Normally a guitar related problem for me - and I do still want to UG my AFX2 to an AFX3 once the FC12 is also available. However I decided this time last year to learn "proper" piano - but things escalated. In the last 12 months Ive bought (not in this oprder though):
Roland RD 2000 stage Piano
Roland FA 07 workstation
Novation Peak
2 Keys stands (once used as a desk)
Kitchen Worktop materials to make the desk
a Yamaha DBS 12 PA top (as a stage monitor/backling for the keys)
a Yamaha HS8 sun (to complement my A5Xs for low end synth stuff)
a Yamaha MG12UX mixer - as a USB interface and main mixer
a Behringer Xenyx 1002B - as a keys sub mixer on the stand
Prosonus Stidio One 4 (replacing Reaper as mu DAW of choice - though ill keep reaper installed)
Prosonus Fader Port 2
Several foot pedals(2 Roland pedals like the sustain one included with the RD, a Moog CC pedal, and 2 latching switches for the Peak).
Lots of cables, USB Hubs, hum filters and the like.
Adding it up - I must be up to around £5.5 to £6k - which is frightening....
Comments
https://soundcloud.com/bill-saunders
If you're recording that's another slippery slope. I've spent a small fortune on VSTs and VSTi's, which are are just a few mouse clicks away and (kind of) sneak in the back door.
Feedback
Id LOVE for the MG12XU to be available as a duel function audio mixer and control surface usable as a control surface....even at £200 or so more than the standard version it would be worth paying for - but its not (as far as I know).
Im used to an old Alpha Track when I ran Pro Tools LE a fews back - so a single channel control is fine for me.
http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/147260/first-track-in-ages?new=1
Something really weird abut the USB interface part. 0bd on he mixre goes into the DAW at -16db. 0db out of the DAW goes into the mixer peaking (peaks at +10) and a -16db out of the DAW goes into the mixer at 0db.
I have other interfaces (AFX/RD2000/FA) - and the AFX has levels out. 0db out of the AFX via the same USB cable hits the DAW at 0db.
Something odd with Yamahas driver or converters. I had a second mixer to try - and its the same so its not actually hardware "fault" as such - but I cant work with it.
Even playback via Media player is HOT - I have to reduce my PCs audio outs to 30 (rather than 80-100_ to get a decent signal into the mixer via USB.
As a "mixer" rather than an interface though its great.
Replacement is going to be a Studiocraft Signature 12 MTK (which I found for practically the same price as the MG). Still has twin bus's which I wanted and a USB interface (though only 3 rather than 4 stereo channels which is a little bit of a pain.
the Plus side is its 14 out 12 in USB though. Recordig multiple instruments is now possible (though cant see me doing it very often). More importantly though - it means I can route channels out of my DAW, into a mixer channel, and back into the DAW - either as bounced stereo track (say mixing drums, or guitars) or just a second track. Effectively gives me 12 real slider control of my Daw Levels
I have a Fader Port 2, which is great for automation, flicking around the DAW and the like (as well as track level control with the motorised fader of course) - but for "sub mixing" a group - and final mixing of tracks (as long as there arnt more than 12, but If I sub mix drums, guitars, BVs etc first shouldnt be a problem) - the Studiocraft will come in very handy.