What if… the new cool was to stop buying?

kgreggbruce

@Stuntman_mike said:
What if the new cool was to stop buying new stuff and start stretching out the gear

I do not allow others to define my cool.

lasselu

Or keep buying gear...whatever floats your boat...

tahiche

@supadom said:
This also goes for music. I’ve spent years trying to integrate electronics into acoustic music and feel that there is an invisible barrier between the two. Not that it’s impossible but it definitely requires a lot prep often meaning that the spontaneity suffers.

I find my Digitakt really helps in this. I see what you mean, it’s hard to switch between my CGB (literally a cigar box with bolts and hinges) and a screen. The Digitakt feels a lot more like an instrument that’s THERE , in the same physical space and dimension.
Regarding GAS, I just bought a Model 12. So I’m guilty as hell. But, in line with the above, I want to try to do stuff without a daw and see if that brings back some excitement. But I really, really, want to avoid getting into hardware craze. Im ok with my appaholism, luckily I can afford it, for now. But modular or synths… that’s a dangerous path I’m going to avoid. So maybe I’ll use the iPad as a sort of amazing multi-fx and sound generator and record stuff on the Model 12 sd card. Main reason I bought the Model12 is because it has midi sync, so I can hopefully record Digitakt, iPad, etc in sync and on multiple takes.
Bigger than GAS is the DHTS (Don’t Have Time Syndrome). I’d be OK spending a lot on gear, apps, pedals or whatever If I was actually spending some proper time with it. You know that ROI thing (return on investment?), mine is crap.
@supadom, I’ve told you before, you were such an inspiration to move to iOS. Watching your videos I thought “yes, I want to do this!”. I’ve never done it… 😂. I’m close but haven’t found a fast-enough solid workflow with the iPad apps. Mostly because I keep changing and searching for the perfect setup instead of to committing to one. I hope the Model12 and more “hardware” setup helps. I feel like I can live with hardware limitations a lot better than with software ones. I get irritated if I can’t do exactly what I want on an app I paid 5€ for but I can live with a 500€ device’s shortcomings. Crazy.
Most importantly, @supadom do you want to form a band with 🙋🏻‍♂️? 🙃 Uke + 3 string CGB with loads of fuzz + crazy shit. It’s ok if you say no, but my DM is always open 😂

michael_m

@Stuntman_mike said:
What if the new cool was to stop buying new stuff and start stretching out the gear and apps we already have?

We start posting all the cool stuff we do with stuff we already got… 🤔

It’s sometimes a really good way to switch things up. For quite a while now I have just been playing piano, and it can be much more productive as I’m usually playing continuously while I’m sat there.

Fingolfinzz

@Montreal_Music said:

@Fingolfinzz said:
I don’t think there is much of anything that will stop me from continuously pouring money into my modular

Sunk cost fallacy

I don’t see any other logical options to experimenting with feedback. Yeah…sure there’s just buying a $100 mixer and some more cables but where’s the fun in that??

anickt

@raabje said:

@supadom said:
This also goes for music. I’ve spent years trying to integrate electronics into acoustic music and feel that there is an invisible barrier between the two. Not that it’s impossible but it definitely requires a lot prep often meaning that the spontaneity suffers.

I have that feeling too. These days I mainly focus on learning to play an instrument (electric guitar) really well, instead of making all kinds of electronic audio collages that are nice for the creator, but not for a (random) listener. And I feel, in hindsight, a lot of regret I didn't learn to drum when was young. I think when you are a drummer, you can instantly lay out a whole track with an intro, a build up, a breakdown, an outro. Instead of program or assemble such a foundation for a song or track. (I watched the movie Dinner in America last week, and the main character records a whole song in a few minutes on a 4 track tape recorder, and that was a good reality check for me).

A nice album with electric guitar and electronic music is the project of Nicolas Jaar and a guitar player, Darkside - Psychic. That album I have enjoyed very much.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darkside_(band)

MatthewKay

@raabje Liking Darkside. Thank you for posting!

McD

That would NOT be cool. I’d end up buying shit that’s bad for my health. So, I’m out.

Blipsford_Baubie

I only think it would be cool as an anti-capitalist movement if 99% got on board, and it would especially be cool for our planet, but it’s too late. Earth is already bleeding and is poisoned from the leeching due to giant craters that we’ve created to extract the precious metals required for our precious throw-away devices. At this point, consuming apps is not adding anything to the land fill. I fear that the only way to reset humanity for another chance to try again is if enough of us remained to survive a nuclear winter.
But I know where you’re coming from @Stuntman_mike, productivity and creativity😉, so I appreciate you allowing me to rant in your discussion, even though I didn’t ask. It won’t happen again. It’s just that I’ve been holding that in for far too long.

Stuntman_mike

@Blipsford_Baubie said:
I only think it would be cool as an anti-capitalist movement if 99% got on board, and it would especially be cool for our planet, but it’s too late. Earth is already bleeding and is poisoned from the leeching due to giant craters that we’ve created to extract the precious metals required for our precious throw-away devices. At this point, consuming apps is not adding anything to the land fill. I fear that the only way to reset humanity for another chance to try again is if enough of us remained to survive a nuclear winter.
But I know where you’re coming from @Stuntman_mike, productivity and creativity😉, so I appreciate you allowing me to rant in your discussion, even though I didn’t ask. It won’t happen again. It’s just that I’ve been holding that in for far too long.

😂

Littlewoodg

@Wrlds2ndBstGeoshredr said:
I had to try 50 synths to realize that all I really need is Animoog and Model 15.

i had to try Animoog and Model 15 to realize that i needed (1)50 synths

telecharge

If you've done any searching on YouTube for music production content, there's a good chance Venus Theory videos have been suggested to you. At least, they have been to me.

I never watched any until this week, and that was just because someone on another music production related forum thought it was newsworthy that Venus Theory is taking a break from creating videos.

Anyway, if you're having trouble finishing your tunes, there might be something of interest to you in the video below.

His main thesis is that fear of judgment and failure is what discourages finishing music.

Samu

Makes perfect sense...
...when we can get away from the mindset of doing everything on one device no matter how 'cool' it may feel it's a real eye-opener. (I've been on the desktop before and really wanted to 'get away' from it but when basic things become a chore I made the decision to use each to their own advantage).

It's the classic syndrome of trying to use one tool to do everything instead of picking the right tool for the job...

Yes, limitations can kickstart/spark creativity but when the limitations become annoyances and/or hauling bricks it's better to use other tools and keep the mental sanity.

Cheers!

Telefunky

Well said...

ervin

Comments like "you must stop doing this and must start doing that", "doing it this way is much more productive" etc. make me wonder. What are you talking about?

I mean, for almost everyone here it's a hobby, not a stressful job with annual targets or performance reviews. 🙂

I can see no reason why someone's churning out songs is in any way better or worse than someone else's playing around with the week's new purchase. In fact, I find both useful: the first leads to occasional nice efforts that are worth listening to, the second saves me a lot of research.

So everyone just keep doing what you're doing, especially if it makes you happy. You're all good 👊

ervin

@supadom said:
I’ve spent years trying to integrate electronics into acoustic music and feel that there is an invisible barrier between the two. Not that it’s impossible but it definitely requires a lot prep often meaning that the spontaneity suffers.

Having a very similar experience with my attempts to mix medieval choral music with electronic stuff. I'm still sure it would be great, but it's either rather difficult or (more likely, in my case) I'm not talented/skilled enough to pull it off.

u0421793

It’s like that with photography, for me. I spent the past few months looking for a replacement camera, but concluded that the one I already have is better for me than any new one. About 7 years ago I got rid of my DSLR system (mostly good flashguns, some inexpensive lenses, not much emphasis on the body) and reduced my photographic world to one camera – Sony RX10 (secondhand).

Even now I still think there’s no reason to move from that to anything else. The later RX10 v3 & 4 are bigger and heavier, the nearly decade-old v1 I currently have and which is already paid for is fine for me.

I was quite disappointed to realise how little the camera industry had actually advanced lately – the pandemic years seem to have been hibernation years for camera manufacturers. One or two models remixed and with one genuine improvement (USB-C at last, for a very few), but otherwise, nothing compelling.

Stuntman_mike

@u0421793 said:
It’s like that with photography, for me. I spent the past few months looking for a replacement camera, but concluded that the one I already have is better for me than any new one. About 7 years ago I got rid of my DSLR system (mostly good flashguns, some inexpensive lenses, not much emphasis on the body) and reduced my photographic world to one camera – Sony RX10 (secondhand).

Even now I still think there’s no reason to move from that to anything else. The later RX10 v3 & 4 are bigger and heavier, the nearly decade-old v1 I currently have and which is already paid for is fine for me.

I was quite disappointed to realise how little the camera industry had actually advanced lately – the pandemic years seem to have been hibernation years for camera manufacturers. One or two models remixed and with one genuine improvement (USB-C at last, for a very few), but otherwise, nothing compelling.

Wow, very interesting… I can’t help but to think if some of us could only buy gear most of us might be making more music simply because we would be forced, mostly financially, to figure out what we got. I feel like I hardly appreciate the work that developers put into their apps because I am quickly distracted by new stuff. I’m not saying I want to stop buying new, but perhaps pause between purchases 😂

There’s nothing like “introductory pricing” to get me impulse buying, but at the same time I now look at the specs to see if the app fills a hole in my workflow or adds a new avenue I want to explore!

Poppadocrock

@Stuntman_mike said:
What if the new cool was to stop buying new stuff and start stretching out the gear and apps we already have?

We start posting all the cool stuff we do with stuff we already got… 🤔

Haven’t read much of the thread, but based off your original statement… that is cool and has always been. I try to balance the two. Speaking strictly in terms of apps, I regularly go months or longer without getting anything new, but then sometimes i might get three or four apps in one week.There’s Both pros and cons to either approach. That’s why I try to mix it up. Cheers

JohnnyGoodyear

Why struggle to write
worthwhile new verses
when there are still apps to buy
even if they are worses
than all that now fills
our limited head space
yet there is little doubt
this is mostly the case...

michael_m

The new cool, huh?

MadGav

@Samu said:
Makes perfect sense...
...when we can get away from the mindset of doing everything on one device no matter how 'cool' it may feel it's a real eye-opener. (I've been on the desktop before and really wanted to 'get away' from it but when basic things become a chore I made the decision to use each to their own advantage).

It's the classic syndrome of trying to use one tool to do everything instead of picking the right tool for the job...

Yes, limitations can kickstart/spark creativity but when the limitations become annoyances and/or hauling bricks it's better to use other tools and keep the mental sanity.

Cheers!

So there’s been a sharp left turn here, my wife just bought a new MacBook (not directly for music) and has been testing sequencers, which led to us completing a track in short order. I’ll certainly be using the iPad for writing and most likely still for tracking. Right now I’m expecting Mac software to follow what we like on iPad, already grabbed MixBox on a stellar deal (£50ish) and weighing up Cubase editions now.

Edit: Which is likely to bear down on app purchasing - a significant chunk of my wish list has been / is still on sale, not sure I’ll keep FabFilters on the list any longer too much on the engineering side where using the Mac makes more sense.

raabje

@Sawiton said:
@raabje Liking Darkside. Thank you for posting!

Okay, thanks. That album is a favourite of mine. I think some Underworld tracks have guitar too, but I have to listen back to pinpoint it, I don't have a clear example.

Darkside is pretty sophisticated electronic music, I also like some stuff that is the other way around, rock music with electronic elements. I really like Primal Scream, XTRMNTR, and Evil Heat. Also because of the thematics of the songs. I can still enjoy these albums. I have seen them a couple of times live too.