James Rock
New member
After being outbid on a Tascam M-30 (which I have heard can go for as cheap as 70 dollars sometimes) what secondhand gear is generally underpriced or good value?? Looking for preamps, mixers, mics and outboard gear
Good cheap studio gear
- Thread starter James Rock
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James Rock
New member
Re: Good cheap studio gear
Yeh I was always a fan of Behringer for trying out sounds cheaply before going for the REAL models almost like modelling but for studio gear no way. Still gonna keep an eye out for old Tascam/TEAC stuff along with maybe 80's Yamaha stuff.
Yeh I was always a fan of Behringer for trying out sounds cheaply before going for the REAL models almost like modelling but for studio gear no way. Still gonna keep an eye out for old Tascam/TEAC stuff along with maybe 80's Yamaha stuff.
RobSoundtrack
New member
Re: Good cheap studio gear
i know its been thrown around alot lately but:
seinheisser 609 is invaluable [to me]
remarkable and remarkably inexpensive
i know its been thrown around alot lately but:
seinheisser 609 is invaluable [to me]
remarkable and remarkably inexpensive
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F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Good cheap studio gear
Mackie. Near-as bulletproof.
I recently picked up an LM-3204 for less than the equivalent of 225USD. Just needed a good cleaning inside and out.
Mackie. Near-as bulletproof.
I recently picked up an LM-3204 for less than the equivalent of 225USD. Just needed a good cleaning inside and out.
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Binnerscot
New member
Re: Good cheap studio gear
Tascam is good for the used market.
There are some Behry products that are decent (headphone amps, some of the rack compressor are good for live, I don't use them while recording), but I would never buy them used.
Mackie is decent, not as good as hyped - used, they are a great value.
Good mics that are common and/or inexpensive that outperform their prices new or used:
Shure 57s, Audix i5s = Snare, rack toms, guitars
AKG D112s = kick, bass, floor toms
R0DE NT2-A, R0DE NTK = (these are large diaphram condensers) guitar, vocals, overheads, room mics
R0DE NT5s = (these are small diaphram condensers) hi-hats, rides, spot mics for cymbals
R0DE in general makes very good mics at very good prices, I like 'em.
A couple of pre-amps that rock, but aren't crazy expensive:
Presonus Eureka - adjustable mic impedence (big +), comp switchable before EQ (big +)...this thing makes a properly tuned snare sound like the big dogs when dialed right on the front end
ART Pro Channel - This is worth the price just for the compressor, it rocks on aggressive vocals, this also makes an awesome bass DI pre-amp!
This is a small subset of the items I have experience with, there many products that would do just as well - these I know work as advertised or better than expected and can be found in many places..
Tascam is good for the used market.
There are some Behry products that are decent (headphone amps, some of the rack compressor are good for live, I don't use them while recording), but I would never buy them used.
Mackie is decent, not as good as hyped - used, they are a great value.
Good mics that are common and/or inexpensive that outperform their prices new or used:
Shure 57s, Audix i5s = Snare, rack toms, guitars
AKG D112s = kick, bass, floor toms
R0DE NT2-A, R0DE NTK = (these are large diaphram condensers) guitar, vocals, overheads, room mics
R0DE NT5s = (these are small diaphram condensers) hi-hats, rides, spot mics for cymbals
R0DE in general makes very good mics at very good prices, I like 'em.
A couple of pre-amps that rock, but aren't crazy expensive:
Presonus Eureka - adjustable mic impedence (big +), comp switchable before EQ (big +)...this thing makes a properly tuned snare sound like the big dogs when dialed right on the front end
ART Pro Channel - This is worth the price just for the compressor, it rocks on aggressive vocals, this also makes an awesome bass DI pre-amp!
This is a small subset of the items I have experience with, there many products that would do just as well - these I know work as advertised or better than expected and can be found in many places..
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75lespaul
New member
Re: Good cheap studio gear
I did a whole big post about a digital recorder before I realized the M-30 was a mixer, lol. I thought it was a digital recorder. Yes, Tascam and Mackie make great mixing gear and even if you pay a little more, in the years to come you won't miss the money, but you'll appreciate the quality.
The only preamp I've ever had was the Groove Tubes Brick, and that thing is a monster. I don't know if you want to spend $2-300 on a preamp, but it is well worth the money imo. It has three tubes and it can be used as a direct box, mike preamp, anything. I put the Bass Pod through it and it made it sound completely different and much, much better.
I did a whole big post about a digital recorder before I realized the M-30 was a mixer, lol. I thought it was a digital recorder. Yes, Tascam and Mackie make great mixing gear and even if you pay a little more, in the years to come you won't miss the money, but you'll appreciate the quality.
The only preamp I've ever had was the Groove Tubes Brick, and that thing is a monster. I don't know if you want to spend $2-300 on a preamp, but it is well worth the money imo. It has three tubes and it can be used as a direct box, mike preamp, anything. I put the Bass Pod through it and it made it sound completely different and much, much better.
Nightburst
New member
Re: Good cheap studio gear
Everything by Yamaha, seriously. Some say it's boring stuff but it's rock solid and affordable quality. Makes you bring in the excitement yourself eh?
Everything by Yamaha, seriously. Some say it's boring stuff but it's rock solid and affordable quality. Makes you bring in the excitement yourself eh?
Virtual Kevorkian
New member
Re: Good cheap studio gear
Behringer headphone amps. Loud, clean, cheap as hell. Got a 4ch used for about $40 bucks, use it all the time.
Behringer headphone amps. Loud, clean, cheap as hell. Got a 4ch used for about $40 bucks, use it all the time.
James Rock
New member
Re: Good cheap studio gear
What is the Presonus Blue tube like? I am bidding on this at the moment
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220736941444&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT#ht_640wt_1139
What is the Presonus Blue tube like? I am bidding on this at the moment
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220736941444&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT#ht_640wt_1139
Binnerscot
New member
Re: Good cheap studio gear
I have a pair of Tube-Pres (same thing, but single vs. double). They can be better than some onboards of lower end gear, but not better than mid-range boards and nicer. They also have a tendency to be very noisy when you implement the tube stage (the Drive knob)...bacially nothing special, so get them for nothing if you can.
Any preamp that would actually make a positive difference will be at least $200 to $500 new (closer to $500 most of the time).
Pre-amps that have a channel strip (EQ and compression) are much more useful as you can hit signals with some compression on the way in.
I have a pair of Tube-Pres (same thing, but single vs. double). They can be better than some onboards of lower end gear, but not better than mid-range boards and nicer. They also have a tendency to be very noisy when you implement the tube stage (the Drive knob)...bacially nothing special, so get them for nothing if you can.
Any preamp that would actually make a positive difference will be at least $200 to $500 new (closer to $500 most of the time).
Pre-amps that have a channel strip (EQ and compression) are much more useful as you can hit signals with some compression on the way in.
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Binnerscot
New member
RobSoundtrack
New member
James Rock
New member
Re: Good cheap studio gear
Pickup up a Mackie Onyx 400F new for 299 when they retailed here for well over 1000
Pickup up a Mackie Onyx 400F new for 299 when they retailed here for well over 1000
