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Ok, for the first time in my 15 years of producing audio, I have done what I hoped I would never do. I have bought an item that in no way I need or have any practical use for. It just looks cool, is inexpensive, and I know it's pro quality. What is it? A Focusrite ISA Two. I had an ISA 428 some years ago but I sold it when I moved to mastering gear. Since then I've always thought it would be cool to at least have the 2 channel version (ISA Two), to hang on to for eye candy.

My concern is that this is dangerous because as we know one could go broke doing this kind of stuff with audio gear. Has anyone else here done a complete thrill buy on a piece of gear? I mean with no intentions of actually using it and not even enough inserts to use it.

I just though it would be interesting for people to share their experience. How long did you keep it? Until the next bill? hahahaha!

-Chuck

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LarryQualm2 Sun, 04/05/2015 - 10:25

Boswell, post: 427595, member: 29034 wrote: Sell something else instead. The ISA Two is a great pre-amp.

Yea, I have a Manley Dual Mono that I believe is inferior to the ISA Two. I sold it once but it ended up being returned to me because the second channel didn't work. My plan is to sell the Manley at one point in any case one day. I really loved my ISA 428. I also believe you could pack a studio with nothing but ISA pres and get nothing short of world class results. More than anything, my API 3124 and available A/D inputs are what is leaving the ISA Two out of the game, currently.

audiokid Sun, 04/05/2015 - 10:29

eternalsound, post: 427587, member: 48927 wrote: Has anyone else here done a complete thrill buy on a piece of gear? I mean with no intentions of actually using it and not even enough inserts to use it.

I just though it would be interesting for people to share their experience. How long did you keep it? Until the next bill?? hahahaha!

You are getting the curse lol!

Frankly, no. I buy only what I need but I have been given a lot of gear I do not need, which I try and share in a diplomatic way, why I like what I keep..
Its hard not keeping it around because everything has a use. I sell what I don't need to pay for this place.

Fun post. :)

LarryQualm2 Sun, 04/05/2015 - 10:34

audiokid, post: 427597, member: 1 wrote: You are getting the curse lol!

Frankly, no. I buy only what I need but I have been given a lot of gear I do not need. Its hard not keeping it around because everything has a use. I sell what I don't need to pay for this place.

Fun post.

Chris, looking at your studio pic it looks like you are a high risk candidate. hahahah! I mean, a hybrid mastering system with an actual mastering console! At least 3 audio interfaces! 2+ channel strips! You sir have got some fun toys!

By the way, I'm really digging all your SPL gear!!

audiokid Sun, 04/05/2015 - 10:46

Thanks! SPL is stellar gear. They are imho, ahead of their time. Both Dangerous Music and SPL are the pioneers in hybrid mixing and mastering. IMHO, SPL is the king in summing consoles. They need to make something like the Dangerous Master. That box is an essential for hybrid mixdown summing/monitoring processing.

I'm looking at the Phonitor 2 right now.

pcrecord Mon, 04/06/2015 - 05:25

It seems I have it too. The time between the buys depends on how long I can have the money available... :D

I'm in for a Yamaha Sub to match my monitors, then I'm gonna take a long pause at buying to get the money to change my main audio interface.
I'll decide then but the Antelope Zen studio is my actual goal !