We all have opinions. That’s what makes us unique. Getting feedback from other engineers, producers and musicians on our music, mixes, gear, plugins and new technology is invaluable. But some people offer opinions when they really shouldn’t…
I was watching Warren Huart’s live stream on Saturday and one of the fantastic points he made was about “gear snobbery”. To elaborate and paraphrase, Warren was saying that some people refuse to acknowledge the quality of some gear or pieces of equipment even though they haven’t used any of it themselves.
This, in my opinion, is as damaging as “the race to the bottom” on mixing rates. Why?
If the only large diaphragm condenser microphone you’ll use is the Neumann U87 because “it’s the best” and you won’t acknowledge the quality of a Rode NT2-A, or something similar, you’re creating an elitist attitude towards music creation.
Even worse, is someone who recommends a high end product and has never used it!
This article is not about criticising or condemning people or what one piece of gear is better than the other
Rather than that, it’s a call to action.
You will only ever hear me talk about gear that I have personally used and recommend. If I’ve gotten great results with a piece of gear or plugin or I’ve had better results with something cheaper, I will let you know about it. I’ll let you know about it because I have had experience using it.
None of us have any business recommending or reviewing a piece of gear, plugin, guitar or tin whistle we have never used. That’d be like reviewing a Ferrari when you take the bus.
So, by all means please continue to be supportive and offer opinions on all of these things but only on what you know and have used.
By spreading information about great gear and being positive about it, more and more people will be able to make music
If you take the example above and the message is that the only microphone that you can record vocals with is the Neumann U87, then not a lot of people will be able to afford that microphone and therefore can’t record vocals.
Luckily, that isn’t true.
There’s a community of incredibly helpful people on this site and I’m very grateful for that. Some of the opinions and recommendations that have been put forward on techniques, gear and plugins are really though provoking and powerful. Why?
They come from a place of positivity and experience.
So, please. Following up on Warren’s great point… let’s put an end to “gear snobbery” and continue having great discussions on the equipment and techniques we use based on our personal experiences.
Now I’d love to know…
What “cheaper” piece of gear or plugin do you use that you think would surprise most people?
Leave a comment below!
professional sounding mix every time...
Funny that you use a Røde as your example. I am but a poor child without the means to afford a Neuman U87 or even a U86 (lol). I have been using a Røde NT1 that i got about 12 years ago and I’ve had very good results with it! I would highly recommend it if you can still find one. The NT1-A doesn’t seem quite as crisp, but is still a very workable vocal mic. Thanks for letting me know that i don’t have to spend $3200 to capture a good vocal performance!!! Good-on-ya!!!
I personally haven’t used an NT1, so I can’t comment 🙂 I’ve heard good things though. I’ve used the NT1-A and I’ve used the NT2-A extensively. I really like them both and have got great results with them. You don’t have to spend that money to capture a great vocal performance, but you could if you wanted to!
Thanks so much for this post! It’s all about capturing a performance and being able to present it to an audience, whether live or in some sort of recorded form. Gear snobs be damned! I’ve been doing live sound and recording since the 70’s, and over the years have achieved amazing results using nothing but what I could afford at the time. I’ve made records with 6 channel Tapco boards from the 70’s and a couple of EV re11 mics. A mere several hundred dollars, even in those days. You don’t have to be rich, just creative, and remember, every great result begins with the performance, not the gear used to capture it!
ps., I still rely on my trusty re11’s and tapco 6100 in many situations.
Thanks Brian. I agree – it’s all about the song and the performance. Thanks very much for your example and reinforcing this incredibly important point.
Stephen Hi. Once again dealing with a very important topic. A good bit of gear will not make a poor song great. A good bit of gear will not compensate for a lack-lustre performance. A good bit of gear might (note might) make the recording better than usual but in the hands of someone who doesn’t apply good recording practice – not going to happen. In both my recording “gear” and my musical instruments – which, because of financial constraints, could both be described as “entry level” – I just love getting to know them as fully as I possibly can and coaxing the very best out of them. Keep up the good work. George
Thanks George. I can’t argue with a single word you’ve said. Really valuable, accurate points.
Ok I get great results (imho) using inexpensive gear..my main mic is a Behringer..and I am very pleased with the results…I don’t even know what a U87 sounds like and have never held one in my hand…the folks who listen to my music like it…it sounds professional because I have an ear for one thing and I take my time and get everything right in the mix…like gain staging…the devil is in the details as the saying goes…and expensive gear will help no one get better mixes.
Sounds good Thomas. I’ve never used a Behringer mic, so I can’t comment! Great to hear you’re getting the results you want. Taking the time to set your gain stage and focus on the details is so important, as you’ve mentioned. The one thing I will say is that expensive gear that is tried and tested and works for you does make a difference, in my opinion. A really poor microphone vs. a U87 is simply a no contest in my book. But, it’s each to their own and it’s all about the results you get. Thanks for your comment!
I learned a term in college called conspicuous consumption, and it’s a fancy way of saying keeping up with the Joneses, for some reason we have a very difficult time being content with what we have and always wanting more. Well it’s a double-edged sword because you get more stuff and that becomes more demanding on your time to learn how to use that stuff and then you’re faced with constantly having to read decide which stuff to use instead of using that valuable time to make or mix music. I guess it’s just a necessary evil then we all have to deal with because of best availability of so many plugins and programs to choose from. I have spent hours comparing my plugins looking for that Holy Grail of sound. When in fact the differences are so minut, that 99% of the people out there wouldn’t know which one was better over the other and most certainly they do not care! We are all perfectionist when it comes to making music, but at least in my opinion I think we waste a lot of time on things that simply don’t matter in the grand scheme of things. So what if your mic is not quite as bright as the next one then you can EQ it and add some additional harmonics. Equipment snobs remind me of racist- they are ignorant. I think the next time I am considering purchasing new gear I will instead seek out additional training or review what I already have
Great comment Pat. Additional training, mentorship and coaching can make a world of difference when you already know how to get the best out of your gear. It really does help more than most people give credit.
My principal studio recording mic is the MXL 770 Cardioid Condenser Microphone which is available on Amazon for $75. It has a great bass and high-end, with a wide DR. It has a built-in Pre-Attenuation Switch and -10 dB
High Pass Filter which come in handy on the low end. Plugged into my Mackie Mix12, it works spectacularly on the 48V Phantom power setting. I have it mounted on a standard mic stand with a Post Audio ARF-68 Vocal Booth & Reflection Filter (isolation shield) which I got at Walmart for $65. For live situations, I use a Shure SM58S which is $89 at Amazon.
You know your gear and you know what works for you. Thanks John!
I am 63 and have been doing live sound for over 45 years . I do some mixing and mastering from my home studio and I can tell everyone from experience , it’s not the gear you use , it’s how you use it . Very high quality recordings can be made from some of the least expensive gear . If your going to invest in something , invest in your self first . Learn and absorb as much as you can and gain as much real world experience with the gear at hand . There is no substitute for experience . Experience makes great recordings ‘ not expensive gear .
Thanks so much for your valuable input Dan – that is perfect!
The only out board gear I use is Warm audio products. They are mid price range and sound great for that back to analog quest. I use AT mics so I’m a mid gear sob but I work 60 hr week so I treat myself to mid level gear. I’ve heard great recording’s with less but I’m a tube and transformer guy who doesn’t pay 3 to 7k for high end gear.
Thanks Malcolm. 60 hour weeks – that’s dedication! I’ve used the Warm audio 500 series stuff on a few recordings. I don’t have extensive experience but I really liked their sound. Glad you like them! Great to hear you know your budgets and what you’re willing to pay. Lots of gear to be bought for under 3k!
It is not the price that determines the recording but rather knowledge and experience of the person using the equipment. Being from the analog days of the sixties you can’t begin to imagine some of the gear we had and made great music with it. I have tracked vocals with everything from an SM 57 to cheap Sony tape recorder mics. I have a fair mic locker and I use SM’s Blue Encore 100’s and a favorite is the Blue Encore 200 series. I also use a MXL Ribbon mic that sounds great an guitar cab and vocals. I have and do use a cheap Behringer 4 ch compressor/expanders on electric guitars. I have a couple of AKG large condensers I use at time the P 420 and the P 220. It is just a dumb mindset of a fool that probably has never done anything and considers them selves an Ex spurt. Which can be defined as the following ex (has been) spurt is a drip under pressure so you have a has been drip under pressure. I don’t let equipment hold me back from accomplishing my goals. Cheers…..
I’d definitely like to imagine the gear you had in the sixties! “I don’t let equipment hold me back from accomplishing my goals”… that’s a great quote, Phil.
The following examples nicely illustrate the added value of expensive gear. I played in a band where the bass player was very enthousiast over his vintage tube amp. All this modern stuff was nothing to him and music ought to be played from vinyl..This type of guy 🙂
Till he realised that his beautiful bass sound was played over the digital processor of our budget table mixer. Never complained about it, new insight. This does not mean there is something wrong with that tube amp; it’s still the piece of equipment that makes a positive difference in the bass sound. But apparently modern budget gear can do what is also important; produce an amplified copy without distortion.
Other example: A big studio in a nearby city issued high quality WAVs from a microphone shoot-out. I wanted to understand the differences, so I played the N87 recording over my studio monitors, and then re-recorded using Behringer C2. I made a two track mix with alternating bars from the N87 and via the C2. Did a little EQ and compression for maximum blend, nothing special.
I presented the result to some friend musicians and studio owners, experienced listeners. And nobody could tell me what was special about this vocal recording…
Some gear addicts fell of their chair when I told them.
A third example is when people spend >10k on HiFi equipment, but forget about the combfiltering aucoustics in their living room (see 3D-combfiltering on soundmatters.nl/tipsntricks).
So, yes. There is difference in quality. A beautiful ribbon mic makes a take of certain vocals instantly beautiful. But a carpenter should be able to work with any hammer. Even though his professional one works easier and faster.
This is great Thé! Thanks
Can`t help saying this: I`m anciously waiting the arrival of a Samson C01 (never used one) for vocal recordings, because it`s the cheapest option of Graham`s RecordingRevolution 2017 Studio Gear Guide. But, until then, I`m still using a second-hand Karma dynamic mic that I bought from my Organ teacher in 1987…
On the other end, in February this year, I spent 75€ buying the AKAY APC KEY 25 midi controller (a piece of plastic with some electronic circuits on the inside and 25 mini keys on the outside) that came with: two synth plugins, a sample pack and (attention please) the ABLETON LIVE 9 (Lite version) DAW “for free”. This last tool, my Elektronische Musik friends, is an eye-oppener when it comes to create music (hasn`t to be electronic music). 75€?? How`s that possible?… Note that this “beginners version” of Ableton Live is in fact limitted to 8 tracks (only!?!?) – wich means that we are forced to use our brains when mixing in this box – but I´m not willing to upgrade untill I don`t take full advantage of what I already own, although the seller obviously already started to send me messages encouraging me to do so… (buy the Ableton 10, buy the Ableton 10…) OK. That`s all for now. I wish you all a great 2018!
Oh, one last note: if you`re confortable with your DAW (doesn`t matter wich one), stay with it! Don`t change to Ableton just because of my comment (I ain`t earning any from this 🙂 ). And yes, first you would need some lessons on how to use is (at least I did…).
See you all next year!!! Paulo
Let me know how you get on with that Samson mic. I’ve seen one or two in studios but never used one.
Ableton Live is a really cool DAW. Back when I used to be swayed by “this DAW is better for this and that” I tried it out. I think it is amazing for live performance. There are lots of musician friends of mine that use it for that very purpose. When I was playing around with it, I loved triggering MIDI clips in the session view to create a performance. It’s really intuitive.
Sounds like you got a good deal on the MPC with some nice upselling tactics!
Yes I did… Don`t know when I will get that Samson mic; the dealer is taking so much time… (location: Spain – can`t trust them! 😉 ) But as soon as I start using it (next year?) I`ll let you know the results. Thank you again…
I saw that video too and commented on it. I completely agree. I couldn’t recommend a U47 to anyone because not only have I not used one, I’ve never even seen one close up. I just saw one for sale for 11,500 Euro’s which I’m led to believe is quite a bargain.
But yes, to your point regarding elitism – completely true. I quite often look at online reviews, Facebook pages etc before buying something and it’s just a confusing mess. Some people will tell you they love it, others will tell you it sucks. On occasion, I look for reviews and opinions on things I already own and apparently everything I own is junk – and completely brilliant.
I’m a sucker for cheap mics. Things like MXL’s who everyone apparently has a bad opinion of. Thing is, I found that if you listen to them (isn’t that what we’re supposed to do?) then your ears can tell you what you can use them for. I have a “vocal” mic which to be honest is a bit on the bright side, so I use them for overheads – which looks a bit weird, but I like the sound. They cost me $40 each.
As an aside, I saw someone on a DAW forum asking which plug-in he should use for a given job yesterday. Every single person who answered, and there must have been 40 answers had an opinion. Not one person said plug them both in, play with them, listed, audition. Not one! I just can’t believe that isn’t the obvious solution and that the question needs to be asked at all – let alone answered.
Come on Justin – did you not pay the €11,500 for the mic?! 😉
Those reviews are indeed just that… conflicting. It’s hard to get an unbiased or accurate opinion. I tend to ask reliable friends for opinions on gear before I invest.
I’ve heard a lot of good things about MXL’s now and I’m really interested! Completely agree that we’re meant to use our ears to determine whether they’re good or fit for purpose.
Your last paragraph gave me a headache. I find it really difficult to deal with opinions like that. Luckily, there’s a great community of people here who offer definitive opinions 🙂
Thanks Justin!
It all starts with a great song and a great performance.
Gear is always secondary to that.
That being said, I am a firm believer in the Power of Limitation.
Not 100’s of plugins/mics/instruments, but a couple of good ones (be they cheap or expensive). The only condition for all them is that you know how to use them, through & through. This usually takes time, trial and effort…
(A maybe slightly surprising piece of gear I have learned to know & love is Noveltech’s Character plugin. Not exactly cheap, but all is relative. It helped me to quickly find the sweet spot for tracks on many occasions.)
Absolutely – it’s all about the song and the performance. I believe in the Power of Limitation as well. I haven’t heard of Character, but I’ll check it out.
Thanks for your comment Marcel!
When I was in high school, I used to drop an old dictation microphone (made in the 60s, I think) down the soundhole of my acoustic guitar to record myself playing. The one drawback was that the microphone was loose in the guitar and made noise if it moved. It also used line-level signal. Other than that, I got a pretty good sound out of it. I still have that microphone somewhere. I think if I did it again, I’d probably try to tape it down or use velcro to secure it.
That’s pretty inventive, Rob! If you ever try it again, I’d like to hear the results you get.