Bargains

[MrGongGong]

I would be concerned about the longevity of anything called a Dragonfly!

Erm, that seems to be a plug in USB audio interface with a stereo minijack out
SO, given that you could buy an audio interface that gives you inputs AND a physical volume control
which will probably sound much much better from the same place for £46

Why would anyone buy the Dragonfly ?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alesis-24-Bit-Interface-software-included/dp/B00IBJ6NSU/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=usb+audio+interface&qid=1590333179&refinements=p_89%3AAlesis%7CFocusrite%7CMACKIE%7CPreSonus&rnid=1632651031&sr=8-2

[Dave2002]

Erm, that seems to be a plug in USB audio interface with a stereo minijack out
SO, given that you could buy an audio interface that gives you inputs AND a physical volume control
which will probably sound much much better from the same place for £46

Why would anyone buy the Dragonfly ?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alesis-24-B...2651031&sr=8-2

Or even this one - which may be rubbish (I don't know ...) - for under £20 - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B074P5PH...dDbGljaz10cnVl

It does have a volume control - though not an XLR input which the Alesis model seems to have. It does also have an optical input. That one doesn't seem to be a USB model, so needs another power supply, which is supplied with the unit.

Actually the Alesis also gives access to one of the Cubase DAWs - and is suitable for guitars - so it may be a good buy for people who want those features.

[Bryn]

Erm, that seems to be a plug in USB audio interface with a stereo minijack out
SO, given that you could buy an audio interface that gives you inputs AND a physical volume control
which will probably sound much much better from the same place for £46

Why would anyone buy the Dragonfly ?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alesis-24-B...2651031&sr=8-2

Firstly, the Alesis device is out of stock. Secondly it is resticted to a maximum sample rate of 48kHz. It's one possible advantage over, say the £50 Cambridge Audio DacMagic XP is that it is also compatible with mobile phones. The DacMagic XS, however, can handle sample rates up to 192 kHz.

[MrGongGong]

Firstly, the Alesis device is out of stock. Secondly it is resticted to a maximum sample rate of 48kHz. It's one possible advantage over, say the £50 Cambridge Audio DacMagic XP is that it is also compatible with mobile phones. The DacMagic XS, however, can handle sample rates up to 192 kHz.

Ok
Good point
I was only doing a quick search
I'm very suspicious of the whole HiFi DAC thing

[mikealdren]

Ok
Good point
I was only doing a quick search
I'm very suspicious of the whole HiFi DAC thing

Have a listen on a high quality system and you'll see that they do have a significant effect. Are some DACs better, well my experience is that they can affect the sound significantly and therefore some are better than others. I've recently been very surprised at how different amplifiers can sound too.

[Dave2002]

Ok
Good point
I was only doing a quick search
I'm very suspicious of the whole HiFi DAC thing

I am also suspicious of the many variants of software synthesizers. Some do sound different though - but it's probably due to the presets. A saw tooth wave should be the same whichever synth produces it.

Some do have some really nice sounds.

Just found that I do now have Helm installed inside my DAWs after all - so not only stand alone.

[KLawrence]

40% sale at europadisc on over 1500 titles - ends today (25/5)

https://www.europadisc.co.uk/offer/2630/Bank_Holiday_Sale,0,1510.htm

[Pianorak]

40% sale at europadisc on over 1500 titles - ends today (25/5)

https://www.europadisc.co.uk/offer/2...ale,0,1510.htm

thanks for that - some terrific bargains!

[Edgy 2]

40% sale at europadisc on over 1500 titles - ends today (25/5)

https://www.europadisc.co.uk/offer/2...ale,0,1510.htm

Many thanks,I've ordered the Paul Lewis Beethoven box

[teamsaint]

Bach 333 for £282 at Presto Classical.

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8469462--bach-333-the-new-complete-edition?country=GB&currency=GBP&gclid=CjwKCAjw8df2BRA3EiwAvfZWaDv-y8EFVODGa3NasAKCZUToOzQdgpXpAzxN__RSEL0pKRyCI0qyoRoC3dIQAvD_BwE

[kindofblue]

Bandcamp - Paul Zukofsky

If you search on the Bandcamp site for the American violinist and conductor Paul Zukofsky you will come across a large number of recordings on the CP label. Many but not all are from what would have been in the 60s/70s/80s contemporary works, so we are hearing one of the original advocates of the new music. There is Cage, Feldman, Scelsi, Glass, Xenakis to be had, but also Bach and Paganini. I'm currently very much enjoying Jo Kondo, completely new to me and it's superb. I've written on this page as the asking price for each download is 'name your price'. Wonderful.

[Dave2002]

Seems you might be able to listen to many of those Bandcamp recordings without downloading first. I thought I'd sample one with works by Cage, but it's still going.

[eighthobstruction]

....Band camp has a lot of ¬^/< on it but some real gems....

....Having not bought any smart clothes since 1989....today [wedding Aug in offing (not ships)].... I flashed out £180 on some cool ranking studs bruv....nice....NewChic....

[MrGongGong]

Bandcamp - Paul Zukofsky

If you search on the Bandcamp site for the American violinist and conductor Paul Zukofsky you will come across a large number of recordings on the CP label. Many but not all are from what would have been in the 60s/70s/80s contemporary works, so we are hearing one of the original advocates of the new music. There is Cage, Feldman, Scelsi, Glass, Xenakis to be had, but also Bach and Paganini. I'm currently very much enjoying Jo Kondo, completely new to me and it's superb. I've written on this page as the asking price for each download is 'name your price'. Wonderful.

Jo Kondo's music is fantastic and should be much better known in the UK than it is
I met him a couple of times in the 1980's when he was in the UK doing gigs with Frank Denyer
a really wonderful man and fantastic composer

[KLawrence]

A good price on the well regarded Sallinen/Rasilainen CPO box - £25.54 + postage (£35+ elsewhere):

Sallinen - Complete Symphonies & Concertos
Soloists, Norrkoping Symphony Orch, Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, Rasilainen
CPO, 2011 (5xCD)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Symphonies-Concertos-Sallinen/dp/B004P96WQ8/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=sallinen&qid=1592863125&s=music&sr=1-1

One copy only. I was tempted but will stick with my BIS CDs for now.