Wish I would have bought sooner / Wish I never have bought??
Best / Worst - purchases?

I was thinking about the http://forum.cakewalk.com/tm.asp?m=1053179 "If I had it to do over" thread. Could we help each other out some by telling some of the best and worst purchases we have made.


I got to think about this a little, and I will post back a few of my best and worst.
Max Arwood

Presonus Firestation, worst purchase ever. MLan wouldn't work. Never worked as a soundcard. Presonus passed the buck to Yamaha, and then dropped all support for it. Makes a good 8 channel a/d converter though.

I actually wish I had gotten just a good 8x8 card or something like that (like a Delta 1010), and then an Alesis HD24 for (worry-free, hassle free) remote recording. Import into Sonar and mix to my heart's content.

Best? hmmm... software=Project5, hands down. Hardware I've gotta go with my Fatar SL-990 hammer-action controller.

Jomox drum machine, their hard ware interface (knobs) are not precise. I also found that Sonar is really flexible as far as making volume changes, panning, Automation and so forth... so I'm finding Mackie control Universe not being the investment that I thought it would be. I love my step sequencers, so Korg emx's... good machine but the main outs are noisy as hell.

Best: Sonar; Kurzweil keyboard; Fender Baja Telecaster; Gretsch Electromatic G5120; Very-Tone pedal

Worst: Roland SI24 control surface (great audio interface, but many functions and the motorized faders just don't work in Sonar); one of the very first rackmount digital guitar effects processors; miniature Kustom guitar amp

I notice that even the worst stuff eventually becomes useful. It took well over 10 years before I went back to the rackmount processor, and started to find ways to get sounds I could enjoy.

Best: Sonar 6, Project5, Access Virus Polar TI, Frontier Designs AlphaTrack, Akai MPD24, MOTU 828mkII

Worst: Mackie Onyx 400f There's a nightmare I'll never forget.

Definitely the SP Tech monitors (Continumum AD's here) have made by far the biggest impact. I keep them in my sig' just to help get the word out. I know a lot of people won't know about them and may not want to stray from the known paths.
On the bargain end, the Chameleon 7602. A no brainer at that price.

Wayne

best purchases... software: Sonar, no competition there... especially as number two would be the PSP Vintage Warmer which I got for free with Sonar... Sound Forge is probably number 3. Hardware: A matched pair of vintage Neumann KM84/85's, hands down. Runner up... tough call, maybe an original Jaecklin Float electrostatic headset, unbelievable open detailed sound that, with eyes closed, you simply cannot make yourself believe is not in the room... or maybe my Tascam US428, recently retired after 6 years of loyal service...

worst? Hmm... I don't know, most things I've gotten some good use out of. I wouldn't want to say worst about anything, though there are definitely a few I've gotten considerably less use from than those listed above.

Best: Guitar Tracks Pro 2, Taylor 110, US Fender Strat 1994 (now sold), Presonus Firebox, M-Audio BX5's

Worst: Nothing comes to mind...maybe a wah wah peddle I just had to have when I was 19.

What I want to get: A really sweet condensor mic for recording acoustic guitar, a nice electric guitar and amp and Sonar...and a really comfortable recording environment rather than my stingy bedroom.

Best - Project5, Dimension Pro, Audio Damage Replicant, Edirol PCR300

Worst - Any recent purchase from Native Instruments (IE in the last year), EMU Xboard,

my worst: Mackie onix 1620 with firewire card ( a bunch of input channels and only stereo out) and for some reason the driver never work in asio, Protools Mpower I lost the Ilok and still waiting for the #$%#$@ new licence.