Great Advice! Nice way to look at things especially coming in as a new comer and we all make the mistake of feeling like we have to keep up with the Pros.
Midlandmorgan wrote:
Superb topic!
One thing right out of the chute: buy used from reputable dealers...the same ones that offer demo time, service, etc...
Another tip is to find multiple applications for purchases - example: don't buy just a vocal mic...buy a mic that works equally well on vocals, kick drums, guitar amps, whatever...
One thing I learned the hard way: don't buy the initial offering of a product...let other people buy full retail price and make their judgements, then you kinda have a baseline from which to work.
Last but certainly NOT least: don't feel the need to 'keep up with the Joneses.' A quick survey shows 96K still hasn't become the established rate in most shops...and 192K is really practically beyond the reach or need of 99.5% of us in the trenches...So what if you don't have a Liquid yet...stay out of debt by using what you have well, instead of trying to buy your way out of the audio doldrums.
1) Do your research and find the lowest advertised price.
2) Take the lowest price you have found to a large retailer that guarantees to beat any advertised price (Zzounds, etc).
3) Take the new price and touch base with your reputable salesperson with whom you have developed a working relationship. See if they can further beat the price or at least match it.
If you're good, you might get a few price matchers competing for your business. I'm not exactly a master, but it does feel strange when you call your reputable salesperson and they ask where you got "THAT" price and verbally express how painful it is to match. None the less, they usually take my money (what little I have) anyway.
TVPostSound Recording Org Pro Audio Group
Joined: Feb 15, 2006
Posts: 624
Location: Burbank, CA
If you're time is worth anything, then searching for bargains will cost you in the long run.
Like finding a bargain on Craiglist, by the time the guy gets back to you, haggle the price, work around the seller's schedule, you could have worked and make cash.
My take, start a relationship with a GCPro account manager.
http://www.gcpro.com/account.html
I ALWAYS get rock bottom pricing!! I don't go to the counter, and hagle.
I make a phone call, I drive down to GC, I walk upstairs to my account manager's office, my item is next to his desk with the invoice taped to it. (He has my CC number on file). Last purchase: Rode NT2-A $275.00!!!!
I cant return ANYTHING including mics, which you normally can't due to health reasons. I can take an item home and test it. Last Christmas, I took home 3 of the same Ibanez Prestige guitars, and let my son try them all out, I returned the 2 I didnt like.
I get the demo item as a loaner, when he has to order, then return the demo when my order comes in.
My time is money, he saves me both!!!!
There are some pieces of gear that are time less.
1176 compressors, Neve preamps
I still have a DBX 162 that I bought 22 years ago. It is worth more now than the day I bought it.
Renouned microphones hold their value..U87, KM84 (name your choice)
Some are just good buys. The modestly priced DBX 1066 is IMO the best product they have made. Speakers also have a long life and are one of the most critical pieces of gear in your studio...just make sure you like them.
nickeveslage Recording Org Pro Audio Group
Joined: Oct 26, 2007
Posts: 34
Location: Minnesota
The best way to get cheaper audio gear is to either work at a music store where you get a healthy discount on certain brands (hopefully good ones), or befriend someone at guitar center. If you're lucky, like I was, with this one you will actually enjoy conversing with them and value their opinion if they know what they're talking about
My process for saving $$ while developing our project studio is to be broke to begin with.
Also part of my plan with our project studio band centers around learning how to use what little we have as best we can.
Because we have been focusing on recording ourselves and figuring out how to improve our results using only our existing gear, we have refined our recording process to creatively work with/around what could be considered limitations.
When we DO spend money on new gear, it's because we've pushed our potential beyond what our current gear can deliver. So we spend our money very wisely - which helps save $$ in the long run.
So my tip (and I am about as far from pro as anyone here could be) but my tip is to focus hard on maximizing your potential with a little as possible. If you can get respectable results with your tinker toys, imagine what you can do when Santa bestows upon you some real fun stuff!
--tz
fourone3 Recording Org Pro Audio Group
Joined: Jan 17, 2007
Posts: 154
Location: Massachusetts
Please help the balance of trade and buy good used gear locally from a reputable shop or individual when you know it will do the job. Your grandchildren will thank you for it if you explain to them why it was important for you to do your best to keep more of your $ in the local and the country.
Or do like so many of us have done and build it yourself; live sound speaker boxes are easy!
Make purchases that are investments!!! Don't buy twice!!!
+1
Also, if you're looking on eBay for stuff, I often check around to see who has the "Or Best Offer" on things (particularly mics or studio tools, DI's, etc). Just picked up a new Beyer M88 for $300 and a new Radial Duplex for $150. Some of those dealers seem to have a fair bit of wiggle room.
Last but certainly NOT least: don't feel the need to 'keep up with the Joneses.' A quick survey shows 96K still hasn't become the established rate in most shops...and 192K is really practically beyond the reach or need of 99.5% of us in the trenches...So what if you don't have a Liquid yet...stay out of debt by using what you have well, instead of trying to buy your way out of the audio doldrums.
My opinion only...
excellent point.. I when I first started thought I had to have the best gear, and (like everyone else) eventually found, that much better results are attained with cheaper gear (software included) that you take the time the become familiar with.. than constantly jumping on whatever's new
Ex. I make much better recordings with Tracktion 2 (under $200) than I do with Sonar 7.. because im much more familiar/comfortable with tracktion
I've been using this new site called www.jamstudio.com. It's pretty cool...and mostly free. They have a membership/subscription, but most of its FREE! Lots of sounds, riffs and stuff. They say they're a music factory or something. Anyway. I've used it to lay some tunes over a couple of my videos. It might work for you.
hueseph Recording Org Pro Audio Group
Joined: Oct 31, 2005
Posts: 1329
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
I've been using this new site called www.jamstudio.com. It's pretty cool...and mostly free. They have a membership/subscription, but most of its FREE! Lots of sounds, riffs and stuff. They say they're a music factory or something. Anyway. I've used it to lay some tunes over a couple of my videos. It might work for you.
What does spam have to do with buying studio gear?
_________________ Ian Faith: "Certainly, in the topsy-turvy world of heavy rock, having a good solid piece of wood in your hand is often useful."
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