How much have you spent on EuroRack gear!

[xenus_dad]

Reviving this, because I'm grappling with this myself. I started in December of last year, and, um, it's grown. I'm sort of relieved to see I'm not the only person that's struggling with this. I mean, I knew people deal with this, but it's sobering to do the math.

(None of this is to humblebrag, I'm genuinely kind of horrified by what's happened in the past 7 months. Even though I love it all! Hoping to chat with folks who have dealt with this and gotten their habits in check.)

(1) How much have you spent on your Euro-Rack to date ($k)

I added this up last night, and it's more than I thought. North of $18K. I started with a pair of Mother 32s and it's now about 27U of ~84HP, with another 6Ux84HP of DIY backlog.

I knew I'd put a lot into this but it was more than my internal calculations let on.

(2) Are you still happy you made the decision to get into modular?

I am! I've wanted to do this for years, both the musical part of it and the building electronics side of it (I do a fair amount of DIY). That said, I definitely now completely understand everyone's warnings to go slow. I'm kind of overwhelmed by what's at my disposal. It's too much and I need to strip down. I'm not learning what I have well enough before new things come into the system.

(3) How do you manage the cost so it's within your budget to sustain?

At the moment, I am fortunate to be free of debt and obligations (no children, house, etc) and have a decently paying job. However, I'm a bit weirded out that this is what all my spare income is going to, instead of, say, saving for a house. Spare income without longer term goals can be a trap.

I think in the future, I'm going to:
* establish a strict budget for myself for new things
* figure out a reasonable size restriction, taking into account that I like to DIY and DIY modules are harder to sell on
* set up rules for how much of cash from modules I sell I'm allowed to put back into new gear (something like, I'm only allowed to put 40% of the cash from selling modules back into new stuff, and/or I have to sell 2HP for every 1HP I buy until I get down to 9U of non-DIY stuff, something like that)

(4) How do you manage the constant urge to want new modules to play with (HAHA!).

Um. By buying them all? I recently got a Monome Grid, Ansible, and Teletype, and I have a Just Friends on pre-order, and that has exhausted nearly all my GAS for the moment. I think setting up and respecting the rules described above might bring things into a better balance.

[insoul8]

(1) How much have you spent on your Euro-Rack to date ($k)
(2) Are you still happy you made the decision to get into modular?
(3) How do you manage the cost so it's within your budget to sustain?
(4) How do you manage the constant urge to want new modules to play with (HAHA!).

1) I don't like this question.
2) Yes, definitely. It has taught me a completely different way to approach making music.
3) Don't get fired.
4) I wouldn't say I manage it very well.

[mliu]

(1) Around 8k
(2) Yes very happy
(3) I sold a lot of other gears, fixed architecture synths and drum machines, to fund my modular
(4) I don't know and I can't : (

[bedhed3000]

(1) How much have you spent on your Euro-Rack to date ($k)
(2) Are you still happy you made the decision to get into modular?
(3) How do you manage the cost so it's within your budget to sustain?
(4) How do you manage the constant urge to want new modules to play with

(1) I haven't been keeping track, and I'm not going to start now.
(2) Absolutely. One thing that is keeps me in the game is that you don't need to spend a lot all at once. You can (should?) slowly build up a system a few modules at a time.
(3) I was lucky enough to have a bunch of old gear I wasn't using, so selling those items on top of occasional vinyl sales allowed me to finance a good portion of my system (including case). Also, don't get fired.
(4) I've been trying to incorporate samples as much as possible in order to get a wider variety of sounds. This way I can hopefully lessen the urge to throw more modules at the problem.

[jfb]

Reviving this, because I'm grappling with this myself. I started in December of last year, and, um, it's grown. I'm sort of relieved to see I'm not the only person that's struggling with this.

I hear you. I'm a guitar player that got involved with this in late August / early September of last year. I have way more than need, just took receipt of more, and I might have some things on order. I recently looked into having a custom case made to house everything and the Modular Grid details were sobering. Half, maybe more, of my modules were bought with the funds from selling a couple of guitars so it doesn't feel too bad, but it's still a large investment.

(1) Less than what I would have spent on guitars in the same time frame.
(2) Yes. It's been a lot of fun.
(3) Initially, I sold a few guitars. Now, just usual budgeting.
(4) I manage GAS by making noise instead of shopping. The more I practice, the less I want. The more I shop, the more I want.

[Rabid]

(1) How much have you spent on your Euro-Rack to date ($k)
Oh boy. It is scary to think about. I have probably 100 modules ranging from cheap Doepfer to expensive Cwejman.

(2) Are you still happy you made the decision to get into modular?
It is something that I always wanted, so yes.

(3) How do you manage the cost so it's within your budget to sustain?
A decent day job, and not smoking or drinking. Eurorack is my drug of choice.

(4) How do you manage the constant urge to want new modules to play with (HAHA!).
I quit visiting the Muff Wiggler forum.

[anselmi]

(1) How much have you spent on your Euro-Rack to date ($k)
like 8K

(2) Are you still happy you made the decision to get into modular?
yes, I always wanted a modular

(3) How do you manage the cost so it's within your budget to sustain?
I´m a professional producer, so I put my system to work in others´people recordings

(4) How do you manage the constant urge to want new modules to play with
I don´t have it...I think there´s A LOT of the same stuff, so there is so little new that really catch my attention

[cptnal]

I think we'll see a pattern forming here...

1. Too much
2. Yes
3. With difficulty
4. I don't

In which case I am a typical wiggler.

[cackland]

I think we'll see a pattern forming here...

1. Too much
2. Yes
3. With difficulty
4. I don't

In which case I am a typical wiggler.

Agreed

[lisa]

1. About $10 000.
2. Yep.
3. I don't have a budget. I only get to buy modules if I make music.
4. I don't. But as stated I only get to buy new modules if I use them so it ain't any issue.

[racooniac]

1) ~5k€ in the first 12months and i am at about 25% of the size where i want to be
2) yes
3) i have a budget
4) i have a budget

[tioJim]

(1) How much have you spent on your Euro-Rack to date ($k)
(2) Are you still happy you made the decision to get into modular?
(3) How do you manage the cost so it's within your budget to sustain?
(4) How do you manage the constant urge to want new modules to play with

1. £6k but I've just downsized to a third of that in favour of dedicated hardware
2. Yes and no. Yes because there are some unique modules (which I've kept). No because I wrongly believed I could survive on modular alone. I found myself trying to fit round pegs in square holes
3. Selling gear, working hard
4. I over-indulged and eventually got bored of the novelty

[starthief]

(1) How much have you spent on your Euro-Rack to date ($k)

Probably on the low side of $7000. There's another approximately $2K of beta test units.

(2) Are you still happy you made the decision to get into modular?

Absolutely. There are three decisions I've made in my musical journey which I credit with my current satisfaction at how I'm doing things -- they're all related and the third was getting into modular.

(3) How do you manage the cost so it's within your budget to sustain?

I have a decent salary, no kids, an affordable home. I did spend about 4x what I originally planned for, overall. But I've been able to absorb that -- and some of it came out of selling some previous gear, or other hobbies I didn't engage in as much.

(4) How do you manage the constant urge to want new modules to play with

By limiting the physical size. I want my entire studio in arm's reach while sitting at my corner desk -- all the modular, Microbrute, Maschine controller, pedalboard, computer, and toys/accessories.

(I do have long arms )

It also happens to feel like a good size to work with -- I only need a few voices per recording, and what I have now gives me a lot of variety to build those with, without being overwhelming.

Also I am a bit brutal in selling/trading underused or redundant gear.

[xenus_dad]

I really appreciate this, particular people who are willing to look at their spending and post numbers. Particularly, a lot of the folks here I know produce music that I respect and enjoy, and they are doing it with less gear than I have. That's a good lesson for me.

Thanks!

[BaloErets]

Ha! I so remember seeing this thread in the early days that I got into Modular and thinking " What have I gotten myself into?!?" But knowing myself, I was able to avoid seeing an incredible deal show up from a local the day before rent was due, and have thus managed to keep myself away from putting myself into dire situations.
With that said, it has also made a significant impact on my Credit Card

As per the question, considering I'm just at my 2 year anniversary into modular;

(1) How much have you spent on your Euro-Rack to date ($k)
About 15K by now

(2) Are you still happy you made the decision to get into modular?
Yes. There are times that it is better than sex.

(3) How do you manage the cost so it's within your budget to sustain?
Using the tools of logic and not having the sadomasochistic urge to f myself over.

(4) How do you manage the constant urge to want new modules to play with
Done with that. Actually only items I've ever preordered were a Belgrad and the E352. Really wanted a Morphagene and held out for 2 years and finally got myself one for Christmas this year, after the company bonus allowed me to afford it.

Restraint is an affordable option. It's always a very simple answer when you ask yourself "What do I want" vs "What do I need"

[khyber]

$47,249

[xenus_dad]

$47,249

<sarcasm></sarcasm> or literal?

[mg05]

(leaving aside whether it's a hobby or for professional use, taxes, diy, 2nd hand, etc.)

a lot of people say: 1-4k
a lot of people say: 8-12k
a lot of people say: a car, a house payment, they don't want to know how much

I would estimate the average so far beyond than 25k

[Foghorn]

(1) How much have you spent on your Euro-Rack to date ($k)
Ooh, well I started to get concerned when I hit 25K, but now I just don't care.
Why does Modgrid say only 2/3 of the $$ that my spreadsheet with....
....Oh holy crap, I just counted them and 243 modules, what....

(2) Are you still happy you made the decision to get into modular?
Yes, planning it all along, actually I started this in 1973 with a PAIA that grew and grew until it had 50 - 1/4" phone jacks with integral
DPDT switches on the jacks and was normalled just like an ARP 2600. (had not counted the modules yet)

(3) How do you manage the cost so it's within your budget to sustain?
Ridiculous job that pays for nothing else. (still hadn't counted them)

(4) How do you manage the constant urge to want new modules to play with (HAHA!).
I guess I don't, holy crap..243..frak

Well, I guess I could sell some of them if it came to it.

And at least I didn't count the 1U modules (only 38 of them).

I actually started something like this last week.
It went something like this.
.
The $50K club or did you destroy your bank account without really even trying?
.

How many of you were silly enough to spend ( ) within your first 3 years with Eurorack (Eurocrack)?

How many of you have 25 or more modules that do not fit in your present cases?

How many of you have multiple pre-orders that have been paid for, for 3 (or 5) months or more?

How many of you are stupid enough to post $$ info on the web?

Where did the $18K go that was not for modules themselves..
.
..Doh, I added in cases, patch cables, 3 different mixing boards, cases, power busses, Aluminum stock for cases, bracket kits, Metal for 7U X 150HP case, 150HP Vector rails, Solid-State SD and USB Audio Recorder, a bunch of 1U modules (yea-$4.3K worth), 3.5 mm to BNC cables (for scope), a Behringer Model D ........ , cards for Z-DSP, 10 X Coolaudio V2164D chips..
it just never ends.

Oh well..

[xenus_dad]

I actually started something like this last week.
It went something like this.

How many of you were silly enough to spend ( ) within your first 3 years with Eurorack (Eurocrack)?

How many of you have 25 or more modules that do not fit in your present cases?

How many of you have multiple pre-orders that have been paid for, for 3 months or more?

Heh. I have noted my own financial burn. So, silly.

All my modules fit in a rack, though mainly because scrounged together 4 Z rails/Z ears pairs and a desktop 12U rack. If I built my entire DIY backlog, it would not fit in my current cases. This will become especially true when I build the Mobenthey set in August.

Only one pre-order, thankfully, which is scheduled to ship mid-July.

[phase ghost]

(1) $4k-5k I'm guessing. My two Cwejman modules are $1100 of that (probably 1500 in today's market).

(2) No regrets, I use my modular in so many ways. Mono-synth, filter-station, just "running shit through it".

(3) Just like I manage any other hobby. Don't go overboard, and you'll be fine.

(4) I haven't bought any modules (outside of a 0-Coast) in 3.5 years, so I have no real lust to speak of. It was pretty intense in the first couple years though. I like to look, buy my modest 9u rig is plenty.

[anselmi]

[modbear]

1. I have 18U of modules, which probably cost a bit more than my car
2. Yes!
3. I wasn’t sure how to manage cost at first, but now I have pretty much all the modules I want to make the music that I want, and only rarely am I tempted by something new
4. I remind myself to focus on music rather than gear

[Earthdark]

1. Around $900 and I can’t even make a sound yet.
2. No idea, just getting started.
3. Buy used, within Canada.
4. I just want to get enough modules for a small system for now.

[guestt]

(1) How much have you spent on your Euro-Rack to date ($k)

Never quite enough it would seem!

(2) Are you still happy you made the decision to get into modular?

Hell yes! Especially O|D, The Harvestman, Xaoc, MI, Monome.. these guys are all making incredible music making machines!

(3) How do you manage the cost so it's within your budget to sustain?

Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't, credit cards in a time of imminent economic collapse are too attractive! Shameful, I know, I keep paying it off and stacking it up again - knowing my luck I will just pay off then all of a sudden a loaf of bread will cost £100.

(4) How do you manage the constant urge to want new modules to play with (HAHA!).

Some things are irresistible, current list includes Planar 2, Odessa and Zadar, but that's about it (I've given up on one or two ever seeing the light of day). Otherwise the Teletype -> ER-301 combination keeps me pretty entertained and part of the fun became seeing if I can program new module releases in them, quite often the answer is yes very well, sometimes it falls short in some way, but always offers way more opportunities to make up for it and there is usually a way.