90% of all my music is ITB production, but I still have and rarely use
4 guitars, a pedalboard, and an amp
An electric piano
A live electronic jamming rig with a MC-707 and a Drumbrute impact
A portable DAWless rig with a Polyend Tracker and some Aira Minis
Sometimes I feel a bit of guilt that they rarely get touched compared to the laptop, but I know they will all get used eventually and I’m lucky enough that I don’t “need” to sell anything.
Where I did feel a bit of guilt recently was where I was complaining about not finding a drum VST that I liked and someone asked what was wrong with Drum computer and I realised the answer was “I don’t really know how to use it properly”
Similarly I’ve been looking to sell a Roland SE-02 at the same time as looking for a compact mono for no other reason that the SE-02 has lots of knobs and I don’t really know how to use it.
Those things both made me have a word with myself.
I think I’ve come to terms with the fact that I love technology, music and collecting things related to those. A running joke with my wife is the number of speakers I own and have owned in our 20 years together. I don’t have any other hobbies that I spend any money on and I can provide and pay all my bills. My problem is I constantly arrange and re-arrange things thinking I’ll get everything where I can just sit down and get to just making music easily, but that never happens. I don’t have the time to sit and be creative or practice uninterrupted with work, kids and responsibilities, no matter how easy it is. I spend the majority of my time in that cycle Oh, and I still feel like I suck at making music after all these years.
truth is bro you are a beautiful human being who is creative and passionate and probably just a bit short on time with a busy life - one day you will have loads of time on your hands and will get your opportunity to focus on your music which i am certain you have a talent for
Honestly, I don’t feel shame for owning the gear that I own, even though one could classify it all as unnecessary since I only really make music for my own enjoyment.
However, I only keep what I feel like I can use at a given time. If something is sitting completely unused, or I don’t have room for it, THAT is when I start feeling a bit of guilt, or at least a bit of a nagging feeling in the back of my brain.
Then I either give it to one of my kids, or my dad, or I sell it, and get something that will fit, or that I will use more, or sometimes nothing at all.
My studio is currently the correct size for how I use it, and then I have an M8 and Syntat for making music away from the studio.
No guilt currently.
However, if I manage to make my only wished for piece of gear happen (UDO Gemini) then I’ll probably give/sell some of my other gear.
Hahaha. I’m not the only one. I went through a long time doing this. Then I discovered midi routers and a carefully placed mixer so now I put things where they’re all reachable and route from there; only works because everything but the trumpet is midi driven.
For the shame bit: yeah, this year I retooled and sold a bunch of stuff (and replaced it/added to it) and sat down one day and went… this is kind of goofy. Guilt wasn’t it; I just felt kind of silly for not even being able to see the desk surface for all the used-gear I just had to have. Sold a bunch of stuff as a result actually. Now I don’t mind, AND I can sit down and start making music instantly.
Options are cool and all; but they can be stifling.
Thanks for the advice. I have a Tascam 12, a couple of patchbays and routing through Kenton boxes, but I haven’t figured out the perfect setup (never will!). I’m actually redoing everything currently.
One thing I’ll never feel bad about getting is a standalone sequencer (Pyramid, but there are almost too many) to MIOXL midi router combo.
Still use the instrument sequencers, particularly on drum machines, but having the capability to turn a knob (once configured) and completely change the midi routing (and filtering) is just.so.golden.
Not to throw GAS on the fire…but for me the Blokas Midihub completely transformed my studio and has me finally in the land of “turn it all on, and play any of my instruments, sequenced or controlled by whatever I want”.
Yep.
And for me it actually helped with the shame because I kept getting new sound generators when what I needed was a workflow enhancement. Others may be different here.
This is a good take on the subject below from Marius Circus. Obviously each to their own, and everyone’s circumstance is different. For me I feel more frustration in finding time, rather than any shame in gear purchases.
Anyhow, his new approach to his channel also looks really interesting, with advice on finishing tracks with family life and time commitments.
The guilt from spending so much money on musical instruments is much easier to resolve when I finish tracks with those instruments. It sounds so obvious, it’s silly.
I’m not a senior citizen yet, but it’s close. I was raised Catholic so I have a close relationship with guilt and waste. Eat the food on your plate because of the starving orphans. My whole adult life I’ve followed a template. Pick up an interest and don’t put it down until I’ve mastered it. I’ve Taught myself so so much about antique lighting, furniture, woodwork restoration, cars, racing, cooking, coffee making… it’s my life. Now it’s these little black boxes. I am not a fortunate person. I’m very deliberate. I see no reason for shame of owned things if they further your journey on a life filled with learning and meaning. But yeah, it’s ok to have a yard sale from time to time.
Oh, and I still feel like I suck at making music after all these years.
