ORIGINAL: cryophonik

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.

Hey cryophonik, how come your onyx was such a nightmare?

Best---Sonar , soundcraft 328xd digital desk, Roland fantom s88, Roland V-synth, Rode nt2 mic, joe meek preamp, Brian moore custom shope c90p guitar, mesa heartbreaker stack, boss gt8, evesham laptop , NI guitar rig 2, takamine acoustic, bass coleection bass, wavelab (version 4 still used everytime I'm in the studio), garritan libraries

Worst--Cubase VST 5, NI absynth (great sounds terrible copy protection), M audio quattro interface, time laptop, behringer bass v-amp, yamaha DTX drum kit

most regretted sold----amazing 62 reissue strat, leather trousers , my soul ----doh

Worst: Elgam Melody spaghetti-wired organ in 1978@ 540 GBP. Just before chip keyboards with excellent sound variation.

Bests: Korg MS20 - 140 GBP (1984), Edirol UR80 midi control surface 180 GBP.

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

syrath,

What don't you like about the xboard? I just received my new xboard 61 yesterday and I like the feel of the keys. Admittedly I am having problems with the software/drivers. I'll need to call support on Monday. First, my computer won't boot up if the xboard is turned on when I turn on the computer. When I put the computer into standby the xboard loses its USB connection with the computer, etc etc etc. A big pain in the rear. A potentially big problem -- Hopefully tech support will help. But the feel of the keys are good to me, and contrary to the complaints about the wobbly knobs, I just don't see it -- they are tight on my board. Overall, the keyboard is solid There is a little sloppiness in quality control -- minor scratches here and there -- but that will happen sooner or later. Haven't had a chance to try out the controller side. After one day -- I like the keyboard itself, assuming I can resolve the software problem.

Best- RME FF800, Genelecs 8030a's, Manley TNT, ART TPS II, Tranzport, (2) Ibanez AEF series acoustics, AKG c414 mic

Worst - Edirol speakers, cheap cables, cheap women & booze.

Hello,

This one is a no-brainer: Behringer 32x8 mixer. I loved it, then three of them failed in my studio. After six months of unplugging 64 connection and stuffing the thing in my smallish sedan, I settled with the store for a replacement, a Mackie SR32-4 which works like a champ.

GK

Best recording purchase: Sonar, with EZDrummer a second. Musical: 1990 MIM Fender Telecaster which I customized to perfection.

Worst recording purchase: A Tascam digital 8-track in 2002. It cost twice the price of Sonar HS! Musical: Marshall JCM900. Liked it until I heard my other guitarist's AC30.

ORIGINAL: Lost Souls

Hey cryophonik, how come your onyx was such a nightmare?

Why do you make me bring back such painful memories?! Actually, I bought it when it first hit the streets. The first model was a dud - wouldn't even power up. I took it back to the GC where I purchased it, had to wait a week for them to get another one in stock. Got a new one, installed it, and, to make a very long story short, there were nothing but problems with the drivers. I found out later by looking at the Mackie forums that it was a widespread problem, not sure if it's been resolved. We were trying to get a bunch of songs recorded during those weeks, but it was nearly impossible with all the crashes, freezeups, etc. On several occasions, the unit/drivers froze my computer to the point that the only way to reboot was to yank the plug. And Mackie's (lack of) customer support - don't even get me started . In their defense, I believe that they were overwhlemed with the number of users experiencing problems and/or busy trying to help R&D prepare driver patches. Anyway, I pulled my hair out for about a week, before returning it for a different brand/model. Ultimately, I bought a MOTU 828mkII and I've never been happier with a soundcard.

Best purchases:
1. Yamaha MO8 (best synth I've ever owned, played or heard)
2. SONAR
3. Frontier Tranzport
4. ADAM P11
5. Kurzweil PC2R
6. Melodyne
7. Ozone
8. Har-Bal
9. Voxengo GlissEQ
10. Adobe Audition

Mistakes:
1. Kontakt 2
2. DFH
3. Presonus Eureka (works OK but could have done better)

Best> Sonar P3 and PSP Vintage Warmer.

WORST> Edirol PCR 50 Midi Controller. The keys just stops working one by one as though they planning to shut down my business. Edirol 15 watt monitors. Just gave up on me and a Zoom MRS 1044. I had to sell it for next to nothing after paying $745.00 for it. Forgot to mention my Guillemot Maxi Studio ISIS soundcard.