**** Pardon my browser- it won't allow indentations & paragraphs for some unknown reason? ***** As I was looking through a new sweetwater music catalog today I was looking at the prices of the analog stuff. I then thought about how many times I have bought, tried, & hated thus no longer use so many plugins... When you are dropping $2k, $3k, $5k on a compressor, or EQ, or mic pre.... OMG that has got to SUCK to have that happen in the analog world, at analog prices. I bet this was a really REALLY expensive darn thing to be into up until the mid 90's. Your thoughts? Experiences? Just curious.

Microphones. 

They are like compressors- just different enough to deem it neccesary to buy a couple of many varieties! I own a couple of Coles 4038s that I got second hand but they still cost about 2k. Not that I regret it.

Have never had the funds to splurge on proper outboard rack gear alas...

I imagine that is true too. Though to be honest, I own 3 relatively inexpensive condenser mics... a Shure PG42 (I think), an MCA SP-1, and a Sterling Audio (whatever model it is). I only use them for vocals, maybe acoustic guitars, I have tried them as overheads (yeah the Shure and the MCA are close enough to use as a stereo pair)and they are all really REALLY similar. There is nothing so drastically different about any of them that would make me change the mic on the stand in preference of another one. what slight EQ differences there are, are easily adjustable post tracking. I am sure as you step in to mics in the $600 range, then $1000, then $3000 there should be differences. In the less than $300 USD range... basically same stuff in my experience thus far.

I think the term "wasted" is relative. It's all dependent on what tools different people prefer to produce the best results for the work they do. I am comfortable with my workflow using a combination of analog and software effects. I don't have the resources to spend a lot of cash on outboard effects so I do research to find good bargains. For example, I am loving a Symetrix compressor (CL150) I picked up for $75.00. It works well for tracking vocals and bass. I am also loving my software plugins - So for me, there's a balance between the two worlds.

I once bought a Presonus Eureka that turned out to be a mistake. Fortunately, I lucked out and pretty much broke even when I sold it. But that's the exception; most hardware I've sold went for less than half of what I paid for it. My old Jupiter 6, that I paid $3,000 for new sold for $500. 

Still, hardware does always retain some value. Can't say the same about software!

If you do your research, hardware is a better investment than plug ins. I have seen and experienced myself, much more throw away with software. Thus wasted dollars. You can't get any money for DAW or older plugins when you want to try something new. In many cases, technology has left software behind which was unusable even 3 years after purchasing.

I moved my software dollars to hardware about 5 years ago and also did a lot of research on the hardware to pick up some fundamental pieces that are used in about 95% of commercial recordings. There is less of a risk in buying hardware because there is such a historical track record of what works. Less so software.

I would say stay away from the latest hardware piece advertised in the magazines, unless an item has been around for many years and has a track record, it is high risk.

My regret was buying a DAT machine that I never really used a lot anyway.  I kept mixing down to my 1/2 track, but thought the DAT was the new kid on the block.

All other hardware, I don't ever regret using, because I pretty much knew what I was getting before buying....at any price break.

I also think the idea of REALLY expensive stuff is that you need the ENTIRE chain to be equal to itself....meaning a $3000 mic into a M-Audio preamp isn't going to reveal the details, when plugged into something nicer.  Plus you probably won't hear it on your $200 Alesis monitors either.
There is also something to be said about the abilities to use, know and hear the small differences when you get into upper end stuff.

My problem is I have quite a bit of rack gear...old reverbs, digital delays,  mid level compressors, EQ's that I really don't use anymore as I prefer doing it all in the computer.  I could sell them, but for the pennies they're worth, I'll just keep them in case they find a use....   ...  and realize I'm not talking about LA2A compressors, Eventide harmonizers...

 I think it is how you use the hardware. It may be more critical to obtain results but spending 3-6 times as much on everything is only for I guess large studios. I am satisfied with the hardware I bought, and using it the best one can may be the key. Afterall, most people won't hear that much of a difference or even be listening that intensely, so why drive yourself crazy with always wanting the best. Anything better and first one has to make the money for it, and then still have money to fix it perhaps if it fails and there is no guarantee that it won't fail anyway even if it costs much, much more. And then there are video codecs and audio codecs with the software on a computer, and still it won't match the expensive equipment recording in the first place. It just does not. So why spend it. And the hardware will change but still that probably will take longer and won't be obsolete anytime that soon. And software may or may not work all that great, and it still is the same ol' world.

The thing is, good (ie. expensive) hardware doesn't suck.  It may do a job or two better than another piece of expensive gear, but it won't usually do a bad job.  The UA opto channel might be the best piece for bass, but won't do as good of a job on vocals or guitar.  That is why professionals have more than one piece.

And mrmixit makes a good point - your weakest link is, well, the weakest link.  Usually for home studios that is the monitorings situation.  You can't hear all the good things better hardware brings.  A good input channel (not necessarily the UA opto unless you are recording bass quartets only) can really help take your production up the next level, as can a fine stereo compressor for busing or main re-recording.  However, if you are starting out you might not recognise what good hardware brings (it takes time to train your ears) or if your monitoring is less than great you might not be able to hear the difference.

@

It depends on the hardware. I see MPC, Synths, grooveboxes, drum machines, compressors and even some mics dropping their value sooo much. A few of these I have made a profit on, some I have lost money on but my biggest hardware affection lies in the mics and pres. Mmmmm til the day I die I'll have a growing collection.