Another Gift for Husband

[roadiewife]

Hi Kayc, et. al.

I sympathize with Kayc -- I'm going through the same process with my husband and considered all of the things you and everyone else here mentioned. I think you've come up with a solid 'starter' solution.

I ended up with a zoom mrs-802b with an internal cd-burner. My guy wanted the built in drum effects, and was asking for the new zoom 8 tracker watchamacallit. I'd thought about the Boss 1040, but heard they were discontinuing the line. So, I went with the older Zoom big brother instead because of the higher recording quality, phantom power, more tracks, and internal hard drive and cd-burner. When I considered how many memory cards we were likely to buy over the next few years, as well as the additional pain-in-the-tush it would be for him to move something like the Fostex 8-track from our basement to the computer, I figured the extra $200 spent on the internal hard drive and cd burner were well worth it. It also has midi-synching so he can have play dates with his buddies at the recording studio, and a USB out for when he wants to move into a desktop based virtual studio. As a starter, practice, songwriting machine, I think it will work out just fine.

[Garry Sharp]

Wow. If I wasn't about to get married to somebody else, and if you weren't married already, and didn't live a few thousand miles away, I'd definitely marry you

[roadiewife]

Thanks! But I know how fickle musicians are. Last year's gift was a PRS, which he promptly returned. I've learned to accept that I can give what I think is a great gift, and he may still want to return it and pick out his own stuff. I know, I know.... the gear has to be 'just right'....

[mharr552000]

Originally Posted by roadiewife

It also has midi-synching so he can have play dates with his buddies at the recording studio, and a USB out for when he wants to move into a desktop based virtual studio.

Play dates? Ouch!

[notbradsohner]

will you marry me?

[roadiewife]

Sorry - not play dates -- meant to say jam sessions. Must've slipped into slacker-wifedom.

[kayc]

Sorry - I haven't been on the site for awhile. I think I have a good starter for him. He has NO CLUE that I'm getting this for him, as he has never talked about getting any equipment, until just recently....maybe he does have a clue?!

I will be letting him know about this site because I'm sure he'll have lots of questions. I'm running out today at lunch to see if I can find a good basic book for him. I was thinking the "Hot Tips" book or the "Home Recording for Dummies". I'll check back here before I go to see if anyone has any suggestions.

Thanks! (We ARE good wives, aren't we!?)

[mshilarious]

Originally Posted by kayc

I was thinking the "Hot Tips" book or the "Home Recording for Dummies". I'll check back here before I go to see if anyone has any suggestions.

Thanks! (We ARE good wives, aren't we!?)

Huber's Modern Recording Techniques

And if you really want to be a good wife, remember that in a few years, never ask "Don't you already have enough microphones?"

[distortedrumble]

the retort for that is to ask her if she has enough pairs of shoes

[distortedrumble]

a prs.....now that i would take....just not in yellow, green, orange, pink, brown, or paisley. i figure i should marry a woman who plays guitar...or atleast some instrument thats not the clarinet. as for calling jam sessions play-dates.....lol its only a play-date if you promise to bring sandwiches.

[kayc]

Well, an interesting note regarding a wife that plays guitar. I tried, and I'm just not cut out for it. That is one of the reasons that I'm getting my husband recording equipment. He wanted me to learn so that I could play other chords while he played. Now he can just use his new multitrack!

Note - I'm left handed, first tried to learn left handed, then right handed, then gave up. My fingers just don't work!

[kayc]

I'll see if I can find Huber's Modern Recording Techniques. Thanks for the input! (Decided not to go out to the bookstore at lunch - seems a little bit to crazy out there with all the holiday shoppers!!) I am NOT one for shopping any time of the year!!

[roadiewife]

Enough mics? I'm partial to Shures. One crappy radio shack mic is one mic too many -- and don't even talk to me about wireless.

[roadiewife]

Kayc -

There is a ton of great sites out there -- and this one is full of info and loads of fun. I thought about writing up a list and sticking it in his stocking. I've also downloaded a lot of solid articles and such (in business we'd call them whitepapers, but I don't know the real term for them here). I plan on burning that stuff to a CD that he can browse through when he has time. I've also pulled down some WAV files that he can import into his machine. I'll put those on a CD as well. Those and a Les Paul mouse pad will fill his stocking!

[Garry Sharp]

I just can't believe this. My fiancee doesn't do this and she's our singer!!!

You ladies just let me know if you're ever coming to London....

[kayc]

Roadiewife - That's an excellent idea. I just wish I would have thought about that when I was first browsing the internet...and I can't go to my History on my home computer, because that one has since died! I really like the idea of burning it to a CD. I did get him a SHURE SM57. (And to think at the beginning I was just thinking of getting him a kareoke!!

I'm really getting kind of addicted to this whole thing - can't wait to give it to him! I kept it at work so I wasn't tempted to give it to him early, although I will probably give it to him tonight since I'm taking it home today...

Thanks again to everyone for all of your help!! I couldn't have done it without all of you! Merry Christmas!

[BlindCowboy]

I just had a chance to read through this post for the first time.

I am extremely turned on. Please, please talk to my wife.