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

[Constructed Identity]

Was looking for a small mixer for the stuff on the A frame stand, but I would like it to boost the output of STVC well since its max output is really low. Almost bought the same Machie I had in the ‘00’s but I don’t need more than 10 channels so I don’t know.
When they get Artemis back in stock that will be 6 ins all the time plus two more occasionally. Right now the Allen & Heath zed is my top choice.

[justin3am]

Didn’t Poczta Polska stop shipping to US already? I keep checking to see if there’s any expectation of shipments before the 29th.

All this I’m guessing because of the Epstein connections.

Tracking seems to indicate that the package left Poland today, so my fingers are crossed, hoping the package will arrive.

Screenshot 2025-08-26 at 1.26.41 PM.png

I can get the parts elsewhere if need be, but I was happy that Polyend agreed to send me the parts for free.

[justin3am]

Was looking for a small mixer for the stuff on the A frame stand, but I would like it to boost the output of STVC well since its max output is really low. Almost bought the same Machie I had in the ‘00’s but I don’t need more than 10 channels so I don’t know.
When they get Artemis back in stock that will be 6 ins all the time plus two more occasionally. Right now the Allen & Heath zed is my top choice.

I really like my Radial KeyLargo. It's a little pricey but has a lot more headroom than most other compact mixers. I also have an old MIDIMan Multimixer which I like a lot for the way the pres overdrive. Similar to those old Boss mixers but you can still find one for <$50.

[pdxindy]

My Reliq finally arrived!! It's been... hmmm, so long I forgot when the pre-order went in.

Congrats! Let us know what you think. I’ve been keenly interested in these, just not as an early adopter, lol.

At the moment I'm busy with a couple (non music) projects and then I have a couple guests coming so I may not use the Reliq at all until early October. But I'll post some feedback once I'm working with it.

I'm glad it didn't show up when I was on a trip!

[ghettosynth]

This thing wreaking all kinds of havoc: https://cdm.link/trump-de-minimis-chaos/

Most US-made music instruments have already had a pretty steep price increase over the summer. So more EU-made hardware things, it'll be.

Yep, I expected this at some point. This is why I'm focused on DIY for the near future.

[justin3am]

I found a Piston Honda mk1 for sale under, the original retail price. A minor miracle. Now the Donut has its buddy back.


Yeah, that's the stuff.
https://www.3amnoise.net/music/honda_life-082025.wav

[McLilith]

My employer is just going to stop selling most of our products in the US, even though we are based in the US. Too expensive to get our parts and products over here. We have enough business in EU, UK, AU, Asia and South America to keep us going for now.

Are you serious? A US-based company is going to stop selling its products inside the US because of Trump's tariff war?

I expected bad things to come from the tariff war, but that comes as a surprise. Unfortunately, I'm certain that won't be the last sad surprise in the coming years.

[BBFG#]

My employer is just going to stop selling most of our products in the US, even though we are based in the US. Too expensive to get our parts and products over here. We have enough business in EU, UK, AU, Asia and South America to keep us going for now.

Are you serious? A US-based company is going to stop selling its products inside the US because of Trump's tariff war?

I expected bad things to come from the tariff war, but that comes as a surprise. Unfortunately, I'm certain that won't be the last sad surprise in the coming years.

It's a fear based projection.
We've seen price increases using this as a reason before any tariff was imposed. Showing they'll do anything to justify their greed regardless of what's actually happening.
Hopefully this thread won't spiral down into political distortions now?

[justin3am]

Nevermind

[Constructed Identity]

Was looking for a small mixer for the stuff on the A frame stand, but I would like it to boost the output of STVC well since its max output is really low. Almost bought the same Machie I had in the ‘00’s but I don’t need more than 10 channels so I don’t know.
When they get Artemis back in stock that will be 6 ins all the time plus two more occasionally. Right now the Allen & Heath zed is my top choice.

I really like my Radial KeyLargo. It's a little pricey but has a lot more headroom than most other compact mixers. I also have an old MIDIMan Multimixer which I like a lot for the way the pres overdrive. Similar to those old Boss mixers but you can still find one for <$50.

I ended up ordering an Arturia 16Rig interface since my Motu has the nasty habit of resetting occasionally- which puts the output to 0! I also wanted to ‘future proof’ my studio in case things become harder to find in the next few years.

[McLilith]

I ended up ordering an Arturia 16Rig interface since my Motu has the nasty habit of resetting occasionally- which puts the output to 0! I also wanted to ‘future proof’ my studio in case things become harder to find in the next few years.

I'm in a similar situation. I've been using an older MOTU interface, and it isn't very stable with my new Win11 computer. (It wasn't totally stable with the previous Win10 system, but it was usable.) It's worse with the new system, and I'm ready to move on to something new. I've been considering getting an Arturia 16Rig to replace my MOTU. Please let me know what you think of your new Arturia interface.

[Constructed Identity]

My 828es is super stable, but on startup it can reset showing a flashing 44khz and producing a pop through the speakers, I’ve learned what to look for though because the once I let 0db through my speakers nearly blew my ears out.
I’ve read good reviews about the 16Rig so I am anxious to test it.

[cryophonik]

Say hello to my little friend…

EB67C73C-D540-4F15-B8BB-3C78A4143240.jpeg

So good to have one of these back in my studio again! Such a cool little beast!

[Kevin63101]

Added to my Linnstrument and ERAE collection.

5 Linnstruments 2 ERAEs - Kevin63101 20250828.jpg

[whyterabbyt]

I have another Behringer 19" powered rack and a 2nd and 3rd FourPlay quad VCA on the way. The rack will eventually house some video stuff, and the VCAs are just because they're so cheap. Will swap out old-school Doepfer single VCAs to make room as 4 VCA at 12HP > 1 VCA at 8HP.

(If anyone is interested, the FP is now down to less than £39 on Amazon UK, it dropped a fiver a couple of days ago (after I'd ordered the 2nd one, and why I grabbed a third))

I also got a Sonicware Evoke and a Stylophone Gen X2.