If I had a million dollars... at DVinfo.net

Mark Utley · January 30th, 2008, 10:32 PM

Poking around, looking at neat audio gear I'd love to own but could never afford or justify buying, I got wondering what different people's perfect audio setups would be. This obviously depends on the work you're doing, but with unlimited money to get whatever gear you need (want), what would you buy and what would you do with it?

(hope this isn't seen as a useless thread)

Jon Fairhurst · January 30th, 2008, 10:51 PM

With that much cash for audio... most of it goes into the building and acoustic design of the various recording, control room, editing and listening spaces. The equipment is secondary.

At CES in the Venetian I spent a little time in some of the high-end audio rooms. One of the most impressive systems - seemingly carved our of huge billets of aluminum, steel, copper, iron and gold - sounded like crap because they didn't treat the room whatsoever. They were playing a string quartet with most horrific resonances. I'm sure that the same system in a treated and tuned room would have been awesome.

Oh, and I want at least one matched pair of most any well-regarded mic you can think of...

Brian David Melnyk · January 31st, 2008, 03:43 AM

while i agree on the importance of a nice acoustic space for recording and monitoring, a creative handy person with some tools could achieve this for a reasonable price.
soooo, with my million dollars, i would buy all the high end mics and mic pres and compressors i could find. (also, a few Taylor acoustics, a Warwick bass, some vintage Ludwig kits, a few Strats and PRSs, more Mesa Boogies and vintage Fender amps oh, and a Virus keyboard.)
in the real world, i'm saving for an API 3124, a Focusrite ISA 428 or a SSL Alpha VHD (any suggestions on which???), lusting after a few Neumann KM 184s, and wishing i had the Black Lion upgrade to my 002.
i saved for a long time to get the UA LA-610 and a Neumann TLM 49, and very quickly learned why a good mic and pre/compressor are so very important!!!
I think i would also buy a really comfortable chair...

Wayne Brissette · January 31st, 2008, 03:43 AM

"If I had a million dollars
Well, I'd buy you a K-Car
A nice Reliant automobile".... ;-)

I think you hit it though. It depends on your situation. I've already spent a small fortune on gear and each time I've purchased something I've made sure it was what I've wanted. I actually have a list I keep of things I need to buy when my budget allows. Mostly things like a couple more wireless units, some wireless boom stuff, and one or two mics to add to my collection. I bought all the super expensive stuff already for my kit, now it's just adding the garnish.

Wayne

Stelios Christofides · January 31st, 2008, 06:31 AM

I would buy a nice cottage on a Greek island , a boat, stocks of good wine and live happily ever after.....

Stelios

Jim Andrada · January 31st, 2008, 07:26 AM

Is it still true that you can't buy land on the coast in Greece unless you're a Greek citizen?

If so you have an unfair advantage!!!!!

I think if I had unlimited funds I wouldn't do anything differently than I'm doing today except buy a fractional interest in a jet so I didn't have to waste half my remaining life in airport security line!

Stelios Christofides · January 31st, 2008, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Andrada

Is it still true that you can't buy land on the coast in Greece unless you're a Greek citizen?

If so you have an unfair advantage!!!!!

Jim
I don't think so. Here in Cyprus lots of foreigners buy land, especially British retired persons. They find it cheaper to live here than in UK and also just about everyone here speaks English.
But I'm sure there must be lots of nice places in the states to live a good life with a million bucks!!!

Stelios

Jim Andrada · January 31st, 2008, 06:16 PM

Stelios,

Thanks for the reply. I had firends long ago in the 60's who wanted to buy a small island that was for sale in Greece and told me that they couldn't buy it because they weren't Greek nationals because of some security concerns. But maybe this was a special thing about seaside property - and it was long ago.

My wife is Japanese and I used to live there myself. We have looked at buying land in Japan and I discovered that there is no issue with foreigners owning land - as long as they have the money - but a lot of foreigners think there is such a restriction.

Maybe when I get my million I'll come take a look in Cyprus!

Jimmy Tuffrey · January 31st, 2008, 07:16 PM

Girls, swimming pools, a boat. a few quid on wireless maybe, some clothes, more girls, sorry what was the question.... oh audio set up.... nah that would only need about £20k. Any way ; hot tub...

Yossi Margolin · January 31st, 2008, 07:17 PM

I'm working on my second million...... I gave up on the first one.

If I did have a million bucks, I'd be able to afford a professional sound guy who already has all the best toys.

Jonathan Jones · January 31st, 2008, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Andrada

I think if I had unlimited funds....!

I think the topic included a million dollars rather than unlimited funds. I have learned to make the distinction because around these parts, unfortunately, a million dollars doesn't really go very far any more. But I can't speak from personal experience, so I sure wouldn't quibble about a million dollar budget for audio.

I think the first thing I would do would be to budget some of it towards buying a little time at a few of the world's premiere recording environments and taking notes on what features I would want in my own dream studio.

Then I would hire an engineer to help me design a studio environment that accommodates as much of my compiled wish list as is affordable within the remaining budget. I will also set aside some of the budget enough to sustain production efforts for an expected 12 to 18 month period in hopes of conceiving, developing, and producing a dream production or two with requisite time and funds to bring them to market...

and then hopefully cash in on this investment for a profit.

Rinse and Repeat.

-Jon

Matt Buys · January 31st, 2008, 10:32 PM

Jonathan, I laughed so hard at your qoute I woke my wife up in the next room. Where did you find that beauty?
As for a million dollars . . . personally, I wouldn't want it because then I'd have no excuses for the lousy audio I would produce. On second thought, I'd probably hire Ty Ford for what I needed and spend the rest on a house somewhere on Mykonos.

January 30th, 2008, 10:32 PM	#1
Mark Utley Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Posts: 479	If I had a million dollars... Poking around, looking at neat audio gear I'd love to own but could never afford or justify buying, I got wondering what different people's perfect audio setups would be. This obviously depends on the work you're doing, but with unlimited money to get whatever gear you need (want), what would you buy and what would you do with it? (hope this isn't seen as a useless thread) __________________ Mark Utley

January 30th, 2008, 10:51 PM	#2
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	With that much cash for audio... most of it goes into the building and acoustic design of the various recording, control room, editing and listening spaces. The equipment is secondary. At CES in the Venetian I spent a little time in some of the high-end audio rooms. One of the most impressive systems - seemingly carved our of huge billets of aluminum, steel, copper, iron and gold - sounded like crap because they didn't treat the room whatsoever. They were playing a string quartet with most horrific resonances. I'm sure that the same system in a treated and tuned room would have been awesome. Oh, and I want at least one matched pair of most any well-regarded mic you can think of... __________________ Jon Fairhurst

January 31st, 2008, 03:43 AM	#4
Wayne Brissette Major Player Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 383	"If I had a million dollars Well, I'd buy you a K-Car A nice Reliant automobile".... ;-) I think you hit it though. It depends on your situation. I've already spent a small fortune on gear and each time I've purchased something I've made sure it was what I've wanted. I actually have a list I keep of things I need to buy when my budget allows. Mostly things like a couple more wireless units, some wireless boom stuff, and one or two mics to add to my collection. I bought all the super expensive stuff already for my kit, now it's just adding the garnish. Wayne __________________ Mics: KMR 82 i, NTG-1, MKH418S, MKH8040, SR77, QTC1, QTC40, SR30 Recorder: Zaxcom Deva 5.8 & MIX-12. Wireless: TRX900 stereo, Lectro 411

January 31st, 2008, 06:31 AM	#5
Stelios Christofides Trustee Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Nicosia, CYPRUS Posts: 1,080	I would buy a nice cottage on a Greek island , a boat, stocks of good wine and live happily ever after..... Stelios __________________ My Blog: http://steliosc.blogspot.com "I hope for nothing, I fear nothing, I am free" Nikos Kazantzakis

January 31st, 2008, 03:43 AM	#3
Brian David Melnyk Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Winnipeg Canada Posts: 532	while i agree on the importance of a nice acoustic space for recording and monitoring, a creative handy person with some tools could achieve this for a reasonable price. soooo, with my million dollars, i would buy all the high end mics and mic pres and compressors i could find. (also, a few Taylor acoustics, a Warwick bass, some vintage Ludwig kits, a few Strats and PRSs, more Mesa Boogies and vintage Fender amps oh, and a Virus keyboard.) in the real world, i'm saving for an API 3124, a Focusrite ISA 428 or a SSL Alpha VHD (any suggestions on which???), lusting after a few Neumann KM 184s, and wishing i had the Black Lion upgrade to my 002. i saved for a long time to get the UA LA-610 and a Neumann TLM 49, and very quickly learned why a good mic and pre/compressor are so very important!!! I think i would also buy a really comfortable chair...

January 31st, 2008, 07:26 AM	#6
Jim Andrada Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 2,211	Is it still true that you can't buy land on the coast in Greece unless you're a Greek citizen? If so you have an unfair advantage!!!!! I think if I had unlimited funds I wouldn't do anything differently than I'm doing today except buy a fractional interest in a jet so I didn't have to waste half my remaining life in airport security line!

January 31st, 2008, 06:16 PM	#8
Jim Andrada Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 2,211	Stelios, Thanks for the reply. I had firends long ago in the 60's who wanted to buy a small island that was for sale in Greece and told me that they couldn't buy it because they weren't Greek nationals because of some security concerns. But maybe this was a special thing about seaside property - and it was long ago. My wife is Japanese and I used to live there myself. We have looked at buying land in Japan and I discovered that there is no issue with foreigners owning land - as long as they have the money - but a lot of foreigners think there is such a restriction. Maybe when I get my million I'll come take a look in Cyprus!

January 31st, 2008, 07:16 PM	#9
Jimmy Tuffrey Major Player Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bristol U.K. Posts: 244	Girls, swimming pools, a boat. a few quid on wireless maybe, some clothes, more girls, sorry what was the question.... oh audio set up.... nah that would only need about £20k. Any way ; hot tub...

January 31st, 2008, 07:17 PM	#10
Yossi Margolin Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 85	I'm working on my second million...... I gave up on the first one. If I did have a million bucks, I'd be able to afford a professional sound guy who already has all the best toys.

January 31st, 2008, 10:32 PM	#12
Matt Buys Major Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Asheville NC Posts: 426	Jonathan, I laughed so hard at your qoute I woke my wife up in the next room. Where did you find that beauty? As for a million dollars . . . personally, I wouldn't want it because then I'd have no excuses for the lousy audio I would produce. On second thought, I'd probably hire Ty Ford for what I needed and spend the rest on a house somewhere on Mykonos.