lastrenman365
New member
Quick Background: I am a singer and comedic performer, so I purchase audio equipment for both video and studio audio. I went to a local store recently to upgrade a lavalier mic but had also considered in the back of my mind whether I need better computer audio interface (currently a Focusrite Scarlet 2i4.) For singing I use a Blue Baby Bottle, Podcast, I use an AKG 214, and for video I have the Sennheiser ME2 running through the ew112 system.
What Happened: Went to the store and found a sales guy who seemed knowledgeable and I told him I wanted upgrade my ME2 to a DPA 4088 and he said the following:
I told him I would try it but if I didn't hear a difference, I was going to return it. He said he understood but was confident I would like it. Thus far, I cannot hear much of a difference but have to play around with it more.
Every single possible plugin for the UA interface is listed when I go to add one to the channel strip, but I can only use 5 of them unless I pay for them. The cost for all of these plugins is $4000. I have to now go through an enormous list of plugins in order to find the 5 that came with this thing.
The sale guy said he does live sound engineering and works at the store for extra $. The store is in NYC, so I assumed he was relatively legit and seemed very sure of what he was saying. Did he provide useful info or was it all bs?
What Happened: Went to the store and found a sales guy who seemed knowledgeable and I told him I wanted upgrade my ME2 to a DPA 4088 and he said the following:
- I should upgrade my audio interface first because Focusrite is the bottom of the barrel when it comes to audio interfaces.
(I thought it was supposedly pretty good for entry level interfaces)
- I should get the Universal Audio Apollo Twin, because it has better "leads"
- When we discussed the difference between the Focusrite and UA Apollo, he kept pressing the amazing plugins. I told him that if I want better plugins, I would just buy better plugins. He said that the UA plugins are run through the audio interface itself, before reaching the computer and therefore more impactful on the sound.
- I was interested in the MOTU 624 Thunderbolt interface. He did not think that they were as good as the UA Apollos.
- My field recorder is at the bottom of the barrel of field recorders (Tascam DR-40) and anything would be an upgrade from that, such as the Zoom. (I had never heard that)
- I asked him if the physical circuitry of the UA was superior to the Scarlet and whether it would make an audible difference without any plugins and he said yes but I should still use the plugins.
I told him I would try it but if I didn't hear a difference, I was going to return it. He said he understood but was confident I would like it. Thus far, I cannot hear much of a difference but have to play around with it more.
Every single possible plugin for the UA interface is listed when I go to add one to the channel strip, but I can only use 5 of them unless I pay for them. The cost for all of these plugins is $4000. I have to now go through an enormous list of plugins in order to find the 5 that came with this thing.
The sale guy said he does live sound engineering and works at the store for extra $. The store is in NYC, so I assumed he was relatively legit and seemed very sure of what he was saying. Did he provide useful info or was it all bs?