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Help with budget decision...
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willsanquil
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
93
Posts :
2822
Posted : Jan 29, 2010 03:27:26
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Hi folks  I have been getting into producing/mixing for the past 3+ months or so and I need to get some equipment to flesh out my setup. Right now I have all the software I'll need for the foreseeable future and a high-powered desktop to run it...
however - my speakers and audio interface are a joke...speakers are a 2.1 Bose home theatre setup and audio interface is a 7.1 video-game-centered sound card.
I have attempted to read a large portion of the more recent posts in the mother of all sound cards/monitors threads, however there is just so much information being thrown around that I do not understand, and so it is hard to reach a decision on anything.
I thought I had no budget for any of this stuff however I just cashed out my IRA account that I didn't know I had for $800 - time to buy some shit!
I need studio monitors, and an audio interface to plug them into, as well as the necessary cables to connect all those components to the PC. I also have a laptop and my long-long-term goal is to laptop dj/do live laptop performances so I would prefer an audio interface that is USB. I do not have any external instruments, nor do I intend to use anything with the exception of a USB MIDI interface (Have the x-session pro now, intend to upgrade to an AKAI APC40 when I have the cash)
I was initially going to go with the more expensive dynaudio bm5as which would pretty much kill my entire budget - but now I'm considering going with something cheaper so that I have money left over to buy a decent audio interface...
for instance, I was reading up on:
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/KRK-Rokit-Powered-5-Generation-2?sku=482825
KRK Rokit 5, and also the mackie MR 5:
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Mackie-MR5-Active-Studio-Monitor?sku=603999
the thing thats so frustrating is I read the specs and literally almost everything on them I have no idea what it fucking means. I also checked the local stores in my area and none of them seem to have any of these monitors in stock to listen to.
The audio interface is in the same situation - there seem to be shitloads of options but I don't know how to filter them down by anything but price as per my budget restrictions.
Seems I could get the rokits, be out $300, spend $300 on an ebay'd APC40, and still have $200 left over for the audio interface...or I could spend more on the monitors/interface and wait (probably 6+ months) to get the APC40.
What would you do if you were in my situation ? any links to helpful FAQs on audio interfaces in particular would be great
~Will |
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willsanquil
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
93
Posts :
2822
Posted : Jan 29, 2010 04:32
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Well, maybe I have found a shop so I'm going to check it out tomorrow.... |
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psy-junky
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
11
Posts :
2151
Posted : Jan 29, 2010 05:33
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Quote:
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On 2010-01-29 04:32, willsanquil wrote:
Well, maybe I have found a shop so I'm going to check it out tomorrow....
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Specs dont mean a thing you need to go have a listen to all the contenders with the music you recognize then you will be able to tell your preference.
KRK i think is better than mackie mr series.
There is also audioengine a5.As this company sells internet direct they eliminate the middleman saving on costs so gives more value for money for the consumer. you can read reviews know what they sound like.
http://www.audioengineusa.com/news_reviews.htm#a5_awards
 "Whoever said the best things in life are free... obviously grew their own bud" |
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EtherealMotive
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
56
Posts :
186
Posted : Feb 2, 2010 06:20
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I'm currently using the Focal Solo6's, and if I were in your position and had to choose by relating them to what would be considered leaning closer to the quality of the Solo6's, I would go for the Mackies. But i wouldn't go with the ones you selected, I would go one notch higher http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Mackie-MR8-Active-Studio-Monitor?sku=604003. KRK's are too muddy IMO. As for a audio interface, I now have the Fireface 400, but I use to have this one http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/PreSonus-AudioBox-USB?sku=243007 and it was decent, because for your budget, decent is all your going to get. But of course, if you know how to work it well, you can certainly get professional results from it. You could also go with this one, http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Apogee-ONE-USB-Interface-with-Microphone?sku=502416 which has good quality apogee AD converters. But is smaller and doesn't offer quite as much flexibility as the presonus audiobox, but definitely beats it in terms of AD conversion quality.
The other route you can take is Financing. You may pay a bit more in interest (not that much), and you can pay it off at your pace. The benefit of this is you can invest into higher end gear that will put you in the position of not having to re-invest again. Just some friendly suggestions
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