Bargain Center: discussion, gossip, etc.

[mgw38]

As I always have trouble making my mixes sound good on anything but my studio monitor speakers... does any of you kind people have experience with Audified MixChecker? The 44% discount is tempting...

Have that but does not help much imho. The problem is that any monitor colors the sound, so unless you are really experienced your mix will be optimized for that color. And since another speaker will color it differently, even if only very slightly, the mix will have a tendency to collapse there. The problem with Mixchecker is that you are still using the same monitors, so everything will adhere to the same color. Even systems such as Sonarworks or Morphit have limits to how they can help mixing correctly. There really is no way other than actually monitoring and referencing the mix on as many different systems as possible. Had to learn that the hard way.

[Fleer]

GPO worth getting at $74? I remember the older version(s) were criticized for their instrument quality, not sure about v5.

GPO5 was a substantial upgrade, JG. Many instruments were optimized and added. Even the Grand sounds grand. Upgrading at half price is a no-brainer. Not as good as Spitfire, of course.

[Proteinshake]

RE: EVENTIDE ULTRA ESSENTIALS BUNDLE ULTRATAP + ULTRAREVERB + ULTRACHANNEL - is there an upgrade price for those who own part of the bundle? I for example own ultrachannel.

Mhhm.. that would be awsome. Couldn't find anything on the Eventide website or my profile though.

[everyPlugin.com]

RE: EVENTIDE ULTRA ESSENTIALS BUNDLE ULTRATAP + ULTRAREVERB + ULTRACHANNEL - is there an upgrade price for those who own part of the bundle? I for example own ultrachannel.

There WILL be upgrades - according to Eventide dealer info.
No mention about through-resellers availability tho, so probably only on their website.
Let's wait for EST working day, and see.

A later update: https://www.eventideaudio.com/store/plu ... view/11410

[epiphaneia]

As I always have trouble making my mixes sound good on anything but my studio monitor speakers... does any of you kind people have experience with Audified MixChecker? The 44% discount is tempting...

Have that but does not help much imho. The problem is that any monitor colors the sound, so unless you are really experienced your mix will be optimized for that color. And since another speaker will color it differently, even if only very slightly, the mix will have a tendency to collapse there. The problem with Mixchecker is that you are still using the same monitors, so everything will adhere to the same color. Even systems such as Sonarworks or Morphit have limits to how they can help mixing correctly. There really is no way other than actually monitoring and referencing the mix on as many different systems as possible. Had to learn that the hard way.

Thanks! That´s quite what I had suspected, and as fancy as the GUI of MixChecker looks... if it doesn´t spare me carrying my mixes around and checking them in the car, on friends´stereo systems, in the club,... then I´ll just skip that deal; got to save up for a better pair of monitor speakers instead, I reckon...

[Rational]

got to save up for a better pair of monitor speakers instead, I reckon...

Or many different sets of monitor speakers. That way you can A/B them all. Or is that A/B/C/D/E/F/G..... them all. I'm up to like 7 or 8 pairs of studio monitors now. And I can't count how many 'audiophile' (lol) sets I have. I had a blast buying and just listening to all the different flavors each produces based on it's cabinet density, material and cone size, thickness material, etc. Plus the tweeter type and any shape design factors as well. I'm getting pretty good at just looking at the cabinet design and knocking on the side and pressing on the woofer now and can pretty much tell if it's going to sound 'good' or not.

I'm a fan of 1. Lots of heft in the cabinet. Density rules. The heavier the better, 2. A lite natural material driver cone, preferably with some doping, 3. Soft dome silk tweeters, and no plastic wave guides!. (looking at you Neumann, and JBL. Blech!) Not a fan of horn tweets, nor thick heavy driver material (no subtelty), overly large or small drivers E.g. >8" or < 5", (I like 6-7 best for the instrument and vocal midrange clarity) nor metal tweeter materials -- those are ice picks in the ears and cause me to roll off all the high end which dulls the final mix. That's why I'm a fan of Dynaudio (they have it all figured out. Light drivers for detail, soft dome tweets for no harshness, hefty cabinets and great amps and crossovers, etc. The whole package. Next would be Focal 6be, (although they have a metal tweet, but now it's covered which helps tame it a bit plus it's inverted which is interesting and different to the ear, but exact. Their cabs and driver materials are the main thing though) Also like ribbon tweets which never hurt my ears and are very well balanced. But few end listeners have ribbon tweets on their listening systems.

I could go on for hours. But in the end, everyone listens on a different stereo and very few people care or can even notice the difference. Only when A/B'd can people notice. Even myself after a session lingers on. So I'd say go with anything at the top of the quality list in a good room and get great with that pair. Then if you're OCD you can still A/B/C/D/E/F/G instead of creating more great music. Sadly that's what I often do to my detriment.

Mixchecker is an interesting concept, but it's WAYYYY overpriced. It is an approximation based on what they captured on their equipment in their room. Then played on your monitors in your room. So you're right, it's going to have the same 'flavor' with different EQ curves added. Not unlike most mic emulators do. Useful for a quick idea, but worth about $19 bucks. Can help in a pinch though if you need a general idea fast.

I've been wondering when a bunch of other companies will come out with their own version of a mixchecker and do it better for a reasonable price. I mean Audified isn't exactly tier 1. Don't know why they think they can charge so much for it when it's a toy and their reputation is out of date low end pedal emulation.

[mgw38]

I agree, for the bedroom producer more monitor systems has more value than ‘better’ monitors (as long as you have at least one reasonably good one). You will always be limited by the room acoustics so you will never get the perfect monitor setup anyway. Get one of these monitor stations that allow you to switch between sets of monitors. Mackie has a passive one for 70 bucks, I believe.

And yes, Mixchecker is horribly overpriced. I got it at intro price for fairly cheap and still think I paid too much. 19$ would be about right.

[epiphaneia]

My biggest problem is that while I am working with (ok, "only") two sets of quite decent monitor speakers, my recording room is located in a rather old town house, nice to look at but with plenty of weird angles inside and equally plenty unpredictable, uncontrollable resonance.

Even basics like "equal speaker-wall-distance left/right" are impossible to follow, here.

Sonarworks has made quite a difference already (seeing that the other option would have been to invest a huge 5-digit-number on proper acoustic treatment of my home´s upper floor... which my dear lady would probably kill me for), but I´m looking at the Genelec AWM series with integrated measurement options now... not sure whether that would be plenty better than my current small Genelecs with Sonarworks correction though...

[JerGoertz]

GPO worth getting at $74? I remember the older version(s) were criticized for their instrument quality, not sure about v5.

GPO5 was a substantial upgrade, JG. Many instruments were optimized and added. Even the Grand sounds grand. Upgrading at half price is a no-brainer. Not as good as Spitfire, of course.

Not nearly as expensive either, tho. Thanks, will look at this more closely.

[mgw38]

My biggest problem is that while I am working with (ok, "only") two sets of quite decent monitor speakers, my recording room is located in a rather old town house, nice to look at but with plenty of weird angles inside and equally plenty unpredictable, uncontrollable resonance.

Even basics like "equal speaker-wall-distance left/right" are impossible to follow, here.

Sonarworks has made quite a difference already (seeing that the other option would have been to invest a huge 5-digit-number on proper acoustic treatment of my home´s upper floor... which my dear lady would probably kill me for), but I´m looking at the Genelec AWM series with integrated measurement options now... not sure whether that would be plenty better than my current small Genelecs with Sonarworks correction though...

The general recommendation in such a case is to invest in high end headphones for monitoring. They will generally give you more bang for the investment buck. If possible some Audeze LCD-X or Sennheiser HD 800 or something at that level. But we are digressing...

[musical]

GPO worth getting at $74? I remember the older version(s) were criticized for their instrument quality, not sure about v5.

GPO5 was a substantial upgrade, JG. Many instruments were optimized and added. Even the Grand sounds grand. Upgrading at half price is a no-brainer. Not as good as Spitfire, of course.

Not nearly as expensive either, tho. Thanks, will look at this more closely.

Trying to give something back to the community, I've just bought GPO5 for $63.69 at audiodeluxe. That's about £45.45 with my fee-free Mastercard.

[Tappistry]

Ack, GAS is nagging with the Audio Damage sale. That's about the best discount that's usually offered (thinking it was the same percentage on Black Friday as well).

Thinking about picking up Grind, Dubstation, and Discord or QuatroMod. But I'm thinking I have all that territory covered already with Blue Cat Late Replies, Destructor, and Valhalla UberMod.

Please, someone else convince me that's true and talk me out of it.

I've yet to hear anything that AD does that can't be done better by the quality plugs you've mentioned.
I'd say you're covered.

Now if I could get some help with my GAS over the Audified sale on the RZ06 EQ!

Good to know.

FWIW, I picked up their iOS apps/effects instead for mobile noodling with effects/sequencers.

[c_voltage]

Zynaptiq REMIX bundle for $259 (instead $499) it seems big yay.

[Robert Randolph]

https://www.jrrshop.com/features/specials/

Says Arouser for $209 'starting thursday'

Is that this Thursday, April 5th?

[Harry_HH]

$ 209 is a huge amount of money of one compressor.