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RO is putting together a new feature ... "Best Bang For The Buck DAWs". It's a basic guide, for newbies and intermediates, to help them put together the best DAW to fit their needs and budget.
We have it about 75% complete at this point, but need a little help with a couple of things. I thought that this forum would probably be the best place to get the help needed...
So far, we have 2 sets of nearfield monitors that we are recommending (keep in mind that these are "budget" systems), the Roland MA8BKs ($99 pair), and the KRK V4s ($600 pair). We need GOOD recommendations for monitor's which fall in-between those prices. (If you mention Alesis you will be banned from RO for LIFE ... LOL). Anything decent for $300-400 a pair?
For sound cards in our lower-priced DAWs, we are recommending the Echo Mia ($200), and the M-Audio Delta 1010-LT ($400). Does anyone have any other good recommendations for sound cards in this pricerange?

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Comments

Kev Sun, 05/19/2002 - 22:48

This may not be the "Best Bang for the Buck" info you want but here goes,

I did purchased these items when they were on sale and my price here in Australia must be different to yours,

Event 20/20 (passive)
RNC1773
Rode NT1 - with shock mount (I bought two)

Buy these when on special and they will serve you well.

just my 2 cents.

knightfly Mon, 05/20/2002 - 05:21

I've been pretty happy with my KRK "K-Roks" - (NOT the ROK-its, bigger but same shape) They're in the $400+ price range, but they're passive so by the time you add a decent amp you're back to $600, and still with passive crossovers. I have a pair of Tannoy PBM 6.5's, and I don't use them any more because the fucking Titanium tweets try to surgically remove the hair from my ears. I much prefer the silks in the KRK's. It's too bad nobody's come up with a mod for the Behringer truths to take the reported nasty edge out - at $399 a pair for actives, it would be pretty cool. I may buy a pair and play with the LCR crap just to see if it's doable, 'cause they're so cheap compared to other similar power/size boxes.

I 'spose soffited Westlakes are out of the budget???!? :=)

Unless Echo has changed a lot since the first Layla, be sure to stress Intel chipsets with any Echo product. (Even more than we usually do.)Beyond that, I just got off a 12-hour graveyard shift, feel like I've been rode hard and put away wet, if at all. I'll think some more when I can think... Steve

knightfly Tue, 05/21/2002 - 06:20

From the King of "Off-Topic"; I've always wanted to do this before anyone else did:

"(keep in mind that these are "budget" systems), the Roland MA8BKs ($99 pair), and the KRK V4s ($600 pair). We need GOOD recommendations for monitor's which fall in-between those prices."

Anyone recognize this quote? It's from the first post in this thread... (Yes, I AM teasing, read the first sentence again) Now, back to topic - I've figured out a mod that'll make a pair of Auratones sound like soffited Westlake BBSM's, only at lower volume (-90 dB or lower) :=)

Jim Chapdelaine Tue, 05/21/2002 - 09:37

Hey LD,
For me, no. I'm not a fan of subs because I can't guage the bottom accurately. I can tell you this, I compared the S3-a's with the Genelecs and it just wasn't a fair fight. The Genelecs (to my ears) have always made everything sound 'pretty'. When I mix on them, I feel as if I'm guessing.
The Adams sound as true and transparent as any speaker I've ever heard. They are not fatiging even thought the transients are 4x as fast as a normal tweeter. The low end is tight, balanced and true. My mixes have translated to other environments much more consistently than before.
Hope this helps. Email me for more details.
cheers,
Chap

pan Wed, 05/22/2002 - 15:50

I love my pair of brown Auratones (SC5 300 USD, the new model is a bit brighter) by the computer-screen. There's nothing smoother, than editing on Auras, just love them.
I can recommend them for an "edit-station" with excellent stereo image, but low fun-factor.
Oh, there's a consumer amp/box combo by §ony (Z1 200 USD) a little one-way-system with bass-reflex. Incredible! But, oh damn, just realize I got OT in the deep near field (1-2 feet) - you were asking for nearfields wasn't you? ...subwoofers and stuff...hihi

Niko

pan Thu, 05/23/2002 - 14:36

I'd been starring at it for 20 minutes and had a strong urge to go to Hamburg and do Niko's laundry

Hey CG, you are always welcome! Someone's got to do it, I spend my time to clean up in the studio ;)
I'm constantly fighting against a huge pile, and acting like a typical man dividing into dirty and (b)wearable...err...we were talking about music?
:roll:
We were not?
:eek: Graemlin :w:

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