Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,793
C
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
C
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,793
Better Sound for less money?!?!

A humorous but truthful look of the discussions about methods and gear for making music.


BIAB 2025:RB 2025, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,971
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,971
Cute. I liked the '60s industrial film look ('50 would have been B&W).


BIAB 2025 Audiophile Mac
24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP
Digital Performer11, LogicPro, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScorePro64/Notion6 /Overture5
Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7,028
Veteran
Online Content
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7,028
My mother-in-law is a pro musician. She loves that ZOOM mic. She has a couple of better ones, but she always comes back to H2.
Challenge was to get it in mint condition after they were discontinued and her stopped working. She didn't like the newer model H2n, she said sound was not the same...

My take, you have to search for the one (or two) that works the best for your own sound. For years, I used SM57 and SM58. I tried several others but just didn't like the recorded sound. Breakthrough came about 12 years ago when I discovered BLUE Yeti Pro. A very versatile, multi capsule microphone which works as an Asio soundcard and also can be connected to standard XLR equipment. It just sounded right to me. In past decade I picked up a couple of other, more "mature" mics, but BLUE has a very special place in my heart.

P.S. Funny thing that BLUE originated in the country I grew up, Latvia which came as a surprise smile (Blue stands for Baltic Latvian Universal Electronics)

Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 745
Journeyman
Offline
Journeyman
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 745
My H2 will record but no longer likes batteries - wall electric is just fine. Still, it is a great little mic.

...Deb

Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,717
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,717
funny stuff.... If I recall, a lot of those were sold.

Back a few years, at a songwriter convention in a west coast city, there were vendors set up in the halls and rooms. One of those vendors was a company called Gauge Mics.... they had the big name, high dollar mics set up side by side with the way less expensive mics from Gauge. With headphones on and an A/B switch for each setup, you could compare the two side by side.

For most of those.... it was nearly impossible to hear a difference and what difference there was, was for the most part, negligible, and mostly a matter of taste and color assuming you could hear it, when it came to sound quality. In other words, the much less expensive Gauge mics held up nicely to the name brands that were, on average, 10x as costly. https://www.gauge-usa.com/ Unfortunately for me, at the time, I had just spent $400 on a Rode NT-2A so I wasn't looking for a good condenser mic.


You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add nothing that adds nothing to the music.
You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.

The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,192
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,192
I have two NAIDANT mics. both small capsule, small body miccs. Both built into an XLR socket/plug housing.
One even has a "nutube" in it.
They sound really good, are very versatile and are robust.
https://naiant.com/custom_audio_reproduction_equipment/product_spec/msh-1-specification/
and
https://naiant.com/custom_audio_reproduction_equipment/product_spec/msh-4-specification/
neither are made now but newer, better models are available.
I don't always use them but the price, build quality & sound mean they have a perm place.


Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,971
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,971
My mic locker goes back to some Shure 545s and Altec mics I bought in 1969—still have them. Some mics sound better on certain voices and others suck on those same voices but sound great with other singers and that's a fact.

Having spent way, way too much money over the years, I found that the Neumann TLM 193 is the ideal vocal mic for myself and one other singer whom I record a lot—his tenor voice sounds nothing like mine which is a deep bass. That journey took me over 50 years.

I've never heard the one mic that sounds good on everything but have bought quite a few that made the claim over the decades.


BIAB 2025 Audiophile Mac
24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP
Digital Performer11, LogicPro, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScorePro64/Notion6 /Overture5
Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,114
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,114
I got rickrolled at 1:41! wink


-- David Cuny

My virtual singer development blog
Vocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?

BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.

ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.

PG Music News
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!

Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PST on Thursday, January 15, 2026!

We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!

Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.

Another exciting new addition is the new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.

There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!

Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Windows to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!

Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.

If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!

Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!

Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!

We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can process an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!

There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.

When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PST on January 15th, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.

Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.

Happy New Year!

Thank you for being part of the Band-in-a-Box® community.

Wishing you and yours a very happy 2026—Happy New Year from all of us at PG Music!

Season's Greetings!

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy holiday season—thanks for being part of our community!

The office will be closed for Christmas Day, but we will be back on Boxing Day (Dec 26th) at 6:00am PST.

Team PG

Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window

In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.

Watch the video.

You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!

Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe

This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.

Watch the video.

You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!

Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®

With your version 2026 for Windows Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!

These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!

This Free Bonus PAK includes:

  • The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK: -For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles. -For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles. -For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
  • MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
  • MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
  • Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
  • Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
  • Playable RealTracks Set 5
  • RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
  • SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
  • Android Band-in-a-Box® App (included)

Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:


  • 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
  • FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
  • MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
  • MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
  • Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
  • Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
  • RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
  • SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)

Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!

Forum Statistics
Forums57
Topics85,702
Posts795,010
Members39,935
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
Newest Members
Jwb2k, KJG, Peter_zzzz, johnmw, frenq
39,935 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 178
Noel96 116
DC Ron 97
rsdean 95
DrDan 91
dcuny 82
Today's Birthdays
Oxuhaj
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5