KVR Audio

electro · Post by **electro** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 4:13 am

The 1st thing for amateurs to put money into, is an excellent monitoring system. (Genelec 1030A, HR824 etc.

2nd thing is excellent D/A converters to go along wit a 64bit Athlon DAW with basic MIDI controllers. www.mytekdigital.com A good monitoring system will help you to sound like less of an amateur.

Add your software at this stage.

Add your A/D converters after everything else. If you are not serious about producing music, the less expensive A/D converters should be just fine.

Add luxury/convenience devices like Mackie Control and C4 after you get all the bacics and programs.

intel · Post by **intel** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 4:24 am

electro wrote:The 1st thing for amateurs to put money into, is an excellent monitoring system. (Genelec 1030A, HR824 etc.

2nd thing is excellent D/A converters to go along wit a 64bit Athlon DAW with basic MIDI controllers. www.mytekdigital.com A good monitoring system will help you to sound like less of an amateur.

Add your software at this stage.

Add your A/D converters after everything else. If you are not serious about producing music, the less expensive A/D converters should be just fine.

Add luxury/convenience devices like Mackie Control and C4 after you get all the bacics and programs.

shit. that's where I f**ked up, then. I bought an instrument first.

whatever was I thinking?

shamann · Post by **shamann** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 4:28 am

intel wrote:shit. that's where I f**ked up, then. I bought an instrument first.

whatever was I thinking?

Pffff, amateur!

Steven West · Post by **Steven West** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 4:36 am

Atleast Intel bought an instrument first...

I paid $250 for an Air Guitar.

But after I got the Air Drums for $125 - so I saved a bundle on that.

deastman · Post by **deastman** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 4:56 am

I've been an amateur musician for 20 years now, with no intention of ever turning "pro". A quick, far from comprehensive glance around my studio reveals:

Mackie HR824 monitors
Neumann microphone
MOTU 828MKII firewire interface
Martin acoustic guitar
Oberheim 2 voice
Korg MS20/MS2000R/Wavestation SR/ER-1/DW6000/KPR77
Nord Modular
FutureRetro 777
Alesis ION
Kawai K5000S
Doepfer A100 modular
Access Virus A
Roland MKS-70/Juno-106/JV-1080
Kurzweil K2000
Novation BassStation Rack
Emu Morpheus
Peavey Spectrum Synth

...the list goes on...

Being a "pro" has never been an issue for me. I collect synthesizers -hard and soft- because I like them. I feel no need to justify these expenditures, and thankfully my wife is very understanding. I say, if it makes you happy, go for it!

deastman · Post by **deastman** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 5:01 am

Steven West wrote:Atleast Intel bought an instrument first...

I paid $250 for an Air Guitar.

But after I got the Air Drums for $125 - so I saved a bundle on that.

You have Airdrums?!? Cool!

http://www.synthony.com/vintage/airdrums.html

Wopelka · Post by **Wopelka** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 8:29 am

origami wrote: but among those who are in the same situation like me...do you actually buy gear like this or ever plan to do so?

in the end, it's a question of budget.
can you afford it or not?

try to be honest with yourself when answering this question. otherwise you'll end up like me: broke...

whyterabbyt · Post by **whyterabbyt** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 8:56 am

electro quoth The 1st thing for amateurs to put money into, is an excellent monitoring system. (Genelec 1030A, HR824 etc.

Why, exactly? Seems to me that spending a grand plus on one single part of a studio setup is exactly the last thing an amateur needs to start with.

In fact your whole post sounds like you're confusing the term 'amateur' with 'aspiring pro on a budget'.

CypherOne · Post by **CypherOne** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 9:09 am

I spent lots of money in the past on softsynths but I'm still using a very cheap host and a USB soundcard hooked up to an amp and good quality speakers. Works for me. I'll be spending much less this year on stuff for my studio. For me it's time to take stock and reassess where I'm going with it (which is nowhere fast)...

uncadave · Post by **uncadave** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 9:29 am

i spend quite a bit on equipment and software....and it's just a hobby for me..like i've got 8 or so marginal exercizes on soundclick, and i own novation ks4, pintech electronic drums, mbox, low/mid grade monitors, mackie big knob, and software? orion platinum, acidpro5, native instruments komplete2, all the refx stuff, all the dash stuff, waves musicians bundle, sparkfx machine, and so much more...man, i got alot of cash invested. i could have bought a harley (old and used), or a small boat or a snowmobile, or....just think about what you could do with, say, counting the computer maybe i have 5 or 6 grand wrapped up in it. people spend alot of money on stuff to have fun with. if you can do it, do it....you work for a living, you shouldn't have to justify every dime you spend. it's ok to have fun!

i sure do!

i don't play guitar yet, but next on my list is ni guitar rig and a walnut yamaha electric i saw at guitar center. the people in my apartment complex are going to love me!

braj · Post by **braj** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 9:30 am

If you're not married, devote your life now to buying as much stuff you want in life now, because when you get a wife and kids, it's all over

Seriously, if you want it, get it. If you won't starve because of it.

M'Snah · Post by **M'Snah** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 9:37 am

M'Snah · Post by **M'Snah** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 9:42 am

Sascha Franck · Post by **Sascha Franck** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 10:54 am

HansM wrote: Oh my... I adored and respected both of you. Does this mean I have to choose only one as my idol?

No way! BONES is making up for a WAY better idol!

.jon · Post by **.jon** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 11:22 am

If you buy something that you have to save for, and it still stretches your budget, it's true value to you is tenfold it's sales price.

I think buying one carefully picked hardware synth is a far better option than buying or downloading 10 soft synths. H/W keeps it's value (possibly even gains value!), and the chances that you'll take the most of it are possibly better than with a softsynth. (ok, I couldn't imagine my music without Crystal, and the second hand market for softsynths seems to be going nicely with ok prices so mileage varies)

I think a musician and an instrument need to be mentally connected- it's not enough to know how to play or to have good instrument - one has to "love" the instrument to make it sound beautiful.

and...men only really need some food, perhaps a roof and one working hand

Rest is luxury.

happy consuming,

.jontu

a curiosity about spending money on gear when one's amateur.