Ableton Suite 8 Full Version Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought Suite 8 to use mainly as a production tool but due to a power surge, my DJ mixer got fried. I had just bought a house and Live 8 was already a big purchase so I was going to be in trouble when it came time to make mixes for my college radio show. Turns out Live is a tool that I have always wanted. I started playing wth Tension etc. and found every one of them to be more than impressive for sound design but what really blew me away is how Live makes it possible to make blends that are technically impossible. If I have an idea, 99% of the time I can make it happen. As a college radio DJ, I have complete freedom to play whatever I want so anything goes. I actually mixed En Vogue's "Never Gonna Get It" with Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made For Walking" seamlessly which would be impossible with just the standard DJ setup. The best part is, when I do replace my mixer I can split up the tracks and actually cut them up myself with Serato. With "The Bridge" on the horizon, Live will probably become as essential as a turntable for me as a DJ. I know a few DJ's who think the digital revolution is bad and makes it so anyone can become a DJ, but really it depends on your level of creativity. If you want to just mix records and "Flash", you don't need this but if you want to do the impossible and flip intros and songs around on the fly....
I recently upgraded from Tiger to Snow Leopard which was causing Live and Garage Band to crash but within 2/12 days and three emails, Abletons tech support was able to solve the problem for both!!! This problem was related to Melodyne needing to be updated and I couldn't find any info on the internet. Excellent tech support!!!!
I can't wait until I have more time to delve into the real meat of the program but from what I've seen so far, I'll be blown away many times over. If you decide to get it, my only advice is to watch a tutorial on youtube, try it in Live and then go back and forth until it sinks in. Live has an initially confusing layout, but it becomes second nature quickly. Don't be intimidated.

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Ableton Suite 8 is a software package that gives you a rich world of sound, perfectly complementing the music production tools and features in Live 8, including 10 virtual synthesizers and a huge collection of multi-sample instruments and drums. These include Sampler (sampler), Operator (frequency modulation synth), Electric (classic electronic piano emulator), Collision (physical modeling instrument for authentic mallet sounds and creative percussion Tension (physical modeling string synth), Analog (vintage analog synth emulator), Drum Machines (classic drum machine sounds), Session Drums (acoustic drums), and Essential Instrument Collection 2 (wide range of acoustic and electric pianos, guitars, bass, drums, orchestral instruments, and more), and Latin Percussion (Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, and African acoustic percussion instruments). New for Suite 8World-class Sample LibraryWith the creative professional in mind, Ableton has put together a well-balanced and comprehensive tool set, including synthesis, real-world "Sound Objects," presets, grooves, templates and, above all, a wide-ranging set of beautiful sounds into the Ableton Suite 8 library. They worked with some of the world's top sound designers to create a comprehensive set of truly useful, high-end sounds, each one an instrument in its own right, for a total of 1,600 expressive sounds that are new to the line. The sounds are provided as instrument Racks with a finely calibrated combination of instruments and effects. No need to be quiet in this library.CollisionCollision is a unique virtual instrument for authentic mallet sounds and creative percussion. Co-developed with AAS, it uses physical modeling technology to reproduce real-world instruments such as xylophones, marimbas, and glockenspiels, but also provides enough depth to create truly dramatic new instruments and sounds.Latin PercussionLatin Percussion is a collection of acoustic percussion instruments such as congas, bongos, timbales, claves, shakers,

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Sony ECM-T6 Clip-On Microphone with an Omni-Directional Pick-Up Pattern Review

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(More customer reviews)I use this to record chorus reharsals so I can listen to the recordings later and sing along. It works surpisingly well--and yields a sound ten times better than without a microphone at all. I just wish its cord were a little longer so I could put the cassette recorder on the floor instead of in my lap.

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10-22-2007 - Brand New Item. Description - SONY ECMT6 ELECTRET CONDENSER MONO MICROPHONE

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Tascam US-144 USB 2.0 Audio and MIDI Interface Review

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(More customer reviews)I absolutely love this product for portable recording. I have a Dell notebook computer and have used this to record solo piano and my music lessons. The microphone pre-amps are pretty decent. I have used the mic preamps directly and have compared them with the same mics used through Grace One preamps. Surprisingly decent in comparison. The recordings of piano compared to a setup with a MOTU 828 MKII and Grace One's was really pretty good. I absolutely loved the large controls for gain on the top of the unit. Very easy to manipulate and more solid than other competitive product cheap knobs. The fact that this unit is USB 2 means that the recording quality can be far superior than USB 1.1 units that are going to limit whether you can do high quality recordings on multiple channels. The midi interface works great also in Acid and Sonar. The unit definitely will cause your laptop battery to drain faster if you are using mic inputs with phantom power but that is fine by me for the great functionality. Line in works fine but if I had any minor complaint it would be that it would be nice to have an effects insert interface. Obviously, this should not be a problem for line-in devices but is more of an issue for mic recording where you might want some outboard vocal processing. The headphone interface is good and I like the ability to use a mix between the computer and the external source into the headphones.

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The Tascam US-144, their follow-up to the mega popular US-122, delivers everything you'd want in a portable audio-MIDI interface and more.Record two tracks at a time with zero latency; whether you have a PC or a Mac, your song ideas go down in real time, real easy. Its size means you can take it anywhere you take your laptop, yet it's packed with features that make buying it an audio no-brainer. MIDI input and output, high quality mic inputs, 96kHz/24-bit recording (better than CD quality)-all the stuff you'd want without the fluff you wouldn't. The US-144: the answer to your recording needs.

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PreSonus FaderPort USB Automation Controller Review

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(More customer reviews)If you're looking to get away from mixing with your mouse and are looking to spend as little as possible... there are two big choices. PreSonus Faderport ($150) and Frontier Design Alphatrack ($200).
Faderport - PROS: PreSonus put most of their money into the fader... it's an alps fader used in many higher end consoles.
Nothing fancy. It is intuitive and to the point, but still has what I want and need... a good fader and transport control.
Easy to install.
Small.
CONS: Wall-wart. It is bus powered, but you need the AC adapter for fader automation.
You can only automate volume and pan. (protools user's! If you have a track selected with the faderport with pan automation, protools will lock to the pan control of the faderport and will not play back the written automation until you switch to another track. This is a known issue that PreSonus says they are working on for an upcoming firmware update.)
Alphatrack - PROS: Controls; volume, pan, EQ, plugins, and automation.
3 encoders instead of 1.
Jog and shuttle strip... (this is really cool.)
Bus powered.
LED screen with track/eq/plugin info.
CONS: NOT Intuitive... It took the guy at G***Center over 30 minutes just to get it to do anything. And after another 30 minutes could only get the fader, pan and transport controls to work. (I never did get to automate any plugins with it.)
The fader was sluggish and when it played back the automation in kinda shook and was loud. (check out youtube.com "faderport vs alphatrack" and see a side by side comparison.)
The LED screen was hard to navigate through and the user programmable controls (which only work with native software, not HUI emulation) are labeled F1- F8 which may take a while to remember.
Slightly bigger then faderport.
OVERALL: I went with the faderport. While there are a few quirky things I've had to deal with (in protools, so far it has worked great with sonar) it's still straight forward, serves its purpose and does what I need it to do. It gives me the ability to feel and touch a mix. The transport controls alone make it a great asset, not having to reach for the mouse every time I want to arm, mute, solo or record a track. As for the alphatrack, the fader on it alone was enough for me to steer clear. But, the fact that it was a fight to get it to work at all (and never saw it fully functioning) put me over the edge... I fight with enough stuff to keep everything running.


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The FaderPort puts the feel, vibe, and efficiency back into music recording and production. No more clicking through menus and drawing automation edits with a mouse. The easy-to-use FaderPort delivers complete transport control for fast and efficient recording along with ultra high quality, touch sensitive motorized fader for writing fades and automation.The touch-sensitive, long throw motorized fader on the FaderPort has the feel needed for recording perfect fades and writing volume, mute and pan automation in real-time. Solo and record enable can also be easily controlled with the FaderPort along with window selection, play, stop, record, and managing markers (locate points) for fast and easy recording. A foot switch jack is also included on the FaderPort for hands free punch-in/out recording. The FaderPort works with all Mac or Windows-based recording software including Pro Tools, Cubase, Nuendo, Logic and more.

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M-Audio FireWire Audiophile Digital Audio Interface Review

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(More customer reviews)My audio "system" is a Wife's Nightmare: 45 SE tube amp (about 1.5W), a DC Darling SE tube amp (about 0.75W), A 1626 p-p amp (~3 W), and a couple of EL84 P-P amps (Heathkit and Dynaco, about 15W each), plus a SONY TA-2000 "sand" preamp [truly excellent, BTW], a Phonodude tube preamp, a Quad 303 "sand" power amp, and a pair of 2A3 P-P mono-blocks under construction. Plus miscellaneous tuners, tables and assorted junk. Wires literally everywhere.
All this low-wattage stuff drives a pair of Altec A-7 clones (811 horns and University 15" HC woofers with ONLY a 6dB high-pass filter using big PP caps; NO low pass filter, just natural drop-off of the woofers). Speaker efficiency is about 103-106dB/W at one meter, so 1 W is all you really need indoors. You audionuts will also recognize that this also means that I can hear ANYTHING and EVERYTHING (clicks, buzz, hum, thumps, etc) with these speakers, so any coloration from the equipment will show-up in spades.
If you can understand all that audio gibberish, you'll recognize that I am (a) nuts, and (b)probably pretty good with a soldering iron and oscilloscope. Guilty on both counts.
Since my teenagers are iPod fanatics, I discovered that Apple iTunes has a proprietary coding called Apple Lossless, which allows you to rip stuff to a hard-disk in ~half the space of a CD with no loss of audio data. So as a digital music experiment I sprung for a 512Meg 40 Gig Mac Mini and added a CHEAP 200 Gig Seagate external disk. The Mac is tiny and essentially noiseless; seemed perfect for the application.
I got the M-Audio Firewire as a soundcard for the Mac Mini, figuring I could use it with any of our PCs if the Mac experiment didn't work-out. Web reviews seemed uniformly excellent so I didn't think there was much risk.
NOW one side of the giant home-built audio table is digital; MAC Min w/ Seagate 200 G HD, old keyboard and small LCD, and the M-Audio Audiphile Firewire. The M-Audio Audiophile is usually hooked to the Sony TA-2000 preamp BOTH in and out, with the Heavy Iron (vacuum tube stuff) on the lower shelves. We have about 12 DAYS of music in there now. DAYS, I said.
To rip vinyl to the MAC I use ClickRepair and Amadeus programs [both highly recommended and VERY easy to learn]. The Sony allows monitoring with any of the power amps and the ALTEC speakers, or I can use headphones plugged into the SONY OR the Firewire.
To play digital, we just click on the iTunes and switch the Sony to AUX.
This set-up literally allows me to compare computer digital (thru firewire)with CD player (a moderate priced Sansui) with "real" vinyl (currently from Thorens 318 table with various cartridges; not fancy but pretty nice).
The sound from the Firewire is completely colorless, as near as I can tell. That's high praise, coming from a Tube Guy.
Comparing digitized (er, RIPPED) vinyl to REAL vinyl is VERY interesting, as SOMETIMES(e.g. a high quality disc but with bad scratches) the ripped version played through the Firewire is more enjoyable than the "real" thing, as the S/N ratio is way better and much of the vinyl qualities seem to remain, especially if you're conservative with the digital doctoring (leaving-in the minor vinyl glitches, that is).
Some mono vinyl (esp. RCA Shaded Dogs)ripped with this set-up are simply terrific; one Anna Moffo disk of various Arias is a real stand-out with nice crisp upper registers, great depth, and the rustle of sheet music that you can't hear on the "straight" vinyl. The tube stuff and the Altecs probably don't hurt, but I figure that the Firewire's got to be performing very well too for this to happen, doesn't it?
I've had the Firewire for a couple of months, but I am writing the review NOW because the system just passed the ultimate test this evening; when I came home from work, the wife had powered-up the system herself (this alone requires a BSEE, a wiring diagram, and a flashlight. Rubber boots are a nice accessory, too)and was playing Ritchie Havens' "Here Comes The Sun" at full volume. Wow. Woodstock III (or whatever number we Boomers are up to now) right in the driveway. Very cool. Rock on, Garth.
Buy one. Only a few more $ than a good internal card, but works with any computer with a 1394 Firewire connection. Looks terrific, nice rugged construction (almost tube-worthy). Easy to install (warning labels ARE a little much, though), and once installed, just sits there and works great.
Gotta go play some ripped vinyl.

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The M Audio FireWire Audiophile is a compact, FireWire-compatible audio-MIDI interface that takes the legacy of M-Audio s award-winning Audiophile line to the next level. 4 x 6 audio I/O combines with powerful on-board mixing in a mobile package that s perfect for live performance, home recording, and digital DJ work. Stereo headphone output with A/B switching between assignable sources allows precuing for DJs and mobile musicians - and the assignable aux bus is perfect for creating dedicated headphone mixes and effect sends.You also get zero-latency hardware direct monitoring, ultra-low latency ASIO softw

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Belkin GoStudio Recorder for iPod (Green/Gray) Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this in order to record special music presentations in church (and rehearsals, talks, etc) where other (or more advanced) recording equipment was not available. I haven't used it with microphones beyond the on-board mics, but those functioned as I would have hoped- like a tape recorder for your iPod. Is the sound crystal-clear and studio quality? No. But I got exactly what I paid for (although, the sound is much higher quality than cassette recorders I have used in the past).
It is light-weight and very easy to use. I can't speak to its durability because I have been fortunate to not drop it as of yet. It may not look terribly sophisticated, from an aesthetic standpoint, but it gets the job done. If you are a novice with recording technologies, I think this is a nice piece of starter equipment because it has a simple, intuitive (to a point) design for not a huge financial investment.
--It does drain the iPod battery pretty quickly, but this has not been a problem in my personal usage so I didn't factor it in to my rating.--
I have also been very pleased with the way it handles input from a cassette player. Between the GoStudio recorder and iTunes, I was able to improve the quality of what was a pretty rough live tape recording. It actually minimized some of the hissing and distortion, then enhanced the vocals. This was a nice way for me to put our musical program on cd for distribution among church members who otherwise would have gotten the dubbed cassette.
I would recommend this product to other beginners as myself. If more advanced technology is available, this is obviously not an equal alternative. In cases where this is the only recording equipment available to you, it is a pretty cool gadget.

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Turn your iPod into a virtual, on-the-go recording studio with the Belkin GoStudio Recorder. With its highly portable and rugged design, built-in microphones for stereo recording, and a wide array of advanced controls, the GoStudio is the perfect way to record interviews, lectures, and music directly onto your iPod. And by simply connecting your iPod to your computer, it's a cinch to upload your new content to your blog or Web site, or to your Facebook or MySpace pages.

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Brand New Gli Pro Tx-6600rm Professional Rack Mount Am/fm Digital Radio Tuner with Remote Review

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(More customer reviews)Very cheaply made, flimsy, and did not pull in a signal from local station. Just a fraud, and then they charge you a chunk for "re-stocking" when it is returned. Don't walk- run from this piece of junk.

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BRAND NEW GLI PRO TX-6600RM PROFESSIONAL RACK MOUNT AM/FM DIGITAL RADIO TUNER WITH REMOTEFeatures:GLI Pro TX-6600RM AM/FM 19" rack mount DJ Radio tuner with remoteAM/FM Digital Stereo Tuner19" Rack Mountable60 AM-60 FM PresetsAuto ScanAuto SearchFull Function Remote ControlMenu Selector KeyLCD Color DisplayEasy Readout Rack panels included High Reception antenna included! Space Saving Design Tuner Digital Selector KeyFM Frequency range: 87.5 MHZ - 108 MHZAM Frequency range: 530 KHZ - 1620 KHZInput impedance: 1K ohmsFM Sensitivity: > 45 dBPower consumption: 10WVoltage Selector (115V/230V)19" x 1.5" x 9.5"Shipping Weight: 5 Lbs

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PreSonus Central Station Studio Control Center Review

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(More customer reviews)Prior to buying this box, I had my DAW's analog output directly connected to my studio monitors and used an old stereo receiver as a headphone amp. I would not have expected the Central Station to make such a huge difference to my way of working but it's been incredibly convenient to be able to control the system volume with a real knob, switch between studio monitors and a cheap boombox and to have the built-in headphone amp with plenty of volume. I can't explain why but being able to run my sound card (Digital Audio Labs CardDeluxe) at full output has made my mixes come out better in the form of crisper sound and better separation of instruments. Next step is to hook up the DAW's digital output to the CS so that I can have a custom headphone mix and leave it up during the tracking process without disrupting whatever mix decisions I've made. This box did exactly what I needed and helped me streamline my workflow without degrading my audio quality.

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The Central Station is the ultimate studio-monitoring interface for the modern digital studio. The Central Station features three sets of stereo analog inputs to switch between input sources such as: DAW, mixer, CD/DAT/Tape player, or keyboards/samplers. Two stereo analog inputs feature TRS balanced and the third stereo input features RCA inputs with trim control for level matching of input signals. In addition, the Central Station will accommodate two digital inputs via S/PDIF or ADAT lightpipe providing D/A conversion up to 24Bit/192kHz. This allows you to monitor DAW and CD/DAT outputs through the same professional quality converter for the most accurate A/B comparison and highest quality monitoring environment. The digital to analog converter offers the highest possible audio quality with over 117dB dynamic range and ultra high quality analog circuitry. The Central Station features three sets of monitor outputs, each with their own set of passive trim controls. The monitoring section also provides MUTE, DIM and MONO switches. In addition, the Central Station includes a set of CUE outputs that can feed headphone amplifiers and a separate stereo MAIN line level output.

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PreSonus Tubepre Single-Channel Vacuum Tube Mic Pre Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a great starter preamp.
When i first started recording i was using an akg perception 200 and tascam 122L. the 122 is a decent interface but is almost too transparent for its own good. All of my vocal recordings sounded lifeless and detached.
I purchased this inexpensive preamp and found that it certainly did add the subtle harmonics needed to liven up the tone.
I read online that many people thought that while this preamp is decent for the price, merely switching out the stock chinese vacuum tube can really enhance its tone. So I went to G***** C***** and purchased a replacement russian made groove tubes preamp tube and WOW, It really did make a huge difference!(the entire tube switching process took me about 4 minutes, i had never done such a thing before but it was very easy)
So while this is a nice little preamp, a simple $20 upgrade took the quality way above and beyond what you get out of the box.

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The TubePRE is the highest quality vacuum tube preamp in its class. Loaded with PreSonus award winning dual servo preamplifier, the TubePre affordably delivers low noise tube warmth for vocals, guitars, bass guitars, synths and sound modules. The TubePre noticeably outperforms preamps in low cost mixers and recording interfaces making it an easy choice for anyone desiring to enhance their recordings with the magic of tubes.

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Behringer HPM1000 Multi-Purpose Headphones Review

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(More customer reviews)I used these headpones last night. I've been a DJ @ a nightclub for 4 years and these are by far the best headphones I've had that were sub $20. They do well at blocking out outside noise as well as great range response in what you hear and it's well capable of boiling your brain from the volume level it's capable of producing!

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Multi-Purpose Headphones (sold only in sets of 5 pcs)

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Behringer C-1U Studio USB Microphone Bundle Review

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(More customer reviews)Tone and quality is EXCELLENT!!
Jenna Duckworth...will be famous..and she will remember your product

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Zoom H1 Handy Portable Digital Recorder Review

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(More customer reviews)Straight to the point: If you're considering getting a digital recorder and your needs are simple, seriously consider this one.
The sound is quite phenomenal for a recorder this size and asking price. (Zoom claims the H1 has the same frequency and SPL handing as their popular H2.)
Button/switch placement is intuitive and couldn't be simpler. Need the lo-cut filter? Slide the switch in the back (and the LCD will tell you it's on). When you're ready to record, simply press the big red button on the front. When done recording, press it again. If you want to hear what you've just recorded (via the built-in speaker or the line out jack), simply push the play button on the side of the unit.
There are several functions that will prove useful including adjusting the input level manually (from 1 to 100; *really* useful for loud situations like a rock concert) and being able to actually monitor audio during recording via the line out jack.
The unit records in MP3 and Broadcast WAV formats, in many bit-depths and sample rates. (Max for WAV is 24-bit/96 kHz and 320 kbps for MP3.) Broadcast WAV functions just like any other WAV with the addition of having metadata (like time and date) stamped into the file, which is great for identifying WAVs in audio editors that support the format. The H1 allows you to place markers into WAVs during recording for easy transport/identification during playback in audio editors as well. (The H1 will also jump to these markers while in playback mode should you push the "" buttons during playback.)
File transfer to your computer is quite fast. (For comparison's sake, the H1 uses Hi-speed USB 2.0 versus the H2's Full-speed USB 2.0. In layman's terms, the H1 is quicker than the H2 file-transfer wise.) The unit is firmware-upgradable. (Mine came with version 1.02; there isn't a newer version as of this review at Zoom's Web site.)
I knew that the H1 was small but I wasn't exactly prepared for how small. If you were to lay your palm flat, the H1 would fit inside it with room to spare. (I have average-sized hands.)
The H1 is so light even with one AA battery that it feels delicate. I wouldn't suggest banging it around. There's a connector for a wrist strap at the bottom of the unit (near the speaker) so if you're concerned about dropping the H1, it might be worth your while to connect a strap.
The cover to the microSD card slot can come open with just a nudge which might annoy you while handing the H1. (I should also note the cover is made of a hard plastic but looks like it might come off and break with enough force; just be careful as you open it.) The tripod mounting joint is also made of plastic so you might not want to overtighten when mounting the H1. Like most recorders, the H1's sensitive mics are prone to handling noise.
There doesn't seem to be any way of recording in mono; it would have to be done post-production.
Get the H1 Accessory Pack as well but also get a RedHead windscreen (or similar) to boot; the included windscreen in the Accessory Pack is great for voice/plosives and all but horrible for wind noise (which is not surprising since it's a foam windscreen). One needs more to baffle the wind only a "dead cat" type windscreen can provide.
I know I forgot things but I wanted to make this as concise as possible, pros and cons. It's simply a great recorder and I was not disappointed.
UPDATED EDIT: Since my initial review, two months have passed by, so I thought I'd give my updated thoughts. There are some reports that the H1 is draining batteries faster than normal even while the H1 is off. This is obviously not in every unit as I do not have this issue. (I had mine since official release, which was August 20, 2010.) A quick way to find if you have a defective H1 is to simply check the battery within a day. If it's quite low or no battery power, contact Samson (in the U.S.) and let them know.
There are users who claim that the H1 is shoddily built. My challenge to that is, What were you expecting for $99 USD? Gold? As I said in my review, the H1 is so darned light with a battery in it it's hard to not think of it as delicate. Is it so shoddy that users who are careful with their electronics shouldn't pick it up? Oh, heck no. It's not like the H1's casing is made of plastic that's so pliable it's pathetic. It feels solid enough at least in my hand.
Obviously, if your needs put you in a situation where durability is a concern, the H1 might not be for you. I would think this was common sense all things considered.
Of course, a note on the sound: It is quite superb. I've done (far) more than a bunch of recordings already and there are times where I have to check to see if what I'm hearing is coming from my monitors or in the real world. (I thought someone was presently mowing their lawn off in the distance when, in fact, they were not.) It's that good.
One last thing: At the top of the H1 page here on Amazon, you'll see a "Frequently Bought Together" section, which includes a 16 GB SD card. ***DO NOT BUY THIS*** as the H1 takes microSD cards, not SD cards. (microSD cards are much smaller (about the size of your pinky nail) and usually come with a SD card adapter.) What you want is something like this: Transcend 4 GB microSDHC Class 6 Flash Memory Card TS4GUSDHC6E. You can, of course, use the 2 GB microSD card that comes with the H1 if your needs don't require a huge amount of memory to record on.

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Brilliant Stereo Recording. Now in your pocket. Combining powerful recording capability with elegance and simplicity, the H1 Handy Recorder is Zoom's smallest, most affordable recorder ever. The H1 Handy Recorder features Zoom's renowned recording technology and studio-quality microphones in their easiest, most portable device ever. Now Zoom recording technology is available to everyone. And with an infinite variety of applications, you'll want to take your H1 everywhere. From musical performances, songwriting sessions and rehearsals to seminars, conferences, journalism or capturing audio for video, the H1 gives you clean, clear stereo sound effortlessly.

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Seismic Audio - SACE-24x8x50 - 24 Channel XLR Sends and 8 Channel XLR Returns on Fantail, 1/4" Returns on Box End Snake Cable - 50 Feet Review

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(More customer reviews)First off, at this time this listing is incorrectly listed under TOYS. Should be under Electronics.
Secondly, this has been a great stage snake. Our band performs a LOT and this snake goes into a lot of bars and pubs. I bought it because of the 4 monitor sends. However, I dont like the fact that the returns are 1/4". Would have MUCH rather had XLR returns. But, not a big deal, I bought some short 1/4" to XLR cables to make the conversation.
I've got several channels out on the snake but I dont know if its because of a lot of use or if something in the wiring went bad. I tend to test the entire snake once ever 6 months and mark any bad channels.
BUT... I'm not saying anything bad about the snake. For the amount of punishment we've put this thing through, it's held up great, especially for the price. I will be buying another one.

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Professional Grade 24 Channel 50 Foot Snake Cable

Model #: SACE-24x8x50
Sends: 24 XLR Male Connectors
Returns: 8 XLR Female Connectors (Fantail)
Returns: 8 1/4" Female Connectors (Box end)
Length: 50 Feet
Weight: 34 lbs
Condition: NEW
Stage Box is numerically labeled
Stage Box has a white surface for labeling above each channel
Fantail is color coded and numerically labeled
100% individually shielded pairs
22 gauge heavy duty conductors
Heavy duty steel stage box with handle
High quality XLR connectors at both ends
XLR Returns on the fantail
1/4" Returns on the box end
Heavy duty strain relief at both ends
One Year Warranty

Whether you have apermanent installationor mobile, this snake cable isrugged enough to handle whatever you throw at it - road ready and built to last.The quality of your sound can only be as good as the connections between the stage and the mixer and with this snake cable, each pair of heavy duty conductors is individually shielded, yielding crystal clear sound while rejecting extraneous noise. 1/4" connectors on the returns make this snake cable fit right in with professional power amps and mixing consoles without the need for converters or couplers. Awesome quality snake cables are very hard to find, especially at a decent price.The Seismic Audio brand was designed to make the professional musician, as well as the musician low on cash, sound great. With your purchase, you will receive one audio snake cable pictured and described above.So,put it in your cart today and get ready for years of trouble-free, crystal clear sound!

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Click here for more information about Seismic Audio - SACE-24x8x50 - 24 Channel XLR Sends and 8 Channel XLR Returns on Fantail, 1/4" Returns on Box End Snake Cable - 50 Feet

Zoom Tourtek Q3 Case for the Zoom Q3 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This case is fantastic! It is lightweight, VERY protective and does not add much size to the Zoom Q3, because it fits it almost like a glove. The case is made of a soft foam-rubber material, which (for example) will NOT prevent the device from getting crushed if you step on it, but is more than enough to protect it from the shock of a fall as well as the surface damage it might sustain in a fall.
The case easily fits into a jacket pocket or can be strapped to your belt, a bookbag or anything else using the belt loop. The belt loop has (very strong) Velcro on it so you don't have to remove your belt to loop it through, which I find to be very time saving and useful.
I have had this case for 1 year and still have no complaints. It is well worth it, considering the case that comes with the Zoom Q3 is a cloth bag that will not protect the device from anything but dust.
I highly recommend this case to ensure a long life for your device.

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Tourtek QCase for the Zoom Q3 Recorder.

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Allen & Heath Xone:42 Professional 4-Channel Club/DJ Mixer Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I love this Mixer! It is the best in the market and so easy to use. I recommend this mixer for any novice to professional. Combine with a cool pair of Pioneers CDJs and for get about it! I love it.

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#Dimension 14 x 12 x 3.3 inches ; 11 pounds# Shipping Weight: 11 pounds

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Numark 5000FX 12" 5-Channel Tabletop Mixer with Sampling, Looping, and FX Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a great mixer for anyone. I would recomend highly for beginners. It seems to have clipping protection which is awsome.

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Harnessing the power of Numark's custom digital processing legacy, the 5000FX is a 5channel tabletop mixer (with 3 phono, 9 line and 2 mic inputs) that allows you to control the most complex mix situations. With patented BeatkeeperTM technology, a DJ can autodetect BPM and simultaneously manipulate a mix from 2 different sources. The unit's onboard sampler (with 30 seconds of memory) and multieffects processing capability gives additional options, including smart loop and BPM synchronization. DJs can also scratch any audio source utilizing the unit's scratch/effect/pitch wheel. Offering superior audio effects and the most accurate BPM display on the market, the Numark 5000FX sets a new standard in tabletop mixers, delivering all the bells and whistles you'll ever need in one powerful package.

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Shure PG42-XLR Vocal Microphone Review

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(More customer reviews)I used this one church for specials. One female singer and a D-18, filled the Church with beautiful tone from 3 feet away. Recommended highly.....

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Specifically engineered for vocal reproduction, the PG42 side-address condenser microphone features a large cardioid diaphragm tailored with high sensitivity to clearly reproduce refined performances. A -15dB switchable attenuator and a high pass filtering switch guarantees Shure quality for every lead vocal application. The PG42 includes a Shock Mount and Carrying Case.

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