I also followed this thread this year despite not participating. I really enjoy reading everyone’s perspectives and how they engage with the challenge in their own way.
I personally don’t think the challenge needs to be an absolute - as in I don’t think the forum needs multiple threads for the basic ideas of buying nothing or just buying significantly less.
Either way I think I will be in for next year. I will have significantly less time for this hobby from next year, and over the last couple of years I have started to intuitively understand that buying more gear or rearranging gear doesn’t lead to greater productivity.
My ongoing challenge will be to consider downsizing or swapping gear for stuff I know I will use more effectively. For example I never enjoyed and used my Juno 106 as much as I did when the battery was drained - I don’t intellectually like the idea of no-preset synths more than those with presets, but it turns out I actually enjoy using them more. But I find it really hard to sell gear I fell in love with and never fully utilised as I had planned.
I did my last shuffle of 2023 before I begin 2024.
I swapped Syntakt for Rytm. I’ve owned several Rytm’s previously and loved them but struggled with gainstaging.
But when I expand my time scale to a grander length (looking years forward, not days) I knew the Rytm is what I wanted to slowly chip away at mastering.
I need NGNY. No buying / selling or trading at all. For me it’s more about time and focus theft more than money. I spend way too long validating and justifying current and potential purchases.
I need a damn break. If nobody has made the thread by the time I get back from work, I will.
Or I’ll join the “Downsize 2024” if that’s the new version.
Merry Merry! I didn’t buy any new gear in 2023. I feel good about it. I continue to rotate through my favourite bits, and learn something new each time. I’ve found a potential home for some of the stuff that’s been boxed up all year, and I feel pretty good about where it’s going
I plan to carry on with NGNY’24, at least by tracking the thread
I never signed up for the 2023 challenge due to several planned improvements for my studio spaces. Although there was less music gear purchased this year than in 2022, it was still more than originally anticipated, due to a shift in music priorities and commitments.
That said, 2024 will be significantly lighter on the wallet compared to this year and that is overall good.
Final purchases made. Large sale planned for 01 Jan onwards. I’m looking to shift at least 75% of what I’ve got. I didn’t do NGNY 23 but made it most of the way through 22, and it made a big difference to my mindset. I don’t know whether I see 2024 as total NGNY, or a commitment to downsize. I want to have only what I can fit on my desk, with no leftovers, and just one core system of which there are currently 5-6.
Planning to post a lot about the journey in the hope that it helps others. Have been v quiet on here this year with various shit going on in personal life.
I guess no one wanted to start a new thread for 2024 after all.
I have no interest in slimming down my setup. It’s already at a very comfortable and sensible size. A sampler which acts as the heart of my setup and a couple of synths, one midi controller and a couple of effects pedals. Nothing to sell, nothing to take away.
In the two years of NGNY, I’ve kinda started on the right road and NGNY2024 -thread or not, I’m going to continue on the same path. Might buy some cables, might buy a guitar pedal, but maybe not. I don’t need anything more. Thanks for the company and support this year dudes and dudettes, it was grand.
Keep on keeping on and have a great new year everybody!!!
I am all in for NGNY 2024 I have enough gear, this year is just about using a small system of max 3 items and actually playing them - and moving from someone who makes tunes to someone who performs music - happ new year
me too! I passed this year no gear challenge and ready to do a repeat for 2024!
I discovered all the great 909 drum beats and synth lines for FREE in Ableton Live and can use those to supplement my hardware for producing synthwave, trance, house and darkwave industrial without buying anymore gear. I do need to sell some synths and guitars that I am not using before I buy any new gear. It feels great to not have GAS and just enjoy my setups. I already have enough gear to last several life times and still discover new things.
I like that approach to focus and master gear. I made some cool acid trance lines with just a few modules in one of my modulars. Re-discover and amazed at what just the Mob of Emus module can do. It is quirky AF and a tricky devil to master but has some killer sounds. Dave Rossum is a genius synth inventor!
Besides guitar pickups first week of January (I knew I was getting them, why I didn’t officially sign up) and a $16 uke pickup, I did it!
No new gear, not easy! Especially with used gear around here and the deals thread. Took a ton of discipline (am I allowed to say that) but every time I almost slipped, I reminded myself I can do it with what I already own.
Not in for 2024 though, I see a proper looper in my future!
Thanks to all that posted here! I’m not great at expressing myself so reading others really helped!
- happ new year 
