So I got some unexpected income today and I was trying to decide what, if anything, I should sink into my studio. Currently, I'm pretty happy with what I have, but there are a couple of things that could probably stand to be upgraded.

Here is that I have so far:
Mac Pro
Focal Twin 6
MOTU 2408
Virus TI
Moog Little Phatty.
Novation SL61.
Mogami cables
Room treatment

I have about $2,300 US and I'm not certain I would get to spend all of it (wife), but I was thinking of maybe the following things:

* Used Roland V-Synth - Just because it provides capabilities that I dont already have. Not sure how useful it is as there seem to be varying opinions on this unit. However I do see it in a lot of studios.
* DSI Mono or Poly Evolver. Analog/Digital hybrid, but I'm not sure if it really adds much over my existing hardware.
* Upgraded DA. Maybe a Lavry Blue/Black, DAC-1 or a Rosetta. I'm not really having too much difficulty mixing, but the DA on the MOTU is not exactly top of the line.
* UAD upgrade. Replace my two UAD-1 cards with a single UAD 2 Duo.


Or maybe I don't need anything at all. I'm not exactly unhappy with my current setup.

What would you do?

I would scratch the DAC itch. I read around that MOTU is a B- so your move would be to A, A+?

quote:

Originally posted by Kthought I would scratch the DAC itch. I read around that MOTU is a B- so your move would be to A, A+?

I'm not so sure about that.

You've got focals which are superb speakers and therefore good enough to notice a beneift from better conversion.

It obviously won't help with workflow or creativity like a synth or new plugins but your signal chain is so clean, I see the weak link being the motu. The way I look at it is everything else you have is professional, where the motu is prosumer.

You know we could have a long chat about this but personally I'd go for the Lavry or Benchmark (unless you like the rosetta sound etc.).

Remember for that money you can nearly get a bricasti M7

room treatment or a sheet of acid mmmmmm for inspirational upgrade mmm....

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Signal path or stash the cash I say.

One day something will come along that you'll want badly and you'll be annoyed you bought something in a potential whim.

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quote:

Originally posted by rulzz room treatment or a sheet of acid mmmmmm for inspirational upgrade mmm....

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quote:

Originally posted by rulzz room treatment [/SIZE]

Yep, already have that.

quote:

Originally posted by DJ RANN You know we could have a long chat about this but personally I'd go for the Lavry or Benchmark (unless you like the rosetta sound etc.).

Yeah, I'm kind of leaning towards doing the DAC upgrade. It'll just be a matter of which one and how much money I'm "allowed" to keep. I just feel like that'll give me the most value for my money considering I don't ever expect to get this again. The consensus seems to be avoid the Rosetta and go for Lavry or Benchmark. At that price range, thats probably more in line with what I'll be able to spend anyway.

YOu have some great synths already, no need to keep getting more. With the Virus capable of so damn much at once and the Moog to back it up, you're fine in the instrument department. Especially if you also have a few VSTis to back them up...

Yeah, you kinda need a great DAC for those speakers. What I would do is keep your eye on eBay for a few months until you stumble across an Apogee Mini-DAC or Benchmark DAC-1 for like $500. That's how much I paid for my Apogee -- the models without USB/Firewire will definitely go for this much. Just run the SPDIF from your MOTU into the DAC and you're good to go.

But for a more immediate effect, I would sell your old UAD cards (without the plugins), buy yourself a UAD2 and maybe a plugin or two. I can recommend on that front as I have ALL of them. I think it's a good idea since selling the UAD cards you currently have will help pay for the UAD2, and most of the new plugins for the UAD are UAD2 only.

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i'm on a MOTU 828mk3 and the DAC isn't horrid(in fact it's great). i get that it's no Rosetta but come on, you're not running a flagship mastering/production house. The only thing i see missing on that list is quality plugs/fx and i think a UAD2 is a significant upgrade for you. I do think you'll get the most bank for your buck and for 1k + $500 in voucher for a UAD 2 Duo it seems like a no brainer (from where i'm sitting at least!)

quote:

Originally posted by Zombie0729 i'm on a MOTU 828mk3 and the DAC isn't horrid(in fact it's great). i get that it's no Rosetta but come on, you're not running a flagship mastering/production house. The only thing i see missing on that list is quality plugs/fx and i think a UAD2 is a significant upgrade for you. I do think you'll get the most bank for your buck and for 1k + $500 in voucher for a UAD 2 Duo it seems like a no brainer (from where i'm sitting at least!)

I agree. That's why I said to basically just wait on the DAC until you find a great deal. It's a nice upgrade, but isn't anything major. There is definitely a difference between the MOTU DAC and the Apogee, I've listened, but it's not like "holy crap I was an idiot for waiting so long". It's more like "yeah, this is pretty nice".

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UAD2 IMO.....get two flexi's - the packages are $600 and they come with a $500 voucher for plugs. That's $100 per UAD 2 Solo. TONS of people are jumping on this right now

quote:

Originally posted by DjStephenWiley UAD2 IMO.....get two flexi's - the packages are $600 and they come with a $500 voucher for plugs. That's $100 per UAD 2 Solo. TONS of people are jumping on this right now

Yeah Im leaning toward doing that right now. With two Solo's I get two $500 vouchers instead of one $500 voucher on the Duo. I'll have to do it at the end of the month, but hopefully there is still a deal to be had out there.

Bongwater has the UAD Solo Flexi at $699, has anyone seen a lower price?