No New Gear Year (2023)

[aevai]

(Experimental idea)

I've spent the last year buying a lot of Eurorack modules.

I feel I'm at the stage where I have more than enough and I want to really learn to use what I have. Even simplify my setup a bit. Focus on actually playing and making music, and also build all the modules that I have bought PCBs for.

My plan is to try go the whole year (2023) without buying new gear and thought it could be fun to get together a group of people who want to do the same. We could all keep in touch and share music etc.

Maybe "easy" mode is reassessing mid year (or each new season) and only purchasing new modules at predefined points.

Anyone else interested in trying something like this?

Edit: Invite link to our discord server https://discord.gg/XsUg3tevuS

[HZR]

I'm in on that!

[steviet]

Love the idea.

Not strong enough.

[EPTC]

Do it. This is very commendable. Bravo to others who will join in, too!

Bonus Points: Remove a module every month for even less!

I love limitation exercises. What can you do with one envelope or three sounds, that sort of thing. Whats cool about a year with no purchases is you’ll be able to spend time on what you have.

Enjoy your freedom year!

[aevai]

Bonus Points: Remove a module every month for even less!

Definitely would take things to the next level of difficulty

[astrophage]

I’m all about a depth year as a buddy called it. Hey Kumie and that’s my plan. But something is gonna come out that I just have to have…

[Severed head]

(Experimental idea)

Maybe "easy" mode is reassessing mid year (or each new season) and only purchasing new modules at predefined points.

Sounds like the year hasn’t started and you’re already bending the rules to find a way slide some more gear in haha

Maybe cool to put the amount of money you’d normally spend per month/quarter on gear away into a piggy bank and then at the end of the year or whenever your experiment is over, and then use the large sum to either get a loved one something nice, produce a physical release from the years worth of recordings, or buy yourself a fancy piece of gear that you might normally pass on due to the high to drop that much at once.

[aevai]

Maybe cool to put the amount of money you’d normally spend per month/quarter on gear away into a piggy bank and then at the end of the year or whenever your experiment is over, and then use the large sum to either get a loved one something nice, produce a physical release from the years worth of recordings, or buy yourself a fancy piece of gear that you might normally pass on due to the high to drop that much at once.

That's such a nice idea!

[dubonaire]

I've posted this on a few other threads but I've limited myself to one to three new modules a year for the last, maybe, four years, could be longer. It's meant I've missed out on a few opportunities driven by the supply chain shortage and manufacturer exits, but it makes the purchase decision relatively well thought out and actually rewarding rather than having buyer's remorse. I still have maybe 160HP left in my rack so I have quite a few years to go which is an exciting prospect. You need to allow yourself the time to properly know what it is that you are missing or what could really enhance your output, and not jump at the next big thing and end up with a poorly integrated rack full of next big things.

Maybe that would be a more interesting and pragmatic approach for this. Set a one, two or three module target and then discuss why you went for that particular module. Otherwise this becomes an exercise in denial rather than restraint, and you'll probably end doing a Kramer "I'm out!" by March when something that would be great for you appears on the scene. I jumped on Stolperbeats this year and it has been a game changer for me. Why deny yourself that?

[aevai]

You need to allow yourself the time to properly know what it is that you are missing or what could really enhance your output, and not jump at the next big thing and end up with a poorly integrated rack full of next big things.

Completely agree, and have found this out the expensive way.

Maybe that would be a more interesting and pragmatic approach for this. Set a one, two or three module target and then discuss why you went for that particular module. Otherwise this becomes an exercise in denial rather than restraint.

Good idea, and probably more sustainable long term. I think the underlying theme is trying to be much more intentional.

[KSS]

Dubonaire -as usual- nails it when citing the difference between denial and restraint.

Either or both can be valid goals and practices and you'd want to be clear which you're after in this self-imposed course of action. <--I can't see this being an inactive process either way.

[meska]

I don't understand where come frome the GAS
in the past i was "poor" and no money for gear if you whant a new one, you need to sell the previoous one.
i do sell my (desktop)evolver for a jomox 888, and sell the 888 for an octatrack ect..

When you have time and not so many money, you RTFM, you have reflection about gear ect
Today i can buy "wathever" i whant , and it's easy to fall in the pit of juste buying gear without learning it, so i have rules:

When i start a euro systeme i start with a fixing number of HP ,If you whant a new modduls you need to removed one you allready have.
Once it's full, it's full, stop dreaming, about gear , and use it !
1year minimum befford thinking about new configuration.

During the use you will swape things : in theory there is no difference between theory and practice. in practice there is
but if somthings don't work as you where dreaming find a solution WITHOUT adding gear.
Whitch moduls or gears i have , that can do that , RTFM one more , find specific use and good combination of gear is the goal

And i have to confess, it's easy for me beacause i find Some years ago i need a small setup to be productive and fun
big studio where starting up everythings take 15min, you need to remenber how to use this because you JUSTE HAVE TO MANY THINGS is realy not fun IMO

[flossiezoo]

Great idea - I’m in!! Gotta stop spending and some peer pressure might help

[djthopa]

Im in too.
I got way to much gear, and little space left.
My economy will benefit from it.
Ill probably argue less at home too

[emojiseq]

This year I am going for mega-consumerism. I will buy an extra module for each one you guys don't. FR tho I am about 5rows of 200hp from having everything I want, painfully close but still $$$ away

[charlie2]

As someone who just started a spreadsheet of purchases I plan to make over the next few months (moving + rebuilding my studio):

[O1B]

You’ll be back.

[O1B]

OP-1 Field came out in ‘22.
So did Dirtywave - i think..
DFA-2, a few new Intellijels ,… Syntakt…
a few others…

Great Year… 2022.

2023 feels … even Better…!

($5k total for all of the above… $6k with a TX-6)

[Barm Cake]

Focus on actually playing and making music, and also build all the modules that I have bought PCBs for.

This! I've found building modules instead of buying factory built has stemmed my buying impulses and helped with learning the modules as I go along. However, this has led to a secondary issue. An accumulation of a shitload of parts, tools and all the other crap that goes with diy. My space where racks once occupied are now taken over with soldering mats, tools and stuff! Will keep an eye on this thread and may join you in this journey

[soundular]

Can we make a side bet thread to see who crumbles first? Bets would be placed with eurorack modules obviously.

[Stu B]

I’ve been cringing at my lack of fiscal responsibility whenever I’m not actually playing the rack. I’m probably going to sell all my percussion modules bar the DFAM in the near future too and return to a Ableton or a drum machine if I can find one I’m into. Also my Tape and Microsound machine. As fascinating as it is i notice I rarely use it.

[Sidiblue]

First of all, I wish you good luck in your approach which I find fundamentally positive. I have a total rejection as soon as it comes to things that are too communitarian etc. I don't believe in it basically. It's like smoking, you have to stop for yourself and for the right reasons (which I've been able to do for almost 10 years). To come back to the modular, I set a limit from the beginning. In eurorack I stopped at 7u 104hp for example and my whole mess fits on the same table (which is also a kind of spatial limit). On top of that everyone is different and has different needs, false needs, profiles etc. So the group approach lacks relevance but the individual approach makes sense.
Edit: Besides, writing this type of thread in a forum such as this one is like people who want to quit smoking and end up in a smoking room

[Kosmikos]

This year I’m getting a new synth, most likely another Sequential. So I’ve been thinking about selling a few things, and reining in the modular expenses, especially as I have more or less finished all my cases. Therefore I’m not really in the game of no new gear, but I could try the no new modules thing.

However there are a few 2022 modules that have been delayed that I have already planned for (looking at you Joranalogue! ), and I’ve got a couple of pre-order that will turn up in 2023, does that count?

Also I’m probably getting a new stomp box. Okay maybe I should abandon this thread…

[Agawell]

well I almost had 2022 as a "no new gear year"...

apart from a WMD Crucible (which I wouldn't have bought this year except for the closing down impetus)

and buying some components to build pcb/panel sets that I already had... of which so far I've built 9 with 5 or so left to build - plus a few totally DIY (expander for doepfer a-137-2 and a couple of lzx sync headers) - all for the cost of about 2 mid-priced modules...

2023: I'm aiming for low volume additions - maybe 1 per quarter... but it could go either way...

[Michael]

I’m in! Although I didn’t spend a lot on modules in 2022 I spent a bundle on a new case so yeah 2023 = no stuff. In fact I’m considering selling a few modules. Never sold one before.

(Experimental idea)

I've spent the last year buying a lot of Eurorack modules.

I feel I'm at the stage where I have more than enough and I want to really learn to use what I have. Even simplify my setup a bit. Focus on actually playing and making music, and also build all the modules that I have bought PCBs for.

My plan is to try go the whole year (2023) without buying new gear and thought it could be fun to get together a group of people who want to do the same. We could all keep in touch and share music etc.

Maybe "easy" mode is reassessing mid year (or each new season) and only purchasing new modules at predefined points.

Anyone else interested in trying something like this?