling)
Motif ES (keys/general sound module/source)
Gateway PC (got as gift from Dad when he upgrade to IMAC) +
Presonus Firestudio Mobile +Studio One (for recording, editing and effects)
Novation K-Station-bass and some synth sounds (budget Moog with lots of knobs and not worth selling at this point)
Though I believe a hybrid is definitely ideal if I had to give up the hard or the soft it would without a doubt be the soft. |
I was gonna say all your ranting was pointless...but you brought it back with the conclusion that you would give up software, how do you like the MOTIF and MPC? I have a 3000 and Motif ES...Dope combo...I midi everything into protools so basically using my hardware as software controllers and vice-versa.