2025: A Year in Gear (What You've Bought or Want to Buy in 2025)

[seafire]

Behringer Victor module and some headphones were last thing I bought.

I did buy a 3 input mixer (ebay) but not working how i expected (I think someone messed with jumpers)

So looking for a cheap 3 or 4 in 1 out audio mixer, and another filter or two (sem and something more wild)

[whyterabbyt]

Okay, this is really interesting... very cheap DIY(*) 8x14 class-compliant MIDI interface



(* assembled versions available too)

[elxsound]

Upgrade time. After more than 10 years since getting the H4 Handy Zoom, I bought the Tascam x8.

I was leaning towards the Zoom H5 Studio, but I think this is going to be faster to work with over the Zoom. Slightly faster, but I’ll take it.

I was happy to see the x/y mics pop-off, but they don’t feel super durable, and I’m not sure what could break them first, occasional removal vs accidental drops if left on.

IMG_2025-06-02-140802.jpeg

After this, I’m considering these Oaka Mics vs a pair of matched Rode mics:

https://www.oakainstruments.co.uk/microphones/p/verdi

[justin3am]

After this, I’m considering these Oaka Mics vs a pair of matched Rode mics:

https://www.oakainstruments.co.uk/microphones/p/verdi

I have never heard a Rode mic that I like. Much prefer Audiotechnica at that end of the market. You used to be able to get a pair of second hand Oktava 012s for a decent price but it looks like people have started asking a lot for those.
Honestly, there are not a lot of SDCs that sound very good to me. I'd really like to get a pair of CMCs or vintage KM-84s but I tend to use my matched 414s in situations where most people would use SDCs in XY configuration.

[elxsound]

After this, I’m considering these Oaka Mics vs a pair of matched Rode mics:

https://www.oakainstruments.co.uk/microphones/p/verdi

I have never heard a Rode mic that I like. Much prefer Audiotechnica at that end of the market. You used to be able to get a pair of second hand Oktava 012s for a decent price but it looks like people have started asking a lot for those.
Honestly, there are not a lot of SDCs that sound very good to me. I'd really like to get a pair of CMCs or vintage KM-84s but I tend to use my matched 414s in situations where most people would use SDCs in XY configuration.

Just checked Oktava, and it seems no more imports “for obvious reasons.” I guess that’s the reason for the increase?

From that list, even full price seems fair? $629 (+$30 for shipping and +$55 for NYC sales tax). https://reverb.com/item/86259191-oktava ... torage-box

That’s still likely out of my price range for my uses. I mostly want to record things to mangle in Morphagene and the upcoming Spotykach. Unfortunately, pristine sound will be hard to identify where I live.

Do you know anything about Oaka Instruments? Reading specs alone I don’t see anything that makes them stand out, but I do like the size.

[justin3am]

I'm not familiar with those. They are omni directional, so maybe not the best option for an X-Y configuration and will probably pickup a lot of background sound.
If you are looking for sensitivity, without too much background noise, consider looking at shotgun mics. Very directional, so going even a little bit off-axis will change the sound a lot but they are really handy for grabbing quick clips of stationary sound sources.
I thought that both Sennheiser and Audiotechnica had affordable stereo shotgun mics but apparently I was mistaken! Geez!

When it comes to recording samples for my Morphagene and other samplers, I find that I need the most rejection of backround noise possible. I often use piezos (for acoustic instruments) or dynamic mics (for amplified instruments, acoustic drums) unless I have good control of the room in which I'm recording. I mainly use condenser mics when I need a very detailed recording AND I I'm recording in a quiet/well treated space. I do use condensers for out door field recordings but usually something pretty directional, if not a shotgun/hypercardioid mic.

[elxsound]

I'm not familiar with those. They are omni directional, so maybe not the best option for an X-Y configuration and will probably pickup a lot of background sound.
If you are looking for sensitivity, without too much background noise, consider looking at shotgun mics. Very directional, so going even a little bit off-axis will change the sound a lot but they are really handy for grabbing quick clips of stationary sound sources.
I thought that both Sennheiser and Audiotechnica had affordable stereo shotgun mics but apparently I was mistaken! Geez!

When it comes to recording samples for my Morphagene and other samplers, I find that I need the most rejection of backround noise possible. I often use piezos (for acoustic instruments) or dynamic mics (for amplified instruments, acoustic drums) unless I have good control of the room in which I'm recording. I mainly use condenser mics when I need a very detailed recording AND I I'm recording in a quiet/well treated space. I do use condensers for out door field recordings but usually something pretty directional, if not a shotgun/hypercardioid mic.

You won't like my shotgun mic... it's a Rode Still that thing has been everywhere and worked wonders for interviews in noisy clubs and some other NYC noise from way back. Great sound rejection.

But absolutely true, condensers work best for detailed recordings.

I'm not against capturing some of the NYC WA Heights ambience in the background. I'll see if I can learn more about the mics you mentioned. It won't be my budget for a while, but I'm not in any rush and would prefer to buy something that won't need replacing later on.

The Spotyachek will come with an Oaka Instruments contact mic. This is how I came across them. All the videos have been with either the contact mic or the omni directional pair.

[foosnark]

Just ordered a Walrus Audio Sloer... finally. Found a B-stock one that was $100 off due to very minor paint issues from the factory (still looks pretty great from the photos).

The way I figure it, this is either going to be one of those "I should have just bought it when I first saw it" things, or it's finally going to prove that I don't need hardware FX outside of Eurorack. Either way I am probably going to sell my Dreadbox Hypnosis because it just doesn't get a lot of use.

[TheFrozenSea]

Just took home my new Waldorf M, and I'm totally floored. I've just hooked it up to a midi keyboard so far and listened to its headphone jack, so completely dry of effects, but the sound is still just incredible. It's not really a matter of nostalgia for me, I was born in the 90s but my heart lies in the 70s and analog synthesizers. But there's just something magical about these wavetable oscillators going into that analog filter. It's certainly a niche synth, but that's exactly what my setup needed, if anything.

[discogsaddict]

Just took home my new Waldorf M, and I'm totally floored. I've just hooked it up to a midi keyboard so far and listened to its headphone jack, so completely dry of effects, but the sound is still just incredible. It's not really a matter of nostalgia for me, I was born in the 90s but my heart lies in the 70s and analog synthesizers. But there's just something magical about these wavetable oscillators going into that analog filter. It's certainly a niche synth, but that's exactly what my setup needed, if anything.

Very Nice! I hear it has some Mutable Instruments Algorithms now too so not strictly wavetable?

At some point i think i will buy one myself. Regret not buying an XT years ago and i think the M will be a future classic in the same way.

Also have a strange urge to buy a Behringer RD9. So many 909 samples and own Drumazon yet still feel like i need to see how it compares and what i can do with it

[TheFrozenSea]

Just took home my new Waldorf M, and I'm totally floored. I've just hooked it up to a midi keyboard so far and listened to its headphone jack, so completely dry of effects, but the sound is still just incredible. It's not really a matter of nostalgia for me, I was born in the 90s but my heart lies in the 70s and analog synthesizers. But there's just something magical about these wavetable oscillators going into that analog filter. It's certainly a niche synth, but that's exactly what my setup needed, if anything.

Very Nice! I hear it has some Mutable Instruments Algorithms now too so not strictly wavetable?

At some point i think i will buy one myself. Regret not buying an XT years ago and i think the M will be a future classic in the same way.

Also have a strange urge to buy a Behringer RD9. So many 909 samples and own Drumazon yet still feel like i need to see how it compares and what i can do with it

Yes that's true, there are some new oscillator modes, a fold mode among others, but I don't have them as I haven't updated the firmware yet. I think options are always great, but adding stuff in submenus on a small screen often makes me skip those options. The M feels very much designed as a wavetable synth for me so that's probably what I'll use it for 99% of the time. For wavefolding type sounds I might create a custom wavetable from my Dixie 2+ and Bifold modules, that would be cool!

[psycho45039]

I added a new Jaspers keyboard rack with extras, a Behringer Deepmind 12 and a Korg Minilogue XD to fill it up. I still have one empty sliding shelf and had just purchased Ensoniq SQ-80 for it but it arrived damage.

[foosnark]

The Slöer arrived, and my first impression is very favorable. It's super ambient. It does that woozy, blissed-out ethereal thing really well.

I got a "blemished" unit and the only flaw I can find is six little divots in the paint job, down low on the right side, and it has to catch the light just right or you have to run your fingers over it to see it. For that it was $100 off

[vurt]

The Slöer arrived, and my first impression is very favorable. It's super ambient. It does that woozy, blissed-out ethereal thing really well.

I got a "blemished" unit and the only flaw I can find is six little divots in the paint job, down low on the right side, and it has to catch the light just right or you have to run your fingers over it to see it. For that it was $100 off

nice! may have to have a look at that, sounds like fun

[elxsound]

Ordered a stereo hydrophonic mic off Etsy. Couple rubber coated piezos, out to XLRs, for $45.

Couldn’t find a deal I liked for matched pair mics. I almost pulled the trigger on an Oktava Mk 012 pair, but couldn’t tell if they were Cardioid or not, and then they were bought by someone else. So, still high in demand.

On the other side of things, the guy who makes the Oakla Instruments omni mics might be up to a custom order for cardioid instead of the Omni. I’m hoping it works out.

I’m considering adding the LOM BasicUcho mics and not so much because I want a pair of omni patterned mics, but because they might be great for electronic interference especially where I live. I already have their mini elektrosluch and Elektrouši, so this is a want, not a need.