Products User-reviews
- Short-cuts : Products
- DJ Gear >
- Hi-Fi >
- Resources >
- Misc. Products >
The T.bone EM 1000
By karnickel on 06/13/2008 at 18:00 Serious about music, want to make it your profession.
By karnickel on 06/13/2008 at 18:00 Serious about music, want to make it your profession.
See all user-reviews
+',height='+Math.min(screen.height,300)+',location=no,toolbar=no,status=no,menubar=no,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes');void(0);)
Characteristics 
Back-Elektret-Condenser Small Diaphragm suitable for live and recording.
Overall Opinion After this microphone fell into my hands, i was really content using it for acoustic guitar and tried to find out more about t.bone. Well, T.Bone is not a manufacturer, they just put their lables on china-stuff, which is ... truly good quality for the price. China improved a lot in the last years - you won't get anything better for a few bucks.
But then still, i like more, if the true manufacturers and model names would be used. This originally is a Takstar PCM 5000 Condenser Microphone. After i found out, i purchased the takstar flagship products cm 60/61, which were not so much more expensive, but turned out to be way better in self noise and frequency response, so i don't use the 1000/5000 very often any more.
I still rate it a 8-9 because of its price - note that there are better microphones out there, but those often cost at least double or triple, so if you are on a short budget, this could be your deal.
But then still, i like more, if the true manufacturers and model names would be used. This originally is a Takstar PCM 5000 Condenser Microphone. After i found out, i purchased the takstar flagship products cm 60/61, which were not so much more expensive, but turned out to be way better in self noise and frequency response, so i don't use the 1000/5000 very often any more.
I still rate it a 8-9 because of its price - note that there are better microphones out there, but those often cost at least double or triple, so if you are on a short budget, this could be your deal.
+',height='+Math.min(screen.height,338)+',location=no,toolbar=no,status=no,menubar=no,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes');void(0);)
Characteristics 
I bought these purely to get into Pro TOols at a cheap price, and now I am hooked. I use a Celereon with one gig of ram, not a powerhouse, but it works well for my production studio.
Getting Started The manual, as with most Digidesign things, was hard to read, thankfully the unit installed with no issues the first time I loaded it.
Utilisation The last version of Pro Tools supported is 6.4 and so far I have not had any issues with it, latency is fairly high if monitoring with effects and I have been able to use twenty four tracks at a time with my surrent setup.
Overall Opinion DIGIDESIGN DIGI-001
If you are looking to get into a home recording system and not break the bank, you might seriously want to look into the Digi-001. Yes, it is not the latest and greatest unit by Digidesign and no it will not work on any Pro Tools version above version six four. But for the price you can find these things, most people can live with the shortcomings.
I currently own THREE of these units that I use. I have one in my main studio. I have one set up in a live rig and one as a back up. Hold on to your belts, folks – I have done some patient auction house hunting and I have a total of $350 dollar U.S. in all three of them INCLUDING the software.
They are smaller than the 002 and the 003 so they fit nicely in small home or production studios, the have eight analog inputs and eight digital inputs via ADAT light pipe and two more via SPIDF, there are two XLR connectors with switch able phantom power and they contain the rack ears to mount them.
I ask you. What more do you need for that price?
I have recorded a full fifteen CDs with this set up and more live gigs than I can mention and they have never even so much as once had an issue.
Now the Pro Tools folks say they don’t recommend anything other than an “approved” or “certified” computer system to run the units. Here’s the thing, I am running one of the units, my MAIN one on a Celeron processor with only a gig of RAM. The only difference I notice between that system and the Pentium four I use live is, I can’t run as many plug-ins before it starts to lock up. There ARE ways around that though through pre-processing the individual tracks instead of live processing.
If you are looking to get into a home recording system and not break the bank, you might seriously want to look into the Digi-001. Yes, it is not the latest and greatest unit by Digidesign and no it will not work on any Pro Tools version above version six four. But for the price you can find these things, most people can live with the shortcomings.
I currently own THREE of these units that I use. I have one in my main studio. I have one set up in a live rig and one as a back up. Hold on to your belts, folks – I have done some patient auction house hunting and I have a total of $350 dollar U.S. in all three of them INCLUDING the software.
They are smaller than the 002 and the 003 so they fit nicely in small home or production studios, the have eight analog inputs and eight digital inputs via ADAT light pipe and two more via SPIDF, there are two XLR connectors with switch able phantom power and they contain the rack ears to mount them.
I ask you. What more do you need for that price?
I have recorded a full fifteen CDs with this set up and more live gigs than I can mention and they have never even so much as once had an issue.
Now the Pro Tools folks say they don’t recommend anything other than an “approved” or “certified” computer system to run the units. Here’s the thing, I am running one of the units, my MAIN one on a Celeron processor with only a gig of RAM. The only difference I notice between that system and the Pentium four I use live is, I can’t run as many plug-ins before it starts to lock up. There ARE ways around that though through pre-processing the individual tracks instead of live processing.
+',height='+Math.min(screen.height,528)+',location=no,toolbar=no,status=no,menubar=no,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes');void(0);)
Overall Opinion DIGIDESIGN PRO TOOLS CUSTOM KEYBOARD - STICKERS
Until you actually use a set of keyboard short cuts for the Pro Tools recording environment, you have NO idea how fast you can be when it comes to laying down and editing your audio tracks.
You are most likely like everyone else and using the mouse to go to the tool bar, hitting the drop down menu and then finding your desired option and clicking on it and then going through another sub menu to get to the choice you really wanted.
If you have a lot of disposable income, you may have purchased the actual Digidesign keyboard that sells for the over $100 U.S. Dollar range and are quite happy with that. If you are an average musician, you opted for the stickers that then get placed on your existing keyboard and do the same thing for fewer than twenty bucks.
I fall into the second category. I am now on my second set of these things. Second set? You ask. Why in the world are you on your second set of stickers? Have you worn them out?
Well, no. Not exactly.
The first set actually ended up peeling off the keyboard after about six months of fairly heavy use. The second set, ordered from the same company, has lasted over a year and is still going strong.
What is my recommendation for the longer life? Do yourself a favor, go to an electronics superstore and but a NEW keyboard, use a cotton swap with alcohol and wipe off the keys BEFORE applying the stickers.
It seems that on my first set, I just applied them on my existing keyboard and the oil from my fingers caused a less than good bond and hence the pre-mature lifting of the stickers.
That’s my observation, not that of the manufacturer. But a new keyboard, alcohol, swabs and stickers set me back a whole twenty-seven bucks, I can deal with that.
Until you actually use a set of keyboard short cuts for the Pro Tools recording environment, you have NO idea how fast you can be when it comes to laying down and editing your audio tracks.
You are most likely like everyone else and using the mouse to go to the tool bar, hitting the drop down menu and then finding your desired option and clicking on it and then going through another sub menu to get to the choice you really wanted.
If you have a lot of disposable income, you may have purchased the actual Digidesign keyboard that sells for the over $100 U.S. Dollar range and are quite happy with that. If you are an average musician, you opted for the stickers that then get placed on your existing keyboard and do the same thing for fewer than twenty bucks.
I fall into the second category. I am now on my second set of these things. Second set? You ask. Why in the world are you on your second set of stickers? Have you worn them out?
Well, no. Not exactly.
The first set actually ended up peeling off the keyboard after about six months of fairly heavy use. The second set, ordered from the same company, has lasted over a year and is still going strong.
What is my recommendation for the longer life? Do yourself a favor, go to an electronics superstore and but a NEW keyboard, use a cotton swap with alcohol and wipe off the keys BEFORE applying the stickers.
It seems that on my first set, I just applied them on my existing keyboard and the oil from my fingers caused a less than good bond and hence the pre-mature lifting of the stickers.
That’s my observation, not that of the manufacturer. But a new keyboard, alcohol, swabs and stickers set me back a whole twenty-seven bucks, I can deal with that.
+',height='+Math.min(screen.height,350)+',location=no,toolbar=no,status=no,menubar=no,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes');void(0);){kind=small}
Characteristics This is a Studio Condenser Mic.
Overall Opinion 
SAMSON C01 STUDIO CONDENSER
I have a pair of these that I have had since about the year 2000. I bought them as vocal Mics for my home studio and actually used them as such for several years, albums and demos.
The Mics are pretty decent sounding. They are large diaphragms and give a decent enough sound for the price but they tend to distort fairly easily under load. So I would not recommend using them in a Kick drum or on a powerful male or female voice. You will get some distortion even with a pad on your pre-amp.
They require 48-volt phantom power as do all studio condensers and you will find, as I did, that they sound a little thinner than your average large diaphragm condenser Mic.
All that being said, these can be gotten at almost any music store for around fifty dollars US and when you look at them in that context. They are a great Mic.
If you have an average voice without a bunch of power and use some distance between you and the Pop Filter, you will get good useable results.
I have a low baritone voice and I need to stand about 3 feet away to not distort it. My wife, on the other hand with her higher female voice, uses this Mic and sounds great on it. So if you look over the response curve and try it on some real world situation tests, you should get a lot of good out of these.
The unit comes in a cheap plastic case; one of mine is still in great shape the other has pulverized. Invest in the shock mount, you will need it to save you from stand, floor noise.
I have since moved to a better Mic but keep the Samson C01s for drum overheads and they really ROCK there.
I have a pair of these that I have had since about the year 2000. I bought them as vocal Mics for my home studio and actually used them as such for several years, albums and demos.
The Mics are pretty decent sounding. They are large diaphragms and give a decent enough sound for the price but they tend to distort fairly easily under load. So I would not recommend using them in a Kick drum or on a powerful male or female voice. You will get some distortion even with a pad on your pre-amp.
They require 48-volt phantom power as do all studio condensers and you will find, as I did, that they sound a little thinner than your average large diaphragm condenser Mic.
All that being said, these can be gotten at almost any music store for around fifty dollars US and when you look at them in that context. They are a great Mic.
If you have an average voice without a bunch of power and use some distance between you and the Pop Filter, you will get good useable results.
I have a low baritone voice and I need to stand about 3 feet away to not distort it. My wife, on the other hand with her higher female voice, uses this Mic and sounds great on it. So if you look over the response curve and try it on some real world situation tests, you should get a lot of good out of these.
The unit comes in a cheap plastic case; one of mine is still in great shape the other has pulverized. Invest in the shock mount, you will need it to save you from stand, floor noise.
I have since moved to a better Mic but keep the Samson C01s for drum overheads and they really ROCK there.
+',height='+Math.min(screen.height,166)+',location=no,toolbar=no,status=no,menubar=no,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes');void(0);)
Overall Opinion PEAVEY PC1600X
Peavey has certainly packed a lot of features into a small and rather tank like package with the PC1600X. Let’s just say that if you know midi and are comfortable with handling the commands that midi offers, there is really nothing that you can not make this thing do in your midi / DAW system.
It can handle programming and midi tweaking with the sixteen sliders, or you can also use it to handle you audio volume level and pan moves in your DAW mix-down.
I have used one for four years and it never failed to do what I purchased it to do and more.
The only real drawbacks on this unit are that it uses a HUGE power pack of the wall wart variety a whole 16 volts, the display is small and, at time rather cryptic and the volume sliders are not motorized and so you don’t get a visual representation when you go bank to bank as you might in a DAW use.
On the up side it comes with fifty presets that cover everything from Pro Tools presets to keyboards and Harmonizers so there is a good chance that you can use it right out of the box without anything more than some minor tweaking of the settings.
You will find that saving the settings you make is more of a chore than the actual programming, but worth it once you are done.
You can also name and save your presets so that you can have exactly what you want at your fingertips when you need it and named something that is good for you.
I retired mine earlier this year when I got a unit with motorized faders. But it still is working and I gave it to a friend that uses it daily in his home studio. These are great units and well worth looking into.
Peavey has certainly packed a lot of features into a small and rather tank like package with the PC1600X. Let’s just say that if you know midi and are comfortable with handling the commands that midi offers, there is really nothing that you can not make this thing do in your midi / DAW system.
It can handle programming and midi tweaking with the sixteen sliders, or you can also use it to handle you audio volume level and pan moves in your DAW mix-down.
I have used one for four years and it never failed to do what I purchased it to do and more.
The only real drawbacks on this unit are that it uses a HUGE power pack of the wall wart variety a whole 16 volts, the display is small and, at time rather cryptic and the volume sliders are not motorized and so you don’t get a visual representation when you go bank to bank as you might in a DAW use.
On the up side it comes with fifty presets that cover everything from Pro Tools presets to keyboards and Harmonizers so there is a good chance that you can use it right out of the box without anything more than some minor tweaking of the settings.
You will find that saving the settings you make is more of a chore than the actual programming, but worth it once you are done.
You can also name and save your presets so that you can have exactly what you want at your fingertips when you need it and named something that is good for you.
I retired mine earlier this year when I got a unit with motorized faders. But it still is working and I gave it to a friend that uses it daily in his home studio. These are great units and well worth looking into.
+',height='+Math.min(screen.height,232)+',location=no,toolbar=no,status=no,menubar=no,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes');void(0);){kind=small}
Characteristics I bought this as a recording mic, and it is now my main LIVE vocal condenser mic.
Overall Opinion SHURE BETA 87C CONDENSOR
I went for years perfectly satisfied with my old Shure SM-58 Mic. It went where I went and it fairy faithfully reproduced my vocals, such as they are. That’s all you really need a Mic to do right?
Enter the Shure Beta 87C.
I ran across one of these at a local music store and was looking for a condenser Mic for acoustic guitar and so I picked it up.
I was quite happy with the job it did on the acoustics and that was as far as I was planning on it going. Then one day I got a call to come and help a band out on an emergency situation where the bass player was deathly sick and they needed a fill in on bass and backing vocals. The problem here was my trusty old 58 was in the band trailer about a hundred miles away. So I winged it and grabbed the Beta 87 and headed to the gig.
I was absolutely floored by the difference it made in even my vocals. There was plenty of air and headroom and my vocals cut right through the cruddy mix at the dank little club.
I have been using the Beat ever since that day in all my live shows on my vocals. Let me also add here I have a LOW voice and I can usually distort the heck out of a Mic. As of yet, I have not had that problem with this Mic.
The only issues I have are that the shaft is smaller than a regular Mic and so you need the special stand holder for it and the casing is partially made of some form of plastic and has developed some cracks which are going to necessitate my sending it back to Shure to have the case re-done.
But given the sound and service it has given me, I think it is worth the added cost of that and maybe even adding a second one as a back-up.
I went for years perfectly satisfied with my old Shure SM-58 Mic. It went where I went and it fairy faithfully reproduced my vocals, such as they are. That’s all you really need a Mic to do right?
Enter the Shure Beta 87C.
I ran across one of these at a local music store and was looking for a condenser Mic for acoustic guitar and so I picked it up.
I was quite happy with the job it did on the acoustics and that was as far as I was planning on it going. Then one day I got a call to come and help a band out on an emergency situation where the bass player was deathly sick and they needed a fill in on bass and backing vocals. The problem here was my trusty old 58 was in the band trailer about a hundred miles away. So I winged it and grabbed the Beta 87 and headed to the gig.
I was absolutely floored by the difference it made in even my vocals. There was plenty of air and headroom and my vocals cut right through the cruddy mix at the dank little club.
I have been using the Beat ever since that day in all my live shows on my vocals. Let me also add here I have a LOW voice and I can usually distort the heck out of a Mic. As of yet, I have not had that problem with this Mic.
The only issues I have are that the shaft is smaller than a regular Mic and so you need the special stand holder for it and the casing is partially made of some form of plastic and has developed some cracks which are going to necessitate my sending it back to Shure to have the case re-done.
But given the sound and service it has given me, I think it is worth the added cost of that and maybe even adding a second one as a back-up.
+',height='+Math.min(screen.height,169)+',location=no,toolbar=no,status=no,menubar=no,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes');void(0);)
Characteristics Here is a sixteen channel rackable powerhouse featuring 1/4 inch jacks, XLR jacks and jkust about every combination you can think of is available. there are six aux sends to handle any situation you might come on.
Utilisation THis mixer is well thoguht out and you should be up and running in no time flat. The manual is great IF you should need it.
Sounds The board is amazingly quiet,. even in the studio.
Overall Opinion MACKIE 1604-VLZ MIXER
While a lot of people use this board as merely a live sound mixer, there is so much more that this board can do that people often over look it’s ability as a studio board.
It is a full four buss mixer so you have sub-mix capabilities of sending to four discreet locations which is plenty for a modest home studio. Bur wait, there are also up to six aux outs which can act as sub outputs as well for a total of ten discreet outs.
If you have a larger system, you have access to direct outs for channels on through eight (this makes a great direct hook up for live recording, such as to Pro Tools by Digidesign which has eight ins).
The coolest way to hook this up is to run the eight sub outs into an analog to digital converter, such as the Behringer ADA-8000, which will give you eight digital outs via ADAT light pipe and then use four assignable subs and four aux sends to feed the analog input of the Digidesign interface (Digi 001, Digi 002 or Digi 003) which gives you an unbelievable 16 inputs and still leaves you two aux sends for effects and the main stereo buss out for control room monitors. This is ALMOST a dream system for a decent studio, and what is really neat about this is that you can have EQ and effects on ALL sixteen channels.
There are a couple extra outputs like a mono out that can be used to feed a fold back system for the vocalist.
The one minor drawback is that the faders are only sixty millimeters instead of the industry standard one hundred millimeters. But for the several thousand dollars in savings over a “pro” board, I think you can live with the shorter throw faders.
While a lot of people use this board as merely a live sound mixer, there is so much more that this board can do that people often over look it’s ability as a studio board.
It is a full four buss mixer so you have sub-mix capabilities of sending to four discreet locations which is plenty for a modest home studio. Bur wait, there are also up to six aux outs which can act as sub outputs as well for a total of ten discreet outs.
If you have a larger system, you have access to direct outs for channels on through eight (this makes a great direct hook up for live recording, such as to Pro Tools by Digidesign which has eight ins).
The coolest way to hook this up is to run the eight sub outs into an analog to digital converter, such as the Behringer ADA-8000, which will give you eight digital outs via ADAT light pipe and then use four assignable subs and four aux sends to feed the analog input of the Digidesign interface (Digi 001, Digi 002 or Digi 003) which gives you an unbelievable 16 inputs and still leaves you two aux sends for effects and the main stereo buss out for control room monitors. This is ALMOST a dream system for a decent studio, and what is really neat about this is that you can have EQ and effects on ALL sixteen channels.
There are a couple extra outputs like a mono out that can be used to feed a fold back system for the vocalist.
The one minor drawback is that the faders are only sixty millimeters instead of the industry standard one hundred millimeters. But for the several thousand dollars in savings over a “pro” board, I think you can live with the shorter throw faders.
+',height='+Math.min(screen.height,226)+',location=no,toolbar=no,status=no,menubar=no,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes');void(0);)
Characteristics This is a rackable, twelve channel board with two aux sends and two band EQ.
Utilisation The set up on this unit is easy and straight forward and the manula is super easy to use.
Sounds This is a quiet, muti pupose mixer.
Overall Opinion MACKIE MS-1202 MIXER
One thing that today’s studios cannot get enough of is mixers. You need a way to get everything into your system and with all that gear you can either buy one LARGE mixer if the budget is good or get a lot of smaller mixers to sub mix everything.
Granted, a larger mixer is more convenient and makes life easier if you have the cash, but the smaller units can get the job done and give you more money for other gear.
Enter the older Mackie Micro Series Mixer. The Swiss army knife of audio mixing. I bought mine in 1989 and still use it every day and have had ZERO problems and even less complaints on it.
The main use in my studio for this one is as a keyboard and tone module sub mixer. I get two full effects sends and Bass and Treble control for four mono and four stereo sources from a space about the size of a cigar box.
The biggest compliant, if you want to call it that, is that the volume controls are rotary and not faders.
While on the surface this is a drawback, for keyboards and tone modules, and even when using as a drum sub mixer, it can actually be a blessing.
My mixer sits up and the knobs are easy to see and actually allow the mixer to be smaller in size that it would be with a linear fader so it can fit in more places than you might imagine.
The unit is well crafted in solid metal that shields it and makes it quite durable, as I said, I have had mine in DAILY use now for nearly twenty years.
It will make a cost effective addition to your studio gear and at the going rate, you can actually afford several of them for various things and still pocket enough money to get yourself a decent Mic.
One thing that today’s studios cannot get enough of is mixers. You need a way to get everything into your system and with all that gear you can either buy one LARGE mixer if the budget is good or get a lot of smaller mixers to sub mix everything.
Granted, a larger mixer is more convenient and makes life easier if you have the cash, but the smaller units can get the job done and give you more money for other gear.
Enter the older Mackie Micro Series Mixer. The Swiss army knife of audio mixing. I bought mine in 1989 and still use it every day and have had ZERO problems and even less complaints on it.
The main use in my studio for this one is as a keyboard and tone module sub mixer. I get two full effects sends and Bass and Treble control for four mono and four stereo sources from a space about the size of a cigar box.
The biggest compliant, if you want to call it that, is that the volume controls are rotary and not faders.
While on the surface this is a drawback, for keyboards and tone modules, and even when using as a drum sub mixer, it can actually be a blessing.
My mixer sits up and the knobs are easy to see and actually allow the mixer to be smaller in size that it would be with a linear fader so it can fit in more places than you might imagine.
The unit is well crafted in solid metal that shields it and makes it quite durable, as I said, I have had mine in DAILY use now for nearly twenty years.
It will make a cost effective addition to your studio gear and at the going rate, you can actually afford several of them for various things and still pocket enough money to get yourself a decent Mic.
