Audio Myths

[aliasceiza]

Thing is, a card like a soundblaster probably sounds ok for acoustic guitar (I thought the Apogee sounded better noticably anyway), but try that with some other instruments :).

Always knew something was fishy about those Led Zepp reversed audio tracks on youtube :lol:

lol...there u go, thats just it! you liked the sound of the apogee, i liked the soundblaster! it just proves his point i guess. its all relative to the listener and their enviroment. im no noob when it comes to audio interfaces, DAW's and home recording / studio setups in general so i really appreciated the scientific facts behind the panels argument. comb filtering CAN explain probably 95% of what is "percieved" to be "better quality" audio.

i have to laugh (or i would cry) cause i was one of those people sucked into marketing schemes, forum reccomendations et al. luckily i realised the error of my ways a little while ago and managed to downsize / downgrade in gear price but not, so far it seems, on overall audio quality...so really this video just re-affirms things for me.

I liked the soundblaster too, sounded "WARMER!"

I can't believe that jar of stones thing though, and the $1800 power cord, out of it!

Good to re-affirm stuff you've learned the hard way too, lucky I didn't buy those $100 cables and stuck with my PWs!

Do you all reckon the same applies to guitar pedals?

I'm disgusted that a para EQ can cost $449, and a BB preamp can cost $399, a single button to make things louder for $250, in 3 pedals, I've spent more than my amp cost!

[Kloppsta]

hmmm....pedals i dunno. its gonna be a personal thing at the end of the day.

unlike most "recording gear" which strives to keep the input/output signal "pure" and un-affected (in most cases) pedals do the opposite. they are made with the intention of affecting the signal. some will affect the signal "better"(read: differently) to others and depending on your requirment that might equal a "better" pedal in your mind.

there are other factors like component and build quality. im sure most "botique" pedals that cost an arm and a leg will be made to last and stand up to abuse. you might find a cheaper pedal that does a similar thing sound wise but after a few hard gigs it could be buggered.

[Vince]

you might find a cheaper pedal that does a similar thing sound wise but after a few hard gigs it could be buggered.

If the cheaper pedal is cheap enough, you can just buy another one.

Seriously though... have you ever broken a pedal at a gig?

[Kloppsta]

you might find a cheaper pedal that does a similar thing sound wise but after a few hard gigs it could be buggered.

If the cheaper pedal is cheap enough, you can just buy another one.

Seriously though... have you ever broken a pedal at a gig?

this is true...but most "cheap" pedals i have come accross have been cheap for a reason. cheap components inside and out. i find there is a happy medium somewhere in the middle. i tend to buy pedals second hand when i can or i go for more obscure DIY stuff that friends or other people have made or really obscure vintage stuff that has fallen under the radar and doesnt cost a ton just because "Hendrix used it" etc.

i havent every broken pedals per se but i have broken a couple midi footswitches, sustain pedals oh and one wah pedal.

[Vince]

this is true...but most "cheap" pedals i have come accross have been cheap for a reason. cheap components inside and out. i find there is a happy medium somewhere in the middle.

For sure, the range of prices for any given pedal type is quite massive these days.

i havent every broken pedals per se but i have broken a couple midi footswitches, sustain pedals oh and one wah pedal.

That's never happened to me. But then again, like most guys, my pedals have usually been in metal.

I guess that a lot depends on the design of the casing (I imagine that a small, compact casing will be sturdier than a big casing with thin sides) The Dano mini pedals might be sturdier than the Behringer ones (also in plastic but different casing design).

Sometimes I wonder if we don't malign plastic a bit too much, after all, they make safety helmets from some types of plastics. Surely some plastics must be pretty strong?

[Terexgeek]

Possibly, but remember plastic safety helmets have a use by date and they have to be thrown away after an impact.

[Vince]

Possibly, but remember plastic safety helmets have a use by date and they have to be thrown away after an impact.

... They DO??

Oh... ok, then. As you were...

I knew about throwing them away after an impact but not about the "use by" date