fads

Recording Techniques, People Skills, Gear, Recording Spaces, Computers, and DIY

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zorf
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fads

Post by zorf » Fri Aug 21, 2015 5:06 pm

been hanging around music forums for many years now.
i remember so many fads.
One thing they all these fetish objects had in common was they were cheap.
where are they now? so many of them have just disappeared from view.
were they not good enough to stand the test of time, or are people just on to the next thing because they are restless?
I'm not sure i even trust my own ears anymore. I feel like i am susceptible to confirmation bias, placebo effect, sentiment, appearance, blather on forums, etc.
are any of these forgotten fads worth revisiting?
dont turn around

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vvv
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Post by vvv » Sat Aug 22, 2015 8:39 am

Sure, I believe the SM7b was righteously deified.

The PM1000, racked.

Ribbon mic's.

Less so: charging $35 to answer inquiries.

The Rat Shack black EQ.

Yer moms.
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zorf
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Post by zorf » Sat Aug 22, 2015 9:29 am

Ha!

never hear about that EH pre anymore.

That wooden hexagonal mic.

Remember that group buy that blew up the internet?

Never hear about joe meek stuff anymore.

RNP and RNC

for a minute, it was all gap 73 all the time, now warm audio.

rebuilt preamps from old tape decks.
dont turn around

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Jarvis
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Post by Jarvis » Sat Aug 22, 2015 10:04 am

Speak it!
Still use a MOTU 828k2, not that it got praised that much but I hear the AD/DA is exceptional . The pre's crapped out after a decade or so but I still have 8 channels of audio input that I will praise highly.
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Jarvis
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Post by Jarvis » Sat Aug 22, 2015 10:46 am

Sort of missed the point, didn't I?
Oh well.
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Jarvis
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Post by Jarvis » Sat Aug 22, 2015 10:49 am

Answering my own post and then answering that.
Am I in Awards territory yet?
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zorf
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Post by zorf » Sat Aug 22, 2015 11:09 am

Ha

actually, it was meant to be two questions in one:

are there things that are overlooked now because our restless attention has wandered elsewhere, or were they just just overhyped cheap baubles that fascinated us for a while.
dont turn around

kslight
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Post by kslight » Sat Aug 22, 2015 12:26 pm

Undoubtedly things get lost in the shuffle?or their previous desirability is overridden by something else that is new to the market.

Cheap mics are a good example. I would argue that the cheap mic options of today are better or at least more varied than they were 10-15 years ago.

Certain tape machines/vintage synthesizers/other garage sale finds were a good value 15 years ago and today they are still popular, only now the value placed on them is a lot higher and more well-known.

The infamous RNC may have been a good value 15 years ago for an OTB home studio, but I would argue today that for a common ITB home studio they aren't worth the hassle, or at least are not the only game for the money.

PM1000 channels racked aren't all that cheap unless you can DIY, and I don't know about anyone else but I just haven't had time for DIY these days.

500 series is still a pretty popular fad, I think?

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Scodiddly
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Post by Scodiddly » Sat Aug 22, 2015 2:49 pm

I dunno, I've still got some CAD E100 mics and still love them for certain things.

Over on the micbuilders list people still show up talking about the TapeOp omni mics.

Probably everybody who wanted some PM1000 strips already has them by now.

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floid
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Post by floid » Sat Aug 22, 2015 3:14 pm

Epiphobe valve junior.
Oktava.
Telephone mics.
Junk that says altec on it.
Village Idiot.

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A.David.MacKinnon
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Post by A.David.MacKinnon » Sat Aug 22, 2015 5:08 pm

floid wrote:Epiphobe valve junior.
Oktava.
Telephone mics.
Junk that says altec on it.
You can trash all that other crap but I'll take the Altec stuff (if it's cheap).

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vvv
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Post by vvv » Sun Aug 23, 2015 7:19 am

FWIW, I love and use my RNC (vox), my PM1000 (vox, bass, guitars), my Meeks (vox, bass, keys) and my Altec 1589 (vox, guitars).
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I'm Painting Again
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Post by I'm Painting Again » Sun Aug 23, 2015 10:25 am

I still use the egg static harp mic that a bunch of us got on here from a person in Florida IIRC. It's a great trick for cool tones to this day..

little labs red-eye I use on almost every session

I have 10 channels of ebtech line-level shifter that's always proven useful when I wanna interface incompatible gear..

still use the MP of 012's from soundroom

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Jarvis
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Post by Jarvis » Tue Aug 25, 2015 11:47 am

Just give me the damn award already.
And I'll put it next to my RNC and Valve Jr.
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Post by The Scum » Tue Aug 25, 2015 12:03 pm

It's been a long time since I heard anyone freaking out about a Level-loc.

Last time I saw one for sale, the price was pretty reasonable, too.

Gigantic, Echo & the Bunnymen-style reverb seems to be back in fashion, though.
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