Higher end Gear you've hated?

[deft_bonz]

another one for 414. i just don't like this one.

[Mr. Man]

AKG C12VR
It's all low mud and screechy high frequencies.

[JMc]

Originally Posted by Gabriel Sousa

strange, no one mentioned the neumann m147...

Okay, I will. I didn't hate it, but I didn't like it enough to keep it, even after it received a new tube and met factory specs after I sent it in for maintenance last summer. This will not put me in good stead with nearly everyone in this thread (and what a way to make my debut here!), but I actually prefer the sound to my older TLM-103 to the M-147, so I still have it, though I rarely use it. It has a nice, grainy texture that works for me on occasion.

Other disliked gear I've owned and either discarded or put into storage (though I don't really consider high end):

Focusrite Voicemaster Pro Platinum - No issues with the sound quality on VO work considering the meager investment. Nice array of pretty red lit buttons, nearly all of which go bad after a couple of years. Garbage.

Aphex 230. Couldn't get it out of my studio fast enough. I couldn't find a setting that didn't sound horrible after two days of fiddling with it.

EV-RE20 - Had to work much too hard to get the vocal sound I was looking for out of it. Nice workhorse -- for broadcasting -- but not nuanced enough for the daily rigors of the kind of varied VO work I do.

[Jim Williams]

Originally Posted by deft_bonz

another one for 414. i just don't like this one.

Which one, they made 7 through the years? I love my 3 B-ULS models. I also love the RE-20. It does need a very fast and clear mic pre to hear what it can do, it's a condenser substitute in many situations. Heck, it was good enough for Bonnie Raite and her stack of Grammy's.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

[deft_bonz]

Originally Posted by Jim Williams

Which one, they made 7 through the years? I love my 3 B-ULS models. I also love the RE-20. It does need a very fast and clear mic pre to hear what it can do, it's a condenser substitute in many situations. Heck, it was good enough for Bonnie Raite and her stack of Grammy's.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

good question, i just can't remember

but i also never had the urge to give it another shot

[robot gigante]

Even the high end gear I haven't gotten much use out of in the past (hated I suppose) can be perfect for that one application. So instead of hating it, imho keep it if you can and keep trying it when your go-to stuff fails you. I'm guilty of anyone of hating btw, I think I may have posted about some stuff in this very thread.

Case in point- I've always hated Avalon 737's because they always sounded blah to my ears- but the other day I was able to record one of the best and unique Rhodes sounds that I have ever recorded though one. I was able to use its kind of puffy sound to my advantage.

I can see why someone would bash on a flathead screwdriver if all they ever had to deal with was phillips head screws...

[EJW]

The only "high-end" items I've been less than pleased with are my 414 B-ULS...I don't like them on really anything but the occasional vocal and floor tom...but I must say, it's a BAD ASS floor tom mic.

[GREENFENDR]

Originally Posted by EJW

...but I must say, it's a BAD ASS floor tom mic.

thumbsup

[C_F_H_13]

Hahahaha don't know if this qualifies...but I'll share regardless.....

I was tracking at a studio a few months back and they had a mono fairchild compressor (can't remember model) I had never used before. I instantly thought it'd be sweet on SOMETHING....

Show the assistant my setup sheet, and he says "dude the fairchild sucks". I gave him a wierd look and told him to hook it up regardless......what can I say...he was right....work on nothing. Not drums/bass/guitars/vocals...nothing. I spent about 10 minutes F*cking with a room mic.... with gain structure to it, different settings, different mics and EQ into the compressor....nothing would work.

I was quite surprised to say the least. Just goes to show that even something as coveted as a fairchild isn't always that good.

[Audio Hombre]

studios that bought fairchilds were probably also billing out $2k a day when they got it. now that the market for studios has tanked, they can't afford to service it. sounds more like that fairchild sucked.

[robot gigante]

Didn't Fairchild make a lot of crappy stuff in addition to the good stuff? I think that might have been the case here. Or if it wasn't working properly (quite possible) it would suck too.

[thephatboi]

All the new AKG mics, they have not made a good mic for years...
it's amazing they don't go out of business really.

[mixer]

Originally Posted by thephatboi

All the new AKG mics, they have not made a good mic for years...
it's amazing they don't go out of business really.

i have humbly dissagree. i have a new limited edition 414 c12 and it is wonderful. has all the sound i remember from my old ebs.

[Sounds Great]

Originally Posted by mixer

i have humbly dissagree. i have a new limited edition 414 c12 and it is wonderful. has all the sound i remember from my old ebs.

And the C535eb is one of the best values in a lower price condenser that you will find, has been for years. I have a standard one and a wireless 535 system I bought recently. Fantastic system, and sound!

[mikeynyuk]

Originally Posted by s.d.finley

I would have to say I was very "dissappointed" with the Rodes mics I've heard.
I havent heard the K2 or the new classic...

sdf

K2 is actually a nice Mic IMO, good for some vocalists
Hate Avalon 737, focusrite too...(all of it)

[AC Long]

ok, i'll just go kill myself now cause there is not one good thing in the world according to you assholes!

I have a blue blueberry and an 1176 channel strip and ADAM A7's and they are awesome for the money. Im buying either ventec 73 or AMS neve next. but I bet you will say these suck too. what the **** do you ****heads like???

like a bunch of ****in women on the rag! nothing will make you happy!

get ****ed!

AC

[Audio Hombre]

Originally Posted by deft_bonz

good question, i just can't remember

but i also never had the urge to give it another shot

lmfao! lamest post in this thread and i've read some preposterous stuff that has almost made me spit my tea a couple of times. i forwarded the topic to a friend that has been working steady for 20 yrs with some major credits and he just said "well, some of these chaps would be pretty screwed if they worked freelance." it was a total eye roller for him.

[soundseeker]

Check this thread
Highend Gear Which YOU LOVE, but NO-ONE else HATES


Although People say this particular thread " Higher end Gear you've hated?" doesnt prove anything except difference of opinion, I have found it extremely useful. It confirmed what i suspected were the best pieces of gear around:

U47
V76
V72
Lavry
Prisim converters
LA2A
Neve 1073
Bricasti M7
Great river pre

How do I know?

Coz they are absent from 411 posts of frustrated engineers. Yet they are hailed by the great experts of the ages and still stand the test of time.

On gearslutz people always say use your ears. Well as a newbie i havent had a chance. But the musicality and character of the gear listed above seems to strike a universal chord. And If my ears confirm it, thats what I'm buying.

MY RULES FOR THE NEW THREAD ARE:

Don't list a piece of gear, untill you have checked it doesn't appear here on "Higher end gear you've hated". Then list it and we'll see if anyone challenges you.

good luck

[dick swifter]

Not hate, but dissapointing:
Soundelux U195
AKG C12VR
Brauner Valvet
Angus Eq's
Avalon 737
Tube Tech - LCA2B
Speck ACS

[PepsiFX357]

Mics:
TLM 103
U87ai
AKG 414
anything Blue makes

Pre's:
anything Avalon makes
Anything Focusrite makes
Digidesign 8 Pre

Digital Recorders:
anything Digidesign makes
Apogee Rosetta
Echo cards

Comps:
DBX 160sl
Focusrite pre compressors

Digital Effects:
TC Elctronics Fireworx

Monitors:
anything Genelec makes
Events
KRK's

Consoles:
that damn SONY DMX R100
Soundcraft Ghost
Any digital console really

Thats all I can think of right now...

Oh yeah anything labeled "Pro Audio" that should cover most of it...

[danasti]

Fairchild 663s sucked, in my opinion, of course. Pretty much anything solid state they made sounds terrible. In fact Fairchild made a bunch of audio equipment that is essentially worthless.

Originally Posted by Audio Hombre

studios that bought fairchilds were probably also billing out $2k a day when they got it. now that the market for studios has tanked, they can't afford to service it. sounds more like that fairchild sucked.

[deft_bonz]

Originally Posted by PepsiFX357

Mics:
TLM 103
U87ai
AKG 414
anything Blue makes

Pre's:
anything Avalon makes
Anything Focusrite makes
Digidesign 8 Pre

Digital Recorders:
anything Digidesign makes
Apogee Rosetta
Echo cards

Comps:
DBX 160sl
Focusrite pre compressors

Digital Effects:
TC Elctronics Fireworx

Monitors:
anything Genelec makes
Events
KRK's

Consoles:
that damn SONY DMX R100
Soundcraft Ghost
Any digital console really

Thats all I can think of right now...

Oh yeah anything labeled "Pro Audio" that should cover most of it...

what a list
i think you need some love

[deft_bonz]

Originally Posted by Audio Hombre

lmfao! lamest post in this thread and i've read some preposterous stuff that has almost made me spit my tea a couple of times. i forwarded the topic to a friend that has been working steady for 20 yrs with some major credits and he just said "well, some of these chaps would be pretty screwed if they worked freelance." it was a total eye roller for him.

i worked with it, satisfingly for the customer, but that doesn't mean i have to like it or even buy it for my own studio. hating a piece of gear, doesn't mean i'm not able to get the best (or at least i try it) out of it in the situation. e.g. behringer: jesus christ i hate them, but nevertheless i had to work with them quite often. it's never lame to say that you don't like a tool, as long as you still do your best when you don't have another choice.

[corruptmary]

Originally Posted by AdamJay

TLM 103
BLUE Blueberry
Dramwer 1960

RND Protico Preamp, not "hate" though, more like "why?"

The blueberry is amazing on certain sources, though not the most versatile mic. It has a smooth high end and a slightly grainy midrange that doesn't work on everything. I think it deserves another chance I do agree with the rupert neve preamp though.

[Audio Hombre]

Originally Posted by deft_bonz

i worked with it, satisfingly for the customer, but that doesn't mean i have to like it or even buy it for my own studio. hating a piece of gear, doesn't mean i'm not able to get the best (or at least i try it) out of it in the situation. e.g. behringer: jesus christ i hate them, but nevertheless i had to work with them quite often. it's never lame to say that you don't like a tool, as long as you still do your best when you don't have another choice.

if you're going to quote me, include your quote which i found to be ridiculous. you hate a mic, yet can't even remember what model it was? there's more than a subtle difference between all 414 models. i have no problem with you disliking the 414XXX lots of people don't like them, but at least dot your i's and cross your t's

Originally Posted by deft_bonz

good question, i just can't remember

but i also never had the urge to give it another shot

[robot gigante]

Originally Posted by Audio Hombre

i forwarded the topic to a friend that has been working steady for 20 yrs with some major credits and he just said "well, some of these chaps would be pretty screwed if they worked freelance." it was a total eye roller for him.

Yes, that is completely true.

Although- I have gotten to dislike some gear simply because that was all the studios that I freelanced at had, which made me work harder than I like to get the sound I wanted. I don't mind working hard but there is always a time crunch and you have to get good results fast most of the time. If all the studio has in the way of mics are 414TLII's and 57's, you might start hating 414's a little because of that even if you do get the job done. Doesn't make it a bad mic of course for the right application though.

[YRLK]

I actually really like my Manley ELOP. I know it is not a coloration compressor, but to my ears, it does what I needed: allows more volume (due to the limiting) and adds just a bit of sweetness to the mic and pre that I already enjoy the sound of.

Perhaps, I'll be the only challenger here, but I just like it... I also like it on bass guitars too.

B

[mdjice]

well for me..
Adam S3
u 87
everything Focusrite has ever made
Mackie monitors
control 24
UA 1176

[youngpeluso]

Originally Posted by roxxon

Some people will want my head...
Yamaha NS10s.
I hate those speakers.
Okay on guitar and vox.
I think they suck...when attempting to mix anything else.
Not a great ref monitor...
Very highly over-rated.
If that were your only set of ref monitors getting a decent mix would be similar
"an act of God" or the "Second Coming of Jesus."

Very rarely are people just plain wrong in regards to taste in gear. You sir, succeed in being wrong.

NS-10's are not "High End Gear". They are bookshelf speakers that people gravitated towards decades ago. Personally I think they sound average...but I LOVE LOVE LOVE them. They are my truth-tellers, and I can't stand when a studio doesn't have them. Yeah, Genelecs are pretty sounding...but they just don't have that familiar NS-10 freq. curve.

Avalon VT737 (So expensive, so grainy).
Groove Tubes Glory Comp (I own the Vipre and this comp was a total disappointment)

[AllAboutTone]

Originally Posted by henryrobinett

Wow! Someone else!

Me to Henry, I have owned a couple Distressors, just not worth the buck and did not really dig them. Hell I love a old Altec 1591, I have 2 of those, they work.