Dave Bryce Posted December 28, 2000 Share Posted December 28, 2000 I made a comment in another thread about the fact that I had spent a lot of $$ on a really good pair of speakers because I think that they're one of the most important components in the studio, and it made sense to me that getting incredible speakers would probably make a serious difference in every note I recorded or heard. I am curious to hear where other people put their emphasis...what makes you spend (or want to spend) the deep coin? Mic cabinet? Pricey, esoteric outboard gear? A really good mixer? A specific instrument (or instruments)? None of the above? Maybe you've sunk a bunch of money into the space in where you record/play... Do tell... dB ==> David Bryce Music • Funky Young Monks <== Professional Affiliations: Royer Labs • Music Player Network Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pim Posted December 28, 2000 Share Posted December 28, 2000 Mixing desk: Soundcraft Ghost. Compression: TL Audio C1 valve; Alesis 3630; Symetrix 425. FX: Lexicon MPX 1; TC Electronic Fireworx; Dynacord TAM 21; Roland SBF 325. (last two are analogue) Mics: Beyerdynamic MC 834 & M 81. Monitors: Alesis Monitor One; Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro headphones. (driven by a Quad amp) The pride of my studio is the C1 compressor. All units are replaceable except this fat-maker! ------------------ www.dancewave.nl My Music I always wondered what happened after the fade out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
synthfoolsynthfool.com Posted December 28, 2000 Share Posted December 28, 2000 May be somewhat offtopic or perceived as smug, but I firmly believe that the most important "component" is you. No roomful of gear will make an uninspired or untalented musician sound good for very long and if you're truly talented, you won't need much gear. In fact, if you're really good, others will supply the gear and studio. Buying gear is often an excuse for a deficit of talent, discipline, experience or something else personal. I say... invest in yourself. I also say that the best musicians are the ones that can play with the power shut off or can actually provide a musical reply to the simple question "play me a song". "Listen honey, they're playing our loop!" -not for me. http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/smile.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steadyb Posted December 29, 2000 Share Posted December 29, 2000 A really quiet mixer along with some great monitors, would make it much easier to identify any other noisy gear in your setup, allowing you to attack the problem head on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweibel Posted December 29, 2000 Share Posted December 29, 2000 I'd have to agree with steadyb My most important piece in my synth/MIDI setup is my small but really clean line mixer: Speck Electronics Xtramix. Every other piece of gear goes through some circuitry of my mixer. Without sounding like an ad for Speck, this mixer is a great keyboard line mixer. It's frequency response is awesome and you basically won't hear any coloration from the mixer. It brutally exposes noisy synths, efx units etc. And you can call up the guy who designed it and he'll listen to personal requests and mods. Personally, I feel the Xtramix is highly underappreciated. Serious keyboardists should check it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marino Posted December 29, 2000 Share Posted December 29, 2000 I'm puzzled. Nobody gave the most obvious response... Anyway, here's my answer: gearwise, the absolute most important component of my studio are the instruments! Yes I have a decent mixer, monitors, outboard etc., but the actual synths are the sound-generating stuff. They are the "components" that are likely to leave the studio to be transferred onstage or to other studios, so they are the most important element. All the rest follows in the audio chain, and consequently on the priority scale. (Um, is that correct English?) I don't mean that I like to play my VL-1 thru a guitar amp (mm, I have to try one of these days), just that I want first and foremost good instruments, with sound quality that I like and programming depth to satisfy all my perverse needs. However, I see what Synthfool mean: The REAL most important piece of equipment is actually my brain, and my heart. Or better, the ability to conceptualize and express myself. But that's precisely the reason why I love to have good, deep machines; I like to spend the time to get things right. Of course we all know musical morons with Synclaviers, it is simply a fact of life and there's nothing we can do about that. But don't worry: I'm a diehard pianist of 30 years, and I can play for sure when the power is off. And if you ask me, I'll play songs till tomorrow, and I'll throw in a Beethoven sonata if you pay me a beer. http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/smile.gif marino This message has been edited by marino on 12-28-2000 at 08:42 PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 29, 2000 Share Posted December 29, 2000 Maybe this is already covered by the posts which refer to "yourself" being the person who is most important..... But, for me, it is the instrument that is most closely connected to your heartstrings. The one that is an extension of your thoughts, your synapses and your muscles. The one that brings the best out of you. In my case the acoustic piano. Cheers, Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Bryce Posted March 27, 2001 Author Share Posted March 27, 2001 Another zombie post risen from the back pages of the forum... http://cwmonkey.virtualave.net/s/anym/light.gif dB ==> David Bryce Music • Funky Young Monks <== Professional Affiliations: Royer Labs • Music Player Network Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 27, 2001 Share Posted March 27, 2001 Hardwood floors, high cielings! http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/smile.gif The musician and ability is of course a "sine qua non"! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gus Lozada Posted March 27, 2001 Share Posted March 27, 2001 Hi Dave. I am sure this has not an easy answer. I do fully agree with "synthfool". The most important component in any rig is the player / composer / producer ans its talent. All of the rest are simple -or way too complicated- tools to do the job. By the way, none mentioned the importance of: * A PRO grounded electric installation (with a UPS power supply) * High quality cables and connectors * An ergonomic -and comfortable- chair * Good ventilation * Your favorite spill-free cup... 'cause you all have one, right? http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif GusTraX@yahoo.com Músico, Productor, Ingeniero, Tecnólogo Senior Product Manager, América Latina y Caribe - PreSonus at Fender Musical Instruments Company Instagram: guslozada Facebook: Lozada - Música y Tecnología www.guslozada.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbrock1san.rr.com Posted March 27, 2001 Share Posted March 27, 2001 I don't really spend a lot of money on any one piece of gear. Equipment prices have come down so much that it doesn't make a lot of sense anymore. Condenser microphones are very reasonable these days, for example. I would spend the big bucks on acoustic piano and acoustic guitars. They both cost a lot of money for really good quality ones and they will give you a lifetime of pleasure. Electronic gear becomes dated pretty quickly and rapidly depreciates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 28, 2001 Share Posted March 28, 2001 good pizza Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darcity Posted March 28, 2001 Share Posted March 28, 2001 Dave, I think it would be purchasing flexible/expandable items that you can continue to use as you grow. For instance, why buy items that are just good enough to get by, just to say that you got one. I sincerely believe that if you get the best piece of gear, rather cheap or expensive, at your level of budget, you will be able to continue to use it later. Hope I didn't sound confusing in making my point. Darrell Yamaha MODX8, Korg Kronos 2 61, Hammond B3, Novation 61SL MKII, Impulse 61, Roland D-550, Proteus 2000, etc......to name a few. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonniepain Posted March 28, 2001 Share Posted March 28, 2001 Yo dudes, Any piece of gear that is inspirational to bringing out the best you can be for what your trying to get across musically no matter what the cost is the most valuable piece. It's been proven time and again by the great artist "Beatles , Steve Miller , etc " that you don't have to have leading technological gear to make great sounding and feeling music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham English Posted March 28, 2001 Share Posted March 28, 2001 I'd have to put my keyboard workstation at the top of my list. In my case, the Trinity V3. Plenty of sounds, a sequencer, and I installed the Trinity's optional digital 4-track. With that, I can begin any project. I don't think one piece of gear could finish it though. ++ Graham English ++ Ear Training, Songwriting Tips, and Music Theory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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