FOR SALE: AKG C414B XLS Condenser Studio Microphone. $590

FOR SALE: AKG C414B XLS $590

Excellent Condition, no scratches or dents. This mic is the studio standard for recording. It’s known for it’s classic, crystal-clean signal with no additional coloring at any frequency… making your track more flexible for post-production. I will miss it. I’m selling this because I need to funds to buy a Casio Privia keyboard (know anyone??)

Comes with original plush bag, shock mount, and adapter nut.
Here are the specs:

Get it today… it’s a great deal! And, if you’re interested, you can hear examples of the work with this mic on the vocal tracks for two of the songs on my record (“we will be back someday” and “gospel”) by clicking here

AKG C414BXLS Details
AKG’s C 414 B-XLS is a reference-quality microphone especially designed for accurate, beautifully-detailed pickup of any acoustic instrument. With new features, improved technical specifications, ease of use and available accessories, the C 414 B-XLS is part of the next generation of AKG microphone quality. This premium-grade update of the classic C 414 maintains the original’s distinctive timbre especially suited for recording or live reproduction of solo vocals and solo instruments.

AKG C 414 B-XLS at a Glance:

Five switchable polar patterns for placement and application flexibility

Elastic capsule suspension greatly minimizes structurally-transmitted noise from chassis vibration

Especially preferred for recording backing vocals/choir, acoustic guitar, strings and almost all brass instruments

High sensitivity,low self noise for ultimate accuracy
The C 414 B-XLS is designed to provide high sensitivity (23 mV/Pa [-33 dBV] ± 0.5 dB) for maximum response to any audio source. Its extremely low self-noise characteristics (6 dB-A [0 dB preattenuation], A-weighted) make it ideal for the most delicate source recording or the most demanding onstage application.

Five switchable polar patterns give you the mic you need, when you need it!
With your choice of omnidirectional , wide cardioid , cardioid, hypercardioid , or figure eight patterns, the C 414 B-XLS will quickly become one of the most-used mics in your collection! And verifying your selected pattern is easy: a two-color LED provides a quick visual indication of the current pattern. Plus, an additional output overload LED on the C 414 B-XLS gives you an immediate warning of mic clipping.

Elastic capsule suspension for minimal structurally-transmitted noise
AKG has almost completely eliminated structurally-transmitted vibrations that interfere and color the sound, thanks to a new elastic capsule suspension system. This ensures the C 414 B-XLS is as free of mechanical noise and vibration as possible.

The preferred mic for dozens of instruments
The C 414 B-XLS offers a new degree of reference mic perfection in many difficult recording situations. It is ideal for capturing the wide frequency ranges and broad dynamics of choirs, double basses, cellos and violins, tubas and french horns (and almost all other brass instruments), and Saxophone, clarinet and flute.

All of these improvements to the C 414 B-XLS are answers to requests from ever-demanding recording studios, broadcast stations and concert engineers, but AKG has accomplished them without altering the basic sonic character that makes the legendary C 414 one of the most in-demand mics in the business!
AKG C 414 B-XLS Features:

• 1-inch large-diaphragm pressure gradient microphone
• High sound pressure level capability and wide dynamic range
• Completely immune to electrostatic and electromagnetic interference from digital gear, computer monitors, etc. thanks to solid metal housing and transformerless output stage
• Three switchable bass cut filters and three pre-attenuation pads with LEDs for quick visual indication
• All switchable components operate in low impedance circuits for ultra-high reliability even in extremely humid conditions
• Three switchable bass cut filters and three pre-attenuation pads with LEDs for quick visual indication
• Optional R 414 remote control unit (available late 2004) for full control of all switchable parameters
• Includes professional shock mount/stand adapter

FOR SALE: JOE MEEK twinQ Dual-Channel Interface: $620

For Sale: Joe Meek twinQ Digital Audio Interface/ Dual-Channel Pre-amp:

$620.00 + shipping from Austin, TX. USA only.

Excellent condition. I’ve owned this for four years and bought it like new from a friend with whom I still keep in touch. It has a tube, so I’ve used it for getting a warm retro sound into my digital interface for recording vocals and guitars. The EQ is excellent. The compression is excellent. I love this unit. I will be very, very sad to see this beautiful piece of equipment go. However, I need to buy a new keyboard and i need the extra funds to do so (priorities, priorities). By the way, you can hear the Joe Meek twinQ being used on the vocals for two of the tracks on my record (with an AKG C414B condenser mic, which is also for sale if you are interested): “we will be back someday” and “gospel”, which can be heard here: www.listentobradley.com.

I am told that the twinQ is in high demand since it has been discontinued by the manufacturer. You may not find a used one elsewhere in this good of condition. There are some faint scratches on the top (not the face, the face looks virtually new) from being stacked in a rig… But other that, you find no fault with this. Contact me right away if you’re interested!  Bradblanco@gmail.com

The following text from the Joe Meek website:

“The Joemeek twinQ is everything you ever wanted in a dual studio channel – and then some!

We started with high quality Burr-Brown IC’s for the preamp, added an extremely musical EQ section and an optical compressor for that signature “Meek” sound. Then we included some new and innovative features, like an “Iron” switch that switches the IC front end to a transformer – completely changing the topology of the circuit. It even has 24bit, 96k A/D converters built in.

All of this comes housed in a rugged 2u chassis with a beautifully sculpted aluminum faceplate.

With sonic quality rivaling mic pre’s priced thousands of dollars more, the twinQ sets a new standard for

The Joemeek Digital Audio Interface provides high quality digital audio outputs plus the ability to synchronize to an external word clock. The digital audio outputs are compatible with most digital recorders, as well as Digital Audio Workstations and mixers. S/PDIF format is available from the RCA phono connectors, while the transformer coupled XLR connector provides an AES3 compatible output.

The Joemeek Digital Interface has highly stable onboard master clocks for low-jitter, hi-fi results. Internal sample rates of 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz or 96kHz are selected by means of rear panel switches. 44.1kHz is the standard used for audio CD’s, while 48kHz and 96kHz are widely used in recording studios. In general, the higher the sample rate, the better the audio fidelity, but the more disk space is required for the recording. For example, recording at 96kHz requires twice as much storage as 48kHz. Consult the manual of your recorder or DAW as to what sample rates it will accommodate.

Alternatively the twinQ may be set to the frequency of an external master word clock, generated, for example, by the studio’s recorder or DAW. When connected to the BNC socket provided, a suitable external word clock will be detected automatically and will override the twinQ’s internal word clock.

The front panel LED labelled ‘EXT CLK’ illuminates when the twinQ is successfully locked to an external word clock. To avoid distortion, care should be taken not to overdrive the input to the Digital Interface. The red LED next to the Output Gain control is labeled “PEAK FSD” which stands for “Full Scale Digital”. Occasional flashes are OK but if it is on all the time, turn something down!”

RIP MCA

Adam Yauch, The Hip Hop Buddhist.   He will be sorely sorely missed.

A Good, Good thing.

A very good, loyal friend of mine (with an enormous amount of integrity) is making this film to raise awareness and recruit resources so that this thing can grow. Check it out… it’s the real deal.

Impressionist Jim Meskimen Does Shakespeare in Celebrity Voices

From David, my brother’s FaceBook Page: Pop Bliss

David L. White

“Pure pop bliss. For years my brother and I have been fans of pop song writer Andy Sturmer. Sturmer (along with Roger Manning) was the brainchild behind the Jellyfish (i.e. one of the most ambitious power pop bands of all time. Check out their CD SPILT MILK) Since the early 90s, though, Sturmer has become a recluse, working almost exclusively in the animation industry. Recently, I’ve gone on an Andy Sturmer treasure hunt – tracking down songs he’s written or vocals he’s performed on CDs by other artists. It ain’t easy – a lot of this stuff is only on Japanese bonus tracks of Swedish pop bands. But I found this track by the band Rooney. Apparently, that’s Sturmer doing back-up vocals, but it’s hard to believe he didn’t also write the track as well. Good, fun stuff.”

…from Salon.com

SUNDAY, APR 22, 2012 08:00 AM CDT

No sympathy for the creative class

Taxpayers bail out Wall Street and Detroit. But there’s no help, or Springsteen anthem, for struggling creatives

BY SCOTT TIMBERG

(Credit: Benjamin Wheelock)

They’re pampered, privileged, indulged – part of the “cultural elite.” They spend all their time smoking pot and sipping absinthe. To use a term that’s acquired currency lately, they’re entitled. And they’re not – after all – real Americans.

This what we hear about artists, architects, musicians, writers and others like them. And it’s part of the reason the struggles of the creative class in the 21st century – a period in which an economic crash, social shifts and technological change have put everyone from graphic artists to jazz musicians to book publishers out of work – has gone largely untold. Or been shrugged off.

Click to Read More