Deals On Gear and Software

[ken]

Hey Folks,

I couldn't find the original thread for this, but here is where we can alert each other when we think the Stupid Deal of the Day is actually a deal or of value to Songfighters.

Today they have an EV vocal dynamic for $40. Seems totally worth buying a few if you need mics.

I picked up this Recording Accessory pack recently to have some extra stands and cables.

Be well,
Ken

[Lunkhead]

Weird, I woner what happened to the original thread for this? There was a lot of stuff in there, like people giving feedback about the stuff they'd bought.

[jast]

Didn't it move to the "for sale / wanted" forum? And that disappeared.

[king_arthur]

They had a little two-channel preamp/mixer gizmo for, like, $29 recently, and I'm still kicking myself for not snapping it up... I've been doing some video stuff lately, and two channels is really all I need for that...

Charles

[Lunkhead]

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/stupid

Today's deal seems pretty good as far as I can tell. What do you all think?

IK Multimedia IK Essentials Software Bundle with SampleTank 2.5L, AmpliTube 2 Live, and T-RackS 3 Standard
$69.99

That seems like a lot of stuff for $70.

[fluffy]

Yeah, looks like if you need some decent amp modeling plugins or whatever it's pretty good. Normally goes for $230, so it's at least a pretty big savings over buying it normally. No idea if it's any better than what comes with Logic or Cubase or ProTools or whatever, though.

[Lunkhead]

Today's deal is the MXL V900 Stage and Studio Condenser Microphone, for $99.

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/pr ... sku=273174

What do people think about that?

[fluffy]

As always, I love the MXL 990 and V63M. Never used the 900 and I wonder how well a large-diaphragm condenser will actually work on stage though (seems like it would feed back WAY too easily).

[Billy's Little Trip]

That sure looks like a good deal. Not only has fluffy and others commented on how the like the MXL mics, but it comes with the case, shock mount and cord for $100 bux. It also says something about a "low-noise solid state preamp"? It doesn't show it, unless it's built in and that's just standard for condenser mics.

[fluffy]

That's a standard part of a condenser mic, yeah. Most of the capsule is the preamp (that is what is powered by the phantom power in most condensers - ones which don't take phantom power have a battery inside instead).

[Billy's Little Trip]

Good to know, thanks.

[ken]

Hey All,

If you are looking for a dynamic mic for vocals/instruments (like the Shure 57/58) today is your lucky day. The stupid deal of the day is a Heil PR 20 UT for $70. I think you will find this mic blows away a 57/58 in just about every application.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/stupid

Here's a review if it helps:

http://homerecording.about.com/od/micro ... review.htm

Save $30 and go get it!

You can spend that extra $30 to get free shipping on this pretty cool mic stand/cable deal: http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/ ... sku=584717

Be well,
Ken

[Lunkhead]

They're starting to have some Danelectro "Cool Cat" pedals on the Moonlight Special site lately. These pedals are kind of interesting because they're very cheap but they have metal cases and jacks and feel pretty solid, and they have true bypass. Some of them supposedly sound surprisingly good for the money. I recently bought the tremolo pedal and have been happy with it considering what I paid for it. I like it more than the Boss tremolo I was borrowing from someone, which would have cost >2x as much. Today they have the fuzz pedal fr $42.

http://www.moonlightspecial.com/

[AJOwens]

I have the Cool Cat tremolo pedal and I like it. I used it on on "Nothing is Everything". I also have a Danelecto distortion pedal. It predates their true-bypass series, but it did cost $40 CDN over the counter. It's not great -- harsh when cranked (though you can mute it with a tone control), and kind of ratty when applied gently; it's hard to get a warm sound. It atually earned me some complaints in the thread for "Sometimes It's Hard to Keep Yourself Moving." Now I use a VST plugin.

[fluffy]

Today's (Electro-Voice Standard Finish PL80 Dynamic Microphone for $49 instead of $149) looks like a pretty good deal. Confirm/deny?

[ken]

TASCAM US-1641 USB 2.0 Audio/MIDI Computer Interface

If you wanted to pick up a new interface with like 32 inputs for $250 today is your lucky day! I looked into this unit quite a bit when I needed a USB 2.0 device for my laptop. I went with the M-Audio Fasttrack Pro because it was smaller and I don't always need 8-16 inputs. In retrospect I think I would have just gone for this guy. If I had the money, I would probably buy one now.

[fluffy]

I loved my Tascam US-428, for whatever it's worth, although its build quality wasn't very good and its DACs eventually died on me. It was probably just a fluke, though, and that was also one of their first multichannel PC interfaces so I'm sure they've gotten better since then.

Keep in mind that USB will always have higher latency than FireWire, though, so if you have FireWire, you're probably better off getting a PreSonus Inspire or FireStudio or the like (I have one of each of those and they're both excellent, especially for the price).

[irwin]

What, no love for the Rock Iconz 9 inches Jimmy Page Limited-Edition "Poppy Suit" Figurine?

[ken]

If anyone is looking for a first or upgrade to their audio interface, I suggest you consider the SDotD today. It is an M-Audio Fast Track Pro. Two analog in, plus two SPDIF inputs, and midi. Pretty much everything the typical songfighter needs for $110. This unit usually costs $200, so you are getting it for about half off. I HIGHLY suggest this for anyone using a J-Station or such amp simulator with SPDIF outputs if you are currently connecting it via analog inputs. Take advantage of the digital connection people!

[fluffy]

On the minus side, it's M-Audio, whose hardware I've never been all that impressed with. Every M-Audio product I've used has been the sort that gets a job done really cheaply but not particularly well. (Their MIDI stuff is particularly horrible, in my experience.)

But if you can only afford/justify $110 on a low-end recording interface, M-Audio is probably the way to go. It's definitely a huge step up from the built-in inputs on your computer.

[ken]

I've had good experience with M-Audio gear and have quite a few interfaces (3) and keyboards (2) from them. I have the Fast Track Ultra and use it almost weekly to record BSS. Yes, I've sent it back to M-Audio twice for repair, but it hasn't cost me anything beyond shipping and usually they send me back a brand new unit quicker than I expect. My M-Audio Mobile Pre has worked great since I bought it used a few years ago.

[fluffy]

I must just have horrible luck, then.