Fostex X-55: Worth The Cash?

[Lanny Cox]

Hi, I just spent 120 dollars US on a mint condition Fostex X-55 4 track on ebay. Being a relative newbie to home recording, I was wondering if I got good bang for my buck by choosing this recorder. The music I will be recording is mainly a blend of punk/metal. Also, where should I go from here, when it comes to buying extra gear to improve the sound? What would be a good all-around mic for my rig?

 

[alloutdrummer]

Response to X-55 Questions

Hey--
I would say you got a pretty good "bang for your buck". I've seen X-55's sell on ebay for more and I've seen them sell on ebay for less. It was a pretty good choice as far as four tracks go. Depending on how many simultaneous track recordings the X-55 has you can plan your micing and such accordingly. I would recommend 1 mic for guitar, 1 for bass, 1 for drums (placed overhead) and 1 for vocals. Don't worry though, as I can tell you are on a relatively low budget. You can do this all with just one mic and record each of the tracks seperately. The best all-purpose mic for a job like this is definitely the Shure SM-57. Most decent music stores sell it for about $70. However, if you have more money to spend on mics, you could get two of them (which I HIGHLY recommend) and it would give you the capability to record two instruments simultaneously (if the X-55 allows it) and to mic the drums using two microphones. Another option would be for you to get one SM-57 and one Shure SM-58 ($80). The SM-58's are terrific for low budget vocals. This mic would give you a better vocal sound and the option of micing simultaneously and/or using two mics on the drums. Hope this helps! If you have any more questions, PLEASE e-mail me @ operation_neddy@yahoo.com Thanks!
--Ned

 

[Peter D]

I've been using an X-55 for about 7 years, which I bought new for $350. It's served me well for preparing work and and simple demo tapes to send publishers, managers, etc. I'm a songwriter, and my arrangements aren't very elaborate. Because of the demand by A&R people for submissions on cd, I'm purchasing the BOSS BR-1180 CD, but plan to use the X-55 for work tapes and for sending tapes to co-writers. At $120, I'd say you got a great deal. I've seen them go for $100, but they weren't in mint condition. I also agree with Allout re the mics; you can't go wrong with a SM-57. You might want to take a look at some drum mics Audio-Technica makes which are really nice, but a little pricey. Good luck with the X-55, I hope you enjoy it as much as I have mine.