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What is the cheapest hardware fx unit worth buying?
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Medea
Aedem/Medea
Started Topics :
127
Posts :
1132
Posted : Sep 12, 2008 10:39:32
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And does it worth at all? 
I've recently got my first hardware synth and I can say it totally changed my workflow in many aspects, I spend more time on sound design, take more care about tweaking everything until I get waht I want etc.. Maybe, the reason is that hardware synth is something you can't download and try before buy , so you wanna get most of it first, and then automatically want to get most of everything you use... I think when I have some extra money I would buy one more synth, then once again, and so until I get 5-6 synths... =) And I absolutely forgot about sound-processing units, which are very important also, and also there are lots of them implemented in hardware and they cost as much as synths.
I want to ask, what hardware fx units have dramatically improved your workflow and the quality of output music? What hardware fx, eq, comps or whatever units do you use all the time?
Please share your experience.
  http://soundcloud.com/aedem |
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Upavas
Upavas
Started Topics :
150
Posts :
3315
Posted : Sep 12, 2008 11:06
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PoM
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
162
Posts :
8087
Posted : Sep 12, 2008 11:21
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i would get a good console or a chanel strip ,maybe a 500 serie rack with good pre and eq (to get ride of that digital sound,for more depth and color)or a lexicon pcm,a eventide unit... |
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makus
Overdream
Started Topics :
82
Posts :
3087
Posted : Sep 12, 2008 17:13
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Spindrift
Spindrift
Started Topics :
33
Posts :
1560
Posted : Sep 12, 2008 17:58
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I'm too lazy for hardware and more than enough to play around with with native plugs and scope...but have some units I cannot bring myself to get rid of:
Focusrite Tone-Factory
Channel strip with comp/gate, EQ and dist.
Zoom 1201
Very cheap muli-effect unit. Can really fuck up the sound....so bad that it's actually good.
Digitech Studio400
I like the coloured sound of s-disc processing and the flexibility you have considering the number of effects you can run and the 4 inputs and outputs. Ensoniq DP-4 is a similar unit that was very popular with a lot of psy/goa producers back in the days...it will cost a bit more but a lot of people find the sound more appealing.
Generally though what I mainly think software still cannot reproduce really well is saturation....so tube compressors and distortion units for sure sounds fatter then software counterparts.
Also that is the kind of effects that you might want to run a synth trough when recording.
EQ and stuff like delay and reverb I like to have control over during mixdown so it a lot more convenient to use plug-ins...and you don't have to make an extra round of DA/AD.
And of course digital effects becomes very expensive if you want anything close in quality to what you find in VST/AU or DSP systems...sure PoM's recommendations is nice but they doesn't really qualify as cheap. But if you want lo-fi effects it can be better and cheaper than buying a plug-in.
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Greententacle
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
53
Posts :
323
Posted : Sep 12, 2008 20:57
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If you want to get better results than with plugins, you´ve got to spend alot money!! |
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psyaudionamics
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
38
Posts :
546
Posted : Sep 12, 2008 21:10
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i got an extra cpu, with multiple inputs and outputs which i run certain sound thrue it in which really good plugins reside, this cpu is praticily a sfx module
better than eventide? i wouldn't know but its super powerful ? |
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-aeon-
Aeon
Started Topics :
10
Posts :
546
Posted : Sep 13, 2008 12:34
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Medea, once again we're on the same path...
after getting the Virus i really want some quality outboard fx, but i don't have a lot of money.
for me the choice is between an older hardware reverb (like a mid-range piece which is a few years out of date) or a newer multifx (TC Electronic or Lexicon).
i like the idea of a Lexicon MX300 or a TCM350, because you get USB connectivity and integration into your DAW with a plugin. both units cost under 300 euros, both seem to have a good range of usable effects with good editing depth, and both seem to get good reviews. of course neither will be an Eventide or a Lexicon PCM91, but they sound fuckloads better than many plugins imho...
of course if you're going to spend that much you might as well spend a little more and get an MX400... or an M3000. and suddenly then a second-hand Eventide doesn't look too far away... 
the other option is to get an older mid-range unit second-hand. going for one of the better Lexicons from the mid-90s or something means you sacrifice connectivity, but then they do sound pretty lush, from what i've heard!
choices, choices...
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PsyGalaXy
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
68
Posts :
437
Posted : Sep 16, 2008 00:09
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+1 for the M350 , and m300 too witch are cheap and great for reverbs , and dual engine too so you have double i/o and s/pdif
For the same bucks u can also go for a Midiverb (reverbs sucks ablsolutely .but good mod fx,i like leslies and chorus)
and a LPX1 for reverbs (it's the 1/2rack unity , you can find under 200€) or mxp1 (the full rack dual engine unit but engine it's the same to lpx)
Working whit DI boxes some Roland DImension C and ohter guitar stuff may be useful too..
if you wait and save other money, here comes the fun, and the changes becomes more strongs:
-Yamaha SPX2000 Great for reverbs (especially "bamboo room" and "stage plate" , also good chorus ,and ping pong delays
On ebay go also for old spx80/90 great 90's stuff
-TC M3000 : Some fuckin good halls and mod fx (like the flanger and phaser programs), dual engine
-TC VOICE ONE 4 crazy shifting , and autotune-like fx
-Focustite Liquid Channel : Some very good compressor in , lots of channel strips very coloured 4 mixing and good bunch of i/o
-TC M5000 . great 90's fx unit dual engine , lots of good non-lin reverbs , also good for drum chambers and mod fx (there's one NUclear that have a 30second reverb decay whit a panned-phased delay,superb)
-Lexicon PCM 90 /91 : 4 me simply the best on reverbs(480,960 and tc system 6000 excluded,costs 3 times the pcm:) , delay also pretty warm and good
-TC M-One XL : Good multi fx unit , dual engine , nice on mod fx and voice1-alike tuning , also very good delays
-Roland SDE-330: the best fuckin chorus i've ever heard, reverbs sucks , delay are fairly good
-EVENTIDE ECLIPSE: working sooo great on crazy tuning and got many rock-on delays , (there's one with a comb filter that spreads out 200% of ohter dly fx unit)
Try to get some used ones of 90s , work great and are cheaper than new stuff.
CVheers
http://mystic-sound.com/releases/ioon-cosmic-downtempo-9314-oclock/
FREE DOWNLOAD EKTO http://www.ektoplazm.com/free-music/ioon-the-ioonfinite-loop
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https://soundcloud.com/opalmoonproj |
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Medea
Aedem/Medea
Started Topics :
127
Posts :
1132
Posted : Sep 16, 2008 00:49
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Elad
Tsabeat/Sattel Battle
Started Topics :
158
Posts :
5306
Posted : Sep 17, 2008 03:05
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cheapest and nice nice sound Boss Metal Zone distortion..
old school favorite..
amazing sound 
half joke but might be really cool |
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