That anti gas thread.

h4ndcrafted · Post by **h4ndcrafted** » Wed Feb 01, 2017 11:49 am

Gas, we all suffer from it at times. We have all bought and sold stuff we wish we hadn't.

What are your top tips/rules on making sure you don't dwindle your gear budget down on whim and fancy and maximising music making rather than shopping for the next best thing.

I.e..

If it hasn't been used for x amount of time

You only need X,Y and Z in the studio

Etc, etc...

DiscoDevil · Post by **DiscoDevil** » Wed Feb 01, 2017 11:57 am

unless it's a collectors item, if it doesn't get used in like 3-4 months, it's up for grabs. If I have another box that does something very similar, it's up for grabs. If the sound signature overlaps with something else I use more, it's up for grabs. I try not to sit on any gear I'm not using as my space is so small.

heckadecimal69 · Post by **heckadecimal69** » Wed Feb 01, 2017 12:07 pm

DiscoDevil wrote:my space is so small.

Liar.

DiscoDevil · Post by **DiscoDevil** » Wed Feb 01, 2017 12:13 pm

heckadecimal69 wrote:
DiscoDevil wrote:my space is so small.
Liar.

My studio is a 8x10 room. 2 people can barely move around in there with the gear I have now.

Kreis · Post by **Kreis** » Wed Feb 01, 2017 1:26 pm

I asked myself what I need to further improve my music making.
I came to the conclusion that it is not gear but rather skills that I would need the most. So I changed my GAS towards "SAS" (Skills Aquiration Syndrome). So basically watching tutorials, reading lots of articles and the try to get the sound I have in mind.

Btw. I had the same when I started with photography. I knew all about the newest lenses and camera bodies etc.... After a while it all settled down and I really started just to take photos.
I think this should also apply to making music. Be honest to yourself. Do you really need this or that kind of gear or could you improve with what you already have?

felix · Post by **felix** » Wed Feb 01, 2017 1:36 pm

I used to have rules for what to keep. I had a box/suitcase that was the "not using" area and I'd put a little sticker with the date on it that I put it in there. If I ever needed to use it and took it out, sticker would come off and when it went back in the box, new sticker, new date.

If something had been in there longer than 6mo, I was arguably not using it enough and I'd usually sell it. But in hindsight that was far from perfect. There's definitely some things I regret having sold now.

Over time I've come to really understand what I'm looking for and what I generally know I won't like. Plus I'm pretty happy with all the stuff I have now, so that helps a lot.

So now it comes down to paying attention to what feels like a gap in what I have or something I need, and then searching out what might service that purpose - compared to looking at whatever is new and figuring out if I can do something cool with it.

Muzone · Post by **Muzone** » Wed Feb 01, 2017 2:10 pm

When the gas hits it's usually triggered by the "if only I had xxxxxx I'd be making much better music" thpughts.
My remefy is to google up some vids of a piece of gear I already own, see folks making great music with it and remind myself it's more talent I need, not more gear!

thevegasnerve · Post by **thevegasnerve** » Wed Feb 01, 2017 2:21 pm

I have been using the one piece in, then one piece out. The key is that it must start with the one piece out, very important... trades are fine too.

Since I haven't completed anything recently, I now also have a moratorium on new purchasing until I finish my next cd.. that has shut me down big time from GAS.

xonetacular · Post by **xonetacular** » Wed Feb 01, 2017 2:26 pm

Finding another hobby to GAS over and suck up all your extra money does wonders for controlling synth GAS

drumsofd00m · Post by **drumsofd00m** » Wed Feb 01, 2017 2:56 pm

h4ndcrafted wrote:What are your top tips/rules on making sure you don't dwindle your gear budget down on whim and fancy and maximising music making rather than shopping for the next best thing.

Focus on what you want to do and how you can achieve that without new purchases if possible. I really think it's that simple. Focus on output from your being, not input to your senses. If that sounds fancy schmancy, then you weren't serious when asking. :-)

Futuresound · Post by **Futuresound** » Wed Feb 01, 2017 3:03 pm

nm

Using what you have will almost always cure you of the GAS you had. You may end up with GAS for something else of course.

drumsofd00m · Post by **drumsofd00m** » Wed Feb 01, 2017 3:29 pm

I should have added that where I'm coming from with that fancy pun on I/Os is that the mind is thought of as another "sense" among the five traditional ones (and probably the most hungry). So I agree with Futuresound, if you tone down a serious case of longtime GAS you might start feeling like you need a couple new kitchen appliances, expensive jackets or the likes of ;-)

LameAim · Post by **LameAim** » Wed Feb 01, 2017 3:40 pm

I've been delaying a purge myself. I don't think Euro is for me :(

Received a coupon for MF, might be just the incentive I need.

MrTurboparrot · Post by **MrTurboparrot** » Wed Feb 01, 2017 3:42 pm

Kreis wrote:I asked myself what I need to further improve my music making.
I came to the conclusion that it is not gear but rather skills that I would need the most. So I changed my GAS towards "SAS" (Skills Aquiration Syndrome). So basically watching tutorials, reading lots of articles and the try to get the sound I have in mind.

Btw. I had the same when I started with photography. I knew all about the newest lenses and camera bodies etc.... After a while it all settled down and I really started just to take photos.
I think this should also apply to making music. Be honest to yourself. Do you really need this or that kind of gear or could you improve with what you already have?

This is one of the most sensible things I have heard in a little while.
SAS-

I will be using this term from now on!

dubonaire · Post by **dubonaire** » Wed Feb 01, 2017 3:57 pm

I just impulse bought a micromac!

just kidding.

suboptimal · Post by **suboptimal** » Wed Feb 01, 2017 4:09 pm

Keeping a separate account just for gear has helped me.

Losing my job helped a lot.

To some extent my GAS died of its own momentum. After wasting enough money on stuff you don't actually need, you figure out what you do need, and all the shiny new stuff doesn't attract you anymore.

arronbru · Post by **arronbru** » Wed Feb 01, 2017 4:16 pm

I operate on a 6 month rule. Granted im new to ER.
But if i dont use a synth for 6 months i sell it and get somthing else. it stops me getting to the stage where i cant move.

Hovercraft · Post by **Hovercraft** » Wed Feb 01, 2017 4:28 pm

Spent just over a year putting my modular system together with the idea that I'd be making mistakes and selling off what didn't work. The tide is going out now--mostly selling. Realized that my goal isn't a giant system, but something I can reasonably play at one time and transport for shows. Modules unused for more than a couple months get sold. Tweaking/exchanging modules is ok, but any new modules need to make an immediate difference/capability in my sound. Not that every module gets used in every track, but if I can't hear a difference in my recordings and performances before/after--out it goes.

abruzzi · Post by **abruzzi** » Wed Feb 01, 2017 6:06 pm

I don't fight it. Give in!

h4ndcrafted · Post by **h4ndcrafted** » Wed Feb 01, 2017 6:45 pm

dubonaire wrote:I just impulse bought a micromac! just kidding.

Ah well you have good impulses then!

h4ndcrafted · Post by **h4ndcrafted** » Wed Feb 01, 2017 6:53 pm

Interesting thoughts, some I wasn't expecting.

While I am moving away from modular a bit, one thing I learnt was to always ask myself 'can I already do that ?'

It's easy to think you need a new Module when starting out, when you often have the functionality all along, just the inexperience to know it's there.

Above all else I've learnt that sound quality trumps feature every time for me, also
I hate patching simple functions, it seems pointless, that's why I always liked the semi modular units.

Also, give things a chance, I like the advice about seeing what other people are doing with something before you decide you don't like it.
The gem of some instruments can be hidden away from you, again I guess that comes down to experience.

D Beau · Post by **D Beau** » Wed Feb 01, 2017 6:56 pm

I've never actually done an equipment purge, so my GAS and Too Much Shit Disorder sort of counter-balance each other at this point.

thispoison · Post by **thispoison** » Wed Feb 01, 2017 7:00 pm

I've kinda stuck to the same rule for just over 30 years - don't sell anything, ever.

I would struggle with the flipping mentality, seems kind of alien to me to buy things with a plan to just sell them again if they don't fit - that's out of control GAS to my mind. On the other hand it's pretty logical I suppose.

Buy it to keep it. Doesn't solve GAS, but makes me think about it.

Dcramer · Post by **Dcramer** » Wed Feb 01, 2017 7:26 pm

^ 30 at least!

h4ndcrafted · Post by **h4ndcrafted** » Wed Feb 01, 2017 7:39 pm

I understand what you are saying poison, but for those of us with little room and not always the chance to research/try a piece of equipment, selling is a necessary evil.

Personally I don't plan to sell anything as every instrument I've had seems to have something to give, but I just don't have the space to keep stuff. I knowingly regret stuff I'm trying to sell all the time.

I have bought stuff before just to see what it's about knowing I would probably sell it, that's just curiosity. I guess it depends how much access you have to gear.

MOD WIGGLER

MOD WIGGLER

That anti gas thread.

That anti gas thread.

Re: That anti gas thread.

Re: That anti gas thread.