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How would you spend $1000 (US) on hardware?

As the title suggests, how would you spend $1000 USD on hardware?

Please no software - I have quite a bit of that. I'm really wanting some hardware to mess with. I thought about spending a little more on the Virus TI, but I'm sure it will come down in price in a year or so. I was thinking of something like a Virus C, Supernova II, or JP-8080. I might even be able to get two of them. Would a Lexicon MX200 be worth my while with one of these?

Or, should I just save the money up and get the Virus TI for about $800 money...

I just want opinions...

Thanks!

waldorf something + jp8000

I would buy the best hardware reverb unit I could and use all softsynths.

EQ unit or compressor

hate to be a turd in a pickle jar, but honestly man. Look at what type of hardware you feel you need to take your production level to the next level. Don't go out and buy 2-3 new hardware kits you probably will rarely use or that the learning curve is steep. With the virus, they are great synths. It took me about a year to learn everything with it to make sounds I need. Now I have a nordlead3 rack with my Ti. the nord is extreamly easy to opperate. If you want outboard FX get a lexicon mx200 costs almost nothing but its a great tool to have. I have one. but dont just spend money to spend money.

quote:

Originally posted by michaelconway hate to be a turd in a pickle jar, but honestly man. Look at what type of hardware you feel you need to take your production level to the next level. Don't go out and buy 2-3 new hardware kits you probably will rarely use or that the learning curve is steep. With the virus, they are great synths. It took me about a year to learn everything with it to make sounds I need. Now I have a nordlead3 rack with my Ti. the nord is extreamly easy to opperate. If you want outboard FX get a lexicon mx200 costs almost nothing but its a great tool to have. I have one. but dont just spend money to spend money.

Your words are very wise; however, I'm not just spending money to spend money. I've been looking at many different hardware options in the last few days. I just can't make my mind up what I want. The Virus TI would be my first choice, but I feel it is a bit steep right now, but I'm extremely tempted. I simply threw out an arbitrary number of $1000 so people knew I didn't want to go totally insane with my choice(s). Maybe I should just get one and learn it first...then get another as you suggest. There's quite a few choices out there.

I have many software VSTs right now (yes, all purchased ). I know this can be argued, but just hearing samples of hardware synths like the Virus TI make the software synths cower in fear - just my opinion. They sound so clean and of much higher quality. Besides, I would like to fiddle with the knobs. I do have some of my controls in software controlled by my MIDI controller, but I imagine it is a bit different.

Speaking of the Lexicon MX200, I've read great things about it, but I cannot find ANY sample of audio using it. Does anyone know where I can find a sample?

Take care...

quote:

Originally posted by David Adams Your words are very wise; however, I'm not just spending money to spend money. I've been looking at many different hardware options in the last few days. I just can't make my mind up what I want. The Virus TI would be my first choice, but I feel it is a bit steep right now, but I'm extremely tempted. I simply threw out an arbitrary number of $1000 so people knew I didn't want to go totally insane with my choice(s). Maybe I should just get one and learn it first...then get another as you suggest. There's quite a few choices out there.

My bad dude, I didn't mean to sound like a dick. Im just having a bad day at work. well, here is the thing with the TI. Its a great all around synth, The bass on it is supurb! If you are looking to add a synth Save up and go for the TI, or if you have a 1,000 put it as a down and finance the rest if you have that option available.

Let me see if i can get you some samples of the lexicon in action, and ill post them up. Like I made the mistake of buying a bunch of gear at once and then being frustrated when trying to do one little thing with a track. I was kind of aggitated that I didn't take peoples advice.

quote:

Originally posted by michaelconway My bad dude, I didn't mean to sound like a dick. Im just having a bad day at work. well, here is the thing with the TI. Its a great all around synth, The bass on it is supurb! If you are looking to add a synth Save up and go for the TI, or if you have a 1,000 put it as a down and finance the rest if you have that option available. Let me see if i can get you some samples of the lexicon in action, and ill post them up. Like I made the mistake of buying a bunch of gear at once and then being frustrated when trying to do one little thing with a track. I was kind of aggitated that I didn't take peoples advice.

No man! I didn't take it that way. I appreciate the advice. I might do as you suggest and just get the TI. One thing holding me back a little is that I use Cakewalk Sonar 6, and I know there have been issues with it and the Virus TI when used as a VST plugin. I don't want to spend any more money on a sequencer like Cubase. Besides, I'm very comfortable with Sonar at the moment. I suppose I could just hook it up like any of the older viruses with MIDI and audio out until it gets worked out with Sonar.

Mystic mentioned Waldorf. I went to their site and found something new that is coming out. Check it out:

CLICK---==> biofeld

I'm sure most of you already know about that though. I wonder how it sounds. I have time to wait because I probably won't buy anything for a couple months anyway.

I look forward to those MX200 samples. You can email me at [email protected]. If you need me to host the samples, let me know...

You will not be disappointed with the sounds run through the Lexicon MX200. It sounds amazing!

I'd get a DSP (UAD or Powercore). Much more versatile than a single-purpose box!

I'd pick up a Korg 01W workstation or a Yamaha RM1X workstation, but that's just me.

quote:

Originally posted by Eric J You will not be disappointed with the sounds run through the Lexicon MX200. It sounds amazing!

I'm hearing this a lot, hardware reverb is being considered a pretty good thing...
your main options are things like

waldorf
virus
nord
jp 8080 or v synth (vsynth has a bad rep tho so...)

if you wanted effects go either the
lexicon
!!!focusrite liquidmix!!! (no one mentioned this yet???!!!)

you could get a triton or a phantom to cover you for the workstation side of things too..

Re: How would you spend $1000 (US) on hardware?

quote:

Originally posted by David Adams As the title suggests, how would you spend $1000 USD on hardware? Please no software - I have quite a bit of that. I'm really wanting some hardware to mess with. I thought about spending a little more on the Virus TI, but I'm sure it will come down in price in a year or so. I was thinking of something like a Virus C, Supernova II, or JP-8080. I might even be able to get two of them. Would a Lexicon MX200 be worth my while with one of these? Or, should I just save the money up and get the Virus TI for about $800 money... I just want opinions... Thanks!

If it's 'hardware to mess with' coupled with an inclination towards a Virus synth then I'd suggest you either think more about what you're after(!) or if not just go for a Virus B, it'd save you a bit of money and the Ti wont even offer you -that- much more I wouldn't have thought considering, as stated, your initial criteria.

I'd also add that a Lexicon reverb unit is most likely, assuming your circumstances, a pointless purchase - but, if you were really keen to throw some money at quality fx then a UAD-1 or Powercore would probably be better given the range of high quality plug-ins you'd be getting.

quote:

Originally posted by DigiNut I'd get a DSP (UAD or Powercore). Much more versatile than a single-purpose box!

And, much more expensive it seems

I would get a Virus C and a Nord Lead 3...but I guess that just because I want them and will never buy them...I have too much hardware as it is.

Get a Virus B. I plan on getting one as soon as I've moved to Cubase (And can afford one! lol).

I think a Lexicon MX200 is a bit pointless when you've got impulse convolution reverb plugins like SIR that can mimic even more expensive reverb units.
Not saying that SIR is better than the MX200, it's just more bang for the buck since it's free.

This thread has really interested me. I always thought that any kinds of hardware would be too expensive for me. However that lexicon mx200 is within my price range.

I havent the first clue about hardware so i wonder if anybody would be so kind as to answer a few questions for me.

1) How much better are the effects on that Lexicon than software effects. I think that there is a software version of the lexicon. Would the hardware version be noticeably better?

2)How easy is it to setup up? I use Ableton live 5

3)Am I right in thinking that it will use no computer power? (This would be a big plus as I could then go mad with reverb and never have to worry about it.)

4)Can i use the different effects with different settings on multiple tracks. For instance i might want a delay on my bass and a different delay setting on my lead. Can i do this or can it only do one at a time?

Any advice much appreciated

quote:

Originally posted by G-Con This thread has really interested me. I always thought that any kinds of hardware would be too expensive for me. However that lexicon mx200 is within my price range. I havent the first clue about hardware so i wonder if anybody would be so kind as to answer a few questions for me. 1) How much better are the effects on that Lexicon than software effects. I think that there is a software version of the lexicon. Would the hardware version be noticeably better? 2)How easy is it to setup up? I use Ableton live 5 3)Am I right in thinking that it will use no computer power? (This would be a big plus as I could then go mad with reverb and never have to worry about it.) 4)Can i use the different effects with different settings on multiple tracks. For instance i might want a delay on my bass and a different delay setting on my lead. Can i do this or can it only do one at a time? Any advice much appreciated

I don't use hardware but with the anticipated additional work needed to use hardware fx my guess is that you'd be a heck of a lot better off buying a UAD-1 or a Powercore. That being, the reverbs on these aren't far off the Lexicons, you use them as a vst plugin and you get more high quality plugins as well.

quote:

Originally posted by David Adams And, much more expensive it seems

Are you maybe looking at the firewire version of the Powercore? The PCI/PCI-E card should cost well under $1000 US, and that's with the plugins; the "unplugged" version is about $400 and you can just get the plugins separately if you don't want all the stock stuff (although I've found it all to be very good quality).

Same with the UAD-1, you can get the "Express Pak" for $500 and the "Expert Pak" for $1000.

Probably buy some hardware for circuit bending.

Or a custom built studio system modular synthesizer.

quote:

Originally posted by G-Con This thread has really interested me. I always thought that any kinds of hardware would be too expensive for me. However that lexicon mx200 is within my price range. I havent the first clue about hardware so i wonder if anybody would be so kind as to answer a few questions for me. 1) How much better are the effects on that Lexicon than software effects. I think that there is a software version of the lexicon. Would the hardware version be noticeably better? 2)How easy is it to setup up? I use Ableton live 5 3)Am I right in thinking that it will use no computer power? (This would be a big plus as I could then go mad with reverb and never have to worry about it.) 4)Can i use the different effects with different settings on multiple tracks. For instance i might want a delay on my bass and a different delay setting on my lead. Can i do this or can it only do one at a time? Any advice much appreciated

Lexicon reverbs vary. PCM91 is amazing. PCM81 is amazing. They have a couple of cheapo units on the market right now and I'm totally indifferent to them.

Bear in mind that Lexicon PCM91 reverbs have already been ripped for impulse responses. So a good quality PCM91 impulse + SIR convolution reverb plugin (or any type of convolution plugin in Voxengo Pristine Space) = the closest thing to a real PCM91 that you will ever get.

There are pros and cons to doing this:

1) If you buy a real Lexi PCM91 it will cost you over 1.5 grand. SIR + Impulses is free.
2) If you buy a real Lexi PCM91 you have to send the signal outboard which means you will add two AD/DA stages - this is nearly always bad but you can sort of get away with doing it if you have amazing convertors (like Apogee Rosetta 200 and up).
3) Lexi PCM91s and other outboard reverb units have no latency. Its all realtime. Convolution reverb plugins normally use loads of CPU cycles and they all have a permanent fixed latency so you can never really use them as insert effects unless your host can do latency compensation on every mixer channel.

but the difference between a pcm91 and the impulses of a pcm91 is very huge. you can't compare them in a way. it's like night and day.. but i wouldn't say conv reverbs sound bad it's just not as great as the real deal.

quote:

Originally posted by DigiNut Are you maybe looking at the firewire version of the Powercore? The PCI/PCI-E card should cost well under $1000 US, and that's with the plugins; the "unplugged" version is about $400 and you can just get the plugins separately if you don't want all the stock stuff (although I've found it all to be very good quality). Same with the UAD-1, you can get the "Express Pak" for $500 and the "Expert Pak" for $1000.

Yep. You can get a UAD-1 card fairly inexpensively. Same deal with a powercore card. Its the plugins that are freaking expensive but man, those Sony Oxford EQs and Compressors are just unreal. On the UAD-1 front all the compressors are good except that fairchild emulation which sounds like a broken tube compressor...I don't know - maybe thats the point...

quote:

Originally posted by David Adams The Virus TI would be my first choice, but I feel it is a bit steep right now, but I'm extremely tempted.

So why settle for a second choice. Wait... save some $, and get your Virus TI.

I would personally get some hardware compressors/mastering tools.

My way of working is to send 8 stereo channels from Cubase containing ALL the hardware and software sounds (for example, 1-2 kick, 3-4 drums, 5-6 bass low, 7-8 bass high, 9-10 synth far, 11-12 synth near, 13-14 effects, 15-16 vocals) from motu 24I/O to Mackie 1604 VLZ Pro where they are mixed and some EQ applied. From the mixer just 1 stereo channel returns to Cubase. I am going to get analog compressors (DBX 266) for all the 8 stereo channels and some mastering processors (TFPro P38, SPL Stereo Vitalizer MK2-T) for the stereo return to Cubase. Just an option to think about if you want your VSTi's to sound warmer. Analog stem mixing FTW!

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