I know its low end, BUT, how do we all feel about dropping $500 min at a time??

[Electronica03]

Feels pretty good and bad at the same time!! Happy medium!!

GOOD= knowing you got a good deal of a few things that you need!!

BAD= that $500 could go into paying some debt, or go into your savings account!

Vent if u willl...

[lank81]

Gear, Debt, and Work but man does buying Gear make life a little brighter. We are in crappy economic times so if you have the extra cash to throw at some gear and get something quality that will help you out I say feel no buyer's remorse. Enjoy! Be Merry!

Lank

[Electronica03]

exactly, how much better does it make you feel, regardless of if you need it or not.......

[Electronica03]

ALSO, $500 is pretty LOW minimum amount regardless if this is "low-end" I know....

[manning1]

i enjoy the challenge of helping friends put together a rig with no money.lol.
so lets take 500 buks.
1. a refurbed dual core win xp pc with warranty n add a dedicated 32 mb cache drive to record
to. bout 220 buks. good for 80 traks.
we are now left with 280 buks.
2. reaper daw. 50 buks. over 100 plug ins included.
now 230 buks left.
3. line6 toneport gx sound device. 50 buks. good low latency.
leaving 180 buks.
now we need a mic.
4. used old shure sm57 . 40 buks.
plug 57 into a cassette dek mic pre (dont laugh. go listen to a mp3 i posted on gs called
mumrap.mp3.) then line out of cass dek to gx line in. lots of cass deks are free.
n some have pretty decent mic pre's.
now we have 140 buks left. need some monitoring.
need a headphone amp. 40 buks for a behringer h'phone amp.
(or use another free cassette dek for phone monitoring.)
(cos the gx phone out is a bit wimpy). another 40 buks for a cheap pair of apex h'phones.
now we got 60 buks left. 10 buks on a bottle of port while takeing a break..lol.
or a few beers. leaving 50 buks. with the 50 buks mebe a pair of creative puter speakers.

thats the 500 buks blown. n you can get your song ideas down.

[Poorbutrich]

Originally Posted by manning1

thats the 500 buks blown. n you can get your song ideas down.

Dang manning1, you're good man! Heck of a lil setup for 5 yards! You put alot of thought into that one, or have you done that setup before?

Hey man, if you are willing, and like the challenge of getting the most out of a tight budget...mind if I take you with me next time I have to buy groceries? C'mon buddy, I'll even let ya drive the buggy around the store! Hehe!

[dkelley]

$500 and less IS low end IMHO.

more than $500 and you're getting into mid end gear and better.

obviously price isn't what it's about though. that just answers your question I think hopefully though.

for me, high end is esoteric, specialty use, unusual, exotic, gorgeous, antique/vintage (without a cheapness), particularly amazing without being uber-cheap... to me all of those descriptions are some ways to categorize "high end".

but still. >$2000 also sort of starts to cover "high end" :-)

on my very cheap home studio budget, anything more than $100 is high end LoL. it makes most of my mics and non-behringer rack gear high end and puts a smile on my face LoL

cheers,
Don

[manning1]

Poorbutrich
lol...cheers mate.
ive used gear in very hi end studios mate.
n that likkle set up one can do lots with.
ive even done songs with less.
for example a friend of mine i was trying to encourage to get into recording.
so i was showing him what could be done with even the junkiest pc outta the garbage n on board sound. (there are triks to useing on board sound.)
now i know a uber AE could do way better than i (i'm just a songwriter of daft songs mate)
with the song. but in my sig ilisten to the song "dragons in the sky".
the song is about the dangers of digging up old fossils from thousands of years back..lol.
n dna research etc.
done with no gear , crappy mic, on board sound n a 5 buk crappy guitar amp.
prolly 250 buks of gear all told..lol.
its lots of fun to do songs with little gear.
now listen to the "H lady song" in my sig. done useing all hi end gear.
a rocker . all fancy studio gear.
to this day i ask myself is the gulf really that big ??
my lead vocs on dragon used a throwaway mic of unknown origin.
my vocs on the H lady song used neumann uber mic into a uber console.
does the normal consumer notice a huge gulf ??
i dunno. main point is the song idea is down whether cheap or uber hi end gear is used.

whatever the gear i just like haveing fun with songs.
thats what i enjoy. the fun of it.
i call the approach "guerilla recording".
main point is everything has a sound, even garbage gear lower than low end..lol.
god bless.
ps,,lots of old used EV dynamic n other brand mics around in pawn shops etc.
even rat shak has mics if no money ..or make yer own mics from 3 buk pansonic capsules.

i found where i posted the mp3 voc example..mumrap
useing just a cassette dek mic pre. ive had crooner vocs out of it this week.
Best mic/preamp combo

[Chris Lago]

That's why I think the singer makes the difference most of the time, not the gear.

[Shadow_7]

I think of low end as no single piece of gear > $1K.

$500 for a piece of gear isn't too bad. Unfortunately you can't do much with a single piece of gear. A mic needs a cable, a shock mount, a windscreen, a stand, a preamp, a converter, and a computer if you want to edit it (or a tape deck, razors and tape).

It's not the initial $500 camcorder that's a problem, it's the $500 tripod plus the $500 editing suite, plus the $500 in lenses, batteries, media cards, rain capes, underwater enclosures, extended warranty, and such that kills you. Or the $500 mic with the $100 cable, $400 stand, and the rest of the kit. Ultimately it all ADDS UP. And what was the deal of a lifetime to get a $300 soundcard for $100, ended up costing you $5K to do anything substantial with it.

[mikethedrummer]

Originally Posted by Shadow_7

Or the $500 mic with the $100 cable, $400 stand, and the rest of the kit.

did god himself make your cables and stands?!?!


idk how you guys feel but i can always justify and big investment. i see a $1000 akg 414 as better quality recordings. better recordings will bring in more clientele. more clientele
more money
mo money mo bishes =]
or slutty mics..

[Shadow_7]

Originally Posted by mikethedrummer

did god himself make your cables and stands?!?!

Well, you need 16'+ to record some sources, well. And those cost. If you're recording in stereo, you need two cables ($55 x2 Mogami Gold). And that's just the low end stuff, 25' cable, 16' stand that's less likely to kill someone and such. Sure a 6' stand plus 3' boom x4 might work, but it's more likely to be problematic and potentially dangerous. And will still costs you at least $200 once you add up all the parts. Factor in sand bags, rebar, duct tape and whatever else you need to keep it affixed long enough to record anything with it. 16' of XLR cables gets pretty heavy on a stand.

[Marshman]

$500??

If I get away with JUST spending that on something, I am feeling pretty good.



seems like nothing is inexpensive anymore, could just be the gear slut in me though...

mm

[mdjice]

$500 doesn't get me anything I want/need these days
more like $5000

[Heartfelt]

500 IS a nice pre and possibly high end to boot
500 IS a nice mic and ditto
Monitoring is harder
500 IS more than adequate conversion

[BOWIE]

That's why I buy used. If I end up needing the money, I can get it back easily. In fact, I usually make money. It's nice to be able to buy a $2k mic, comp, guitar, etc, use it for a couple years, and sell it for more than what I paid for it.

Some things though, I cringe at. Monitors, computers, and brand new items are things I must buy new and I hate it because I know they'll only go down in value.

The worst thing I did was charging gear on a "no interest" CC. I bought a Germanium last year from Guitar Center on a "no interest for one year" deal. Well... It's been almost a year, I've barely had a chance to use the thing (partially because it had to be sent out for repair), and I owe $1,300 on a preamp I could've got for $850 used.

[KeithMoonwannabe]

Originally Posted by BOWIE

That's why I buy used. If I end up needing the money, I can get it back easily. In fact, I usually make money. It's nice to be able to buy a $2k mic, comp, guitar, etc, use it for a couple years, and sell it for more than what I paid for it.

Some things though, I cringe at. Monitors, computers, and brand new items are things I must buy new and I hate it because I know they'll only go down in value.

The worst thing I did was charging gear on a "no interest" CC. I bought a Germanium last year from Guitar Center on a "no interest for one year" deal. Well... It's been almost a year, I've barely had a chance to use the thing (partially because it had to be sent out for repair), and I owe $1,300 on a preamp I could've got for $850 used.

ditto that and sad sad sad on the preamp

used gear is a blessing. But I too only buy new computers and monitors, stands, etc.

[KeithMoonwannabe]

I think it depends what we're dropping the $500 on like I'm about to drop about $800 on a new Mapex all maple drumset, bags, and stuff.

Part of me cringes at the amount of money, but I'm getting a great deal on a nice kit, new heads, and gig bags. And most importantly I really need a new kit and something better sounding (hence all maple).

If it's a nice mic, an interface, preamp, guitar amp, instrument, etc. I have no problem dropping it as long as I have the money to spend. If you don't really have the $500 to drop then I'd suggest not spending the money. But as long as you do your research and make a budget and have self control I have no problem with it myself or seeing others do it.

It's like anything else it's fine as long as you do it responsibly.

[Chris Lago]

I usually drop the money if I get more money back Drop some get some

[KeithMoonwannabe]

Originally Posted by chrislago

I usually drop the money if I get more money back Drop some get some

haha that's just luck of the draw my friend

[Electronica03]

Originally Posted by KeithMoonwannabe

I think it depends what we're dropping the $500 on like I'm about to drop about $800 on a new Mapex all maple drumset, bags, and stuff.

Part of me cringes at the amount of money, but I'm getting a great deal on a nice kit, new heads, and gig bags. And most importantly I really need a new kit and something better sounding (hence all maple).

If it's a nice mic, an interface, preamp, guitar amp, instrument, etc. I have no problem dropping it as long as I have the money to spend. If you don't really have the $500 to drop then I'd suggest not spending the money. But as long as you do your research and make a budget and have self control I have no problem with it myself or seeing others do it.

It's like anything else it's fine as long as you do it responsibly.

Def agree, good point

[Cameron Johnson]

Originally Posted by Electronica03

Feels pretty good and bad at the same time!! Happy medium!!

GOOD= knowing you got a good deal of a few things that you need!!

BAD= that $500 could go into paying some debt, or go into your savings account!

Vent if u willl...

I've walked into a store and dropped 500 on something without blinking: when I get something, I've researched it beforehand and have convinced myself that I needed it - I've never had a regret :o) Even when I realize that I'm 500 down.

I've always seen my spending as investing... some people take some cash and throw it in the bank... I take a wad of cash and park it in the studio. It makes me happy, and that's what's most important!

Cheers,
Cam

[Weasel9992]

$500 really isn't much...that's a decent mic (ADK TL, for example) or a decent preamp (the RNP), or a pretty good FX box (Kurzweil Rumour). I don't think high-end starts until around $1,000...I'm thinkin' Great River ME-1NV kind of thing.

Frank

[JBaptista68]

I just bought a small amount of snake cable, Midi cable, xlr plates, electrical boxes, banana plugs etc. and I was almost 600 bucks. You just don't get that much for your money.

[manning1]

JB.

we get overcharged in canada.
i shop used deals. cable included.

[Milliken]

If you actually spend just a bit more and possibly buy used you can definitely recoup the money and call it a good investment.

Case in point.....

New Presonus Eureka or DBX crap....$600... in 5 yrs...practicaly worthless.

Any New or used API Lunchbox Pre....$800...in 5 yrs......$700 - 800 sold.

And you got to use it the whole time and trust me it really is a whole nother level.

I just dropped $1900 on a custom wood cab "Tony Bruno UG30 Combo"
That amp costs $4000 new.....I gaurantee if I sell it in 5 or 10 yrs I will make money......and get to play an awesome amp for those yrs.

Also just bought a new Beyer m160 for $550. If I sell that 5 years from now I will loose no more than $100. Inflation is about to hit hard.....just look at Fender's recent price increases.

I bought a new old stock Am. Deluxe Jazz bass 3 yrs ago for $900.
It cost $1200 at sweetwater and "now" costs $1819. The made in mexico ones that year <$500 are probably floating through pawn shops and ebay for less than 100 bucks.

I've never regretted buying a quality piece of gear. Only the cheap stuff.

Specifically..... computers would be an exception among others.

[tigheguy]

Hey guys. By no means am I trying to hijack this thread because it asks a much different question, but you all just touched on an investment issue that I am interested in. I posted in the high end forum but it is certainly not specific to only high end gear users. If you can take a minute and let me know what you think. OK. carry on........

Outboard/analog gear as an investment.

[Electronica03]

Buying open-box is something I look for, everything is brand new with an almost 50% price cut! Factory refurbished/B-stock isn't a bad way to go either.

[DontLetMeDrown]

Ya, $500 is kinda my pain threshold. I really don't like to spend more than that unless its for something that offers some kind of return on the investment. I'm a cheapskate at heart I guess. $500 buys a LOT of groceries.

[The MPCist]

Remember that we can never buy enough, so the 500 bucks for that certain outboard won't satisfy you and you'll be wanting yet another piece! During these unstable times, I've taken to just using what I have although I must admit I have alot. But I've managed to keep from buying more stuff the past year other than paying for WUP and upgrades.....

Save money. Use it when absolutely necessary...