This year I bought too much stuff. It was maybe was the right move emotionally and I am lucky to say it wasn’t a problem financially (mostly from moving other stuff, plus one surprise bit of side income), but not something I want to repeat in 2023. Too much stuff is too much mind clutter. I’m not looking for NGNY, just LGNY.
So:
The top two hits by a mile
A custom Martin Keith Touch Guitar which has been every bit as amazing as I’d hoped. It is my #1 stringed instrument and I sound and feel like “me” on it. I realize this is Not Very Elektronauts.
A Magella Implexus. I had no intent of buying one but it’s sort of my Music Easel (with Eurorack CV control). I feel like amazing sounds just pour out of it and I’m getting to know it well. This is More Elektronauts.
Other hits:
Micromonsta 2: what everyone else said, but also, I swear this is the only hardware synth I’ve found that properly implements MPE, so it’s basically attached to my Linnstrument. Fast to program, predictable, sounds great, especially in a rock band setting, which is where I use it.
A friend’s piano that they were going to get rid of. My understanding of theory is way beyond what my hands can do on this thing–I only had a semester of classes in high school. Also one of our cats loves to hang out on it.
(late 2021) Soma Cosmos. Super fun. I figured out how to not make mush on it and it’s a happy improv partner when I want that sort of thing.
Surprise rediscovery: iPad for music making. I’d gotten turned off touchscreens but they are good for some very specific things. I use my iPad for reading all the time.
Very promising:
Intellijel 7U performance case. All my other cases are from like 2014-15. It’s nice to have a truly modern case.
Oxi one sequencer. Can it replace my Vector and expander? Not yet, but they are hot on the trail.
UDO Super 6 and Vermona Perfourmer. This was the year that I moved to fixed architecture synths on top of Eurorack. I realized there’s no reason to make a good sounding subtractive voice in my rack if I can do it better and more ergonomically in a standalone instrument. It’s been revelatory for me to think of Eurorack as specialized rather than general. But, together these are both huge. One might not make it through 2023.
Not sure:
Fractal Audio FM9. It sounds better than my Line 6 HX Stomp (to me, you are welcome to feel differently) and it’s the only truly modular hardware processor that currently exists (as in, you can think it, you can build it). But I haven’t totally bonded with it, and it has a couple weird limitations. I don’t think I would keep it around for home use, so if it can’t really replace the pedalboard, I should sell. But first I really have to give it a good try.
Misses:
Squarp Hapax. Huge surprise miss for me. I have nothing negative to say about it except that it thinks in MIDI and I think in CV. Sort of. Sold to a Pyramid owner who I hope will be really happy with it.
(late 2021 but too late to count as part of last year) Dreadbox Typhon. Sounds great, though I’m not as enamoured with the effects as some and the screen is just too tiny for me. I think I should sell it.
1010 Bluebox and MioXM midi interface. Too fiddly. AUM has matured to the point that I am happy with it instead.
Lehle mono volume pedal. It’s suppose to be The Best and its hugeness is great for my big feet but its feet kept coming off no matter what I did. I couldn’t use it. Sold. Sticking with a passive Boss I have for now but I think I will eventually get a bigger one for ergonomics.
Gear goals for 2023:
Control and ergonomics are all that matter. I’m pretty set on sound generation and signal processing. I might even be set on control. We will see.
Obligatory Elektron content
Every few months I pull out my OG Octatrack mk1 because it can do something nothing else can. Then I put it back away. But it’s still a keeper.