Absolutely! What stuff are you digging into in your studio? I've really fallen in love with the A4 mk2 ... my music just seems to flow out of that thing more easily than other boxes I've owned.
@@acefstripe Sometimes, when I'm feeling weak, I think about getting another Grandmother. Love the Matriarch but there were some sounds that just can't seem to recreate with the right vibe and that spring reverb ...
Good points. What doesn’t make it any easier is that social media is designed to get us to buy things. Not just ads, but actual “content” that’s favored are videos of GEAR. We grew up listening to MUSIC and watching music videos, but gear is what’s in our faces now. What sells. it’s hard to be mindful and not be influenced by the water we are swimming in.
That's a great point. Everything we see is engineered to making us feel incomplete unless we buy (or click or scroll, etc). I believe in holistic viewpoints, especially in aesthetics -- everything we are is reflected in everything we do (or is it vice versa)? Mindful approach to gear = mindful approach to music, hopefully.
Another great vid! I always appreciate your straight to the point take on things. There’s no gear seduction with your approach, just the human pros and cons. I would definitely like to see videos on the gear that you own and love. I have a Nord Lead 3 and I have a hell of a time trying to find a modern (or old) video of someone doing a deep dive or tutorial. So any videos on “old” gear is always appreciated.
Many thanks for the kind words. That's so weird about the Nord because my unofficial sense is that they're the ax of choice for the working keyboardist! I see them a lot at live gigs.
very true I'm only looking at software now after its been heavily discounted. I have pretty much everything I ever wanted (a drum machine/sampler and a synth is all you need) and anything else I can find a computer program that's a close enough replacement.
Agreed! Getting to the point where I have everything I ever wanted is more about the wanting than the having. Any lacks or limitations can serve as impetus for creativity, with the right approach.
Heck yeah dude. The thing that has really helped me focus has been the one in and one out method. That, and if there is a piece of gear that I’ve realized that I don’t reach for all that often at all, I consider whether I even really need it if something else that I use more frequently covers the same sound. Thanks for sharing your thoughts! This is something I also think about pretty often and try not to fall into the traps of consumerism. It is fun to look at new gear, but I definitely don’t make as much progress with the wonderful synths that I already own when my brain space is preoccupied looking at stuff I don’t need.
Appreciate that, friend. I braced for some troll responses when I published this vid but looks like some people feel the same way. Our time and cognitive space are the most limited resource and yet so easy to just waste it!
MKDVB you should definitely make videos of the gear you love. While it is true about looking at what’s new, I also like to see what works and everyone uses instruments differently, so go for it. 👍🏼
Yeah, man. I bought very little gear in 2023, like only maybe three effects pedals. The prices are crazy, and the yen is super weak here in Japan. Gear here in Japan is like maybe 2x the price of what it was a few years ago (in yen). It’s really curbed my buying ability, even with a good job. Most people haven’t gotten salary raises here either. Brutal. Here’s hoping things get better soon. I’ll no doubt be sticking with my same synth, sampler, guitar, keyboard setup this year as well. I’d like a new audio interface if possible, and am sure I’ll buy at least one or two pedals, but that’s about it.
Sorry to hear things are tough in Japan. I definitely slowed down in 2023, partly due to economy but flipside, it's nice to feel like my rig is in a good spot so switching stuff around constantly becomes counter-productive. Now if I could only bring myself to pare it down by half ...
@@MKDVBYeah, as you said in the video, it’s not like I’m in a tough spot to live or anything, just that the same level of consumption isn’t possible. Maybe that’s a good thing as you were alluding to. I’m also in the same camp to be pretty content with my setup. I did some paring down already, but should probably let about 25% of my remaining pedals go. The high price of things also curbs the impulse buying, which is a good thing. When things were $150-200 it was easy to justify trying something out but at $400 or more often $600-1000, not so much.
Nice advice. Which ones you got? InMusic buyout doesn't give me as much confidence as the Sequential buyout, which seems to be business as usual. The only Moog I really want at this point is out of my price range unless I sell half my studio, almost all of which are synths I love at this point.
You are spot on. It’s a great time to use what we have. All the stuff we collected during Covid needs to be explored. 🎉
Absolutely! What stuff are you digging into in your studio? I've really fallen in love with the A4 mk2 ... my music just seems to flow out of that thing more easily than other boxes I've owned.
@@MKDVB Moog Grandmother, Expressive E Touche (budget version), and some modular stuff..
@@acefstripe Sometimes, when I'm feeling weak, I think about getting another Grandmother. Love the Matriarch but there were some sounds that just can't seem to recreate with the right vibe and that spring reverb ...
Good points. What doesn’t make it any easier is that social media is designed to get us to buy things. Not just ads, but actual “content” that’s favored are videos of GEAR. We grew up listening to MUSIC and watching music videos, but gear is what’s in our faces now. What sells. it’s hard to be mindful and not be influenced by the water we are swimming in.
That's a great point. Everything we see is engineered to making us feel incomplete unless we buy (or click or scroll, etc). I believe in holistic viewpoints, especially in aesthetics -- everything we are is reflected in everything we do (or is it vice versa)? Mindful approach to gear = mindful approach to music, hopefully.
Another great vid! I always appreciate your straight to the point take on things. There’s no gear seduction with your approach, just the human pros and cons. I would definitely like to see videos on the gear that you own and love. I have a Nord Lead 3 and I have a hell of a time trying to find a modern (or old) video of someone doing a deep dive or tutorial. So any videos on “old” gear is always appreciated.
Many thanks for the kind words. That's so weird about the Nord because my unofficial sense is that they're the ax of choice for the working keyboardist! I see them a lot at live gigs.
very true I'm only looking at software now after its been heavily discounted. I have pretty much everything I ever wanted (a drum machine/sampler and a synth is all you need) and anything else I can find a computer program that's a close enough replacement.
Agreed! Getting to the point where I have everything I ever wanted is more about the wanting than the having. Any lacks or limitations can serve as impetus for creativity, with the right approach.
Heck yeah dude.
The thing that has really helped me focus has been the one in and one out method.
That, and if there is a piece of gear that I’ve realized that I don’t reach for all that often at all, I consider whether I even really need it if something else that I use more frequently covers the same sound.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! This is something I also think about pretty often and try not to fall into the traps of consumerism. It is fun to look at new gear, but I definitely don’t make as much progress with the wonderful synths that I already own when my brain space is preoccupied looking at stuff I don’t need.
Appreciate that, friend. I braced for some troll responses when I published this vid but looks like some people feel the same way. Our time and cognitive space are the most limited resource and yet so easy to just waste it!
MKDVB you should definitely make videos of the gear you love. While it is true about looking at what’s new, I also like to see what works and everyone uses instruments differently, so go for it. 👍🏼
🙏🙏 Thanks for encouragement!
Yeah, man. I bought very little gear in 2023, like only maybe three effects pedals. The prices are crazy, and the yen is super weak here in Japan. Gear here in Japan is like maybe 2x the price of what it was a few years ago (in yen). It’s really curbed my buying ability, even with a good job. Most people haven’t gotten salary raises here either. Brutal.
Here’s hoping things get better soon. I’ll no doubt be sticking with my same synth, sampler, guitar, keyboard setup this year as well. I’d like a new audio interface if possible, and am sure I’ll buy at least one or two pedals, but that’s about it.
Sorry to hear things are tough in Japan. I definitely slowed down in 2023, partly due to economy but flipside, it's nice to feel like my rig is in a good spot so switching stuff around constantly becomes counter-productive. Now if I could only bring myself to pare it down by half ...
@@MKDVBYeah, as you said in the video, it’s not like I’m in a tough spot to live or anything, just that the same level of consumption isn’t possible. Maybe that’s a good thing as you were alluding to. I’m also in the same camp to be pretty content with my setup. I did some paring down already, but should probably let about 25% of my remaining pedals go. The high price of things also curbs the impulse buying, which is a good thing. When things were $150-200 it was easy to justify trying something out but at $400 or more often $600-1000, not so much.
I will remember this one : why don't you go on holidays this year? Yeah, you know, we live in interesting financial times 😂
Only things Id say is... BUY MOOG while its still barely employee owned. Otherwise, very wise video man nice.
Nice advice. Which ones you got?
InMusic buyout doesn't give me as much confidence as the Sequential buyout, which seems to be business as usual. The only Moog I really want at this point is out of my price range unless I sell half my studio, almost all of which are synths I love at this point.