Archive for the ‘Gear Lust’ Category
Wednesday, November 25th, 2009
Every mic stand I’ve used in the past month, new and old, ranging in price from $30-$80 all have failed at the simple task of holding a mic in the position I need. They all sag with the weight of a condenser mic. In one 3-hour session I had to go into the live room 5 times to tighten the stand for the vocal mic that kept sagging. VERY annoying.
What’s in common with the common boom mic stand made by countless brands? They all use rubber in the boom arm adjustment. The rubber dries out, slips or just doesn’t grip well enough.
Ya know what kind of stands don’t ever sag? Cymbal stands. Why? Because of the metal teeth that lock together. Mic stands should use this type of adjustment! But they don’t! Perhaps they do in very expensive designs, but the majority of stand designs use the stupid rubber junk that just does. not. work.
What the world needs is a revolution in affordable mic stand design. Metal Teeth!!
Does anyone have recommendations for great, affordable, and well designed stands? Please let me know.
PS. I honestly spent close to an hour looking for pictures for this post. I can not find a picture of the inside teeth of a cymbal tilt.
Posted in Gear Lust, commentary | 7 Comments »
Wednesday, November 11th, 2009
Ever since watching the shootout and favorable review of the True Systems P-Solo single channel mic preamp on Ronan’s Recording Show, I can’ stop thinking about the P-Solo. In the shootout it beat FMR Audio RNP and Black Lion Auteur preamps on any source. I shot straight to the top of my gear wish list, and partly because of it’s reasonable price around $500 US. I may even own one by the end of the year.
There’s lots to like about the P-Solo:
- Sturdy construction
- Large gain knob
- Lots of clean gain
- Simple Metering
- Full size IEC power supply
- Dual balanced output
- Instrument Input
- It’s shiny red!
If you’re a regular reader of AGZ you’ll know my interface is a Profire 2626, I’ve already got 8 decent preamps, from Ronan’s review and shootout it doesn’t seem like going with the RNP or Auteur would be much of a step up in quality, different colors but not universally better. The P-Solo seems to be a well built, all-around quality piece of gear, a nice upgrade for my home studio.
More Info on the True Systems P-Solo
One problem…I can’t find any in Canada!
Posted in Gear, Gear Lust | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, November 4th, 2009
Finally I’ve found a company that puts some mad science into audio equipment design. I just love the way these racks are designed, must be the big VU meters, glowing green eyes and Bakelite knobs. I’m honestly drooling a bit looking at and reading about these contraptions.
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Posted in Gear, Gear Lust | 3 Comments »
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
It’s been a while since my last gear lust post, probably a good thing because I ended up buying that one and am still slowly paying for it (well worth it though!). Ever since these were announced in September I’ve been drooling at the Novation Nocturn Keyboards. IMHO these keys are damn sexy and I already know how nice one will look along side my Mac Book Pro.
Novation Nocturn 49
Nocturn Keyboard is an intelligent plug-in/sequencer controller. It has a high quality ‘Fatar’ keyboard, with 8 drum pads and a total of 33 assignable controls, which allow you to get hands-on control of your plug-in instruments, effects and sequencer.
Most keyboard controllers have two big problems: The idea of being able to control software parameters with knobs and buttons sounds great. However, the hassle of assigning them, and remembering what they are assigned to becomes so tedious that you always end up turning back to your mouse.
Nocturn Keyboard’s Automap control software solves both these problems. To assign controllers, simply click on the parameter, touch a knob or button, and it is assigned! It also enables you to keep track of what is assigned to what – instead of using a small monochrome LCD screen, Nocturn Keyboard displays control information where you really need it: on your computer monitor. The Automap software graphically displays Nocturn’s control surface. The controllers themselves also tell you what is going on: LED rings around the 8 encoders show their current settings, and LED’s behind the buttons tell you if they are on or off.
It looks to be a fantastic controller with everything right where you’d want it, and not a lot of extra junk, if Automap works like they claim and the keys feel good, it looks like a killer package.
What I like:
Buttons with lights underneath
Rotary encoders with value indicators rather than a potentiometer that most likely won’t show the correct value.
Not unnecessarily large (like the M-Audio Axiom series or many others)
Drum pads in the middle
No faders or keypads I would never actually use
The one thing I don’t like is the pink buttons, but I think I could like with it.
I’ve got to get my hands on one of these and see how it really is. If anyone has used one of these, I’ve asked a bunch of times on Twitter with no response, please let me know what you think of them.
Full Details here: Nocturn Keyboard
Posted in Gear, Gear Lust, MIDI | 6 Comments »
Monday, July 6th, 2009
This is not good.
I never thought the day would come.
The End Is Near!
I’ve got major gear lust for a Mac.
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Posted in Gear, Gear Lust, Mac | 13 Comments »
