5 Things To Avoid When Buying Audio Equipment

[@tombuck]

This is an absolutely awesome list of advice. I’ve definitely been guilty of buying “dreams” that really weren’t what I needed at all. 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@WeiHoung]

Ditto… 😅

[@DarkPa1adin]

Well, buy nice or buy twice, haha

[@Eddylive]

You and him are legends in this field my man

[@soulfulfool]

@@DarkPa1adin true

[@newuniversespectacle2377]

i bought the AKG k240 studio because of that mindset! some of the worst headphones i've ever used despite AKG being a solid audio company 😐 learned my lesson for sure

[@BarkandJack]

SPOT ON! I do this with everything - audio gear, cameras, guitars, computers.... thinking it's going to improve my work.

[@Podcastage]

We have all gone down that road, and most of the time the higher end equipment becomes more transparent and shines a spotlight on our flaws. The more professional stuff is much less forgiving.

[@fightsandfinance7570]

@@Podcastage Hey bro, I want to restart my KZbin channel .... I want to buy a camera but before I do so .. I wanted to upload on my Pixel 6 until I'm monetized and know I'm getting money before going ahead and buying that camera .. I was thinking before I do that ... let me upload from my phone first and make sure it's working out and have been wondering what a good microphone is for a USB C? Whats your recommendation? I was thinking to get a Sony lavalier mic with a TRS connection, and just gett the USBC adapter and hook it up to the pixel 6 ..... what do you think about this setup and what is your recommendation? Thanks brotha

[@BensWatchClub]

Look who we have here 😱

[@fightsandfinance7570]

@@BensWatchClub What's up bro ... I saw the checkmark on your name and checked out ur channel... I want to buy a watch for myself but also want to get able to resell it later and make sure it goes up in value ... What are some good brands that not only hold their value, but also increase over time? I think Rolex and Omegas are like that ... But what about Cartier or other types of watches that are good investments? Also, get a pre-owned one right?

[@BarkandJack]

@@BensWatchClub haha @podcastage is a fellow watch guy, he's got some great watches.

[@Filosofuerza]

I’m slowly building my podcast studio. I’ve been at it since 2019. I can’t thank you enough for your channel and all you do. Thank you

[@eddieanderson714]

What is good for beginner podcast equipment?

[@Filosofuerza]

@@eddieanderson714 I can’t tell you specifically what’s good for you, but I used Andrew’s reviews learned from this channel and got me these. 1.ElectroVoice RE320 (reviewed in this channel) 2. Shure SM58 (reviewed in this channel). 3. Best boom arms and cables I could afford. 4. KlarkTeknik CM2 mic booster. Running directly into a pair of 5. DBX286s. (reviewed in this channel) 6. Behringer composer pro MDX 2200. 7. Yamaha MG10xU I have used as both mixer and audio interface in some cases. And a 8. Zoom Podtrack P4. 9. Comica boom XD Lav mics 10. Going for a used Motu M2 audio interface asap. Hopefully I can submit a voice recording in the future😃 And lots of DIY sound treatment for a noisy room next to a parking lot. Ouch! I hope that helps someone.

[@Eddylive]

Do a rode caster pro, with a mediocre mic still sounds fantastic!

[@Kragatar]

3:32 Is the most important thing. It can actually be beneficial to build your skills on crummy equipment... If you've only every practiced with premium gear, you'll be in a bind whenever you find yourself with nothing but cheap junk to work with. If you built your skills on cheap junk, you'll be just fine even when there's nothing high-quality on hand, and when you do have the good stuff, you'll be way ahead of the game.

[@Red.Christopher]

100% agree. It's also what sets off a real pro from the rest.

[@lifeguardlloyd]

Yep! Started with Radio Shack stuff…..

[@sub-jec-tiv]

Swinging the practice bat! As they would do in baseball. It’s huge.

[@Graysoninman]

I just financed a Nord keyboard and it's the first time I've ever financed music gear. HOWEVER, it was a terrific deal and it will be paid off at no interest using money made from gigging with the keyboard. I completely agree on this list! Great info and great principles to keep in mind!

[@jrkern]

I'm a huge fan of this video. Sharing general tips and advices is super helpful for newer podcasters, and just in general, audio engineers. Please make more!

[@jTempVids]

Great Video with advice that works for most all purchases. Except for motorcycles, aquariums, and a few other items. Some advice. Just buy the motorcycle you want first. Don't work your way up to the bike you really want. Don't buy a 125cc, then a 250cc , then a 500cc, then finally buy a 750cc. Buy the bike you wanted in the beginning. You'll save money and time by just buying the bike you wanted in the beginning. Salt water aquariums are the same way. Just buy the big aquarium that you wanted in the beginning. Don't waste your time starting with a 10 gallon, then upgrading to a 50, then a 100, then a 200, etc. Buy the 200 gallon right off the bat. You'll actually save money by not buying 5 tanks in-between. This may sound strange but larger aquariums are actually easier to maintain than tiny ones. The larger volume of water makes changes to the water take longer. The tank won't crash overnight like a small 10 gallon tank could.

[@lindsaywebb1904]

Good tips. I would add buy quality. 10 plus years ago when I was trying to make records I bought a bunch of studio gear for my home studio - compressors, EQs, preamps; most of it second hand. When I came to sell it recently, I got my money back and in some cases made a tidy profit. Also, the paint of the extra cost of buying quality upfront reduces the risk of making a rushed ultimately unnecessary decision

[@artcamp7]

That's great advice from someone with their heart in the right place

[@IvelinaDobreva]

I totally agree with you. Sometimes we want the most expensive gear but we don't need it or we don't even know how to use it. It is better to do a research and buy what you need based on your specific needs.

[@WoltyBird]

Tip 4 is something so many people need to hear nowdays. Not just for audio but just for buying anything. Especially here in Sweden, tons of people are buying all their non-essentials on "buy now pay later" platforms. Which just ends up costing more money, money they didn't even have in the first place. I'm all for people buying the things they want but man, some just need to learn financial responsibility

[@PowPresents]

Great advice. It can be really hard sometimes to hold back on gear purchases, and this serves as a nice reminder to at least be sensible about the gear you do buy.

[@nickkester4486]

On "Buying the Dream": I'm glad I dodged this bullet earlier. As tempting as it was to buy a Focusrite 2i2 and an SM7b and call it an 'investment'. I gave it a bit of distance, and found a gently used Shure Beta 58a and a Barringer UMC 202HD for a quarter of the price. Met functionally all of my needs.

[@Tewahedo]

You're a wise man Nick

[@nickkester4486]

@@Tewahedo Ahhhh shucks, man.

[@RetroPlus]

Buying used is always smart

[@simon_patterson]

Smart man. I'm struggling to see the benefit in getting the Focusrite over the Behringer, other than they seem to have given a lot of free products to a lot of KZbinrs, and so we're flooded with gushing praise of it at the moment. The Behringer options seem so much better for a much lower price!

[@nickkester4486]

@@simon_patterson I'm not too proud to admit that the Focusrite is a beautiful product. Looking good/nice packaging & "Image" can move a lot of product. Especially when the product performs not half bad. But if figure- if I manage to actually manage to make enough money to make it a worthy investment, an upgrade won't be out of the question down the line.

[@konvicism]

Always a pleasure to see a general video from Bandrew

[@kevinb3812]

Thanks for speaking truth! You're encouraging all of us to take a breath and reconsider what we want or need and weigh it out on a cost/benefit scale. That's all good!!! Encouraging patience is a virtue. Will you still be using this and liking it 2 months from now! Most of us get wrapped up in dreams, but practice, research, refine and improve Ourselves... the Human is a very important part of the quality equation.

[@jas_bataille]

Now that I've been a professional in the industry for a few years, I am the most patient buyer you can think of. I literally waited 3 years to buy my first bass, wasn't happy with it, sold it, got the money back, waited another year, got advised by a top level instrument tech and bought my second bass today. I still haven't made my mind up yet on what kind of high-end in-ear system I'd like but I still have time. My audio interface is long overdue for a change but ...!! It works. It's stable. Maybe if I change... hmm actually if I change I *know* I'll run into issues I can't afford right now. Anyway...! Great advice :)

[@3dogrecordingstudio628]

I buy 90% of my studio gear through Sweetwater. I have developed a great report with my sale's engineer Perry. I tell what I'm looking for and he places a tag for demos. It's been a great experience working him Perry. Great topic btw. Good news for me is I've hit my maximum I/O for my studio. So for now I can't buy any outboard gear 😂. But microphone's there's no limit on those suckers 😂. Please continue doing what you do here. Thanks again

[@Podcastage]

I wish you luck on avoiding the constant urge to buy new mics.

[@Ronniezim]

This is all 100% applicable in the DJ space also. So many people think the gear makes the DJ…if you got the money..buy what you want..but only hard work going to take you to the next level

[@jasonthompson2059]

I struggle with content creator reviews and the hype lol, I appreciate this perspective and if it's coming from maybe a place of guilt at all then just know you're putting out a lot of good quality content thats quantitative and valuable as people research their mics. Yes, I imagine you sell a lot of mics, but those were going to be bought either way and you're helping people make an informed decision. To all the buyers out there, my personal advice is if you're looking at a mic, try to seek out at least one negative review and see what they say about it. After a good bandrew review I'm stoked to buy, but take his good advice of waiting and letting that thought simmer a bit.. I'll say though that I recently got an Nt2-a and it was podcastage that helped me get through the analysis paralysis. Wasn't even a glowing review really, but together with my other 'research' it was what put me over. So many good mics out there, another good point is that once you buy, stop looking for awhile! Get to know what you have and what if any limitations are, then fill any gaps as needed. I myself have a home recording space (guitar, keyboard, vocals) and do voiceovers and interviews for work, I have the nt2a, sm57 beta, ev76, xm8500, videomic pro, ntg2+, and a yeti.. Once I get a re20 and a set of pencil condenser, I'm done with mics (at least for a few years :p)

[@JunkBondTrader]

hah we have similar recording needs, and consequently, mics.. I have the 57, and soon after a 58, for stereo recording acoustic. Love Shure. Got the Video Mic go 2 shotty for recording live streams and not wanting to be right up on the mic the whole time, and I got an RE20 a while ago, which is mostly for recording videos, and streaming when I want quality, and then its great for singing/instruments too. All through a Motu m4. The SM7b is too obvious for me haha I like the odd choice, always. The SM7b sound is so familiar. Re20 has more character, which some don't like. Then I have a Blue Nessie which I haven't touched in years lol. Dynamic is the way to go for untreated rooms... and yes research is your best friend for buying, well anything, but getting the wrong mic or audio equipment is much easier than most things. The 57 or 58 is always a great entry option for XLR. It handles reflections quite well. Next on my list, a wireless lav would be nice. But yeah, it seems like all you'll need is one good mic, but then the more you learn the more you realize the shortcomings every mic has, in certain scenarios. It's good to have an arsenal.

[@paultaylor6556]

One of your best! IMO - THIS should be the first video anybody thinking about buying podcasting equipment should watch before your excellent recording gear reviews. Thanks!

[@perlichtman1562]

Great advice - I completely co-sign on it. Makes me think back to when I met an artist right after they bought the gear for their first album. They had spent over $2,400 on their first set of sample libraries right off the bat and later were disappointed with them that they literally gave them away.

[@jeremyryannoel]

This year has been an exception, due to preparing for my first short film shoot. Instead, I made sure every component could actually be used instead of needing replaced later. Biggest purchase? A used Sennheiser MKH 416, and a pair of Sennheiser EW100 body packs. Looking forward while replacing a Rode NTG4+ that sounds worse than I remember. Selling gear is a must at this point haha

[@ramzichouk4080]

The biggest mistake you can make is to talk about equipment, you should write and give yourself enough time to make a great script first

[@jeremyryannoel]

@@ramzichouk4080 Thankfully, the directors have it covered :-)

[@ramzichouk4080]

@@jeremyryannoel i thought you were a freelance filmmaker trying to make a short film.

[@jeremyryannoel]

@@ramzichouk4080 Nah just a sound guy, yet I do dabble with video.

[@charlesrocks]

LOVE IT!!!! I have been recording music professionally for 20 years, and I learned my craft in the box first before I started investing any outboard gear. The outboard gear I have invested in meets all of my criteria (Color, EQ, and Compression). So many people don't realize how versatile a good channel strip is versus a high-end mic pre. Also, Warm Audio. If you are a fiscal conservative, then you should own Warm Audio gear.

[@TheGaragebandGuide]

Fantastic! More vids like this please!

[@johnhricko8212]

(love the punch!) yep, many points apply to many 'consumeristic' behavior. 1) Think, 2) research (learn, optional) 3) if 1st time purchaser of X, go low end. (yes, you WILL get better stuff after #2...). .....and HAVE FUN!

[@ghostwriter1440]

Man I appreciate you taking a genuine interest in educating the viewers instead of solely plugging gear or shilling for companies

[@Podcastage]

Thanks for the kind words.

[@tomazzaman]

Short horror story of my overspending: Neumann KM 185 into Grace Design m101 into DIY LA-2A into RME Babyface Pro. So that I can sound nice to my mates on Discord while playing games. I'm not even a musician. I blame you and other audio KZbinrs for always showing me the shiny stuff :D

[@1BabaSalam]

Man, this is the most valuable video of yours I've watched here. I've of lately thinking about all those marketers out there who call themselves KZbinrs promoting "the best" this and "the best" that of equipments. In the end, they themselves don't use those equipments they promote, just for affiliate and viewship sake.Not many do advise people to try different equipments (mics, cameras and other gears) to identify which works better for their needs, voice and what have you. Thanks again.

[@BennyVibes]

I have a 21 day cooling off period with my partner from the first time I say I want/need. Gives us time to figure if we missed something, needs more research and sorting out budgeting. We have a kid so choices matter.

[@micahcottrell3488]

This is an amazing video. Thank you Bandrew! It is important to note, especially when you are starting out with any expensive hobby or practice, that you don’t need the professional level gear. I did not know this how ever when I was just starting out as a young lad in high school and made some not so great purchase decisions and had to learn what you’ve said in this video, the hard way. You can make great sounding music, podcasts, voice overs, etc. without the need for a $4000.00 setup. People do it all the time. And so can you! If you have the drive and the will power, you can do it!

[@violao206]

You are totally spot on with the advice in this video. I do not always agree with your reviews because I think we have different ears and also what we are going for, but I always find your reviews very helpful because you are generally super balanced and consistent in what you are looking for from a mic. That is a great yardstick for anyone. You also help a lot of people deflate their G.A.S. by me realizing that my gear is already up to the task. How I do tire of cork sniffing, particularly when my task at hand is just cranking out demos with a very limited audience.

[@MadeOnTape]

great advice on all 5 tips, Bandrew! Just like musical instruments, the paradox in which we find ourselves is this: ***the more experience we gain, the less the equipment "matters"***

[@kevinb3812]

Reminds me of Michelle Shocked in a campfire recording from a cassette recorder... it was really engaging, fun and low-fi. A Perfect musical moment in time. The musician transcended the limited technology.

[@jaymarksum6542]

Everything that was discussed is 100% accurate. I’ve noticed that I hardly use a lot of my previous impulse buys

[@cbarchitect1669]

I am so impressed by your clarity of thought, and your ability to distill to the essence of the topic. Well done, and much appreciated! cb

[@BasicFilmmaker]

"Unless your name is SoundSpeeds..." LMAO! And hey! I can tell thee future. I tell it to shutup a lot. Joking aside, love the formate. :)

[@geniussnake497]

Solid advice, thank you for putting things into perspective. Most people on KZbin don't bring up financial constraints as you did - thank you for helping us impulsive spenders!

[@caradabikeazul]

I used crappy equipment for all my life. Recorded a lot of stuff with crappy microphones plugged directly into the computer pink input. Now I have one Tascam US-1X2HR, an AT2020 and a Zoom H4n pro. And I'm like "Oh, my God, finally low budget!".

[@Podcastage]

It's inexpensive gear that should work well for you. happy recording.

[@nesics9405]

Just bought my first setup. Innogear Boom Arm AKG P120 Behringer Uphoria UM2 And a cheap XLR cable I think it's a decent buy. Did my research and I think it's fine :)

[@xerxesYt123]

Ah yes, i remember when everyone (relatively here in asia at least) went all out into buying the cursed unbranded BM-800 mic, and bought alot of expensive accessories/equipment to try making the mic decent. I did plan to make a video on why the mic sucked, and why many people in my country buy it, but i took too long and people have moved on to using better budget gear like the Maono branded stuff.

[@habibmahmood2079]

Good Greetings. Thank you for this brilliantly well made and well spoken and also, well suggested video. I am in the process of having to really do some learning and watching reviews over which mic I should buy at the moment according to the financial situation I have right now. Your advices are very truly resonant to indicate to how many errors I've made and how susceptible I still am in repeating those errors as I'm just having to desire for so many different things at once and even thinking about taking a loan in order to buy a mic but I fully agree in what you've suggested as to not indulge in impulsive purchasing and instead to just be patient and being more rationally reasonable with our choices for this. Excellent video. I really appreciate your insight for this. Stay safe and stay happy

[@TlhOnYT]

Podcastage turning into an investment channel 😅🙏👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@LambertDriveStudios]

From the mind of Tom Petty - waiting is the hardest part. I keep a wish list of audio gear in one small corner of my studio white board. If an item stays on the board for extended period of time I review it some more and then make calculated purchase.

[@kevinb3812]

Smart!!!

[@EU_DHD]

I recently won an auction for a beat up SM58 for $100. On its own it isn't a steal but I also got some SM58 clone as well as 5 flutes and a tiny maraca. I play neither the flute or the maraca but I now have an SM58 and get to explore how bad the clone is or isn't. I see it as I'm paying for a fun experience.

[@techmed-rainer]

Thank you, Brandon, go ahead!

[@DragonSlayerCommentariesHQ]

You are so right about the equipment part. I once bought a $65 boom arm I had to return days later because my desk didn't have enough space for it. Eventually I found the right purchase In a gator table stand and I love it. I also researched for several weeks before buying an audio interface, and I only did it because the Fduce SL40 mic I bought came with its XLR cable plus it was at a %45 discount on Amazon. I also bought my audio interface for a discount as well. The interface I bought was the Evo 4 audi9 interface with Smart Gain

[@nayefwasit8960]

Thanks for this video, Bandrew. I was almost about to spend my entire monthly allowance on a mic. You made me rethink my decision.

[@Saskiel]

I feel like I just got life advice from a video about audio equipment when I am considering to buy a gaming microphone o.o dude, this is awesome! :D Great video, much love

[@marcoscesar4880]

Every KZbin channel, podcasts, tutorial channels, food channels are using Shure Sm7b. Good for Shure, for sure.

[@onlymyopiniontech]

Great advice. Just to embellish your point, using this exact advice I am completely debt free including all vehicles, house and no credit card debt. Any and all gear purchases are with cash.

[@energieinfo21]

My dream was great video sound with good XLR mics and an external recorder - M5 stereo pair + simple 4-ch recorder. What I really use is (1) Videomic NTG (2x for stereo) and (2) a tiny self made Mid-Side-Mic with Primo capsules. Both work with the 3.5mm TRS inputs of my cameras, do not need synchronization in post, do not need special power supplies or battery and sound very good. They are not fancy but practical!

[@jasxn4534]

I just Upgraded my entire Audio setup. 1-2 years ago I used a blue snowball which had a humming noise because it Fell to the ground and some over-ear ANC headphones because I did not have any headphones dedicated for my PC. But a couple of months ago I wanted to Upgrade all of my Audio setup because I love music and I love creating music (in form of beats and so on) so I did some Research and decided that firstly I want to have the Beyerdynamics dt-770 pro 80 Ohms. After like 2 weeks of thinking about it I ordered them and I was flashed by the quality of the Sound that comes out of it. But I thought that they were a bit quiet, so I had to buy a headphone Amp. Then I decided to buy an interface and because of this humming that my current mic has just Upgrade that too. Now I am using my headphones at a Behringer umc202hd and a Audio Technica AT2020. I am really happy that I made this Upgrade because not only have the Sound that I hear gotten better, but even the Sound that others here from my mic too. I love all of my Audio Equipment and I don't think that I have to Upgrade anything in terms of Audio in the next 5 Years.

[@jordanthurt]

Sound advice (No pun intended). For the past 3-4 years I’ve been wanting a console - like an actual console. As much as I don’t truly “need” it and could make do without it, I’ve reached the point that it truly would be a useful tool and I’m willing to put the time in to saving for it. Going to be another couple years away, but I have actually been telling other people this exact same stuff as you did and I think it’s important to consider all of these things, especially before making very large purchases.

[@Podcastage]

Thank you Jordan. That's great to hear that you are taking the approach of saving up to buy the tool that you need as opposed to going into debt for it. I hope you're able to get that console and it makes your recordings significantly easier.

[@ezpz463]

These are not just audio equipment tips, but rather, tips for any purchase

[@kennethbailey7105]

I agree. (Continues to follow the podcastage trend, impulse buying the Austrian Audio OC818 after Bandrew calls it an instant classic but still waits for the Telefunken TF47 review)

[@LBJedi]

All EXCELLENT points! One addition to the section about scalpers; I will buy from a retailer 99% of the time because of ware tees/support. After I’ve researched a purchase to exhaustion, I’d be really upset if my perfect piece of gear breaks (which it inevitably will), and there’s no one to fix it.

[@hugohmx]

This is great advise, we sometimes are tempted to purchase more expensive hardware, because you watch a lot of youtubers or podcasters using the best of the best, i'm guilty of that as well. I've fallen into debt and lost the income I was used too and struggled because of my lack of perspective and patience. Thanks for this. Great content as usual

[@DrMuFFinMan]

Thanks for the good common sense advice, for some people this will hopefully keep them from falling into an audio pit. It's easy to convince yourself you need something or it convince yourself that this one product will make things so much better. Great video and advice

[@SoundSpeeds]

Ok, yeah... bla bla bla but what mic can I use to sound like Mike DelGaudio?

[@Echo_Covers]

i always come back to this video before adding something new to my studio. The main statement is "your capabilities and skills value more than the gears"

[@hypnosecoachinghombach7517]

buy nice, buy twice... if only it was so easy... Even if you buy expensive, you can still buy twice... or more times. Well... my greatest waste was the SM7B. And so far my best spends were the e965 and KSM105. The NTG4+ was such a waste. Later I got the NTG3+5 and I'm happy. I love both. I was so tempted by the MixPre3II, but decided for the Zoom F4. Later I got the MixPre3II and I'm happy. the list goes on...

[@Goat67]

Thank you for this. I was ready to jump in. I will relax and do some more research. I love your channel

[@AdamZollo]

I love your recent videos! Reviews are great but you’ve some good wisdom in that noggin too.

[@Eddylive]

There are a few guys that are an absolute must when purchasing audio, Podcastage, Tom Buck. Couple others. So good! P.s. have done all of these

[@JunkBondTrader]

I think there is a little bit of truth to being more motivated, and excited to use equipment that produces better instant results..Or being demotivated by finicky equipment that takes tinkering to get it right. But the diminishing returns on this phenomenon ramp up quick. A $5 mic vs a $40 mic is night and day. $40 vs $100 is significant difference. $100 to $500 is moderate.. $500 to $1500 is slight. Above that, it's mostly subjective. Many artists prolifically used the $100 sm57.

[@terrytorain5364]

really good advice. I got a little carried away with my new guitar center card in late summer. than something happened money wise that I knew was coming but was not thinking about. it's called winter!

[@CobaltFoxPlays]

I got the Shure MV7 on impulse at a retail store in-between the pandemic was opening and closing the stores to replace my 10-year old Blue Yeti. It was on sale, plus saved on shipping if I bought it online.

[@KenTeel]

Fantastic... what a great subject: Impulse and/or trend buying, a great subject for all guys in music.

[@grocko_music]

This was your best video, in general all your video are great, but this one and the one about the law of diminishing returns you help us ground ourselves and see thing clearer. Thanks

[@windpeoples]

Your advise is as valid today as it was when you posted it. Thanks!

[@davidmarley8387]

That list of people you listed are from the James Bond movies

[@SpoonyPizzas]

Hi @podcastage - any tips of foam placement based on room shape/size? How much foam we need? Does having a large piece of metal on the wall a bad thing? (Video suggestion??)

[@BrianMcKee]

Another thing is when you're buying a long production microphone like the EV RE20 you can usually find decent deals second hand. I got my EV RE11 for 130 usd which is a great deal and fit into my budget, unlike a brand new RE 16 at the time. Audio gear rarely goes bad, my mic is from the early 1980s! Another thing I'd say to keep in mind is when buying an interface consider the quality of the headphone amp and DAC. You could go super cheap with the interface but if you're also looking for a good DAC to accompany your audio setup you may as well pay a bit more and get something like the MOTU m2 and save money in the long run.

[@chrisburkhardt4902]

Sage advice, my friend. I can't tell you how many times i've googled "Best x for y" and then waited and found I don't really need that specific product. On the other end of that spectrum, I have an entire rack full of outboard gear. Some of it I use daily, and some of it I have used maybe 3 or 4 times in the past 4 years. Do I love every piece in that rack? 100% yes. Did I really need to spend the money on that 2 channel dbx 266xs unit? No....I have plenty of in-the-box processing options that could have gotten me the same result. But I was caught up in the "I want analog" craze. To anyone who is just starting out in the field, take these notions into consideration before you spend all this money on gear and software/plugins. The world's best violinist will sound better on a $50 violin than the world's worst violinist on at $100K violin.

[@kevinb3812]

Talent Matters!!!!

[@CitizenJane-]

Thanks for the video. I have a small budget with which to buy a small unit for field recording. While researching over a few months, I noticed the prices started to rise. One unit I was interested in has doubled in price. Add a few minor accessories and the price triples. And don't get me started on compatibility with your computer operating system !

[@sallopiccolo7336]

Yep. I went down this road a bit. Turns out my favorite mic to sing through for recording is a Shure beta 57.

[@evansnow]

Bandrew Orman over here! You're absolutely right. I am a stupid, stupid person when it comes to putting this into practice.

[@JAmediaUK]

Good advice. One other tip. Yes avoid the scalpers but also avoid grey market. Always buy gear from a reputable source. I recently bought a graphics card at about $1200 (yes 12 hundred) from a reputable outfit. The card failed after 4 months. I phoned them and a replacement was sent out the same day. (The curiour picked up the dead one at the same time.) Try that with a grey importer or unofficial distributor or discount place. When bought from unoffical outlets you find warrentees are often not even worth the paper they are on, no support, no firmware fixes etc. If it is your hobby, not a problem if it is , or you are trying to make it your career then it is a problem.

[@GroovyTakeON]

well...100% exactly. Before you start spending money on things that you may or may not afford or need - do the research, ask questions, don't blindly follow trends

[@adamhecht7308]

I agree with this 100%. Even from my industry (production sound) I started with a cheaper mic that got me by. When I started making money from my work and needed something more professional, I got a better mic. Basically the jobs paid for the tools as it went along. Work on talent (whatever it is) with what you can get. Even if the tool is cheap/crappy, make that thing sound the best that you can make it. I work with mics now that are over $1k now, if you challenged me to use my old Rode NTG 2 out in the field, I will make that mic sound amazing. Placement and talent is what is most important to learn first, then get the better stuff when it starts paying for itself.

[@Podcastage]

Thanks so much Adam. Cutting your teeth on some more affordable gear is a great way to go about it. It kind of forces you to learn good technique. It can be painful, but in the end can help. Have a wonderful day.

[@DoctorBrick]

Being patient is a great tip! I've never paid full price for any of the equipment I've bought. Do your research and find items secondhand if you can. It's well worth it and your wallet will thank you later!

[@adev8565]

Being patient also makes sure you avoid impulses. I know I fell into this trap occasionally.

[@Zadow]

I have so many bookmarks of things I wish to buy and half the time they get deleted, the other half I buy and have been greatly happy with the buyers remorse avoidance by keeping bookmarks that remind you and make you end up doing piles of research is great, really helps narrow down choice I do recommend

[@Podcastage]

Yeah. I find that most of the time I end up completely forgetting the thing that I felt such a strong desire to buy only 30 minutes earlier. It's very rare that I still think about something for weeks and weeks.

[@soulfulfool]

@@Podcastage I'm sucker for audio gear mainly headphones, found them beautiful :) same goes with tube amps. Cant resist it, they are beautiful and deliver amazing sound + made from really nice materials if you will to pay the price. Not many people understand it why I'm paying the price of a decent car for my audio gear 🤷‍♂ but it brings me such joy that not a one time it brings tear to my eye. But I never overdone it I'm buying things after weeks or even months of reading and watching reviews even customer comments are important for me. Never was left with empty bank account so I guess its not a sickness yet lol

[@johnheiser2604]

Spot on Bandrew. Research, research & research again. The make a considered purchase that is within your means that will serve you well for years to come.

[@tovsteh]

I also think the reason people by a lot of audio gear is because it looks so damn cool.

[@Podcastage]

That'd be an expensive set dressing. Haha. But people will spend their money how they want and I'm not here to tell people how to live their lives. The gear does look really cool though. haha.

[@simaminghui]

This is really helpful as I’ve had huge life changes that make me want to interview my family to make a multimedia family history or yearbook. Anyway, I’ve been overwhelmed with how much equipment is available. Thanks for this, on many levels.

[@SethAustin86]

Stumbled upon your channel and absolutely love your reviews and humor. Amazing tips! Impulse buying is a real thing 😅 Black Friday can sure get the best of you 😂 But I wish you nothing but success. New subscriber 👍🏻

[@GreenBlueWalkthrough]

Great tips and that has been how I was I was tought and found out myself.... Like I have the Blue Studio mic because I like the way it sounded and also it has the duel outputs and honestly the rest of it like the price and it has served me and my voice well for 3 years now. Also about the dream yes you should not let the idea of a product consume you but if you want that sound above nothing else and you thought really hard about it maybe then.

[@TheOptionalKind]

#4 is essential for daily life. I have old classmates that bought cars because of the trends and the clout behind the car dispute having a perfectly working car. Then to only put the car up for sale with take over payments.

[@drdelewded]

Tip # 1 Impulse buy the most expenisve gear you can finance. Tip # 2 Let me know when youre offloading it on Marketplace or Craigslist for 75-80% off retail when you realize you don't want to music anymore.

[@drdelewded]

This is how I got a Tube Tech CL1b for $2500 less than retail..

[@mikebauer6917]

A good way to look at buying better is being honest with yourself and asking if you are able to make use of what the better equipment offers? I’d love a $4000 Martin guitar, but as a beginner I still have plenty to learn before my entry level guitar is holding me back.

[@Taijifufu]

I impulsively bought an sm7b a while back. Didn't even know what XLR was yet. Didn't have a mic stand or arm. It sat for months before I got to use it. Turns out it doesn't even do my sibilant nasally voice any favors. I probably would have got a cheaper condenser mic and some sound proofing had I done more research. If only I found this channel first.

[@Glummi]

Great video! 👍🏻 So No.6: if you feel desperate to invest in your project, invest in polishing your skills rather than in your 3rd mike or 5th pair of headphones. 😁

[@sussvarman]

3:01 instructions unclear, learned how to moonwalk

[@ukulelebutterfly]

Good stuff. I agree. Before a major purchase, I take my time and wait to make sure it is what I need.🦋

[@andrew6889-p5c]

Always decent and thoughtful. Both rare and valuable qualities.

[@DWHarper62]

I purchased for my home studio the Audient ID14(v1-2 years ago, still great for the money)... AKG P420 (don't judge me, it's got great features and decent sound)... Shure SM57(Duh)... sE SE-7 stereo pair (Best value in SDC on the market)... Sennheiser e602(meh, it's OK, process the shit out of bass drums anyway)... Neat Worker Bee (Thanks Bandrew)... Kali Audio LP-6 (easily best monitor for the money)... Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro 250 Ohm (All headphones suck for monitoring therefore>>>)... Sonarworks Reference software... Presonus Studio One 5, artist version (Easily most powerful software for $99 one time fee)... Now looking to build the mic locker... I could be the poster boy for best value purchases...

[@DWHarper62]

@Nothingness No, just showing money well spent as I am now a producer for a local band... not the wastefulness Bandrew speaks of...

[@NirnBootMod]

Good advice.... I never do impulse buys I always wait weeks and keep researching. I always end up changing my mind in that timeframe.

[@ItaysAvitan]

You just put everything I already did. Genius. Thank you for great video.

[@KevinGenus]

I went to buy a Corvette in 2000, ended up getting a beautiful conversion van, on impulse. 20 years later, I can still do things in that van I could never do in Corvette, especially with multiple people. The moral of this story, everything he is saying is true, but vans are EXEMPT. Please continue.

[@Podcastage]

Haha. That's great you got a van that you've had 20+ years of use out of in many various ways. Drive safe and when the van is a rocking, I hope no-one comes a knocking.

[@DarkPa1adin]

Tech Gear Talk says buy nice or buy twice and it is true to some extent to minimise the loss of cost opportunity for earlier purchase

[@paulheartsongs]

All great advice. Thank you 🇦🇺 💗