|
Aardvark: |
Serious
analog to digital converters, master word clock sync devices and the 20/20
digital multi-track system for PC's. Its about $1000, powerful 8in/8out,
ADAT compatible, and 24-bit. |
|
Akai:
|
The
samplers we know and love and more. I own and use the S-950 and S-3000XL. |
|
|
The
ADAT started the digital recording revolution. There's no going back...
the genie is out of the bottle. I have an ADAT-XT, the MidiVerb-4 and a
nanoverb in the studio. The 24-track hard disc recorder is the bomb. It
dedicates hard disc space to each of the 24 tracks so there can't be any track
slipping like sometimes occurs with "random access HD recorders" (ie, the approach
used by just about
every other HD recorder on the market!) |
|
|
First
famous for the aural exciter in the 1970's, now a long line of compressors,
mic pres, gates, EQ's, etc. I use the type C exciter to add a little air
on vocals. |
|
|
Analog
to digital converters that make a DAT machine come close to 1/2" analog
at 30 ips. Also make 8 channel ADA converters for matching to ADAT's and
DA88's. Expensive, but worth it. |
|
|
Lots
of inexpensive and powerful outboard gear; Major bang for the buck. Check
out the new Dual Levelar tube stereo opto-compressor($300), TubePac stereo
mic pre/opto compressor($210), dual tube stereo EQ($400), Pro VLA stereo
opto-comp($560)... Serious tube gear at reasonable prices. I'm using the
dual tube EQ and Pro-VLA. |
|
|
Cost-effective
is the keyword here! I bought the multi-gate unit for $210, 4 gates with
seperate parametric filters, outrageous! They make fx, compressors, boards,
etc. Great value to performance to price ratio. |
|
|
Sequencing
and digital recording software. The audio shows up in the grid along with
the MIDI events. There's a learning curve! There are less expensive entry level versions
up to the full blown producer package. |
|
|
Powerful
multi-track recording software, free demos available, includes some nice
signal processing capabilities from Syntrillium Software. Adobe bought
them in 2004 and has renamed it Audition 1.5. |
|
|
Some
very powerful software/hardware combos for digital recording and editing
with real-time EQ's and FX. They do recommend you use an Intel processor!
REMEMBER to always ask the company what kind of computer their software
needs to run most effectively. Their T-DAT 16 is designed to interface with
(2) ADAT's for dumping to the computer for editing and then back to the
ADAT's. |
|
|
A
long history of compressors and noise reduction units. Now they've got tube mic
pres and the new Quantum digital mastering processor. I have a 166 and 163x
compressors in the rack. |
|
|
Digital
multi-track recording and mixing software and hardware. Speaks to ADAT's
and DA-88's as well. |
|
|
I'm
still using Notator running on an Atari 1040-ST. It locks up like a charm
and does everything I need. Finally, as of 2003 I've moved to using Cubase. |
|
|
The
folks that brought us the venerable SP-1200, which I have in the studio, and Proteus. They make big,
powerful samplers and now, the E-mu Audio Prod.Studio for your computer. |
|
|
Their
new Paris software/hardware digital recording combo is interesting. I always
liked the DP-4 FX unit. |
|
|
These
guys make the box that cleans up your dirty AC power problems. |
|
|
Resonably
priced powered monitors (20/20's) and the GINA (2in/8out) and LAYLA (8in/8out)
digital/analog sound cards. Good bang for the buck. |
|
|
They've
got some pretty amazing little hard drive units here. The DMT-8VL 8-track/mixer
combo for $1000.00 US and their ADAT compatible D-90 (8-track) and D-160
(16-track) recorders with removable remotes are way cool. |
|
|
Lots
of multi-track recording solutions for PC's. Interfaces for ADAT's and analog
in/outs, word clock, etc. |
|
|
The
Wave 8*24 24-bit recording, 8 analog in/out, +4, -10, MIDI interface for
$499! Check it out. (I think these guys are out of business, 2005.) |
|
|
They
were making powered monitors before it was the rage. I got my pair of 1031-A's
about 1993 and mix exclusively on them. Powered monitors are the way to
go. Don't take my word for it, go listen to a pair. |
|
|
HHB
makes stand alone cd-recorders and speakers. Genex makes optical multi-track
recorders. |
|
|
Lots
of hardware solutions to midi/ADAT/DA-88 interfacing and syncing dilemmas!
If you need to synch up different kinds of hardware, check out JL Cooper. |
|
|
It
sure makes all those digital 0's and 1's sound good! Compressors, EQ's,
mic-pres; $300-$3000. |
|
|
From
the venerable M-1 to the newer Tritons and D8 harddisc recorder. I have
an old A-3 multi-FX that comes in handy all the time. It works great for
a quick direct guitar patch and as an extra FX unit in a mix. I use one
output of the panner as a fake tremelo to imitate that old fender amp sound. |
|
|
The
best reverbs and they will return your tech calls! I use the LXP-1 and LXP-5
with an MRC. I also have an old model 1200C mono real-time expander/compressor
which is the hippest harmonizer ever, although it wasn't designed primarily
for that. |
|
|
Major
bang for the bucksters, new powered monitors and the awesome new digital
D8B mixer under $10,000.00 US. I use the analog 32x8 mixer and (1) 24-ch.expander
at my studio. The new 24 channel harddisc recorder is way hip and in the
$4000 price range. Unlike the TASCAM machine, it comes with editing capabilities
built-in. Like the DB8 in this regard, you simply plug an SGVA monitor,
a keyboard and a mouse into the unit and start slicing and dicing. |
|
|
Makers
of the popular "Performer" MIDI sequencer/recording software, "Time Piece"
sync boxes and the new 2408 digital recording system. The 2408 is an amazing
box for $1000; 8 analog in/out, superclock, word clock, (3) ADAT lightpipe
or TASCAM TDIF
ready. |
|
|
Digital
Wings for Audio digital multi-track recording software/hardware. |
|
|
Interesting ADAT/computer interfaces, soundcards and unique MIDI solutions. |
|
|
Nice
interface for the Yamaha DSP Factory and their own unique mixing software. |
|
|
They
stock all kinds of digital hardware, soundcards and software. I bought the
ADB Multi!Wav Digital Pro soundcard I'm currently using, from these guys. |
|
|
Very
reasonably
priced, high performance condenser microphones. I've heard they also have
a ribbon mic available. |
|
|
Makers
of the popular "Vision" MIDI sequencing and recording software. Also the
Studio 64 XTC digital word clock/midi sync box. |
|
|
The
DA7 digital/moving fader mixer from Panasonic. Also under $5000. |
|
|
Their
Blue Max is a great little 1/2 rack stereo compressor for about $200.00US.
I'm using two of them. They also make a 2 rack space unit, the ACP-8, with
8 compressors and gates with sidechain and key inputs on every channel. |
|
|
Good
price:value ratio. Headphone amps, mic pres, sound contractor series, etc.
and the PaqRat for archiving 24-bit stereo data on ADAT's. |
|
|
All
the poop on Roland gear, etc. I'm using the JV-1080, JD-800 and the
ancient, Jupiter 6 in my sonic arsenal. |
|
|
Modern
ribbon mics for sale. The mono version is about $1200. It's gotten rave
reviews. |
|
|
Soundcards,
Red Roaster mastering software and Samplitude multi-track recording software. |
|
|
I
use the SawPlus digital audio recording software all the time. Its basically
a 16 channel multi-track digital editor. I record through my DAT machine
into SawPlus and edit my mixes together, then spit them back onto the DAT. |
|
|
Sound
Forge digital editing software . I've used this a few times for the time
expansion/compression feature when I need to speed up a track but keep the
pitch the same. The Acid looping program has been hugely successful and there's
Vegas, their new multi-track digital editing software and more. |
|
|
A
cool soundcard with lightpipe connections for (2) ADAT's and analog stereo
monitoring. |
|
|
The
Digital 328 digital/moving fader mixer. Another under $5000 digital mixer
to check out. |
|
|
Cost-effective
FX, compressors, etc. |
|
|
Makers
of the popular "Cubase" MIDI sequencers, digital editing and recording software. |
|
|
Since
the 1970's, TASCAM has been providing musicians with reasonably priced,
powerful recording gear. I learned multi-track recording on one of the first
1/2" 8-tracks, an 80-8 that my partner in Bad Sneakers, Ward Camp, bought
for $4000 in 1979. The DA-88, DA-38 digital recorders and digital mixing
boards are on the table now. Like Mackie, they've also just introduced a
24 channel harddisc rcorder in the $4000 price range. It doesn't do editing
like the Mackie machine but, still its amazing. TASCAM gear is built to
last. I use a MSR-16 analog 1/2" 16-track and the DA-30 DAT machine. Every
piece of TASCAM gear I've ever owned has worked like a charm. |
|
|
High
quality digital FX and the Wizard Finalizer for digital mastering, EQ and
multi-band compression. Also the tube EQ's and compressors from TubeTech.
Not cheap, but nothing sounds like these babies. |
|
|
Their
EWS88 MT system says 10 input/10 output/24 bit/96 khz for under $600....
that's worth a look! |
|
|
Lots
of tube EQ's and compressors to choose from at reasonable prices. |
|
|
Voyetra
has been around. They had a cool analog synth in the 80's. Now they've got
PC sequencing software, soundcards and more. I recently used their notation
software, MusicWrite 2000 Standard Edition, for a client who needed charts.
For $50, it did the trick! |
|
|
Outrageously
cool 02R and 03R digital mixers, and now the 01V. The DSP Factory can turn
your PC into a mini-02R with 16-track digital recording and playback. I
use the SPX-90 FX unit and the TG-55 rack module. |
|
Music Industry Websites
|
INDEPENDENT
MUSIC BUSINESS INFORMATION and PROMOTION
1. American
Music Industry Source Guide: lots of music info, lists, etc.
2. Artistopia - The Ultimate
Music Artist Resource:
Artistopia is the first company that delivers a
clear, potent, and qualified strategy for independent music artists and
music industry professionals to come together under one roof and speak one
language - potential music success!
3. Harmony Central: Lots
of music stuff
4. Independent Music Information(I.M.I.):
more music info, radio stations, stores, etc.
5. TAXI: you can submit your tapes for
review, as well find out who is looking for songs, groups, etc.
6. TAXI Archives: interviews
and articles
7. TAXI/music links:
other music sites
8. The Music Review
9. The Performing Artists Network(P.A.N.):
an invaluable online resource for musicians since the early 1980's. I
used a C-64 to access the original text only
10.The Home Recording Site:
David Fiedler runs this site with lots of helpful hints on what else?
home recording. Articles on gear, how to use it and where to buy it,
etc.
11. Tunecore: Distribution and promotion for the independent artist in the new
millennium.
MUSIC RECORDING and PRODUCTION
1. DRT
Mastering
2. Target Studios: Marc Moss
This
producer/engineer and musician is now located near Woodstock in NY State. He makes everyone sound good!
Great ears, great sound, great people.
EQUIPMENT
FOR SALE and RENTAL COMPANIES1. American Musical Supply:
Everything a giant music store would have, but it's online. I've ordered
several items from these guys. My experience was good; lowest prices,
fast delivery and no taxes. What else could I want?
2. Carvin Musical Equipment: Guitars,
amps and more direct from the manufacturer.
3. Daddy's Junky Music Stores:
an incredible place to find used gear online! amps, pedals, rack FX,
guitars, keys, recording and PA stuff, it's all here.
4. DigiBid: an online auction
of new and used pro audio, video, musical instruments, and gear.
5. Mercenary Audio: lots of
used audio gear for sale.
6. Musician's Friend Music
Store: online music store, it's all here from the stage to the
studio.
7. ProAudio.Net: a place for
audio pros, gear for sale
8. The Toy Specialists:
equipment rentals
9. Thoroughbred Music Store:
online music store, stage and studio gear at competitive prices.
10. Auction Soup/Rogue Music
Online: A NY veteran for used music equipment. Smaller commission
charges than DigiBid.
11. Amazon.com/Audio for Sale:
A "kabillion" items for sale.
12. Guitar Center: Everything music
for sale on the web and locations near you!
EDUCATION/TRADES
1. The Copyright Office/Library
of Congress
2. B.M.I.: I am a BMI
writer. When music gets played
on radio or TV, these people collect the money and need to know
who to send it to! BMI represents writers and publishers.
3. CMJ Music Report: keep
tabs on college and alternative radio.
4. University of Miami Music
School: my alma mater! a great school, of course.
|
