Summer Spending...

Any piano/keyboard players up in this fucker? I am going to get one this summer to A) aid in arranging for my acapella group B) play for my own personal enjoyment and C) help in making rap beats and techo songs. So my question is, what do you guys like to use? Any particular brands that are good or any ones to stay away from?

Since I cant keep my #1 passion, I am going to attack #2 (and maybe like #4) with avengence. I've been threatening to write a rap CD and an acoustic CD for years now, I am going to get 'er done this summer since I have no more project car. Anyway, if anyone has any favorite keyboard or other sound recording brands, please post up!

I was searching ebay for pool tables and came across this and thought of you

http://cgi.ebay.com/KEYBOARD-ELECTRIC-CASIO-NEVER-USED_W0QQitemZ230125040230QQihZ013QQcategoryZ16219 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

out of the way a bit but thought I'd post it anyway.

Talon > Keyboard

Talon > Keyboard

AGREED

Unfortunetly it's his money.

The KORG Tritons are by far the best. Expandable, full size, just dead sexy sounds and awesome quality.

For cheaper pianos, I usually go with Casios. You can get a nice full size from Guitar Center or Sam Ash for kinda good price. If you want some really basic, the cheapo Casios work well also. Make sure it has a headphone out and a MIDI out.

I play, not as much as I should. I'm mostly guitars, but I do everything. For my recordings I use a cheap Casio. It comes out good. I run it through multiple rack units, processors, and then finally some DSP effects and processing on the computer for final recording.

I could help you out a lot in this area. This summer since I'll be done with school, I'm going to start laying down more tracks. I've got many notebooks full of songs and tracks already started with a few throw downs. I'm looking into buying a good a/d (analog/digital) converter for my laptop right now because that's the only thing that is missing in my current setup... also quite possibly the most important also.

I'm a huge musician so let me know if you need anything.

I've got a Casio keyboard that I really like.

I've got a Casio keyboard that I really like.
Really? How many beers does it hold?

Talon > Keyboard
That was the first thing i was thinking

Really? How many beers does it hold?
What?

I agree with David, definitely Korg for keyboards. I also love Guitar Center... prolly dropped around $4k there between 3 guitars, a few amps and a whole drum set.

Righteous. I'm glad you guys know about this, I figured that you guys would laugh. Well, I've decided the new things I persue instead of cars is going to be photography and music. Sure, I am going to probably end up spending some dough on a small recording set up and a nice digital SLR camera, but at the same time this stuff could make me some money back, plus it doesnt really cost anything to continue doing like cars (ie gas, insurance, etc). I could make some of the recording stuff back selling my rap CD's and I know a guy that is part owner of a skate brand that I could do pictures for. So yeah, thats what I am looking at. Also, the parents would be like 100x more supportive of this. I am pumped, its 1:30 and I am not tired at all. I probably wont sleep tonight because I am too excited over this shit.

As for the recording, I know I am going to get the Lexicon Omega something or other USB device, a keyboard, and a slew of mics. I think the Omega has 2 mic ins and 6 line ins, but I can use a preamp to convert that shit. If I need more, I can get the 16 channel mixer from my old band. I think I will get one good quality vocal mic, a good intrument mic, and probably 5 SM58's or something to record my vocal group. For the keyboard I am looking at an M audio one like my friend has, it plugs into the computer and plays over that plus it has a drum pad (which is really nice). I think though, that I might just get a normal keyboard so I can just use the built in speakers as the M audio one doesnt have speakers. If I need a drum pad, I could always just get one of those cheap target ones. Granted, I wont get all this at once, I doubt I will get the bulk of this after a while, right now its just the keyboard I am looking for.

As for cameras, I will just pick up a used digital SLR and a couple lenses at first. I very well maybe able to pick up some green for my pics if/when I get good, plus if my buddy's company picks up I could get my name out if they are good pics. Yeah, thats going to be a bit spendy, but worth it I think. I have a lot of research to do on all this though!

Sure, I am going to probably end up spending some dough on a small recording set up and a nice digital SLR camera, but at the same time this stuff could make me some money back,

I used to, uh, "spend time" :wink: with a girl that was really into photography. She told me that the easiest thing to do is start photographing weddings. It took her a couple of months, but she ended up making such good money at it, that she quit her job and went out on her own.

I would recommend that you start your own business. It's very easy and doesn't cost anything in most states. Then you are able to advertise and look more professional. Spend about $100 on some nice shirts and business cards and you are all set. Oh, and the nicest part is the tax write off's. :naughty:

If you want any help doing that, I'll be more than happy to lend you a hand. I used to fix computers for friends and decided that I was going to do it as a side job. Well, little did I know, that I'm to the point of turning down work now that my name is out there. It took a little time to get to that point, but I always have my "normal" job to fall back on. That's the beauty of it, you can write almost anything off on your taxes, setting up the company is free and you get to make good money doing something that you love.

I probably make an extra 8 or 10k a year doing work and to this day, I have yet to pay any taxes on that money because of all my write-offs. Nothing like writing off my Xbox 360 and my Nintendo Wii. :cwm27:

Aw hell yeah! I've never thought of that! I know a couple people getting married soon (one should be to me, side story but shes amazing) and they might want some cheap pictures done. What about low budget high school seniors? Fuckin senior pictures are expensive as hell, I could do some for the kids with less green to work with. I could even get my pics hosted on a site and charge like $2-$3 per picture and host the pics of the skate kids I shoot. I could also do cheaper recordings of broke high school bands, at that age its about getting your shit on a CD, not the quality. And hell, if someone along the way needed their brakes pads or oil changed maybe I could help them out ;). Now I need a name... what could you name a place that changes oil, does wedding pictures, and records demos? ;) Nah, I am wishful thinking now, but seriously though if I can get into it, I definately will give this tit a twist. Thanks for the idea man! Oh, and watch out I may hit you up for that advice in the not so distant future :p.

The thing with photography is either make it or you don't. You do a bad wedding, and your career in it is over. My parents actually put a photo company out of business because they screwed up their wedding so bad. Senior pictures, I don't know how those will work out, but you really need a good setup with all the lighting, backdrops, proper flashes... it's a lot of work and time, and you really need time before you start actually doing it for real.

The thing with photography is either make it or you don't. You do a bad wedding, and your career in it is over.

Yep, that's one thing she mentioned to me. She had 2 cameras that she took to every wedding, a digital and a standard 35mm in case something happened to the 35mm film, which you won't know about until it's too late.

Aha, screw weddings. Take pics of the car, I personally believe it's much easier to take photos of something you enjoy, like pornos. Plus cars are stationary, so you can try out different angles. Try and pick up a Canon XT if you can :) If you have any questions about that, Dustn, feel free to ask. It's a great camera.

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/7237/preludeskybx7.jpg

As for mixing stuff, good luck with that! Some friends and I used to record music.. but I completely forgot what we used. It was about five years ago, and my drummer ended up moving, but I still keep in contact with him and I'll let you know what we used :)

The camera shopping list is already starting to form. In fact, I am about 30 min from going to a great new/used camera shop downtown. I realize I would definately need some practice before I went out and did any of this. I am going to go Digital SLR for sure, as much as I would like a 35 mm mostly due the cheap factor, but I dont like how you cant see what you're doing. Wedding pictures would be rough, because you can fuck shit up bad real easy. I would probably ask to take pictures along side a pro on a friend's wedding or two to get the hang ot it. Senior pics wouldnt be as finicky as wedding pics and I for sure wouldnt do that without practicing on a couple friends and my brother. You guys would be suprised though, I've seen professional quality pictures come from a guy whose setup consisted of a 35mm point and shoot, walmart lamps, and a little enginuity. Like I said before, if I did that I would definately not try to come off as a pro and my prices would reflect that. I would merely take pictures as an alternative to some of the home brewed point and shoot senior pics some of my friends came with. Yeah, this would all take a lot of work and a lot of practice, but hey, I plan on practicing and taking LOTS of pictures anyway, why not work for something right? Doing an occasional wedding or senior pictures for a broke friend or two on occasion would be a hell of side job.

Yes, Lucky I had noticed you were a good photographer and I had always wondered what you were working with. Its going to depend on how antsy I get and how much money I decide to sink into this, but I am definately planning on going Canon and XTi if I can. The XT and XTi are both great cameras though. I thought XTi's were like $1500, but I found them on ebay for like $700 which is definately not out of what I am willing to pay. We'll see what I can find used at that shop though.