Are you a hoarder? [Extensive gear chat]

[F5D]

I am already happy when I sit on my chair in the middle of my gear.

Well, I couldn't really make music without good hardware synths or powercore. I've been very busy at university for the last 3 years so I have not had much time to produce anything. After 2 weeks from now, I finally have time to produce music again!

I will purchase more gear next year. The first investment is going to be a new mac. Then maybe the sonnox plugins. I also have the prophet 08, Moog LP and mackie controls on my purchase list. I also have to upgrade my audio interface because I don't have enough inputs. I've been thinking about an ff800 + adi8 or something, or a pcie-based solution. I don't know yet.

I could produce using just a simple setup but not without a powercore and at least 1 or 2 good hardware synths.

[AlexHall74]

I used to be a MAJOR gear hoarder. I think its natural for a new hobbyist (like me, only in this for 3 years or so) to go through a phase of G.A.S. (gear acquisition syndrome).

Now, I am content to have a relatively minimal setup. I did not go overboard on synths, but I do have 1 of every instrument that I wish to record directly. I guess I strive to have a balanced mix of "real" instruments vs. sampled/synthetic tones, it just sounds better to me as such.

Right now I have:

(1)Ibanez RG-2550EX 6-string electric guitar ; Line 6 Flex Tone II modeling amplifier

(2) Ibanez 4 string electric bass (can't rmember the model, but its a really nice one) ; Crate BT-50 bass amplifier

(3) Access Virus KC

(4) Mackie Onyx Satellite

(5) Behringer "Truth" 2031A monitors (saving for Mackies or Genelecs now...)

(6) A few different microphones

(7) M-Audio Trigger Finger (there's no way in hell I'm buying a full drum kit!)

( Sequencer Software: Mackie Tracktion 2 (easy and effective to use)

I don't like getting caught up in too much technology, I want to record, not figure out VSTs for the rest of my life. Last year I sold my Motif ES Rack as I realized I didn't use it for a 10th of its capabilities. I know now that I can find any sound I need from a workstation/ROMpler synth in good VSTs.

Software instruments I use the most are:

(1) Albino III (2) Wusikstation 4.xx (3) Stylus RMX (4) Atmosphere (5) Trilogy (6) Battery 3 (7) FM7 ( AbSynth 2 (9) Pro-53

If I can't get the sounds I want from this setup of hardware/software then I must be a fucking idiot.



Simplify your rig and make more music!

[AlexHall74]

One last thought.

I hate the complete lack of interface on much hardware. For instance, as much as I liked the sound of the Motif ES Rack, fiddling around with all the parameters with litle buttons and knobs and a TINY LCD display was torture. One thing that soft synths/FX have over hardware is the use of the nice, big LCD monitor of the DAW.

I'm considering purchase of one of the Virus patch editors (Rekon or the other one) to get more use out of it.

That's all!

-Alex

[Gary_Munday]

Yeah, I appreciate that rhetorical. Plus, I guess that software advancements have come such a long way - some people might even feel happy enough with just VSTi and DAW -- and it still does the trick. Well thats another question 'does a shed load of vsti make you a hoarder'? haha..
Unfortunately, I didn't get on with a computer daw/software environment. Speaking from personal opinion, I chose to change over to a modern 16-track hardware recorder for around £500, and I much prefer it. Editing is more time consuming (obviously) -- and you won't get the exact precision as a computer DAW. But hey, it has everything I need (personally) and with some kinds of music, it pays to be a bit rough as you go, otherwise things sound too mechanical and robot like.
Guess I'm just old school like that.
That was my last buy.

[AlexHall74]

REF:

Gary Munday wrote: "Well thats another question 'does a shed load of vsti make you a hoarder'? haha.."

Yes, absolutely it does. Guilty of it at one point, but my list of gear is locked as of the post above, until I release my first album that is.

You've got to have goals, right?

Also, I don't necessarily think that you need to be a MASTER of a given synth (hardware or software) in order for it to be useful to your purpose.

If you use it, and you like the results, and you feel the money was worth it, then play on!

Just my .02...

P.S. Interesting your not using a DAW! I'd go batshit with a multi-track! You must be a patient man!

[Gary_Munday]

'You must be a patient man!'

Well er, I've earned a badge of virtue in the essence of patience. That said who doesn't have the odd tantrum? LOL..........just kidding.
As for being a master, not always important. Things take time. If you think something sounds good..........you know, what the heck. Show the world. Everyones different, so why try and be like the next person using your ideal gear.
It's possible to produce something decent using just quarter of a studio and less.......coz as I've said, the gear is just there. Ideas are by far important. And yeah, goals are important too!
I think the multitrack is just down to personal taste really. Most of all, no more crashes or reboots, just plug in and record & edit. Bliss.

PS: I was experiencing shed load of trouble with my old computer DAW

[AlexHall74]

REF:

"I think the multitrack is just down to personal taste really. Most of all, no more crashes or reboots, just plug in and record & edit. Bliss.

PS: I was experiencing shed load of trouble with my old computer DAW"

I know that feeling all too well. My first year of recording/sequencing was very frustrating. I had a fairly basic setup (1) M-Audio 2496, (2) Behringer UB-1204 Mixer, (3) 2031A crap monitors, (4) PIV 2.6 GHz PC w/ 1GB RAM. I was trying to use the Cubase LE version that came with my soundcard. It FREAKING sucked! I hated it to death. I tried Reason LE and HATED it more.

After minimal success with budget apps devoid of intelligent interface the Tracktion 2 ads caught my eye. "Want a single screen easy to use interface? Want to concentrate on making music instead of figuring out your sequencer?" I bought it, and got along with it quite nicely. I am not trying to be George Massenburg, I only want to live out my childhood dream of recording the songs in my head!

Sometimes I wonder if I should have bought a really nice workstation (like the Fantom X7) and used it exclusively, for the sake of not worrying about reboots, crashes, RAM maxing out, etc. You can record a whole album on that damn thing I'm sure. But now I wouldn't think of buying one unless Roland spends an extra $50 and puts a damn VGA video card in it to use a decent widepanel LCD monitor. I hate teeny-tiny LCD displays, God bless you Access (and Yamaha too!)!!!

I guess that's where I am in life right now, finishing unstarted projects before starting any new ones, and making the next big leap. My first album should be titled "Finished Loose Ends..."