Dreams on hold for an year now

[Pliplo]

Last year i wanted to take a step forward gearwise. Not that i had anything to work with but i wanted to take things to the next level... bought a nice converter, some focal twins, a decent mic locker, 10 channels of premium preamps, cables, monitor controller, some software.
At this very moment, 90% of it is still in customs, the only things that got here are a Neumman TLM-49, an empty lunchbox and 2 db25 cables... and only because they were late and missed the boat to South America.

Im trying to make the best with what i have: A&H Zed R16, Focusrite liquid saffire 56, Alesis M1 mk2 active monitors, a couple of 57s, a couple of cheap dynamics, a pair of samson c03's, a beta 52, a pair of se electronics se1a and of course the TLM-49... But i cant persue some things i wanted to, cant really put my studio in a bigger league with this gear...

I dont know if i want to keep waiting, for all i know my stuff could be trapped forever... but it was a lot of money (for me)...
Im traveling to the states next month, need to sort this out and maybe someone can shed some light here: Do i start all over again and start buying from scratch, even if i buy the same stuff again? Do i get things to cover me a little and make due with what i have?

dont wanna end up with 2 lynxes or 2 sets of focals, but having to work with "lesser" gear is really screwing my business plan

[ivmike]

Originally Posted by Pliplo

Last year i wanted to take a step forward gearwise. Not that i had anything to work with but i wanted to take things to the next level... bought a nice converter, some focal twins, a decent mic locker, 10 channels of premium preamps, cables, monitor controller, some software.
At this very moment, 90% of it is still in customs, the only things that got here are a Neumman TLM-49, an empty lunchbox and 2 db25 cables... and only because they were late and missed the boat to South America.

Im trying to make the best with what i have: A&H Zed R16, Focusrite liquid saffire 56, Alesis M1 mk2 active monitors, a couple of 57s, a couple of cheap dynamics, a pair of samson c03's, a beta 52, a pair of se electronics se1a and of course the TLM-49... But i cant persue some things i wanted to, cant really put my studio in a bigger league with this gear...

I dont know if i want to keep waiting, for all i know my stuff could be trapped forever... but it was a lot of money (for me)...
Im traveling to the states next month, need to sort this out and maybe someone can shed some light here: Do i start all over again and start buying from scratch, even if i buy the same stuff again? Do i get things to cover me a little and make due with what i have?

dont wanna end up with 2 lynxes or 2 sets of focals, but having to work with "lesser" gear is really screwing my business plan

While I can sympathise with your frustration in customs delays, I also wish that my studio was as "handicapped" as your current studio is....I'd be pretty happy with an A&H Zed R16, a TLM-49 and a few 57s.

[waveterm]

I don´t understand......

You bought gear overseas, had it shipped by boat to Argentina andnow it is stuck in Customs.

Why do you feel you have to buy the same gear once more ?

It will get released by customs sooner or later. You may have to pay import taxes and VAT ( possibly ).

You are moaning but I don´t understand why.

WT

[Pliplo]

ivmike i didn't mean to bash on what i have, i do appreciate it... It's just i had a business plan going and unfortunately here clients want certain things... they want neve, they want neumman, they want protools, and as stupid as that might sound its a reality nonetheless... and how good is a neumman and the nice eqs in the zed when you have to listen to them with crappy monitors

(tho i might add and admit that im a complete amateur, but that doesn't change the fact that i can appreciate good gear and want it for my studio... where the real techs will make it count)

waveterm, its been almost a year, i really don't know if ill be able to get it out at this point... the people that were supposed to bring it here have no clear answers for me. I wouldn't be moaning if i could easily muster another 20 Gs out of the blue... and what makes me really depressed is that THIS was my first big investment in the studio and i was focusing a lot of energy, this was a disappointing ride and i really hate having to be patient =(

[tonemaker]

Get it sorted out with customs and don't forget about it. it's your gear rightfully. Fight for your rights and get what belongs to you. Instead of waiting, start making more phone calls and sending more letters. Letter are good because they can be used as evidence in a court case. I think phone calls can't.

[Ward Pike]

I feel your pain. Customs agents and brokers are heartless conniving twits who seem to delight in the misery they can inflict on others.

There's also a dark side.

[verve92]

You don't have anything in those Focals that shouldn't be there?

[Pliplo]

Originally Posted by verve92

You don't have anything in those Focals that shouldn't be there?

eh nope... not this time