To respond to the original post, I worked really hard and slowly saved up, researched, and bought gear from about 2009 to 2014… Every piece I tried my best to make sure it was the perfect thing for me, and it pretty much worked. I consider my rig “complete” now, I haven’t added or really even wanted anything since 2014, although I’m sure that will change eventually.
I think I was born with the GAS immunity gene, I’ve never sold a piece of gear or upgraded (ok once with a better audio interface once, but it has much better sound) and I’m still just as happy or more happy with all of it than the day I got it. I consider my self blessed for even having this stuff and the idea of wanting more doesn’t really agree with me.
I admit every once in awhile I get some tiny itch over some gear, but it doesn’t last. I think upgrading is fine if the new version has features that you would enjoy or find usefull, but I would only do it if I had specific reasons that I can already see benefiting my music creation and not just because it’s new…
I think this comment made me realize- like, really realize- that my rig might be complete! 
Only exception I could think of would be to replace my MDUW with Microtonic + DT.
But that’s it- done.
Thank you, sir! I feel like I’ve been cured! <3
I don’t know man, talk is cheap… We’ll see how long you stay out of the buy/sell/trade section! 
I did put “complete” in quotes too, as in it does everything I need to make music, but I’ve got a little bit of gear hound hiding in me too, or I wouldn’t have gotten this far! 
Definitely value the support group here in town. Most of us help each other by at least trying to lay on the pressure to slow down and not worry about the gear. Whether or not it works is a bit harder to say with some friends. It’s really helpful to just spitball with others and nerd out and stay in the loop and know you’re not completely on an island, which depending on where you are can be a bit weird of a feeling. I suppose that’s the value many people get out of these forums too.
All that said, talk is definitely cheap.
Besides, there is plenty of tangential gear that doesn’t necessarily influence the process of music creation as directly, so while I’m happy with my setup and process I’ve been exploring and have been for quite some time, I still want some new monitors 
Open-Mike!
Dare I say your response was epic, inspiring, and …Spiritual!!
Really bro, there is lots of wisdom in your response. Considering yourself blessed is a very important key and I think we benefit from reminders like yours.
I do lots and lots of research too, and I can watch a piece of gear for years before pouncing, because I really despise buyer’s remorse and the hassle of selling or trading gear is a major drag to say the least…
Thanks!! 
I never quite read this original topic as a conversation on mindfulness. That said, to bury in deeper a little more, i definitely made a concerted decision to stop using third party VSTi’s a number of years ago. Whether it was to reduce clutter, or to keep things more minimal, the net effect has been Ableton projects I am opening years later still work, and it’s made me focus on Ableton as an instrument. Because really, there are all the tools in Live you could want to create music, and the instruments provided in Suite are so deep, I mean honestly there’s still so much to explore, even as an avid user. I did make a decision a few years ago to get my first synth, and that was the OP-1, and then the Critter and Guitari pocket piano, before selling both and jumping to the AR and A4. Coming into contact with these machines has been wonderful, but I think I am the type of person who enjoys grokking a system as much as I do using it as an instrument, and Elektron machines serve both purposes well. I’ve probably cycled more audio interfaces and midi controllers out over the years, even monitors, but the pain of rebuying everything back has taught me not to trade such vital kit. Me personally, I’ve deliberately stayed completely clear of modular for reasons of a never ending material need, but I can appreciate others interest and obsession in it. Still, my setup is not perfect, and neither are the tools I can buy. The AR and A4 perhaps make things more complicated than they need be in interface with computers, but I bought them for their sound and direct manipulation, and those two things alone make then very difficult to part with. I love that they will always make rich music together, with nothing else. That said Ableton Push is something I’ve found great and highly productive when you get into the groove, but I’m often frustrated by its form factor and feature set, and have sold it twice. Hopefully Ableton eventually produce a standalone or mini version, that would suit me much more. So everything else really becomes about a recording setup. I recently sold two of my workhouse Mac computers with every intention of upgrading to the new MacBook Pro, but I ended up on a trip to Bali and met a wonderful lady there. So sometimes, spending all your energy and focus on the studio isn’t everything, throwing your money elsewhere can often reap other life rewards. What’s more important, a MacBook Pro or love? Maybe both. In an ideal world you’d strike a balance. It’s all about your savings and bank account and what’s in your studio vs what’s on the market, and your other hopes and desires. Honestly, I don’t have much GAS, but i do have a love for Ableton and Elektron. Cash permitting, id love to own Push, the two silver boxes, an OT, and keep both my Analog mki’s all together as a permanent lifetime studio, at least until they were dead. I’d also love a great midi keyboard at some point, maybe even with weighted keys. I could really use a new laptop, a display and audio interface also. But I’m happy for now, just two black boxes and a MacBook Air. Only thing on the list really is the DT, which I mainly want for fun and on holidays, as well as some light midi duties. Anyways…Happy Gassing, 'Nauts!
Amen to that brother! As long as we leave the world a better place than it was, we have lived a life of value.
Heck even KMFDM one of my favorite bands states they want people to treat each other better and they have some hard hitting music.
I think that the beauty of Elektron and other old school non-computer gear is that it forces one to work a different way to create music. That opens up a new path of creativity. I know that this happened for me with the Moog and Microkorg. Tweaking oscillators and LFO and filters manually without a computer leads to experimentation and new sounds not found in VST and computer software. I find using computer software to click a mouse to tweak software VST synths like Reaktor and Massive not nearly as much fun as say tweaking real knobs and switches!
Absolutely! I really appreciate that reminder. With endless tracks, it can be very tempting to try for perfection, which leads to losing the crucial human factor.
I think there is much to be said for the tactile factors you discussed. I feel more connected to what I’m doing. In the documentary I Dream Of Wires they discuss that a lot, and Trent Reznor says the same.
In the 60’s and 70’s they were often limited to 4 and 8 tracks, so that led to certain decision making and creativity.
Thanks Bro!
Right on as an avid Ableton user this is my platform right now with a laptop and Push controller. It does everything and more than Elektron but Elektron has the advantage of being able to work without a computer. I am still digging into the Ableton software and so much it can do. I love my VSTs though and they fit well in the picture especially stuff like Serum and Komplete plugins.
I will probably get the new Elektron gear and the Virus Polar next year to finish and expand my setup.
Absolutely, and I’d add further that “spirituality” is not just necessarily about religion or a particular set of beliefs. To me, it’s the way one lives their life in a general sense. But I’m sure not all subscribe to this definition.
Anyway, peace all and on with the gear discussion!
Good luck with the pupster, you can forget couch production for a while!
Good points Mike, but, what if what we are believing is false? There are things that are false and true. I can say I don’t believe in breathing or gravity, but that doesn’t change the reality.
Everyone cannot be right. I’d rather feel a bit uncomfortable and challenged than believe things that are false. So I try to communicate the same. If I am headed 100 miles per hour towards a fallen bridge, I hope someone tells me instead of staying quiet because I might be offended.
I think speaking your idea of truth in a considerate way is great. Telling people they are stupid because they don’t believe in God is disrespectful and not beneficial.
Hmm… I’ll recap for a sec…
Adamjay brought up meditation and you replied how Buddah was a man but Jesus is God. Having seen this forum get heated over synth comparisons and Elektron’s business decisions, I replied how in my opinion perhaps mentioning and talking about different religions could be OK but that this forum is probably not the place to debate if one is right or wrong. When I said “might cross a line” I was merely referring to what I think this forum can handle without getting heated. If you were on my porch I’d talk to you about this all day, no problem…
I’m not sure what to think in this moment as it seems you would like me to discuss what I said in my opinion was probably not the best thing to discuss here on the forum.
Personally I support all peoples viewpoints whether they are similar or different than mine as long as they do not harm others… 
Like the PO-Tonic, I feel the best way to express the deepest information is without words
Hashtag-Synths <3
ok let me get this back on track and away from epistemological matters.
i really want a 0-coast and a korg monologue – but own a monomachine.
do i need them?
O coast- maybe. I’m not certain of the monologue. I reckon sound design on the O-Coast to be much more open than what’s offered on the MnM.
MnM makes great basses though, which it why I think the Monologue might be superfluous to you
Your MM would take O-Coast further than Monologue. The MIDI to CV spec on the O-Coast is great.
ah great - thanks for your replies.
the mnm does do great bass. espcially the sid and fm machines. i was attracted by the micro tuning but good use of lfo can achieve that on the mnm
so i could have a lot of fun sequencing the 0-coast through the mnm?
Yep.
There’s two channels of MIDI control.
http://www.makenoisemusic.com/content/manuals/0-coast_manual.pdf