Tips for buying new producing equipment

eddie-h · Post by **eddie-h** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 2:56 pm

Right well I'm starting to spend a lot more time producing so I want to buy some new equipment in but was hoping a few people could tell me from first hand experience which is the best to buy.

I'm looking at buying a soundcard, midi keyboard and a set of monitors. My overall budget is under €600

I'm using a Sony Viao Vista laptop by the way

So far I've chosen the:
M-AUDIO OXYGEN 8 V2 Keyboard
http://www.thomann.de/ie/m_audio_oxygen_8_v2.htm
M-AUDIO BX5A Monitors
http://www.thomann.de/ie/maudio_bx5a.htm
M-AUDIO USB AUDIOPHILE RETOUR
http://www.thomann.de/ie/maudio_usb_aud ... retour.htm

Are these a good choice or not,please advice

thanks

3dot... · Post by **3dot...** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 2:56 pm

3dot... · Post by **3dot...** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 2:58 pm

seems like you're really 'set' on m-audio gear...

Oxygen v2 is cool...

ditch all the rest

leedsquietman · Post by **leedsquietman** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 3:09 pm

YOu should seriously save up a bit and increase your budget to 1000.

As for the gear you listed - The Oxygen controller is OK but has a habit of breaking, I know several guys who are on their 3rd, one guy even on his 4th already and that was for studio use only. Look at alternatives.

The BX5a are nice monitors, although you could also consider KRK 5's, Alesis MkII, Samson Rubicons and others.

M-Audio interfaces/soundcards should be given a wide berth IMHO, they have terrible drivers in most cases.

And this should be the most important buy. How many inputs and outputs do you need on your soundcard? I would say the EMU 0404 USB is a much better USB interface than anything M-Audio in that range, but if you need multiple inputs and outputs you will need to increase your budget and look at firewire or expresscard options.

Do your research thoroughly and try and listen to or demo anything before buying. Google reviews. Ask for opinions. But ultimately, only you can decide.

sweetjesus · Post by **sweetjesus** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 3:11 pm

if the Bluesky media desk 2.1's are available in ur hood, grab a set of those and the best computer mouse u can get, not sure about ur soundcard choices though..

leedsquietman · Post by **leedsquietman** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 3:45 pm

yup. another one to consider. Although, really the BX5a's are decent monitors, but it's all subjective, so listen to a few and choose the ones that sound best to YOU.

In the budget range of soundcard interface, there is less choice and less quality than if you up the ante to the next level. And your computer setup is only as good as the audio interface, so if that is a weakness it doesn't matter what other great gear you have, you will be limiting yourself.

ernene · Post by **ernene** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 4:18 pm

I would wait to buy some of the things you mentioned before...
I would start for a good audio interface (not M-AUDIO for sure) and a pair of monitors, even so 600 bucks aren't much to play with...
I would wait for the keyboard, since you can get one later, they don't cost that much, and you can use your computer's keyboard in the mean while!

Or even better, buy 1 thing at a time, but buy good stuff, you'll regret after a while if you don't do so, and it's always better to spend a bit more but get better things, so you won't be wanting to sell the to buy another one after 6 months!

Save, and wait...

ThrowAway · Post by **ThrowAway** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 12:49 am

the akai mpk49 is the only controller I would suggest getting.

butch_d · Post by **butch_d** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 9:47 am

DONT BUY M-AUDIO SHIT!..

randrohe · Post by **randrohe** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 9:52 am

I have the older bx5's, and they are the only thing I would suggest by m-audio. I also have the ozonic, which was alright when I was using it (although when bus powered, it popped and clicked), but feels kinda flimsy and the enigma software blows.....................

pulsoc · Post by **pulsoc** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 2:14 pm

I have had an Oxygen 8 v1 for years now, treated it none to gently, still works like a charm. The only issue I have had with Maudio is the loooong waits to update drivers when a new OS comes out. Something like over a year for Vista, and close to that for Leopard.

Also used an Maudio audiophile with my windows box, never had problems with it. My peev with that was that you couldn't hotplug it, but I don’t know if that is just a firewire limitation.

stonee · Post by **stonee** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 3:04 pm

check out yorkville monitors. i bought a pair for cheaper than krk's, and they sound much better.

hacktheplanet · Post by **hacktheplanet** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 5:56 pm

Here's (part of) my setup, which is rock solid:

KRK RP5's and a sub: $500
MOTU Ultralite: $500
M-Audio Axiom25: $140

Total: $1040, ~€676

Cheap! You just gotta know where to shop.
The Axiom is the only M-Audio product I've used that hasn't given me any problems. I'd really stay away from their other stuff, though.

eddie-h · Post by **eddie-h** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 2:09 pm

Cheers for the tips, I'm looking at get a pair of krk monitors now,gonna save up the extra bit cause they just sound so sweet imo.

Still not sure what to do with the keyboard,seems to be mixed opinions but my fiend has one about 3 years and its still going strong.

I'm going to a shop in the next week or so with a great selection of soundcards so i'll have a look at them and then decide which one is more suitable for my needs.

The Phat Conductor · Post by **The Phat Conductor** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 3:31 pm

m-audio sucks!