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While there are no required equipment purchases for Entertainment Marketing courses, many students may want to purchase their own equipment. This is not an exhaustive list, but it includes items I have personal experience with and/or can confidenly recommend. Prices may not be accurate, but I recommend these items as long as they are available to purchase.
Disposable (loud environments):
Howard Leight Laser Lite Disposable Foam Earplugs - $25.64 / 200 pairs
Reusable (live music, performance, etc.):
Etymotic Research ER20 High-Fidelity Earplugs - 21.98 / Pair
Basic fit for most ears
Etymotic Research ER20XS High-Fidelity Earplugs - $24.98 / pair
Universal fit with multiple tip options
I recommend Etymotic Research Earplugs for most situations. They are affordable, easy to put in and take out, and provide an average of 20 dB of attenuation. This much attenuation can save your hearing! Remember that disposable earplugs will provide MORE attenuation at the expense of certain frequencies. In general, you should wear disposables in non-music situations. (for example: mowing the lawn, practicing your instrument in a confined space, attending pep rallies...)
Great Value:
Audio-Technica ATH-M20x - $49
We use Audio-Technica ATH-M20x headphones in class! These closed-back headphones are reliable, high-quality headphones that sound nearly as good as MUCH more expensive models.
Also great:
AKG Pro Audio K240 STUDIO Over-Ear - $65
I use a pair of AKG K240 Studio headphones in the classroom! These open-back headphones are accurate, comfortable, and feature a detachable cable with a screw-on ¼” adaptor.
A Music Industry Standard:
Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Professional Studio Monitor Headphone - $99
The ATH-M40x is also available in a wireless model with an optional wired connection. They're great!
Higher-end Mixing and Mastering:
Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro (80 ohm) Open-back - $159
Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro (80 ohm) Closed-back - $149
I own a pair of Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pros (the big brother of the DT 990 Pro) for my professional work. They are accurate, sound phenomenal, and the build quality is outstanding. They are also very expensive, and you probably don't need them.
This is far from an exhaustive list. Headphones are built for many purposes. Some are built for listening and make music sound GREAT. Others are built with a "neutral" frequency response, meaning they accurately recreate sound. If you mix your music on neutral headphones, there is a higher chance that your mixes will sound good everywhere (airpods, desk speakers, cars, cell phones, tablets, etc.)
Thinking about spending more than $100 on headphones? Talk to me! I can point you in the right direction based on your needs.
Handheld Stereo Recorder:
Zoom H1essential Portable Recorder - $99.99
Zoom recorders have great price-to-performance ratios, and the stereo microphones on the entry-level Zoom H1n are the same as on their more expensive models. I carry an H1n in my backpack and use it regularly. If you are a creator, a stand-alone recorder is an incredibly useful tool!
Small/Mobile Tripod
Neweer Flexible Camera Tripod $17.99
All-in-one Travel Tripod - Ball Head
GEEKOTO 77" All-purpose Tripod - $89.96
Medium-duty Tripod - Fluid Head
Manfrotto 190X3 - $399.95
Depending on the camera you own, I recommend either a sturdy multi-purpose tripod like the GEEKOTO or a small mobile device tripod to stabilize your phone. The cell phone tripod is a useful tool for any videographer and can help you record stable footage from unique angles!
If you are interested in larger tripods, please see me for recommendations.
SanDisk USB Type-C / Type-A Ultra Dual Thumb Drive - 128GB $14.99
For easily keeping track of finished projects without needing to upload everything to Google Drive, I strongly suggest buying a USB thumb drive. The linked model above is ideal, with both USB-C and traditional USB-A connectors (Most of our workstations are exclusively USB-C).
SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD - 1TB $99.91
If you're looking for a way to store entire projects, personal files, and media, I recommend an external SSD (solid-state drive). Make sure the SSD you choose has the right connection for your computer. For most newer computers (and our classroom workstations), USB-C is a good choice. There are many drives at many price points, and reliable brands include SanDisk, Samsung, and others.
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rev. 8-2024