How to save money when making audio purchases?

Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2005 4:04 pm

imagineaudio wrote:

Just to let you know, i have an audio pc and a seperate internet pc.....two weeks ago in my internet pc (running WinXP Pro) i blew one of the ram sticks. Once the bad memory was removed all i had left running was 64megs.....not a single problem starting up, no problem surfing the net, no problems d/l mp3's or playing streaming video......although everything took a little bit longer......but i wouldnt call the performance unacceptable.....it was quite capable at 64megs......(though i do prefer 192MB on this machine for internet.

PS its a PIII 450mhz machine

Please note that I said that it won't boot with 64 Meg without using virtual memory. Audio and graphics apps do not work well with virtual memory (one cause of clicks in your audio can be virtual memory.)
In fact, ProTools will not start if virtual memory is not disabled.

Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2005 3:17 pm

It takes a lot of reseach but since i invested in some secondhand recording devices 2 years ago, the value of my equipment almost tripled. And I earned some money from customers who rented my stuff.
a few tips:
1. Buy only things you really like. Don't believe others by word but take in account that also music recording has its dogma's and traditions which you have to deal with
2. Keep your equipment in excellent shape: it's valuable and will be in the future
3. don't invest in explicit sound machines which can only produce explicit sounds: mannerisms are effects and most of them become boring after a short while.
4. Don't think that better equipment will make you a better engineer, but remember that better equipment will make it possible to make better recordings. The question is "what is the better equipment for you?" or " do you recognize your capabilities?"

Greetings!

Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2005 6:57 pm

To save the money - think seven times, buy ones (and do not mind
the ads on this forum).

To pro-Mac & pro-PC fighters - Average opinion is that Windows has
more problems than Mac OS. For example: Windows PC will get slower
with the usage (my SAs told me that there's an operating system
database that over flow the memory). One way to get around is to
re-install the system without touching filesystem.

Costy.

Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2005 1:51 pm

John Stafford wrote:

If you're European,
BUY FROM GERMANY!!!
.....
I can see, Germany is the place to look for real bargains. Musik-service and Musicians Gear have great prices.....

You bet!! I bought my Yamaha 01V96 from Musik-Service for € 2180. Anywhere else it was close to € 2500. Lately I have been purchasing a lot of stuff from Musik Produktiv.

The only downside of buying from the internet is that you really have to know what you're looking for. When in doubt, visit a shop.

And yes, making your own cables saves you a bundle. Couldn´t agree more.

Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2005 9:25 am

Quote:

Windows PC will get slower
with the usage (my SAs told me that there's an operating system
database that over flow the memory). One way to get around is to
re-install the system without touching filesystem

If you have a dedicated system this is not likley to happen, the system slows with the more programs that are installed, so no games on the music computer

I have used XP for a while and have recorded up to 64 tracks with no problems

Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2005 11:25 pm

A really good way to save money on gear is: SLEEP OVER SALES (yes, i was shouting Smile

In five years, I have picked up about ten items totalling over $7000 for under $400 (in Australian dollars mate)!

Yuo just turn up a day or five early, with your sleeping bag and if allowed, tent, van etc and some people bring campervans, couches, eskies full of beer etc...

it's an awesome party at the very least! And at the end of it all, they finally let you into the store on the morning of the sale, and you buy your $2500 keyboard marked down to $20 (one only of course Smile

and you go home incredibly tired, hungover and/or trashed and wake up three days later and say

"yay, I just save a coupla grand...cool bananas "

It really does work:

Here's a list of stuff I've gotten:with prices in AUD

Roland A70 master keyboard controller: $20

Boss SP202 sampler (2 at two different sales) $10 & $20 respectively

Behringer three pack mic set: $5

Boss Dr 770 drum machine$ 40

etc etc etc

try it if you have the time....its well worth it

Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 1:15 am

Mix down in your bedroom...the bed and drapes are a cheap but effective bass trap.......vocals can be recorded minus room echo there as well .

Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 4:08 pm

Get a tax ID number and setup find some wholesale distributors to buy from. Full Compass has a sister company called Full Wholesale that sales at 10% over cost. You have to have a resale TAX ID number through which are easy to get. I'm also a direct dealer for 50 pro audio companies since I'm a sound contractor so I get things at cost.

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2005 5:20 am

Quote:

Get a tax ID number and setup find some wholesale distributors to buy from. Full Compass has a sister company called Full Wholesale that sales at 10% over cost. You have to have a resale TAX ID number through which are easy to get. I'm also a direct dealer for 50 pro audio companies since I'm a sound contractor so I get things at cost.

If you are NOT buying for resale (your own use), then you are required to pay "use tax" (at least in the US). Of course, it may take a while before you are caught. Go for it.

Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2005 7:44 pm

cleamon wrote:

Quote:

Get a tax ID number and setup find some wholesale distributors to buy from. Full Compass has a sister company called Full Wholesale that sales at 10% over cost. You have to have a resale TAX ID number through which are easy to get. I'm also a direct dealer for 50 pro audio companies since I'm a sound contractor so I get things at cost.

If you are NOT buying for resale (your own use), then you are required to pay "use tax" (at least in the US). Of course, it may take a while before you are caught. Go for it.

It's all forsale. Just setup as a Demo Smile

Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2005 4:23 pm

FOHman, Do you know the website or phone # of Full Wholesale? You can email me if you want at: claudemorrow@aol.com. Thanks in advance.

Claude

FOHman wrote:

cleamon wrote:

Quote:

Get a tax ID number and setup find some wholesale distributors to buy from. Full Compass has a sister company called Full Wholesale that sales at 10% over cost. You have to have a resale TAX ID number through which are easy to get. I'm also a direct dealer for 50 pro audio companies since I'm a sound contractor so I get things at cost.

If you are NOT buying for resale (your own use), then you are required to pay "use tax" (at least in the US). Of course, it may take a while before you are caught. Go for it.

It's all forsale. Just setup as a Demo Smile

Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2005 1:16 pm

altomusic.com

cheapest around

mercenary.com

when you want the high end stuff with super duper support.

Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2005 11:05 am

May or may not be useful in a commercial application but for home/project studio I have found that some of the freeware plugs are pretty impressive for the price. Not Waves but certainly servicable. kjaerhus in particular makes some good stuff. Their commercial products are very good for low $$ as well.

Past that shop with your ears and not your eyes. Certainly there are known commodities that are a sure thing like Neuman but its the up and coming mfg's and fringe guys that can really surprise you with good stuff but for whatever reason no one knows about or just doesn't catch on. At least until some heavy hitter mentions them and then you can never dfind another one!! LOL!

Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2005 8:39 pm

tough call...

its hard to pay for all this equipment....

there are obvious benefits if u know someone that could hook u up!

Posted: Mon May 09, 2005 3:50 am

kingfrog wrote:

Mix down in your bedroom...the bed and drapes are a cheap but effective bass trap.......vocals can be recorded minus room echo there as well .

Kingfrog, you're the man! Now this is what I call cutting on audio equipment costs, by using my bed as a piece of audio equipment.

I'm about to setup my new pair of BM5As in my bedroom because I had the feeling it sounded somehow "more clean" - now I know why!

Thanks,

Rainer

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