Where can I shop for professional recording studio equipment? What are the best brand names?
Where you shop largely depends on the sort of facility you’re trying to build or upgrade, and on how much you plan to spend. You can find quite a bit of recording equipment at retail outlets like Guitar Center, but you will find neither good prices nor expert assistance. Our local Guitar Center outlet used to be called “Rhythm City,” and was quickly redubbed “Rip ’em Silly.” There was a reason for that. Your other options include big on-line outlets like Sweetwater, Musician’s Friend, and B&H. There is no one particular outlet that’s better than any other; you’re best advised to do your homework online, find what you like and need, and then shop the best price. Some cities have great local businesses that specialize in recording. Atlanta, for example, has Atlanta Pro Audio (formerly Magic Audio). Price at these places can be somewhat higher than at a big-volume retailer, but you’ll get sound advice from real, working professionals who know their stuff. As for the best brand names, that
Tascam was middle-of-the-road. Once I stopped letting the lead singer spec the equipment, I bought Alesis recording equipment. It’s been a few years, but at the time our backbone recording gear was the Master Link CD mastering recorder and the HDADAT multitrack recorder. we used a studiomaster mixer, which is no longer available, and a mix of microphones. I also recommend a standalone compressor, particularly for percussion and guitar. I forget the places I shopped at, but if you start with Alesis, you will find some good onlne musician’s supply places.
