Sold my synths - here is why
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- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
- Why did I sell some synths? And why is it important not getting too attached to your stuff? Guest appearance from Woody Piano Shack. Subscribe to Woody Piano Shack: bit.ly/woodypiano
Here's gear I recommend for a synth setup & your studio. This is almost exclusively gear I have used in my studio and know to work. (All links are affiliate links)
MIXERS (all of these can record multiple channels at once)
BlueBox redir.love/5eS... (super small)
Soundcraft MTK 22: redir.love/Lz3...
Soundcraft MTK 12: redir.love/aPf...
Tascam Model 12: redir.love/ZRF... (affordable!)
Presonus 16 channel: redir.love/ss7...
Presonus 32SC (the one I use):
MIDI THRU BOXES (midi splitters)
Kenton Thru-5: redir.love/d5c...
midi solutions thru box:
iConnectivity MioXL (there's a smaller one too!) redir.love/tlX...
SYNTH STAND
Jaspers: redir.love/TmK...
GOOD FX
Zoia: redir.love/4By...
Mod Duo X: redir.love/DUi...
Blackhole: redir.love/Zrn...
EURORACK
Rackbrute Case: redir.love/Oq9...
Nifty Case: redir.love/bPP...
Affordable modules: redir.love/xlS...
PATCHBAY: redir.love/FA9...
SEQUENCERS (makes no sounds themselves)
Novation SL Mk3 // 8 track keyboard/sequencer/controller: redir.love/Opi...
Arturia Keystep Pro // 4 track sequencer/controller: redir.love/wcd...
SYNTH & SAMPLERS WITH SEQUENCER
Roland MC101 // portable 4 track synth: redir.love/WEV...
Roland MC707 // 8 track synth and sampler: redir.love/ZXv...
Novation Circuit Tracks // 4 track Sequencer & Synth: redir.love/Vmt...
Elektron Digitakt // 8 track sampler, 8 track sequencer: redir.love/MiL...
Elektron Digitone // 4 track FM synth + 4 track sequencer: redir.love/XvD...
NI Maschine+ // standalone sequencer/sampler/: redir.love/Jdf...
GOOD STARTER SYNTHS
Minilogue: redir.love/Jjs...
Minilogue XD: redir.love/dlk...
Argon8: redir.love/29R...
Cobalt8: redir.love/naz...
Microfreak: redir.love/j9f...
Dreadbox Typhon: redir.love/yFG...
Korg NuTekt NTS1: redir.love/Re0...
Reface CS: redir.love/A2H...
HydraSynth: redir.love/ERi...
DRUM MACHINES
Roland TR8S (very versatile!): redir.love/9IY...
TR6S (tiny!): redir.love/hOo...
Analog Rytm MK2 (pricey but amazing!): redir.love/qGm...
Pulsar-23 (a bit overkill for a beginner): redir.love/fDC...
Drumbrute Impact: redir.love/FjZ...
SPEAKERS:
IK MTM: redir.love/bhY...
ADAM A5X: redir.love/AoY...
Eve Audio SC3070: redir.love/WtI...
SOCIAL MEDIA
Instagram: / bobeats
Twitter: / bobeatsmusic
Facebook: / bobeatsmusic
MY STUFF
Presets & samples: store.bobeats.tv
Merch: merch.bobeats.tv
Music: bobeatsmusic.ba...
COMMUNITY
Discord: community.bobea...
FB group: / simplysynthesizer
GEAR I USE (affiliate)
redir.love/zqW...
BUSINESS INQUIRY
bonurmimusic ( at ) gmail.com
#sellingMySynths #synthesizer #bobeats
Here's gear I recommend for a synth setup & your studio. This is almost exclusively gear I have used in my studio and know to work. (All links are affiliate links)
MIXERS (all of these can record multiple channels at once)
BlueBox redir.love/5eSI5log (super small)
Soundcraft MTK 22: redir.love/Lz35MmNy
Soundcraft MTK 12: redir.love/aPfcq34t
Tascam Model 12: redir.love/ZRF0NVpW (affordable!)
Presonus 16 channel: redir.love/ss7CWjUr
Presonus 32SC (the one I use): redir.love/RDNxeOC9
MIDI THRU BOXES (midi splitters)
Kenton Thru-5: redir.love/d5cyo4Gx
midi solutions thru box: redir.love/qjANR69s
iConnectivity MioXL (there's a smaller one too!) redir.love/tlXJCRm9
SYNTH STAND
Jaspers: redir.love/TmKv2niJ
GOOD FX
Zoia: redir.love/4BysDzzC
Mod Duo X: redir.love/DUigViEW
Blackhole: redir.love/ZrnG7sHL
EURORACK
Rackbrute Case: redir.love/Oq9TY5XV
Nifty Case: redir.love/bPPFJZxh
Affordable modules: redir.love/xlS56kNh
PATCHBAY: redir.love/FA9FzgSp
SEQUENCERS (makes no sounds themselves)
Novation SL Mk3 // 8 track keyboard/sequencer/controller: redir.love/OpiiymOF
Arturia Keystep Pro // 4 track sequencer/controller: redir.love/wcdKr2aG
SYNTH & SAMPLERS WITH SEQUENCER
Roland MC101 // portable 4 track synth: redir.love/WEV5zU2a
Roland MC707 // 8 track synth and sampler: redir.love/ZXvaPQxT
Novation Circuit Tracks // 4 track Sequencer & Synth: redir.love/VmtyAXa5
Elektron Digitakt // 8 track sampler, 8 track sequencer: redir.love/MiLNj6yp
Elektron Digitone // 4 track FM synth + 4 track sequencer: redir.love/XvDhPMVU
NI Maschine+ // standalone sequencer/sampler/: redir.love/JdfuRpF0
GOOD STARTER SYNTHS
Minilogue: redir.love/JjsQmfX1
Minilogue XD: redir.love/dlk50GPM
Argon8: redir.love/29RChEad
Cobalt8: redir.love/nazGt9Tn
Microfreak: redir.love/j9fxu250
Dreadbox Typhon: redir.love/yFGoYs69
Korg NuTekt NTS1: redir.love/Re0IKdpG
Reface CS: redir.love/A2HoVovD
HydraSynth: redir.love/ERiGbQhv
DRUM MACHINES
Roland TR8S (very versatile!): redir.love/9IYrzQ0b
TR6S (tiny!): redir.love/hOo0rL5Z
Analog Rytm MK2 (pricey but amazing!): redir.love/qGmO7p0i
Pulsar-23 (a bit overkill for a beginner): redir.love/fDCCbnQg
Drumbrute Impact: redir.love/FjZcqKz8
SPEAKERS:
IK MTM: redir.love/bhYrjCmm
ADAM A5X: redir.love/AoY8D5qI
Eve Audio SC3070: redir.love/WtImCPCy
I have little time to use my synths. My solution so far is to get more synths.
Welcome to Synthetic Anonymous. What was your gateway synth, Ryan?
Mine was the minibrute
Yamaha SY-2
Akai ax-73
I buy, I keep, I dust.
This video...your comments, and sharing your personal experiences...all this has kinda changed my life, and caused a revolution in my thinking..thank you so much...i needed to hear this.
Thanks! This comment made me smile. Glad to share.
I’ve been into electronic music since 1967 and I’ve never sold an instrument. I still play my 1972 Moog modular and now, partially due to your videos, I’m grooving on the Eurorack stuff. The most versatile new e-m platform is iOS. IMHO...
Fortunately I need all of mine. And more I don't have yet. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
We believe you!
Actually I have a Neutron on the way and then I'm pretty much done. Might grab a pedal or two here and there but I have all I need.
@@michaellyle8769 "DONE" lol suuuuure I bet you bought more since you typed that!
I like the idea of a breakup jam with your gears
Less machines, more productivity.
I really like your channel. Your information is relevant, and you have a very easy manner and disposition. You come across as a genuine artist and responsible citizen of the planet.
I started out with software but went to more hardware production because I love the character of a lot of vintage equipment and I have tons of fun using a more hands-on approach. To each his own but I just can't let go of my hardware.
I have a lot of software synths but nothing compares to hardware if I want to jam without a DAW or a PC I can do that as well.
A couple of years back I sold 42 pieces of vintage equipment including some good stuff like MPC60, Korg Mono/Poly etc. etc. and with the money I bought three Elektrons in their place. At the time I told everybody that it was like selling 42 Fiats and buying 3 Ferraris with the money. I never regretted that decision. I've always been very good at letting go of things, cause that's what they are after all, just things. I got fed up with the maintenance and unreliability of my vintage gear and bought something that I could always rely on. I also feel that I'm much more focused now that I have only a small selection of equipment which I can learn to use inside and out.
I've done the same thing on many occasions. This March I sold all of my 7" singles (around 1400 of them) because I quit djing and just did not need them anymore. I don't listen to seven inch singles at home, nobody does. There's no point in collecting stuff, I don't have any use for. With the money I bought a couple Elektrons more. At the moment I'm thinking about getting rid of my whole record collection (8000-10000 albums) and buying something reasonable in their place. I love them, but I don't really need them. They're just a huge pile of dead weight every time I need to move house.
The only thing I have ever regretted getting rid of is my Teenage Engineering OP-1. But I can buy one back whenever I feel like it. I have no kids and there's really no point to collect stuff that I don't use. I'd rather sell them and buy myself a new bicycle or something worthwhile.
When I was young, way back in the seventies, the mono synths where ruling the world. I could just buy a Kawai 100F on a loan which was one of the cheapest synth then. All the ARP's and Moog's where unreachable for me but all the keyboardists on the records where playing them. I could only drool on pictures of them because the local music shops did not have them in store. Korg, Roland and Yamaha were just entering the synth market but they were seen as inferior to the real thing. Now I am 57 years old and tend to buy synths I could not afford when I was young. Just to experience them, encounter the limitations and enjoy the strong point. My latest addition is a Moog Polymoog Synthesizer which took me a year to make it working again. Anyways, I find it very, very hard to sell synths, afraid of having deep regrets afterwards.
Martin Peters The ”Obtainment Paradox”: When you are young, have time and inspiration, you cannot afford it. Then, when you’re older and can buy it, you don’t really have the time and need for it, but keep buying your younger self delayed Christmas presents...Then again, drooling can be a strong motivation.
Bo, you and Woody make some valid points about selling off gear. Unfortunately, I have a difficult time letting gear go!
I've come to think that there's a huge amount of overlap in functionality between hardware synths (just about every hardware synth these days has a sequencer for example), and the biggest problem is how to design your setup to allow easy access to all the functionality when you need it without too much redundancy. There seems to be a tradeoff between redundancy and usability; it's easy to create a pattern with mother 32 because of the built in sequencer, but you probably already have a sequencer that you could theoretically use with it. It seems like the user interface is the main driving force inspiring people to acquire tons of synths and feel sad about letting them go. The best UI ideas seem spread across multiple standalone systems (elektron sequencer, op-1 virtual tape loops/sample from radio, kordbot chord pallette, and more come to mind) and there's no way to collect them all together in one system other than by buying them all.
Nostalgia is a powerful drug. I can't get rid of my old gear probably for the same reason I lust after the old cars I used to drive. It's not about productivity, it's just about reliving good times. I don't use my old gear a lot, but every now and then it's nice to pick up something old and remember the good times.
double post..but just to add, I'm pretty fussy about what I do buy in the first place. GAS is powerful, but picking up some old gear you haven't used in a while is a good way to kill off GAS
With vintage synths I'm 100% with Woody on the "I appreciate that they do it, but I wouldn't". When I started to go hardware I only bought current gear rather than anything old and used.
These days I tend to hold on to what I buy (giving myself "options") but I also don't buy a lot of stuff. I put a lot of thought into my purchases and they have to tick enough boxes to make it into a shopping cart. After buying the 0-Coast it took over a year and a half to buy my second synth. I looked at many options over that time but they all fell short in some way. But the Digitone ticked all the boxes and now I have one :)
My Approach on synths... Buy it used and learn to love it more or as much as the previous owner. Something old to somebody, might find new kind of appreciation in another pair hands.
At first I was more Synth focused like getting the Korg Volcas and the Teenage Pocket Operators. (I don't have PO 35 Speak and Korg Volca Kick- I don't feel like that could work with what I already have) Then when I approached a song to be reviewed by you, you had made an excellent point. I needed variety. So that peaked my curiosity on what kind of devices I could use for Strings, Brass, Piano even.
Then I came across the JV1010, which had a small variety or instruments. Let's just say I've made a mission this year to collect the expansion cards to hear and own such beautiful sounds.
Yes, you have a point. I guess I can part with some of my virtual synths. 😂🐲😂
When I first started, I definitely bought and sold a lot of stuff. Now I feel like I have a set-up that I feel super comfortable with, and I don't really need any more gear. Even now though, if I get tired of something, or I find i'm not really using it, i'll sell it.
Recently changed from software only to hardware with a few pieces of software because of the physical connection, the physical presence and the hands on approach. I intend to keep my hardware for years to come (selected each one very carefully) and go on a long term adventure with each of my synths so I get to know them inside out and upside down. I've spent too long hopping and changing (in software) so time to settle down!
Once I buy I rarely sell. And that is how it will always be for me - I buy a synth not just for what I know I can do with it today, but also so I can find out what I can do with it a year from now - or ten years from now... Never sell I say, you never know when that used synth that everyone is selling will suddenly disappear from the market forever.
I am like you: I rarely sell. As long as it doesn't weigh on you, it should be all good yeah?
looneyburgmusic - good point. I had a Roland D110 sitting around not doing much, mainly because in recent times it started shutting itself off after 5 minutes or so. So I decided to open it up and replace a few suspect capacitors, that didn't help but I did stumble across a bad connection from the transformer to the main board. Problem fixed. Hooked it up to a little notebook pc and korg Nano thingy (both devices I don't really use but come in handy from time to time) for some testing and I lost a good couple of hours programming some new patches. No eBay for you old friend!
Prices on the used market are decent enough now, (with the exception of the usual suspect analogs), that a smart, patient, buyer can often get several used synths for what was the price of one just a decade or so ago. When I was in the market for a Yamaha TG-77, I was very patient - instead of jumping on any one of the dozen or so TG-77s that were listed on EBay between $300 - $500, I waited, and kept checking the prices several times a day, because I was sure that at some point someone was going to put up a TG at a ridiculously low price. And that was exactly what happened - A near-mint TG-77 with box and manuals for $125. Not too long ago I picked up a second Roland D-10 in very good condition for $50. The deals are out there to be had, without needing to sell other gear to finance the buy, if buyers would just take a breath and wait for the right synth to come to them.
I buy and sell a lot. I recently sold an OB Matrix 6, Virus B, JX-3P, Monoevolver, Shruthi-XT, and about $7000 worth of eurorack.
Now I have a Behringer Model D, Pioneer AS-1, Blofeld keys, and Rev2. I could not be happier with this setup.
I took a vacation with the rest of the money, and have a growing guitar pedal collection for my synths.
I buy used 90% of the time. Saves a lot of money, and then if I sell, I rarely lose very much. I look at the things I have as “studio equity”. I can sell and transfer that value to something else at any time. This way I’m rarely investing new money into my setup.
In the end, just make music. Be happy, enjoy the things you’ve earned, and share your accomplishments and knowledge with others.
I think for the average musician, the goal should be, ultimately, to end up at a place where you get bored with the hype of new things, because you're so content with your existing gear. Ultimately, you want to 'cover your gear bases' so you can focus on making your music, unpreturbed. For electronic musicians, that can be a lot of things!! But your studio plan should have a beginning, middle, and END. (Otherwise, check yourself into rehab, because you have an addiction!)
Btw.. the "I sold my synths" title is a bit hyperbolic, you only sold two and some other unused gear. :PBut thanks for sharing. (& Woody is great too!)
Absolutely right. As a lifelong professional musician I could not agree more. Push forward by all means but, have a developing plan.
Wise words indeed. Welp.... back to rehab in the morning.
I have some acoustic musical instruments as well as electronic gear. Not to mention my recreational stuff like scuba gear and wood working tools too. I try to keep it balanced and play with the toys I already have without buying more. The novelty of new stuff is definitely fun, but watching you folks on RUclips, playing with all the gear that's available is fun for me too.
Woody, I feel your point on 7:53. I agree after selling a major synth I wind up freeing my mind up a bit more to get creative but it also creates a space for yes, another synth!!!
This year so far I sold my Minibrute, Mikrokorg, Kaoss Pad 3 and some guitar stuff. And bought an O-Coast & Digitakt. I think it's a healthy practise to look at your setup every now and then, and assess what you're really using and fits your needs and what's collecting dust :)
Funny. I went through this this year, and ended up GETTING an Analog Keys. Same journey, opposite destination. Sold a Matrixbrute, my Beloved Moog Little Phatty, a Drumbrute, a Lyra-8, got a Pico system 2, split that up, got a Pittsburgh Cell 90 case, got modules, sold modules.. I've ended ut with a rig quite close to yours (Minibrute 2s, Rackbrute 3u) and the Analog Keys. Very, very happy now. Space was a big thing, now everything fits on a desk.
I clean out my studio annually based on whether I have used the gear in the past year or maybe have bought a replacement for it. I usually get motivated when I see a new piece of gear I want and need to raise funds to pay for it.
Good workflow :P
From a purely practical perspective, you'll only need a DAW with its stock synths. The rest is bonus / variation / spice / nice extra (which surely isn't wrong and we "need" it in a way).
True! [I do have plenty of gear too :)]
Another great argument for selling old equipment you no longer use: something gathering dust on your shelf may end up being the centerpiece of someone else's setup! I recently sold my TD-3 and Volca Sample since they weren't getting much use, and I'm really hoping that whoever they end up with make some awesome tracks with them.
My advice: Where possible avoid buying new, make sure any new synth brings with it a useful/unique new feature or function you don't already have, ensure you have the time & energy to learn how to use and get the most out of the kit, and finally keep your total synth count to less than your anniversary number !!!! Never be afraid to sell a synth, there is a good chance if you really want it you can always buy it again (or a newer, better version); of course there will always be the odd exception to the rule.. I have several in my collection !! Finally be honest with yourself - if you're never going to use an instrument then whats the point in keeping it... So whatever you own, just be sure to enjoy it. Best Regards, Axel.
I learnt from my days with racing cars to never sell anything. Just store it away and come back to it later. You will want to use it again one day.
Too true. You will either rebuy or, at least, want to re buy. There was a reason you bought in the first place
Bo, Thanks for the video! I can certainly understand your perspective. I have bought quite a bit of equipment for this hobby and not sold any of it. When I began to get into creating music, I was looking for powerful and unique sounding instruments that would allow for maximum flexibility and thus spent considerable time and money selecting those instruments. I approached it from an engineering perspective. I guess, there were a couple of questionable choices along the way, but I didn't really need the money so kept them as well. As I became more proficient, I realized that part of the enjoyment was in the learning of the different interfaces and how different manufacturers chose to enable access to features and configuration settings in their products. Now having had that experience, I am much more interested in experimenting and learning which sounds and effects work well with each other and am more focused on musicianship and music (theory & composition). I guess a major distinction for me is that yes these are tools, but they are also instruments with their own unique capabilities that allow me to have freedom in artistic expression!
Totally agree! I can do everything I want with my ableton push 2 , akai mpk249 and novation launch control xl! I just may need to buy a minilogue as my first synth!
I like the idea of having a synth for every different need - one for pads, one for bass, one for SFX, etc - I've spent too much money on softsynths that overlap on 90% of their features to want to do that with hardware, and I'm sure a lot of people have done the same!
I prefer to stick to my one synthesizer. I'm not one to go out and buy a bunch of gear that I'll only use for a short period of time. For me, I purchased the one synth I've always wanted and made sure it could do everything I wanted. It is pretty much the heart of my studio setup, and I don't intend on getting more gear. I'm definitely a minimalist when it comes to gear.
Shayne Lawrence agreed.
What is your one synthesizer if I may ask?
Yamaha EX7... not a very popular one, but definitely suits my needs!
Sold pretty much everything to fund a modular... made it a ‘best of’ interesting digital oscs, vintage filters, BBD fx and West Coast modulation... haven’t changed anything since because big sacrifices were made. About to sell Microbrute, Monologue and a mixer I never used to pay for the Minibrute 2 and MS20 I just bought. Have changed things around a lot because I have quite a few work injuries and like things to be hands on without having a full on MIDI studio... not inclined to change anymore. If gear has a local premium like it does in Oz, it stings a little bit each time to see EBay fees and devaluation eating into your margin. But having the E Music studio basically spread across the case is really good for my poor wrists.
This is my favourite video of yours Bo. I could not agree more. As the kit and the setup changes, the sound evolves into something new. If I am really in two minds over something I don't use much I tend to sample the core waveforms and make some loops and snippets before parting with it. That way I can incorporate older units into future tracks. My rule is one thing in, at least one thing out. The studio grows and shrinks in cycles. The only constant is the OP-1 as there is nothing else really like it wokflow/portability-wise and I find new and interesting methods and tricks on it every time I turn it on. The only thing I really miss is my monomachine, it was just so punchy in the mix
Mark.
Most of your comments make sense. I'm in the same boat. I think to myself "If I only bought THIS piece of equipment, my song writing would be so much better!" And that's not always the case. It could be a small shopping addiction too ;)
I feel you
Thanks, Bo, for this great video.
I retired from my computer programming job just 4 years ago, and so have been in gear acquisition mode since then. I think I've now reached or am approaching a peak in that ascending curve and soon will need to begin parting with some of my gear, either because I'm not using it or just need the space as well as a bit of extra cash. It's helpful to see what guys like you and Woody are doing. Sharing your experiences and insights is incredibly valuable for those of us facing the same kinds of choices in the near future. Thanks again to both you and Woody.
Thank you Bob for the comment and you being here ♥️
I have a “revolving-door” policy for my synths and gear. I go through tons of guitar pedals as well. I think that each synth have a different palette and it’s important to understand that you can expose yourself to new sonic territories by trying or buying new gear.
I'm getting Korg Monologue as my first synth. I'm really excited.
thank you
When I saw the screenshot of you holding the Minilogue I thought: “Ohhh SNAP!.. he’s making room for the Prologue!!” Lol. But alas... this was quite the educational/practical episode 😆
Archer Areli clickbait that leads to learning!!
BoBeats hilarious.
I get super sentimental about gear. I still have my korg polysix which I bought in 1991, or my pro one. I still play my first bass which I got in 1990. On the other hand, I really want to sell off my drum kit which I've had for over 20 years: I've proved to myself I suck as a drummer!
I know this is probably viewed by synth people and not so much guitar people, but there is a channel called "five watt world" where the whole point is minimalism in equipment and appreciation for quality over quantity. great content both there and here
In the past, I approached the buy/sell debate by, well, not having much in the way of spare cash, so every purchase was researched for months on end while I saved up. In some ways, I'm still kind of that way, but now I have a dedicated hobbying budget that goes to all of my various hobbies. I still try to be sensible about it, as I'm looking for gear that's powerful yet flexible... And doesn't take up all that much space.
That space issue is what keeps me debating back and forth between various modular formats, specifically between dotcom/MU (especially now that SteamSynth Labs, STG Soundlabs, Corsynth, and Dove audio all have some rather nice stuff alongside the "utilitarian" synthesizers.com stuff) and eurorack. Sure, a dotcom Box11 is only a few inches wider than an Erica Synths Travel case (or other 6U 104HP case - 24 7/8" (approximately 632mm) wide for Box11 and 21 5/8" (550mm) for Erica Synths' Travel case), but on the flipside you can fit a decent amount more in the way of modules in the eurorack case - to do the same with the Box11, you'd need a second enclosure, and MU systems get rather large fairly quickly.
So far I've only sold gear because I really REALLY wanted to clear up some debts, and truth be told, most of that gear was collecting dust due to various reasons. Some of it was harder to give up, like my Maschine mk II (and Maschine Jam, which truthfully, was played with once then sat on my desk for three years) and especially my Electribe ER-1 mk ii, but neither of those are even on my radar nowadays. Not because there's "better" things on the market now, more just because.. Okay, I have to stop myself. Yes, there are things much more suited to what I want to do and HOW I want to do those things on the market nowadays. Maschine, I wound up doing other things on my computer as well, so would go for half an hour to an hour and then do something else. I noodled with my modular for hours, even though it drove me nuts that I was only getting sound in the one ear in my headphones. My only complaint about that dotcom setup was, well, a lack of patch cords, and the fact at the time I was downright attached to having a keyboard in my setup.
Now that I'm starting it all again from scratch, and have a more defined idea of what I want to do (be able to plop down somewhere comfy, and just experiment and have fun for hours, and let things go where they go), I've been seriously contemplating the idea of a Circuit + Circuit Monostation, although that Digitone Keys is oh so tempting, especially with the idea of being paired with a Digitakt. So many options, naturally requiring more thought before committing to the idea. ^_^;;;
I know if I like something or not. If I'm not using something, it goes. That said, it's much harder to dislodge analog synths than anything else. Mixers and samplers are often products of the technology available at the time, and I develop little bond with them. Analog tone though, is timeless.
It was hard to sell my Digitakt and Analog Heat...right until it was out the door. Then I didn't miss them a bit. I simply wasn't using them. Now I'm cleaning out the studio again.
This is a wise video. Thank you guys.
“Less is more”
I unfortunately, do not sell any of the mics I buy because I'm inevitably going to compare them, and repurchasing them, and reselling them would be too time consuming, and a bit expensive.
Makes sense to me!
I see people with clean rooms with only necessary pieces of gear, and I get jealous. One day.
I wouldn't mind having a mic! But I know you can't give me one.. oh well.
now two years later and you have more synths than ever!
@Bobeats correct me if i'm wrong, but you have the maschine mk3 - so selling your maschine studio wasn't exactly "giving up", you have the elektron analog rytm mkii - so selling the mki isn't really giving up, and you have the analog four mkii so selling the analog keys isn't exactly saying goodbye to the synth. Unless i'm wrong and you got all this gear just to review and then return - than it seems your gear went thru an upgrade rather than a downscale.
Great vídeo, congratulations!
Same feelings here: it's a topic I'm going thru since years. The scope is to try to reduce my equipment to the core elements I need. All the stuff which don't get use for a long time or get redundant have to go on my opinion. A good example is the Digitakt: beside being a really powerful drum machine/sample, I really like you can (mis)use its sample capabilities and transform it in a very cool synth, which in the end killed the need for any other synths.
I'm selling my first hardware synth, which was a difficult decision. I realized that over time I wasn't getting that much use out of it, I was only keeping it for sentimental value. I plan to use the money to buy a new synth, hopefully one that I can appreciate alot more.
I have owned SO much hardware since I began buying in the late 70's. There are very few brands I haven't owned.
Now, I live way out, in the middle of NowHere - no music stores nearby, with any gear to check out. I too, buy and sell all the time on eBay.
(just sold my Linnstrument, a Blofeld, etc. and pre ordered a Synthstrom Deluge)
I find that buying and selling challenges me - takes me into new directions of production, writing, programming...
Yes, I agree!!! - keeping inspired is a huge thing, and for those of us with a Gear Fetish, this new age of eBay has changed how easy it is to be 'Fluid'
Onward and upward...
Thanks for posting this
Had a wasp deluxe for years. bought it for 25 pounds in the UK.. sold it without a thought on ebay for $5200. its now only a memory. Not missed at all
This video is very important for any music/gear channel. It's kinda good cure for GAS at the early stages. As for me - i actually don't have a lot of space or heap of synths, my goal was to get small but decent gear to make music and to learn music. Looking for non-vocal mics/recorders and small synth like roland JX03 or something similar. In future i'll probably get rid of few fx pedals and smaller synths and get standalone fx unit or even modular. I like weird fx, but i still prefer to keep things portable.
I find this golden era of synths and modular gear fascinating maybe it all started with low cost gadget synths about 5 years ago but know we have so many choices that some of us end up with the newest release but not necessarily what is best for ones workflow or purpose. It took me over the last year to sort this out and keep the instruments that inspire me the most and provide best workflow for what I am trying to do...a few examples selling prophet 12 for the pro2, selling mother 32 for a stillson hammer sequencer, and selling rainmaker for erica synths black hole....in each case workflow for me was much better with the latter.....of course dependent on my other choices...
The other thing about having so many different tools is that each one creates its own unique inspiration for new sounds/melodies, right out of the box. Even though many of my items *can* replace the others in theory, it requires too much work for me to do that. Have we all used a large wrench as a hammer? Of course, but really - just buy a hammer if it's cheap enough. You bring up good points, though. Thanks for posting!
in the beginning, I was buying a lot of synthesizers. And then I changed it to buying a synth after I pay off my credit debt. Now I just want to buy one synthesizer per year. I have been selling more gear now. i try to keep my collection simple, but at the same time I want to try new things. I play shows, learning new gear all the time is not good. I have friends who used the same gear and they are more talented then me. So I general want to keep the same gear.
I sold a mint SH-101 for $400 back in about 2004.. been wanting one back since then. told myself I would never sell any gear after that unless I really need the $ and I have stuck to it. I sold the sh-101 in order to buy an alesis micron lol
lol
Woody has hit the sweet spot. Buy secondhand, sell secondhand. He basically uses all his gear for free.
That's what I do too. I either break even or sometimes even make a profit. The wife hates it because I keep buying synths but she doesn't understand I'm not losing ANY money. I can sell at any time.
Well, as for me, I approach hardware from my needs. For example, I'm working on a project (musical album) of myself and I need a special sound for it. I need something that will help me to design a right style for a project. When I realize that, I'm trying to find a good gear for a good price that will fit my needs. And if I'll find something that fits my needs, I'll buy it.
i like the "study music mix" playing on your screen, I've listened to that one a bunch
It is difficult for me to sell gear unless its a direct upgrade or I immediately dislike it. I'll go through waves of wanting to sell everything and waves of wanting everything. Any gear that is low cost I'm to lazy to sell. I have a 2 items right now that I have been having a tough time committing to selling, the A4 & Circuit even though I use them probably 1-2x over 3-6 months for the past couple years. I think part of the reason is that the A4 was my first real gear and I had bought it brand new a couple years ago and now used price hurts too much for me to sell it. The Novation Circuit's digital synth is awesome - I wish it had a regular vst though, the motion recording makes me have to draw less pita automation in the DAW. Though I'm too lazy to plug it in, I hardly ever change samples or make my own patches even tho making patches is what I've wanted to do with it.
I am just so used to using Ableton with a mouse and keyboard, serum and samples that I often am too lazy to use my hardware unless my PC is turned off. Thats part of the reason I go thru waves of wanting to sell everything and focus on ableton. It is what I know and where I get the best results. Its my primary instrument and finally got my sound in there and theirs always efficiency/tricks to learn. Then for the times when I have an uncreative day in Ableton - I turn to my hardware and suddenly get creative results as a starting point to throw into Ableton. Then I go thru the waves of wanting more gear. My plan is to set up a OTB only Rig in a flight case that I keep unhooked from my PC on a separate desk until a track is ready to be recorded/fleshed more in Ableton but thats what hardware fetish/dawless jamming is all about.
Its interesting that gearslutting/GAS'ing helps me stay interested in producing music and makes me open up the DAW more often, just keeps my head in music. I music less overall when I am not researching gear or learning purchased gear. Gear and ITB life is a weird balance, both switch between being the mistress and muse hopefully one day I will find a stable balance where they can stay connected together. One of these days I'll set up my perfect OTB rig and till then I'll keep buying and minimally selling.
Gearupdate;
This year sold AR mk1 to get Mk2, sold push 1 for push 2, bought my first HEK full of eurocrack 1m ago (looking to get a 107/3u case now), got a RMA'd/brick Mpc live I need to ship that I may sell after I get it back, a Virus TI KB been thinking about selling for a rack so I can add another keyboard (PX/P12/P2/Quantum/Montage/MatrixBrute), WTB Polyend/Dreadbox Medusa, Deluge, Digitone, Digitakt. RC505, Hangdrum, Strymon FX Pedals, UAD Card, the list forever goes on.
Noooo...don't let my wife see this. Yeah, I have to reluctantly admit that synth love can grow a bit unwieldy, and who hasn't had a "Yesssss. This f-in' rocks! Can't believe I got it for this price on Ebay...been wanting one forever!!" moment. So, yeah...reducing the clutter is never a bad thing, despite "synth clutter" sounding like a pretty cool problem to have.
"Synth Clutter" is the new name of my band.... :-) Best Regards, Axel.
2 years ago I went through gear acquisition phase and eventually ended up selling 1/3 of everything and still trying to sell some of less popular pieces. Which made me consider much more carefully additional purchases.
The “sunk cost fallacy” is often a hurdle for some people. Good to remember.
Awesome! I am kind of the same way, something new comes in, something old goes out. It has been great because on my channel i can go back and see the evolution of my setup. When i had a few pieces to when I had way too much. Usually I get gear with gift certificates on christmas, and maybe sell an old piece to upgrade to something else. Otherwise, I keep a close eye on the used market. Recently I just sold a roland R-5 and used those funds for an electribe er-1, which i am getting way more use out of thanks to how accessible all the controls are vs the deep menu diving of the r5.
Great video!
I bought a $900 dollar Fender Strat because its beautiful and it's good for playing Hendrix. It's now a wall ornament but I could never let it go, not even for a Prophet 6..
At least with modern synths (old analogue or modded synths are a bit different) and electronics in general.. if you feel the need to sell it, you can just rebuy it and get exactly the same thing later. That's much different to guitars.. if you let a guitar go you're pretty much never getting it back again.. even if it's the same model it will never be quite the same
Great video. Great topic. Great points from both you and Woody. I've been in the hardware synth game for almost a year (music for 11 yrs) and learned a few lessons:
1 - Flipping gear is expensive. I lose 25-50% of the value when I flip something. Better to return an item than keep it past the return date and flip it for a loss.
2 - The more I learn about synths the more I can do with every synth. As a result synths that felt shallow or restrictive at first have ended being deep and inspiring later (which complicates lesson one).
3 - Don't buy something because it's popular. Buy something because it sounds good DRY, is VERSATILE and does something your other equipment can't DO BETTER. I flipped many popular synths because they quickly became one or two trick ponies. That said, due to lesson two I've actually repurchased a few synths realizing they could do a whole lot more once I put the time in (again complicating lesson one).
4 - The more time I spend with a synth the more inspiring it becomes and the more it aides my creative process. The Korg Arp Odyssey is possibly my favorite synth because it consistently surprises me.
Ultimately lesson three has been the most helpful. When I choose wisely I flip less and am more productive as a result. There is a certain amount of time I need to spend with a synth before it transforms from a box with knobs to an extension of my imagination. And that's when the magic happens.
Bonus lesson - Any synth can sound AMAZING with the right guitar pedal.
I own 4 actual synths of which I use 2 in a DAW environment. Those outboards are my inspirators but for recording I use mostly VST's for their convenience in the process of writing and recalling. I'm about to move to another country and I'm seriously reconsidering what to bring.... I think I'll move it all with me! :D
Thanks for the video on this (and including Woody - I watched that video quite some time ago and it was fun seeing him here). I'm at the crossroads of unloading some of my gear for the exact reasons both of you talked about. It's awesome stuff, but it sits in a corner a lot of the time as I acquire new gear. I used to hate the idea of selling stuff, because I "might" need it again in the future. But I think by taking away some of the choices of different synths I have might help me develop better skills on the ones I am keeping. Less is more.
Over the past 30 years I have bought and sold a number of synths, always looking to find something that will provide me with most everything I need to make music. After spending years of playing & programming each synth, I would fully explore most of the things I could do with them. On reflection, I do regret selling most of these synths, although it was done mainly for financial reasons, so I could afford something ‘better’ and usually did not regret what I replaced them with. In 2002, I ended up with 3 multitimbral instruments that covered all bases and sold everything else.
In 2005, I started buying software synths and since then have not stopped. Many of them are virtual recreations of the old classics that no one can afford or has the space to keep. Being much cheaper (and getting cheaper all the time) than the hardware versions, I realise that now I have accumulated far more than I will ever use on a regular basis. However, no real problem here, as I have plenty of choice and time (?) to try them all out and find out which instruments I am most creative with.
I use to thank my equipment for the great time we had. And then let it go. It works. Have never regret any thing ive sold.
Perhaps writing down the reasons why one sells the old stuff is a good idea.
Makes you articulate the reasons clearly, and so I hope, keeps you from feeling sorry afterwards.
Some kind of captain’s log.
it is bad to be attached to physical things (i.e. shoe collection, sports car etc.) but with musical instruments it's about their potential, there is always something inside of them that could add the je ne sais quoi to a song or inspire a new track
Initially I started writing and producing my own music with instruments I was using in bands so I have two "stables" of gear. The first is the stuff I play live with which is pretty stable. I'll have a brain of the rig (currently the Kurzweil PC3K8, bought new, ouch!) which will last 5+ years with a few other long term bits to augment it. I change pedals, mixers, stands etc all the time but the core stays the same. This means I can really get in deep with my live rig so whatever gigs I get I can prepare for them really quickly. It helps that the Kurzweil is such a crazy powerful synthesizer I could spend 10 years with it and still not get to the bottom.
When I'm making electronic music and soundtracks in the studio I'm much more free with gear. Stuff comes and goes all the time and I've got a bit of a 6th sense for when I'm not going to get on with something, no matter how much time I put into it. I usually buy 2nd hand so I don't lose so much if I sell it, occasionally I'll buy something broken if I can fix it easily.
The downside of having gear in two groups is where it crosses over e.g. my Sub 37 gets used for both studio work and live gigs. I'd love to sell it and put the money towards a Matrixbrute for deep sound design in the studio but it's too deeply integrated into the rig for my Pink Floyd tribute. OTOH, I could really do with upgrading my Electro 4D to something like a Crumar Mojo but I'd need to sell the rack synths and studio drum machines to do it. Aargh, gear...
Great video!
I used to keep a lot of stuff because I got attached. Then about 2 years ago, I got sick of having stuff cluttering up my space and not getting used, so I made a commitment to myself that if I had a piece of gear that I hadn’t used for money making musical situations... I had to sell it. This was terrifying to me at first because it meant I had to sell my DSI Mopho X4, MicroKorg, & Moog Sub Phatty. But I stuck by my commitment and sold them. I was bummed for a while, but ultimately, I was left with only what I was using to make money, and the stuff I sold went to musicians who are now making my great use of them. I ended up basically replacing those synths with a Minilogue and getting a good MIDI controller to use Animoog for my iPad as my two main poly synths, then my Sub 37 and Behringer Model D as my two main mono synths. All four of those bring money in every single week, and honestly... even though the Minilogue is more limited than the X4... I am honestly enjoying it far more than I ever did the Mopho. Not to mention, the people who pay me also consistently tell me they love it and always ask me to use it...
So there ya go!
If it makes me money, I keep it... If not... BYE!
Good, logical response.
Sam Miller Nice humblebrag about being a working musician.
greentoaster Well... Or it could just simply be an honest response, which was asked for in the video. That’s my real criteria for what I keep and don’t keep. 🤷♂️
Sam Miller that's fine, but you also mentioned money five times in one comment. Comes across as slightly self-aggrandising.
greentoaster Well, it wasn’t. But truth be told, I don’t really care what people think. My answer stands.
I bought red roland sh-101 in about 2003 for pretty cheap, mostly due to always hearing how good it was, and it was a very good looking synth. I never did like it as much as my mg-1 and I put it in the wardrobe and every few years pulled it out after hearing how amazing they were, and each time it never really grabbed me. I sold it a few years ago, got snapped up in about 30 minutes of advertising it and I bought a new Gibson les paul that was half price in a sell out.
Often enough I do regret selling the sh-101 after hearing how great it is again, or just missing it sitting around looking pretty but I would never buy another one, maybe if behringer sells a clone with midi as it will cost what a 101 is worth to me. I did lose an mg-1 in the past and was never happy until I replaced it and my access virus has been in the repair shop for weeks and weeks now and I keep looking for another one just in case (good news though might get the virus back this week)
Morale is, maybe don't sell synths that are going to skyrocket in value or that you love playing. Glad you kept the circuits Bo
wise choice you cannot go wrong with a Les Paul!
Very good video. For me it comes down to each instrument having its own purpose. Do I use the all on every single track? No because sometimes you just want a Piano and Moog in a track, sometimes you want Drums, sometimes you don’t. Recently I did a few tracks that had a lot of my gear playing together and you know...I realized that the reason why a lot of composers or synth artists back in the day had multiple synths is because they each did their own thing and when you approach your setup like an orchestra and regulate each instrument to its own purpose then you start to see your setup as an overall composition rather than individual instruments.
Good video. Sometimes I find myself holding onto things longer than I should because I think I might need some piece in the future. It’s pretty silly, really. With the hardware and software I have available there are few things I have that are truly unique or irreplaceable. Part of it is laziness, too, because listing and shipping something isn’t fun! But the idea of selling something I never use anymore to someone who’s excited about it and really wants to embrace it is great. I’ve received messages from people I’ve sold some old gear to about how much they enjoy a piece or how much fun they’re having or how excited they are for it to arrive and it always makes me feel like I made the right decision. Even if you have a sentimental attachment it makes a big difference knowing it has gone to a good home.
As it is written in the Book, you only judge the tree by its fruit.
Regardless of the price or name, you better stick to the equipment that suit and/or improve your workflow in making music...which is the only thing that really matters. Everything else is just collecting ultra technological toys.
This is why you always keep the boxes they come in. If you're no longer using it and it's just taking up space and collecting dust, you clean it off, put it back in it's original packaging and you tuck it away in a closet or corner, out of the way until you 'need' it again.
Great video Bo and very interesting topic. When I first started creating my studio I used to sell equipment that I didn't use as I bought a lot of equipment all at once and I had other musicians who would use them. My journey in music quickly moved on to me using the equipment so if I didn't know how to use something I sold it. I sold my Yamaha QY700, Akai MPC2000, Focusrite Voicemaster, Joe Meeks VC3, I could go on but you probably get the picture. I look back now and wish I still had the majority of what I sold. The ones I kept was due to them being very simple and I understood how to use them. I also started to use computers and programs instead of hardware so my Fostex DMT8 went as well.
I don't think that I would be so radical in selling my current set up. Everything I buy nowadays is for my use and I understand what I'm getting and it's purpose a lot better. I won't say never but unlikely is how I currently see it
I have sold a lot of gear over the years. I used to own a Korg Mono/Poly, which i bought in NYC for $350 in the early 00s. I sold it a few years later for $600, but man they go for $2k now? Crazy. I also had an Emulator II that was cherry, got for $200 and over the years spent about $500 on upkeep. Sold that for $2k at some point. I sold things to pay rent back then, though. I regret selling a few guitars, but only for sentimental reasons. I'm now in the process of selling more stuff just for the simple reason of it not being used. You put it perfectly, creativity resides in you, not in your gear.
I go about building my studio with specific sounds and workflows in mind. I also try to make everything have its place and be productive as possible on it. That being said, I do have a really small studio. My list however, go's on... And on! But still bound by a handful of production ideas.
Great vid Bo.
Your reasoning is sound Bo, I understand your selling strategies. For me, I never sell synths because I spend hundreds of hours getting to know every possibility I can find in them. That investment in time is most valuable and don't wish to throw it away. I have made sounds out of Casio XWp1 that everyone can't believe, why? because by use and digging, reading, learning and understanding,. Every synth I own has a purpose, and an identity that I can hear in in my head before programming, so when adding another track/layer to music i already know what sound I am looking for and design it to compliment the composition. I can finish projects very quickly with this synth capability memory. NOW....the knowledge is not rigid, I am always discovering new sounds simply because I continue to explore and make wonderful mistakes.
Im not using my hw stuff that much, but for example the moment of fun we had while jamming with my friend was priceless
I know how you feel. I recently sold my Minilogue and I have a bit of sellers remorse. I miss it, but I needed to be free of it. Its tough
wow, that guy Woody never blinks!..
I told youtube I was going to sell things, and I have sold nothing yet, an I am glad! I wish to replace functional studio pieces once I have the upgrade, like mixers, sequencers, monitor controller, etc. But synths I will keep forever. One thing I would disagree with: Don't see your synths as potential extra money or real estate, because a synthesizer is worth way more than it's cost in this current world. You might be better off selling ANYTHING else you have for another synth.
Turning pots, hitting keys, press the power button, play instantly in seconds, discovering errors and hidden variations, cleaning the gears, improve and repair them, modding and hacking them, feel the different smells inside them, laughing on cheap but brilliant mechanical and electronic solutions, get confused on mysteries parts, recreate famous sounds...... I should replace all this to softwares?
No way! I don’t have dust problems, Thanks to the air cleaner and to the air conditioning:)
If I do not use a synth or something like that for half a year I sell it and invest it in new gear. Although I sold my tr 909 5 years ago, which I regretted. I think carefully before I sell something. I now have trouble to sell my Virus ti snow one side I say to myself this synth can actually do almost everything, but on the other hand I think it is not my sound and want something else in return. I bought the roland tr 09 a few weeks ago, but I wanted to have the workflow of the 909 under my hands again that I missed.
if you still got that Virus - ill take it off youre hands,-
I know this is an old video from when I'm writing this but I thought what the heck. I got my degree back in '85 in Electronic Music and Jazz Composition. I learned on a Buchla 200? I think, an arp 2600 and a Buchla Easel. we had 8 track and 16 track recording studios and we recorded to very large reels of tape. There was no midi and all the gear was analog. the only way to save patches was to write it all down and you could never get the same patch twice even if you did it exactly the same.
Digital didn't exist yet for the most part. The DX7 came out in my senior year of college and what a treat to record on a DX7 to the precursor to a DAW on a Commodore 64! Cutting edge equipment back in the day. After College I slowly built up my collection. The digital happened very quickly and honestly spending $20,000 for a Buchla (Analog was really expensive back then) was pretty much out of the question. So I became a beta tester for Cakewalk Music Software and got an Oberheim Matrix 6 I think it was called, a Yamaha TRX 81 rack mount, an Ensoniq rack mount and a super high quality midi Synth soundcard in my Gateway Computer. That's right my soundcard was a synth engine that ran through cakewalk. Heady stuff. and Finally I got the pride and joy of my system when I could finally afford it, a Kurzweil K2000S I think it was called. VAST architecture was amazing back then and I recorded and edited all my samples in the Kurzweil or in Cakewalk. I had the set up for about 10 years or more I think. Then in 2000 I sold everything and went back to focusing solely on my flute playing which was the one instrument that has been with me all my life. I started gigging in a jazz trio around arizona and moved to Seattle, part time gigging improvised music. but now I am in a whole different world and I am getting back into electronics again and all I know is I want to play live (though I will probably never gig again). Free Improv electronics so to speak. I was all set to get something like the Oberheim OB6 when Suddenly I found myself gettting a microFreak and an Elekron Model:Cycles and I am in heaven. it is perfect for me right now. the MF is surprisingly powerful for something so small and inexpensive and improvising on it is a joy. I never had drum machines in the old days and I am not very good with them. on the rare occasion I used percussion I would get free domain midi patterns off the internet and load them into Cakewalk and chop them up however I wanted them. but the cycles is a lot of fun and one of my favorite pieces I have done so far uses it more as a sequencer than a drum machine. go figure. so now instead of looking for big fancy machines I am looking at small and interesting looking pieces of equipment to round out my set up. I am intriqued by the Polyend Dreadbox Medusa but maybe the Korg OP Six. but that's the most money I want to spend. and I want to keep the set up small. 3 or 4 pieces max. If I get a new piece, I will sell the older piece it is replacing. I no longer have much attachment to things so for the most part I think I will keep changing things but at a snail's pace. but that MicroFreak. I might keep that until I die. At the very least as long as Arturia keeps updating the firmware. 3.0 is awesome!
I decided to sell my PS4 after watching this video because I wasn't using it. I used that money to buy a novation circuit. Literally the best decision I've ever made.
Best choice!!
My synth count has reached three and I am getting space issues already in my shared flat. Atleast so far I use all three of them regularly