Biggest dissapointment/waste of money

[stafs]

Behringer B1 LDC mic. Behringer T1953 mic pre. Behringer 1952 comp. Maybe someone find them useful...not me. Btw 1952 was the best of the bunch.

Yapp, and Marshall JCM900 combo. Only harsh highs, piercing mids and absolutely no low end.

[patfont]

Originally Posted by infested3d

Daking Mic Pre One -
I've read that it's suppose to be very similar to the Mic Pre IV except without the output transformer. I know the THAT 1646 IC that's used for the output is good- the Mic Pre One just couldn't compare to my APIs. I'm sure if I gotten around to doing multitracking with different sources I might've fallen in love with it (as I can picture how the sound could stack nicely and actually work with the right mic combination) but it was too annoying to my ears compared to my API gear. For how much the MP One costs you'd expect they could throw in two transformers instead of just one.
An API lunchbox is a WAY better deal (especially if you're hoping to expand your channel count).

Hey, thanks for the post, I was actually looking at this to avoid having to buy a lunchbox. Think I will just save up to get a 512c with Lunchbox, and add as I can.

[crufty]

Novation drumstation v1

[eascholz]

Originally Posted by stafs

Behringer B1 LDC mic. Behringer T1953 mic pre. Behringer 1952 comp.

anybody notice a theme here?

[Keire]

izotopes noise reduction software (liked the waves more)

UAD SPL - loved the idea of it...never thought it delivered.

[hazelmossobrien]

maybe not a waste of money, but the Neumann M147 was a sure disappointment, especially if you want big sounds.

[Full Clip Audio]

Focusrite ISA 430 mkII: it is a Swiss army knife and would be good if you had to have one unit that does everything but i never had a single instance where it sounded as good as a combination of other pieces of gear that I have.

SSL Xlogic: I was really excited about this system and ended up getting rid of it. The Dynamics modules sound good (although I don't like the gain makeup) but the pres and EQs are just blah. I found it VERY underwhelming and not nearly as good as the older SSL stuff.

Neuman KM184s: I was shocked at how crappy they sound on most thing (cymbals in particular). Even when I was able to get them to sound decent they still didn't sound anywhere near as good as other SDCs. Yuck!

[living sounds]

Plugins with "vintage" looks that sound nothing like the real deal (almost all of them, but the UAD EMT 250 might not fall into this category).

Basically every plugin compressor, gate, transient shaper. There are a few good EQs, but they take tremendous amounts of CPU.

Vermona DRM1 - not a single useable sound.

Jomox MBase01 - lot's of low end, no midrange punch: Got zero use.

Lot's and lot's of low- and midrange converters, mics, preamps, mixers that are advertised to sound great but actually have cheap components inside them and sound bad.

"Virtual Analog" synths. All bullshit.

VSTi sample players - Somehow the good old hardware samplers sound much better (punchier attack, much better transposing).

[Syngriner]

IK Multimedia ARC. I'm still trying to get something usable out of it. I've carefully gone through the measurement procedure (as per the instructions) multiple time. I had already done a good amount of acoustic treatment and was mostly happy with my sound. I just wanted to fix a stubborn bump in the low mids. No matter what I do it always ends up completely decimating the center image and sounding very bright/brittle with no bass. I got it from Abe's of Maine who won't give me a refund. Lesson Learned!!

[Full Clip Audio]

Originally Posted by Syngriner

IK Multimedia ARC. I'm still trying to get something usable out of it. I've carefully gone through the measurement procedure (as per the instructions) multiple time. I had already done a good amount of acoustic treatment and was mostly happy with my sound. I just wanted to fix a stubborn bump in the low mids. No matter what I do it always ends up completely decimating the center image and sounding very bright/brittle with no bass. I got it from Abe's of Maine who won't give me a refund. Lesson Learned!!

Sorry to hear that! Having set it up in multiple rooms I can say that it does do what it's supposed to extremely well when working properly. Maybe try taking measurements in a smaller are to see what happens. Also remember that the mic it comes with has to be facing up towards the ceiling when you take you measurements! Also, it might be possible that you are simply used to hearing your room the way it was. Try playing some reference material with it on and then do a mix and see how it translates.

[synthoid]

Originally Posted by toasteh

Virus TI. Although its an amazing synth, their drivers are heavily unstable still, and Access refuses to let their customers know if, at all, they will release drivers that are compatible with the new 64bit systems, which is a pain, not even getting a 'No' so that I may sell it. Not nice leaving us in the dark after a 3000$ purchase.

Just disconnect the USB, plug it into your MIDI and audio interface and forget you ever heard about the 'TI' part. It's one of the best synthesizers ever, easily worth $3000 for the sounds it can make.

-synthoid

[Claude G.]

Originally Posted by Teddy Ray

you know what these threads confirm? (and I include myself here)

there are a lot of really decent pieces of equipment in this thread.

the responses tell me that we really

1.) just dont know what we are doing (well enough, anyway)
2.) dont realize that it takes a good bit of time to *properly* evaluate a unit and learn how to use it so as to maximize its strong points and minimize downsides. we want instant gratification@@!!
3.) buy up gear to match vision in our heads.....without realizing that the *gear* , is of little importance. it is our skills or lack of said skills that make or break a production.

Don't disagree w/you IN GENERAL, but how do you explain the fact that when I installed my new Arsenal Audio R-24 EQ in the insert points of two channels where I recorded my trumpet (condenser/ribbon combination), the trumpet sound & tone improved about 150%? What I'm saying is that equipment DOES matter......

[nept]

Originally Posted by FireMoon

Never owned one but the biggest let down for me was first time i sued a SSL console...

LOL, you have to admit it is a bad idea to sue an ssl console

[RobertoDLP]

I think I was like 13 or something when I bought my first guitar amp, a 100w solid state Fender. I brought it back home and even tho I didnt knew how to play guitar I was dying to use it, I plugged my $3 cable in both the guitar and the amp and worked for 2 notes, I unplugged the cable from the amp and it came out without the tip! Funny thing is I searched everywhere for a tip-less cable and everyone gave me a wtf look, I realized a week later that ALL plug-type cables have a tip...

There, I said it.

So ya, my biggest disappointment was my first experience with audio/music :P

[Ca$h Marty]

Waves Gold bundle - one of the most disappointing purchases I have made. I thought it would be useful collection of tools but I rarely go to them. My UAD stuff BLOWS them out of the water.

AKG C3000/C1000 - I bought these at guitar center when I was first getting into recording and have not found a great use for either. (Any suggestions?)

[7161]

i'm extremely forgiving of gear, and it is rare for me to knock a product... but..

Q. What's brown and sounds like a bell?

A. Whirlwind guitar leads




A PILE OF TOTAL AND ABSOLUTE SHITE!

[pdiddy boy]

Yamaha Motif SX7 - expensive for nothing IMO... was easily replaced it with Virtual Synths in the studio.

Mackie Control Universal Pro - great idea, just too many bottons for my liking, could have been simplified

Avalon 747 - nice unit... but just not enough compressor umph !

[You_Father_Sky]

Originally Posted by James Lehmann

I am not buying any more plug-ins. Whilst I have had good use out of some, in the long run all have turned out to be a huge disappointment/waste of money because they inevitably break or cost a fortune to upgrade every 6 months.

After being:

shafted by Waves
dumped by Arboretum
abandoned by Native Instruments
and
screwed by Elemental Audio

I've had enough.

Decent hardware hardly ever lets you down in the same way.

Haha, I still have a copy of Elemental Audio, I enjoy the Firium as a reference tool on my master channel.

[weemies]

Great River ME-1NV

Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking GR specifically - it's as competent as any other pre, and the build quality is excellent. I just find spending that much on one channel pre to be way, WAY excessive. I've heard other high end pres too and I would say the same thing about all of them. I was suckered into buying it because of boards just like this one, promising it would make my mics come to life and other nonsense like that, and was sorely disappointed to notice it didn't make my recordings any better.

Oh, btw, I'd love to see more responses to my shootout which includes the GR:
Mic Pre shootout aiming for scientific accuracy (Great River, FF400 and Tube MP pres)

[joeydego]

Originally Posted by Jay Dee

That doesn't sound like any Twin Reverb I ever played. Assuming it's a real-deal an not some look-alike PCB design junk.

+1. My 78 silverface can keep up with a fleet of jet engines mauling flocks of geese.

[Tapeworm]

Originally Posted by Ca$h Marty

Waves Gold bundle - one of the most disappointing purchases I have made. I thought it would be useful collection of tools but I rarely go to them. My UAD stuff BLOWS them out of the water.

AKG C3000/C1000 - I bought these at guitar center when I was first getting into recording and have not found a great use for either. (Any suggestions?)

I've used the c1000 on hihat a few times. Really, that's about all.

It was my first condenser (could take a 9v)...I still remember the full page "Soul of a Warrior" ad. My money and me were soon parted. Lesson learned.
The only good thing about it was that at least I didn't buy the 3000 too (a friend of mine did and I don't think it has seen the light of day in a decade).

[Track 7]

Originally Posted by SANDS

Ernie Ball strings, last about 4 hours,

LMAO because this is soooo true!

[Phaidon]

All Logic Pro upgrades since v5.5.1 !

[kirkhawley]

Originally Posted by carlheinz

New Gibson guitars in general.There is a toilet seat for every ass and yes I'm one.Sold my 2 R8 Les Pauls.Way overpriced for what you get.Seems they find ways to charge a fortune by using the better components on the artist signature and aged 59 models.Then you really pay.

I bought a new 335 dot neck last year. I picked the best one out of several they had at the store. Best guitar I've ever owned, and i've owned a lot of Les Pauls and Strats. Beat my early 70's 345 by a mile.

-K

[ddageek]

Any speaker with room correction
Digi 002 & le without BLA MOD
TLM103 and KM184 Everything you were ever told a Nueman was not
Solid Tube or Solid turd!

[Jimbo]

eXtreme Isolation Headphones.

[Leon EA]

The only thing that ever disappointed me was a Presonus HP4 heaphone amp. I bought it because I wanted a compact transportable unit that can switch monitoring between monitors and headphones instantly.
The level difference L/R on lower levels was over 3 dB - but what does one really expect for that price.
The real bummer was that the monitor output was *amplified*. That wasn't mentioned anywhere. Total design failure, if you ask me.
Heads up for their support answering me almost instantly. And I think most of their products offer great value for money.

[lerone]

Originally Posted by Iggy Poop

TL Audio CI preamp/compressor. This unit is proof that Sound on Sound magazine will give anything a great review.

Hmmm....Probably true.

[sailcat]

enzyte

[diamondjim]

Originally Posted by Guruceta

My Genelec's 8030 apm, thought they'd be much more than they are. The sound quality is excellent but they just kill my ears, I compared them to the adam a7 and although they are cheaper I prefer them muuuuuuccccchhh moreeee!!!

I had the A7's, and then got Gen 8040's, and I am just the opposite! They cost more used, and I prefer them moreeee muuuuuuccccchhh!! Go figure.