Review This

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tdukex

Man of the Muse
I have an idea, probably not a good one, as most of mine aren't, but here goes anyway:

We do Homerecording.com sponsored gear reviews.

Here's how it would work:

(1) When a new piece of gear hits the market (VT-1, e.g.), we start a thread where members can pledge dollars toward the purchase of this item ($2, $5, $10, whatever we can each afford). We also designate a bbs representative to execute the purchase (the designated reviewer, perhaps).

(2) We set up a way to collect the funds on this board, and when the required amount has been pledged, we ask the pledgers to submit their donations electronically.

(3) In the meantime we negotiate the gear purchase with the manufacturer (try to get at wholesale).

(4) We negotiate to have one of our trusted resident pros (Harvey, Bruce, Ed, whoever) do a thorough review of the gear.

(5) As payment for their time, effort, and professional opinion, we allow the selected reviewer to keep the piece of gear as payment for their services.

(6) So, for a minimal cost to each of us interested, we can get unbiased professional reviews of new gear from people we trust.

Will it work?

Any modifications that will make it work?
 
I actually thinks that is a good idea....

what about instead of doing a Comp CD again, we setup a mp3 pay-for-play site to raise funds?......with the traffic going thru this site, Id be curious how much $$$ a HomeRecording.com page at mp3.com could raise.....
 
even better

Why the heck aren't we swapping stuff around and letting each other try it out? Like Gidge and I each have a mic that the other doesnt have, and we swap them for a week or two and then give them back. I think we are our own best resource and we're not using it. It would be completely voluntary and we'd stick to the more senior members who wouldnt scat off with our stuff. There are several of you who I would trust my gear to.

Think about it.

H2H
 
I get hundreds of personal reviews here for free already. I wouldn't pay for review, mostly because they're always sort of useless, right? So Ed Rei can get a killer sound out of an ART Tube MP, great. I can't. I think equipment is almost as personal as clothing or art itself. I basically only read reviews because I want to make sure that something I'm interested in doesn't just flat out universally suck eggs. Harmony-central.com is a good place to go for that sort of info. See it's not one person's review that's going to be usefull, it's going to be the review of a larger group of people. For example: I just recently duked it out with somebody over the Les Paul Studio which I think is a really lame guitar, but hundreds of people like it. So if you're shopping for guitars, you're going to need all these different points of view to help you with your decision. In the end, you'll agree more with one side or the other.

I do like H2H's idea about swapping gear. Many months ago Harvey sent me one of his MXL603s mics to try out because there's only one music store here in town, and they don't carry a lot of mics. Granted it's a pretty cheap microphone, but I appreciated that gesture so much. I probably never really thanked him appropriately. And Ed has taken the time to personally walk me through difficult topics like reverb and compression. I probably never thanked him well enough either. And let's not forget Shailat's articles. It's that kind of community sharing that really makes our group special, and it's not just limited to this BBS. The fact that I can email Steve Albini right now and get a response...or Scott Dorsey....or Harvey Gerst...or <drop name here> is really quite phenomenal and it must be sort of unique.

The only problem with gear swapping is that nobody wants to send gear through the mail...well, I don't. Most wouldn't go sending out $2000 preamps for their buddy to try half way across the globe. So only cheap gear would be swapped and how beneficial that is...

Anyhow, I'm Mr. Negative so I'm always looking for the faults in an idea. Any idea that tries to benefit the group is a good thing though, and I'm not trying to knock anyone on a personal level.

Slackmaster 2000
 
what the hell....how about everyone just send me gear:D

Slack, you just talked me out of the idea, even if it was a decent concept.....

but the fact is, around 2 years ago, i promised myself id never spend $$$ on shit again....so the few times ive added gear, most of it came on the recommendation of people here....gear i probably would have never thought to try....lets face it, the last thing i wanted to try was a mic from Marshall Elec or a M-Audio preamp....now the v67(thanks Harvey) and the DMP2 preamp(thanks JamesHE, wherever you are) are 2 of my favorite pieces......and who can forget Delta soundcards (I love my Audiophile).....and my newest addition is the Behringer Autocom (props to MisterQ)......

so what im saying is thanks to Dragon for having such a great online community and thanks to all the people who participate and make this a cool place to hang out.....

I do think the MP3.COM site is a good idea....we could raise money for the site(Dragon)......
 
It's probably not an idea that is going to work.

But I do disagree with Mr. Negativity on several points.:D These are only arguements, not attacks.:D Slack is one of my favorite people on this Board.:cool:

However,

Yes, you can get hundreds of "free" reviews here, but from who? Me? Some Newbie who just bought his first condensor mic and thinks it is the most awesome sounding yada...yada..? Do you really think Harvey's reviews of the V67, 603s, and C1 and other gear are "useless"?

Also, representing Ed's fondness of the ART Tube MP (and his ability to work magic with it where others cannot) as a product review and thus equating it with Harvey's critical assessment of the Marshall line of mics lacks credibility. Ed didn't buy the ART to perform his best objective analysis of its strengths and weaknesses with the purpose of reporting back to an entire BBS. He bought it because it was cheap. Then he spent time with it and skillfully learned how to use it to get good sound. There is a difference there that I doubt escapes you.

And, yes, one person's review certainly does make a difference if that person is a skilled professional whose goal is to perform an unbiased, critical assessment of a product. As an independent reviewer you have an obligation to do a thorough job. You report the strengths and the weaknesses--uses and misuses. It is not something two emotionaly charged Ford vs. Chevy guys "duke out". Thirty opinions from thirty people who don't know what the fuck they are talking about is what is useless.

Sure, everything in life is subjective, but there are a few people on this Board I think we can trust to not only give a knowledgeable, unbiased review, but they can also be trusted to provide the information in a manner that will allow readers to make informed choices, not mistakes.

I know, I know...

It's still not going to work.:cool:
 
H2H, I like the idea. I for one would love to play with you're 4033 for a few days. I'm kinda on the fence between it and the NT2.
I ordered a pair of those cheapie Behringer mics for Dobro and myself. If anybody wants to check them out, I'd be happy to send them out.
I sent my brother my C1 to try right after I got it, but expect it back before the 1st of the year. Didn't care for it on vox, so my search continues.
 
gg-

Wanna swing down to Somerset? :) Actually, we could probably work it out, dude- you need to give me a call at the studio...

I'm in (and not recording) from like 12-5 on M,W,TH,F and you can just ask for Mike, I think we can get something worked out. (606)451-2211 is the studio#. Gimme a ring tomorrow or something.

H2H
 
Super Mr. Negativity

But how do we know who the resident "pros" are? Just because someone talks a good game, doesnt mean they have it.
 
You make a good point, ametth. There would need to be a general consensus on that. I think, for one, Harvey would qualify.

Of course, there's also the question of who has time to report in a timely manner. Again, Harvey has shown himself to be reliable.

And then there's the question if any of the pros are even interested.
 
I'm all for an educated review of equipment if there's a way to make the program work. I personaly wouldn't feel comfortable or qualified to review anything more substancial than a guitar pick.

I do welcome the idea of gear swapping for audition purposes based on local availability (or lack of it) and the ability to do so in the environment it would be used in.
I don't get stage fright in stores playing guitar, but I don't sing to "capacity" in a crowded showroom. Nor can I get a realistic idea of how something will work with my gear, in my studio.
I'd even be willing to chip in on a "demo gear pool" if enough people were interested and there were some guidelines implemented.

Just a thought.
 
Great ideas!

Alright. Next month, we need to pitch in and send a VT-1 and an RNMP on over to Harvey.

Maybe Alan would be a sport and pick up the tab for the VT-1? ;)

That would leave about $400 dollars for us all to raise for the RNMP. Let's say, conservatively, that 50 of us pitch in -- that's about $8 / head. I spend almost that much for a single issue of Mix magazind at Barnes & Noble . . . and I actually trust Harvey more than I do them.
 
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