Selling gear actually got me inspired to make music again, as all the gear was just in a pile... It was a mess. Now though, I am back to where I want to be. I can see my gear now, and the gear I don't use as much, but love too much to sell, I keep tucked away for later (if I miss using them and get inspired) Thank you, great video, and content. Subscribed❤
Awesome and honest video! It's inspiring me to dig deep for chopping block candidates. I have a kp3 that ive bought for the second time that I've been debating to sell. I want to start funding my journey into modular with an arturia rackbrute, and kp3 can probably get me halfway there. I think it's ok to sell because if I miss it, maybe I can find a kp3+ down the road. Good luck with your purge!
If you are in doubt, then sell it I would say and that goes for anything. There is nothing worse than having a box that you feel kinda guilty of not using/utilize. Only keep what you dont contemplate selling.
if you havent used it in years and dont have active plans on using it, sure. But if you use it sometimes but maybe think you'd like to sell/trade it there can definitely be regret of getting rid of it. depends a lot on the financials of the situation.
@@mwatkins0590 another aspect is the availability of the gear. If you regret it, can you get another one? Or maybe there is a somewhat equal alternative? I've owned plenty of Ensoniq's, but had to wait about 10 years until I found an ASR10-Rack (the absolute flagship of Ensoniq samplers) at a decent price. I finally let it go about a year ago, knowing I won't get many chances of securing another one. Intellectually, I don't regret it, it was kind of a PITA to program even when knowing it inside and out (which took me years), not the best UI, and who knows how long a 30+ year piece of gear will hold up? But emotionally, it still hurts, I even have dreams about it. I loved that thing, the algorithms were pure magic. The sound had its own identity, gritty ambient deluxe.
I think the Pulsar-23 is a modern classic that will increase in value in the future. Apart from that, the sounds it produces are absolute madness. If I were you, I would spend another few weeks with it and only then evaluate whether a sale comes into question.
I sold my Pulsar yesterday. It's a brilliant machine, just not a good fit for me. I never see it mentioned, but the finger drumming is a cornerstone feature and the main reason to use the loopers. Learning to finger drum isn't where I want to invest my time so felt like I was missing out on a huge portion of Pulsar's power.
@@NickVu Well, that's something you should think about before buying a drum machine :-) But the good thing about the Pulsar is that it is a fantastic machine for sound design. I hope you didn't make a big loss. Merry Christmas.
I sold alot of my gear when I went out of work and although it paid my rent for three months, it's stuff I'll never be able to afford again. Bought a little drum machine and mono synth last year but ended up selling it again because of life. Once I have moved house I gotta really think along the lines of, how much will I use it? Does it bring me joy? Do I get the full value of its feature set compared to what it's worth? Important questions to ask yourself and healthy to do so. It's a daunting feeling to be surrounded by possessions you don't use.
I Bought a few physical sythersizors and pedals however actually setting them up and using them is alot of hassle because I have damp and cant keep the gear set up, plus My space is limited. What happens is, I'll get a single sythersizor out of the box, mess with it, usually just editing from presets and enjoying the device maby load up some drum loops from My laptop or tablet and play along for a few hours then back in the box it goes for another few weeks. Its easier to just use software however, plus everything is easy to capture like midi and audio.
Thank you for creating this video and sharing tour experiences with gear and downsizing. I have been putting off getting rid of some gear for awhile. Your video has inspired me and it's time to pull the trigger! Now to get to listing & selling!
I just went through a similar process. The Pulsar-23 is one of those things where if you approach its features as a standard instrument you'll be disappointed. The sequencer can be maddening, but if you embrace the chaos and use the whole thing like a modular synth then it can be incredible.
I have like 4 synths packed, don't need to sell just yet but they're on the chopping board, not down sizing, just getting rid of stuff I really don't need. Great channel, subbed.
I sold my original MPC when I needed cash, just as I started to figure out how to get work done on the complex beast. A year later I missed it and bought the Live II . The CV outputs and built in speakers made it 100% more useful. Since I'm doing much more modular I'm using the CV outputs with 1/8 in stereo splitters to get the most CV channels possible into my rack. Then I let the MPC handle the drums, samples and sometimes use a synth plug in. Fun to use it away from the main work machine and internets. :D
Great topic! I do this type of gear cleansing/inventory quite a bit these days. I had the same experience/outcome w/ Metropolix, AKAI MPC Live (v1), Deluge and a few others. I had a similiar reaction to yours on the OT, and gave it more time with different setup/pairings, and glad I kept it. Definitely a workhorse more often now. Pulsar-23 is another new piece here and I am struggling with that one as well, but giving it more time and experimentation. It's honestly the most perplexing machine I've had in terms of love/hate relationship so far. Anyhow, my GAS tank marches on. Cheers, DMT!
I have an MPC One and an Octatrack MK2, so I’m commenting as requested! I love them both in very different ways, and I don’t think I’ll ever sell either of them (unless a new version of either seems worth it). I had the Octatrack for a few years before I got the MPC, and when I realized how much easier it was to sample and edit samples and arrange tracks in the MPC it actually made me like my Octatrack a lot more because I didn’t have to rely on it for those features anymore and could instead use it as a crazy sequencer with all kinds of cool control but also a ton of unexpected results. I definitely know what you mean about the MPC feeling like a slow computer and wanting to use your laptop instead, but I personally find it to be a very fun and intuitive hardware experience that leads to ideas I never would have come up with if I was just using Ableton (which I do for 99% of the music I make). Anyway, everyone’s experience with these kinds of things is going to be different, and there’s really no right or wrong way about it as long as you’re having fun and making music you like. If any gear is getting in your way I think it’s a good idea to sell it, but that being said, I felt like the Octatrack was constantly getting in my way until I got the MPC and started using it for all the heavy lifting. It’s good to remember (especially if youre on a tight budget) that you really can do pretty much everything on a computer without needing any hardware at all, but the hardware experience is a special one to me, and I have more fun and feel more inspired when I’m working with dedicated hardware instruments.
I never used to sell anything, then realised I literally had gear I hadn't touched for 2 years. It felt so good to effectively just sell it then instantly use the cash to get something more in line with my interests. Unless you buy a total turkey, I find that most bits of gear will keep a decent level of value, or occasionally (like my machinedrum) end up worth 3 times what I paid for it a decade back.
That was fun! I’m interested in the octatrack…..I bought the mpc one and share a lot of the same feelings as you about the live 2. And I was hoping it would be the end all be all to all of my music creation woes. I also haven’t really given it the full amount of time required to understand it, but I’m underwhelmed. I hardly know ableton, but I see the push 2 on your spread sheet. How do you feel about that?
Thanks for stopping by!!! I’m really making my “push” towards a Ableton hybrid approach. I think the complete dawless is too extreme for me. Push 2 so far is great but it’s damn bulky and it requires a power supply. USB power is not enough :(
I'm in the middle of doing an end-of-year purge myself. Already gone are an Octatrack mk2, UDO Super 6, Strymon Starlab, ALM Squid Salmple, and a few other misc euro modules. Still have more to go. I finally realized that if I can't remember how to use a piece of gear after not using it for a month and have to dig out the manual I don't want it in my studio. Pulsar 23 is a classic dont let it go... also... the octatrack makes a great sequencer for the pulsar. Enjoyed your video man, have a great holiday.
Haha, the intro is tooooo real!! PLEASE, why is your handle "Dungeon Music Theatre"? I wanna know if you have ever smoked DMT. It's very interesting regarding the "upgrades" of some of the famous sequencers such as the Metropolis and Rene. Seems many preferred the original versions because of their immediacy and absence of menus.
Yes. I've bought and sold enough gear over the past 30 years to fill a huge studio. By all means, get rid of your unused gear. It's not healthy to horde. It's just cluttering you up. Slim down and stick with a concise collection of quality, tried-and-true gear.
When I truly got into gearing acquisition, I had a vision and a very precise idea of what kind of gear, and especially sound I was looking for. Once I got my effects pedals, synth (singular) and sound processing stuff, I felt fulfilled and I now feel like I genuinely don’t need anything more or new. My signature sound is what it is because of the hours put into the gear I bought and the sound design research. Your video is a great reminder, to me, that a vision for your creative process and sound is key before impulsive purchases and getting overhyped over something you don’t necessarily need to make your music, and ultimately, your workflow and mindset, better. Thank you for that!
Great video man! Very well organized and thought out. I agree with you on the mpc. I sold my mpc one because I kept saying to myself I can do all this and more on my Mac and more easily.
MPC is too menu divey imo, the better more immediate sampler is the Pioneer SP16. Only ever 2 pages deep, but there is no polyrhythm. It has a P6 filter that you can use for external gear and has 8 single or 4 paired stereo out. It has p locks and is seriously easy to use, it's just that I don't use samplers and as a sequencer, that polyrhythm is a let down. People have side by side comparisons and the SP16 betters the MPC. I can't get rid of mine due to it being so cheap when I purchased it. I have an Akai Force too which I have yet to really fire up but that doesn't 1 one very specific thing, which is play till end of sequence before starting another. Really want an Oxi One but gets expensive to import as no local sellers. I have enough toys, I am happy. :D
I sold 3 synths and got a digitakt and a syntakt, plus I bought Analog lab V. Good move, I can now sit at my keyboard with everything in front of me, great for songwriting, quick sketches, ideas etc. No regrets.
An interesting question is what conclusion to draw from a piece of gear having held its value: does that mean that it makes sense to keep it (ie because it’s a good investment) or does that mean that it’s even more time to sell it because its price is high now. (For all we know, the company may release a new MK2 or MK3 version that will devalue the gear.)
@@DUNGEONMUSICTHEATRE Great video, by the way. It's a topic that's near and dear to my heart because I'm selling a bunch of gear that I never use including my Moog Little Phatty which I actively feel guilty about never using.
Thank you for sharing your thought process on getting rid of gear, it is helpful to hear. I ended up selling the Pulsar-23 I had. It is a unique piece of gear and excels at creating sounds and grooves you could only get from a Pulsar. But, I could not justify keeping it for the space given how often I found myself wanting those sounds.
Have you considered a Deluge for your eurorack sequencing? Seems like that would appeal to you more than some of the Euro sequencers you've talked about -- and also handle a lot of the same MPC Live tasks, without feeling like a computer DAW. Only 2 CV + 4 gate out, so might need a MIDI to CV converter to expand it further -- but it's been the best HW sequencer I've used, just dead simple & quick to get up and running. I typically use mine for sequencing external HW, and also as as audio looper and sampler. Amazing value for the money, despite me barely utilizing its synth/groovebox features.
The Deluge looks amazing and it's on my list to integrate into my setup. I actually don't mind things like the 1U Steppy, which is super fun. Like the whole sequencing/triggering workflow in my eurorack setup is something I'm currently and actively trying to work out. Thanks for stopping by!
Regarding the Pulsar23 internal sequencer, there are at least three other options for syncing (e.g. MIDI, cv, and clock points), so it's not too much of a deal breaker. Frustrating at first, but it may help to think of it like a tape loop. You can get sounds outside of your main bpm and it makes for happy accidents. It's also worth mentioning that the MIDI assign works really well on the P23. Very easy to route any channel to any voice in an instant. Built to last and timeless design. Expensive, but it does come with a snazzy carrying bag.
@@DUNGEONMUSICTHEATRE Sending something to the delay input is really a fun feature. I like using old radios or cassette players. There are so many 1/8" and 1/4" inputs that you can route to MIX IN, or the effects inputs. Even the channels can receive external inputs. It's one of the coolest features. Keep it. Someday it'll be legendary.
I went from 3 modular cases to 1. It's not even that I need the money... I 1) Don't really have enough space for all this stuff. 2) I like to focus on one or two pieces of gear every time I make an album anyways. Limitless possibilities are a paralyzing factor for me, and there's so much sound you can actually squeeze out of 6U 84hp. So in general, if there's something I haven't been using for a while it's a good indicator I should get rid of it. The only thing I stubbornly refuse to part ways with is a Prophet X... hopefully when I move to a bigger place and can set it up I'll have it set up so its more comfortable to use. ... also the octatrack,... I have a very shameful history of selling it and buying it again... 4 times....
Hugh underrated aspect of home studio management is space. Even more specific, ergonomic space. No matter how much gear or money you have, there's only so much physical space your hands and arms can reach for. Finding that optimal balance meanings cutting things and consolidating. Thanks for your thoughts!
I’ve had the OT since about a year after launch. I bought an akai mpc thing and I agree with you, it made me miss ableton. I’d NEVER got rid of the OT but it take about 10 years to feel like I truly understand it and I use it daily! For live performance there is none better. PEROID.
I had both MPC and Okta. The same feelings - MPC brings me back to PC\MAC feelings - to check the updates first, load the samples via WIFI ets. While Okta always surveys the main purpose - to mess up with a music, mix and mangle with sound on the go, and so on. I felt Okta should be more complex to master that MPC, but at the end - I forgot what to do with Akai all the time I'm touching it, while Elektron gets more and more intuitive with every usage. So, MPC - gone, Okta - left (+ added more elektron devices)
I love the Elektron stuff - I have an Octatrack and an Analog 4. They have a steep learning curve because they work so differently to many other products, but after using them, I’ve convinced they have given a lot of thought to the workflow, and they have made it very logical - harder to learn, but much easier to stick with it.
personal preferences are great, I have the metropolix and absolutely love it. I personally don't mind the menus as a lot of it can be set and forget but I can understand how it wouldn't gel with a lot of people as it is so deep as you say. as far as sequencers for euro go maybe take a look at varigate 4+ by malekko it has some button combos to learn but it's far more accessible and immediate than the metropolix (its probability based so maybe suit your style more) you can give it a probability from 0-100% of whether a step will fire or not. it can either be 4 gate sequences, 4 cv sequences or 2gate and 2cv. another VERY cool and overlooked sequencer is the erica pico seq, if I want a really fast sequence I always go for that. it has a randomize button, so you basically select a scale for it to work to, an octave range then select how many steps you want (up to 16) and press random a few times till you get something you like. (of course you can also enter notes manually if you want) also its VERY cheap and only 3hp
Sold all my gear apart from my MPC and my microfreak ,I had a room full of gear and now I have the instruments I will actually use ,no regrets ,I used the money to buy my girl some nice presents
Pulsar-23 is less "sequencer" and more "CV looper." Try: rst-.25clk (sets the loop length), record random tapping on an instrument, quantize, erase random parts, quantize, tap randomly again, etc. Use that as a way to breakup and add character to a clock trigger source for that signal. It can be really useful and fun when you don't think of it as a sequencer
Oddly entertaining! Mainly because it was like hearing my own voice...I own much the same kit for much the same reason :) I kept my Octa as it just has some tactility that draws a different creativity from me. Don’t try a Terra ;) ...but you should
Haha. That was fun to watch someone else go through what I do constantly. I also once owned a Deckard's Dream and went through the exact same process. But I include another question: What could I get instead with the money I would make? Ulitmately I sold the Decard's Dream and don't regret it. I've also moved along a Roland Jupiter 8 and replaced it with four other synths, some microphone and other studio gear. Now I'm selling the Prophet 10 that replaced the JP8 as my primary synth. Ultimately it's once again because it doesn't inspire me. Is it iconic? Yes. Beautiful? Yes. Nice sounding? Yes. But I'd rather get a PolyBrute and pocket the change. The other thing that triggers selling gear is workflow. If I can find ways to improve my workflow by selling something and replacing it with something else, I will.
Gear I sold and I miss every day: Yamaha Reface CS and DX, Kurzweil PC3LE6, Korg Opsix (what an amazing synth) Akai MPK Mini Play MKIII (the one with built in sounds). Gear I sold and I don't regret having done so: Behringer TD3, RD6, Volca Sample1 and 2, Volca Bass. Gear I actually own and I'm considering selling: Roland SH201, Roland T-8, both ultra fun, but I just can't have everything. I'm not including any midi controller, or effects boxes, it would be too long, I owned like 10 midi keyboards.
I was commenting with another viewer how there's probably a full video that can be made just on "Gear I should never have sold! Why???" thanks for sharing!
My music comes from a DAW and software but I wanted a physical representation of the software I have used for two decades. I bought a Navation Peak and MiniNova and Behringer Monopoly, a looper and distortion reverb and Flanger. I only buy used gear and only a place in around london I can travel to.
The intro to this video is hilarious. Very nice setup you got man! I have to say though I disagree with you big time on one key point. You state "There's no point to really hoarding gear". This is a statement I can't get behind lol! I love buying junk I really do have an obsession ha.
What a great video! No wonder you got 6k views in a day!!!! The intro was entertaining. Also, for those of us with G.A.S. (gear acquisition syntrom), this is a great "pep talk" for us to review our inventory in a purposeful way. Case in poinrt ... I sold my Metropolis. It was cool but the notes themselves were not part of what was "saved" in a preset. Since I'm largely focussed on live performance, it was not what I needed.
Very fun to watch - your perspective on gear is always good. I usually get very emotionally attached to any gear I've ever used in a songwriting or jamming session. Extremely rare that I ever sell music gear - usually only happens if/when I'm desperate for rent money or groceries, which luckily hasn't been the case for a few years now. It's also bad to sell (in my experience) when you're desperate to raise cash immediately, since you can't patiently wait for a good deal but have to take whatever money you can get "that day." Just another reason that it's good to review your gear before you're forced to! lol side note - One of my boutique guitar pedals that I bought 12 years ago after college for
OMG, selling my Octatrack is one of the best things I ever did. I spent a year learning and using it, only to be disappointed by it's actual capabilities. This unit like no other gains credit for being "powerful" because nearly nobody who owns one actually gets far enough through that crappy and conflicting user interface to realize it's actual capabilities. It's pretty limited compared to so much other gear you could get. I feel a lot of gear does this to us... we "feel" like we should be getting more out of it because we see someone else doing that. But in the end, it's just a bad piece of gear for us that is stealing our attention and time. It's ok if someone else loves the same gear and makes music on it. But my rule is, if I don't vibe with something immediately, I probably never will. It has never been worth the effort on gear like that for me, no matter what the marketing on it says. I did keep my MPC Live II though. I agree with you (and others) that it does have some "bad in-the-box" elements, but it also has some killer pads on it that are fun AF to jam on. And the speaker and onboard is the deal sealer for me. While I would never mix or make crucial decisions on these, the ability to drag ONE box anywhere I go is excellent and can promote a lot of music making and experimentation. Limitations on power just force you to make decisions sooner and move on. Then add the fact that it can sample, auto multi sample, control via CV or midi out, use audio interfaces, and export full stems, and you have seriously the best game in town IMHO. I think of it as a scratch pad rather than a DAW replacement, and for many that shift in focus can make all the difference. "The best" is the enemy of getting shit done. "Good enough" lasts all day/night long! Also, not to start a flame war, but feature to feature, the MPC live shits all over the Octatrack when it comes to features and power. Honestly, the gap is TREMENDOUS. And yet interestingly people tend to refer to the MPC as underpowered, and the Octatrack as super powerful.
Disagree. I used a Live for a while and all I felt like I was doing was the same work as in a DAW but with ho hum in box elements and an annoying sequencer/interface. I see no benefit from the speakers and personally I hate pads. An Octatrack takes a lot to learn, and it isn’t perfect, but I like the zone it puts you in and the immediacy of mangling samples and audio.
For me the fact that the Octatrack has limits helps. The design is well thought out, but you have to learn its constraints and be aware of the time investment for that. To me that makes it more like a musical instrument.
Since you use eurorack, adding a Dubldeca or Hexinverter Mutant Brain will make your OT a brilliant addition to control your eurorack. I mostly use the OT as a sequencer/LFO/CV modulator now days and it delivers in spades. On top of that its the most fun and hands on sample mangler. I also have an MPC Live mk1...its the polar opposite to the Octatrack. Its made its money from gigs and the fact that it runs on batteries and I don't have to plug an audio interface and use it as a "3rd deck" when playing out (that sends clock to my gig eurorack 6U, is the reason I like it. Decard's Dream is brilliantBut I can't being my self round to splashing out for it'd the reason for that is (and I know its blasphemy)...Arturia's CS-80.
Thanks for sharing! Also some great tips I will def check it out. Also, arturia cs-80 especially the new v4 is damn useful. Not blasphemous at all my friend!
Nice video! This is the first time I've seen your channel, hilarious that you started it out as "Stereotypical Asian accountant guy", which made the switch to YOU as you are all the more enjoyable. I have an MPC Live (one, not two) as the brain of my hardware setup. Interesting that you feel like it is like being tied to a computer. One of my favourite things about it is that it means I'm NOT tied to my computer. No notifications, no fussing with a mouse and keyboard. Just pads, buttons, and the touchscreen. I've gotten well used to the interface and workflow, having used it since 2017, in which time I've seen its functionality improved upon by Akai for all of these years. As a sequencer/controller for all of my hardware synths, not to mention the device that turns tracks and sequences into printed MP3 and FLAC files, it's a Godsend, especially as it removes any need for a computer in the process. I've seen that you have a LOT of gear, how do you get your music from all that gear into recordings, MP3s, and sharable sound files? What's the end process or end step, for you? Anyhow, thanks again for the enjoyable video and Merry Christmas, brotherman.
Thanks for the kind words. Obviously Akai is a great piece. I just wasn’t jiving with the touch screen Ux even though it’s very well implemented. I guess I felt a little bit too much like an iPad for a computer. But still yeah I hear yeah! Thanks for sharing!!!
@@DUNGEONMUSICTHEATRE Yep, I can totally understand how a device can work for some and not for others. :D Neither makes it good or bad, at least not universally, it just is what it is. Anyhow, thanks again for the great presentation! Happy holidays, brotherman.
I recently sold a Dreadbox Typhon. It has a real nice sound but I struggled with the menu layout. And though I got some real nice sounds out of it, I also had a high level of frustration. Sometimes you turn a knob and nothing happens. Sometimes you barely touch a knob and it goes off the rails and even though I've saved it I still can't get back to the original sound. I sold it and replaced it with an Elektron Digitone. Too early to tell but so far I am glad to make the trade.
I haven't sold anything since 2004, - and the last device I sold was a TB-303. These days, I just buy gear I know I'll want to keep, - I don't rush out anymore and do pre-orders for every new shiny thing that comes out, like I did when I was younger.
You shouldn't check the asking prices to know the value of gear. When you check the price guide on Reverb, you will see sold prices are a lot lower than the asking prices.
Personally, I would. Price is not likely to increase at the rate it has. Plus... component failure WILL happen. I just think these nostalgia pieces are going to die with the boomers.
I think I’m the only bloke in the world that didn’t like the sound of my Pulsar 23. I sold it at a loss but don’t miss it. Sold a Buchla Easel two years ago and still miss it.
mpc all day! best maschine to chop samples etc. i have a mpc live 2 and a roland tr8s + a minilogue but i will sell the minilogue and get me a sequential pro 3 soon. thats all i need. :)
Dope vid. The MPC is not a reissue. It’s just the latest version of MPC. But yeah it’s not for everyone especially if your beatmaking journey began after 2000 or 2010 as there are so many more options for the task with their own unique workflows.
Super helpful assessment of mpc live. Been thinking about getting into the modern mpc's but now think I won't. The easiest gear to sell is gear you never bought!
To be fair, I was told persons other Akai mpc versions are less computery so perhaps you can look into the other versions? I think they are cheaper and more compact! They don’t have speakers though..
I have not yet sold anything in 20 years. There is always something unique or appealing about all my hardware. I have learnt something from most of them. Picking things up with I have stored for years is jsut plain fun. I may never sell anything and just deal with the losses as particular things die. Failing backlights and tact switches are getting common.
I sold all my gear and got a iPad m1 and I’m mobile now no cable problems and found cheap apps that replaced all my machines. and hook it all together with AUM and cubasis 3 , also don’t have to learn several workflows just touch screen and go no learning curve. Also I can’t tell the difference in sound from apps to real machines or pedals .
This is my first time watching one of your videos and I’m definitely excited to see more. On the MPC, if you look at the prices of the Live MK1, it’s like half the price it came out at.. (I know, cause that’s when I bought it).. so I have no expectations of it holding its value long term. I say hold onto the Pulsar. Why not use it for sound design? I can’t think of anything like it or that would fill the same space. I’ve actually never really sold gear… I mate for life.. such a commitment I know.. but also I have a lot less gear.. and I meticulously plan what I get so that everything has specific rolls… which in part I do because of I don’t have the means to buy more, more often.
Thanks for sharing. Ideally, that is where I’d like to be. There’s a lot of energy wasted buying, selling, learning. Everything costs time, which is def the most precious commodity!
I like this comment.... once bought, learn a device inside out....marry it and make yourself become creative with it. And this was my first time seeing a video by this RUclipsr and I'll be watching more :)
I'm thinking Deckard's Dream will retain its lofty value over the long haul and its really an excellent, unique analogue poly. Played alongside the most excellent Novation Peak there's sonorities and timbre quality in the DDR that, imho just aren't available in the Peak - ( ...but that Peak UI is really laid out extremely well).
Recently sold a Korg Modwave, don't regret it so far although there are a lot of cool things about it. I found myself drawn to using other gear that overlapped with it in various ways, and they are all I need right now (mainly using a Hydrasynth, Deluge, Opsix, Zoia, and Typhon).
Sold my Juno 106 (about 6 years ago) and recently my Digitakt. An excellent combo if you only want a few pieces of gear, but they were doing nothing since I started Eurorack. Also I could use the cash 😅
@@DUNGEONMUSICTHEATRE yes 😔 Do I regret it? No, not really... played on it now and then, only because I wanted to have it turned on and off once in a while. If I see the prices today, ok, I should have kept it and sold it now, but still, no regret.
Love this video. I'm glad Deckards made the cut and happy you're keeping it. Regarding, Pulsar 23, Agreed on the sequencer, but sending triggers in (try noise Engineering's Zularic Repetitor). Aso, send Deckard's Audio into some signal paths in pulsar. siiiiiick!
I just wish I could get more into the sequencer part of Pulsar. I mean I paid for it and if you think about it, sequencer feature is absolutely HUGE for any type of drum machine. Music is after all "time-based" and the way you trigger if over time is so critical. I think tone generation is certainly a huge part, but if the sequence portion was as innovative, Pulsar could have been truly magnificent.
I totally agree with your thoughts on the MPC Live vs Octatrack. I trialed the MPC but it felt like using a computer, which I already have. I ended up sending it back. Even if the Octatrack is a bit wizardy in its workflow its unique and I don't think I'd be able to do the things I do with it on the computer with the same immediacy. Maybe I should have given the live more time because it obviously has legendary pedigree when it comes to sampling but it didn't click with me at all.
There’s so much to learn and you got only so much time. I think there’s a point where okay I spent X amount of time, I’m not jiving with it, it’s gone. And we shouldnt feel guilty because it’s our money and time. And if we missed out on a great product because we were a little too rushed, I think that’s okay. This is probably what caused me to hold on to thing way too long
Thank God cooler heads prevailed with the Pulsar 23. A lot of folks who have commented have probably regretted selling synths or studio gear we would like to have back!
My problem is that if I don't actually need the money for something else then I don't sell anything. I've got a stack of stuff that I've meant to sell just to move it out for more than a year including an expanded OP-Z, a whole rack of the Tangible Waves modular from early in their run with several discontinued modules, a Moog Rogue, a Roland 80 boutique, the very first version of Ericas Polivoks euro synth, hell even an old Synare drum synth. I just never seem to get around doing more than putting it in a pile in the corner of my studio. Then there's things like my Korg Arp 2600 FS that I almost never use for who even knows what reason, likely the same as your Deckard's Dream. That's appreciated like crazy and to the point I'd never buy a replacement again if I moved it on. I doubt I could ever sell it though just because it's a full size 2600. The keyboard is pretty sweet too and that really holds back any other clones or mini versions. It's all sort of stupid.
Thanks for writing in. Yeah, I feel ya. Though here's the thing, I feel like if you're blessed with having good amount of gear, but don't need it, I think by purging a bit is very healthy even if you don't need the money. So for me, once a gear fails my "keeper" test, it's done. It also contributes to others getting to use it without manufactures making more stuff.
I think this is a good practice to just go through old gear that has been collecting dust and just focus on using it and see if you still click with it. Maybe find new ways to use it or decide to get rid of it. I might take stuff I am not using and do a bracket style thing to see which ones survive.
The way you feel about the Deckard's Dream is exactly how I feel about my Korg Prologue 16. It doesn't really fit in my setup, but it has just such a particular sound. Also, it's knobs all the way down.
I wish we could just all share gear, like a commune. For example, there’s a ton of gear I have which I’m not using but I’m not sure I want to sell - Nord Modular G1, Kurzweil K2000RS, Emu Audity2000, tons of rack FX, etc. I’d be happy to share tho and see someone else enjoy, make cool music with, maybe I’d get inspired to use again or collaborate with them. Reciprocally , I’d love to borrow and learn and use your pulsar-23 for a bit. I’d love to buy one but don’t have $2k to just splash out, to find out if if I like/love/hate it. I think letting gear get dusty actually decreases the flow of creative juice in your studio. I don’t know how to explain it beyond woo ideas. Machines want you to spend time with them and reward you for doing so.
gear locker concept or gear library isn’t new. It’s just hard to implement. Either it’s strictly an honor system amongst pro’s (who do this quite often) or it’s super restrictive and it becomes like a rental service. Yeah :( but it’s possible. Thanks for sharing
I highly recommend to dig deeper into the Octattrack. After learning it in and out, you will never see any point in selling it ever again. With this much stuff in your studio, it will always come in handy to have it around. cheers
I am doing exactly this! Hear that I was super excited about buying, that just hasn’t worked it’s way into my workflow. Selling this month: Chase Bliss Habit 4MS SWN Deckards (beautiful but not for me) Pladask Matrise
@@DUNGEONMUSICTHEATRE I can’t put my finger on it. I was still using the Blooper and the Mood regularly, but just wasn’t feeling myself drawn to using the Habit. I would have been interested in the looping element had it not been restricted to 3 mins in length. The delay sounds I felt like I had covered in other pedals (EG Timeline) albeit without the quirkiness. I fully expect to see awesome vids of people using the Habit over the next few months and getting regret-GAS over it!
For me, I just don't get along with some gear... its not a rational thing its just a combination of does it inspire plus do I find it easy to use. For some reason I find using my Kawai K5000 both inspiring and pretty easy to use... despite most people finding it a bear to program. I guess my brain just works the same way as the people who designed this pad monster!
Keep it. I got a mother 32, hate the sequencer, don't use it often and even though it is expensive for what it is + the second hand price is good I will never sell my mum. But seriously, That Pulsar is as everything else from Soma, iconic, best quality build and such a weird invention that you just have to keep it for the sake of it. Got the Lyra, same as with mum, don't use it often but no no to sell.
MPC def gotta stay lol. I never felt like it was computer. Actually the opposite. I love standalone. Hook any piece of gear u want to it. Great workflow…..
keeping and collecting is much more easier than selling gear for me. to sell gear you need to take an decision and think about it. buy, store and "forget" ist much more easier if you are not in moneytrouble or storageissues. BUT i confirm that it is healthy to sell stuff(and also gear) that you are did not really -need- ! the upcoming new year is an good time check your gear-storage for stuff that you did not really need. BUT in the way of mine - I always having less time - I dont want to make an mistake that I can going to hate in future - sold an gear but without knowing it deep enough to see the potencial of creativity ;-) best regards, Frank Liebe
It definitely took some discipline to set up a small table, scale, and packaging tape station to make things easier to sell. Also you gotta get in the habit of taking good care of your gear and make sure you have all the parts and accessories that it came with. It IS a pain for sure! :)
I'm selling digital/beatbox/sampler/midi controller asap when realize not clicking (my latest sell Force, RolandMV-1, BeatstepPro. Final rebuy-and-keep forever are Push2, Maschine+, OP-Z (those are all beatbox/midi). For synthesizers I try to buy and keep forever, so far managed past 6 years: Moog Subsequent 37CV, Buchla208C, Polybrute (also my main keys), Korg ARP2600m. It was cool decision to keep Deckard's Dream (though it too expensive, and would keep the value). Keeping sequencer Octatrack sounds strange since over time it will be version 2, 3, X, so can't count on it keeping value. Though if it still inspires you (maybe not every day) its a value for you. Cheers!
What a calm and honest video. Subbed.
Your channel is a treasure and an inspiration! Thank you for your support!
Selling gear actually got me inspired to make music again, as all the gear was just in a pile... It was a mess. Now though, I am back to where I want to be. I can see my gear now, and the gear I don't use as much, but love too much to sell, I keep tucked away for later (if I miss using them and get inspired)
Thank you, great video, and content. Subscribed❤
Awesome and honest video! It's inspiring me to dig deep for chopping block candidates. I have a kp3 that ive bought for the second time that I've been debating to sell. I want to start funding my journey into modular with an arturia rackbrute, and kp3 can probably get me halfway there. I think it's ok to sell because if I miss it, maybe I can find a kp3+ down the road. Good luck with your purge!
If you are in doubt, then sell it I would say and that goes for anything. There is nothing worse than having a box that you feel kinda guilty of not using/utilize. Only keep what you dont contemplate selling.
if you havent used it in years and dont have active plans on using it, sure. But if you use it sometimes but maybe think you'd like to sell/trade it there can definitely be regret of getting rid of it. depends a lot on the financials of the situation.
@@mwatkins0590 never regretted anything I sold. It frees up not only cash but also mind.😊
@@mwatkins0590 another aspect is the availability of the gear. If you regret it, can you get another one? Or maybe there is a somewhat equal alternative? I've owned plenty of Ensoniq's, but had to wait about 10 years until I found an ASR10-Rack (the absolute flagship of Ensoniq samplers) at a decent price. I finally let it go about a year ago, knowing I won't get many chances of securing another one. Intellectually, I don't regret it, it was kind of a PITA to program even when knowing it inside and out (which took me years), not the best UI, and who knows how long a 30+ year piece of gear will hold up? But emotionally, it still hurts, I even have dreams about it. I loved that thing, the algorithms were pure magic. The sound had its own identity, gritty ambient deluxe.
I regret almost every synth I sold. Tb303. Tr606. Supernova 2 rack. Don't regret Blofeld, a station Roland gaia
I've only regretted selling stuff.
I think the Pulsar-23 is a modern classic that will increase in value in the future. Apart from that, the sounds it produces are absolute madness. If I were you, I would spend another few weeks with it and only then evaluate whether a sale comes into question.
I sold my Pulsar yesterday. It's a brilliant machine, just not a good fit for me. I never see it mentioned, but the finger drumming is a cornerstone feature and the main reason to use the loopers. Learning to finger drum isn't where I want to invest my time so felt like I was missing out on a huge portion of Pulsar's power.
@@NickVu Well, that's something you should think about before buying a drum machine :-) But the good thing about the Pulsar is that it is a fantastic machine for sound design. I hope you didn't make a big loss. Merry Christmas.
It sounds so good. But if you can trigger via MIDI or CV/Gate... what does it matter if the sequencer sucks or the finger drumming? Just sayin
I sold alot of my gear when I went out of work and although it paid my rent for three months, it's stuff I'll never be able to afford again. Bought a little drum machine and mono synth last year but ended up selling it again because of life. Once I have moved house I gotta really think along the lines of, how much will I use it? Does it bring me joy? Do I get the full value of its feature set compared to what it's worth? Important questions to ask yourself and healthy to do so. It's a daunting feeling to be surrounded by possessions you don't use.
I Bought a few physical sythersizors and pedals however actually setting them up and using them is alot of hassle because I have damp and cant keep the gear set up, plus My space is limited. What happens is, I'll get a single sythersizor out of the box, mess with it, usually just editing from presets and enjoying the device maby load up some drum loops from My laptop or tablet and play along for a few hours then back in the box it goes for another few weeks. Its easier to just use software however, plus everything is easy to capture like midi and audio.
Thank you for creating this video and sharing tour experiences with gear and downsizing. I have been putting off getting rid of some gear for awhile. Your video has inspired me and it's time to pull the trigger! Now to get to listing & selling!
I just went through a similar process. The Pulsar-23 is one of those things where if you approach its features as a standard instrument you'll be disappointed. The sequencer can be maddening, but if you embrace the chaos and use the whole thing like a modular synth then it can be incredible.
@SYNTHPUNK yo
I agree and you put it better than I did. It is definitely a unique instrument.
I have like 4 synths packed, don't need to sell just yet but they're on the chopping board, not down sizing, just getting rid of stuff I really don't need.
Great channel, subbed.
Before you sell anything, make sample packs of all of your favorite sounds and patches.
definitely!!!
This is such an awesome sentiment but I have a hard time just getting to the post office, but yeah.. haha
I did that with my crave... I still miss it tho lol
..lol.. of all your patches.. that's impossible
I sold my original MPC when I needed cash, just as I started to figure out how to get work done on the complex beast. A year later I missed it and bought the Live II . The CV outputs and built in speakers made it 100% more useful. Since I'm doing much more modular I'm using the CV outputs with 1/8 in stereo splitters to get the most CV channels possible into my rack. Then I let the MPC handle the drums, samples and sometimes use a synth plug in. Fun to use it away from the main work machine and internets. :D
Yeah, I make internets for a living, so havin the power of a computer without a clock telling me what time it is, or a web browser has been crucial
Brillant video. Totally on the same vibe about the Octatrack. Took me several years to get the magic of it. So happy now that I never sold it !
The Octatrack is hands down my #1 piece of gear. It’s the one constant in my DAWless setup
I have analog Rytm lying there. I haven’t touched it in months.
Tough I got it for free, so it’s ok
Show off lame
Analog Rytm sounds great but I thought it was a pain in the ass to
Use
Great topic! I do this type of gear cleansing/inventory quite a bit these days.
I had the same experience/outcome w/ Metropolix, AKAI MPC Live (v1), Deluge and a few others.
I had a similiar reaction to yours on the OT, and gave it more time with different setup/pairings, and glad I kept it. Definitely a workhorse more often now.
Pulsar-23 is another new piece here and I am struggling with that one as well, but giving it more time and experimentation. It's honestly the most perplexing machine I've had in terms of love/hate relationship so far.
Anyhow, my GAS tank marches on. Cheers, DMT!
I have an MPC One and an Octatrack MK2, so I’m commenting as requested! I love them both in very different ways, and I don’t think I’ll ever sell either of them (unless a new version of either seems worth it). I had the Octatrack for a few years before I got the MPC, and when I realized how much easier it was to sample and edit samples and arrange tracks in the MPC it actually made me like my Octatrack a lot more because I didn’t have to rely on it for those features anymore and could instead use it as a crazy sequencer with all kinds of cool control but also a ton of unexpected results. I definitely know what you mean about the MPC feeling like a slow computer and wanting to use your laptop instead, but I personally find it to be a very fun and intuitive hardware experience that leads to ideas I never would have come up with if I was just using Ableton (which I do for 99% of the music I make). Anyway, everyone’s experience with these kinds of things is going to be different, and there’s really no right or wrong way about it as long as you’re having fun and making music you like. If any gear is getting in your way I think it’s a good idea to sell it, but that being said, I felt like the Octatrack was constantly getting in my way until I got the MPC and started using it for all the heavy lifting. It’s good to remember (especially if youre on a tight budget) that you really can do pretty much everything on a computer without needing any hardware at all, but the hardware experience is a special one to me, and I have more fun and feel more inspired when I’m working with dedicated hardware instruments.
Man thank you for sharing this! Yeah the love hate affair with the computer. This is a great perspective!
I never used to sell anything, then realised I literally had gear I hadn't touched for 2 years. It felt so good to effectively just sell it then instantly use the cash to get something more in line with my interests. Unless you buy a total turkey, I find that most bits of gear will keep a decent level of value, or occasionally (like my machinedrum) end up worth 3 times what I paid for it a decade back.
great vid!! just healthy to hear your processes on this topic. thanks much!! & happy holidays.
That was fun! I’m interested in the octatrack…..I bought the mpc one and share a lot of the same feelings as you about the live 2. And I was hoping it would be the end all be all to all of my music creation woes. I also haven’t really given it the full amount of time required to understand it, but I’m underwhelmed. I hardly know ableton, but I see the push 2 on your spread sheet. How do you feel about that?
Thanks for stopping by!!! I’m really making my “push” towards a Ableton hybrid approach. I think the complete dawless is too extreme for me. Push 2 so far is great but it’s damn bulky and it requires a power supply. USB power is not enough :(
I'm in the middle of doing an end-of-year purge myself. Already gone are an Octatrack mk2, UDO Super 6, Strymon Starlab, ALM Squid Salmple, and a few other misc euro modules. Still have more to go. I finally realized that if I can't remember how to use a piece of gear after not using it for a month and have to dig out the manual I don't want it in my studio. Pulsar 23 is a classic dont let it go... also... the octatrack makes a great sequencer for the pulsar. Enjoyed your video man, have a great holiday.
Thank you for the kind words! and also +1 for KEEP Pulsar :) haha!
Haha, the intro is tooooo real!! PLEASE, why is your handle "Dungeon Music Theatre"? I wanna know if you have ever smoked DMT.
It's very interesting regarding the "upgrades" of some of the famous sequencers such as the Metropolis and Rene. Seems many preferred the original versions because of their immediacy and absence of menus.
Appreciate the kind words! Thanks for the insights! Also smoking can lead to health and other issues so I don’t recommend it! 😂
Yes. I've bought and sold enough gear over the past 30 years to fill a huge studio. By all means, get rid of your unused gear. It's not healthy to horde. It's just cluttering you up. Slim down and stick with a concise collection of quality, tried-and-true gear.
When I truly got into gearing acquisition, I had a vision and a very precise idea of what kind of gear, and especially sound I was looking for. Once I got my effects pedals, synth (singular) and sound processing stuff, I felt fulfilled and I now feel like I genuinely don’t need anything more or new. My signature sound is what it is because of the hours put into the gear I bought and the sound design research. Your video is a great reminder, to me, that a vision for your creative process and sound is key before impulsive purchases and getting overhyped over something you don’t necessarily need to make your music, and ultimately, your workflow and mindset, better.
Thank you for that!
Great insight! Thank you sharing
I’m think we can all agree we need to do whatever you do for a living 😎
Agreed - this guy has an astonishing collection of gear.
Great video man! Very well organized and thought out. I agree with you on the mpc. I sold my mpc one because I kept saying to myself I can do all this and more on my Mac and more easily.
MPC is too menu divey imo, the better more immediate sampler is the Pioneer SP16. Only ever 2 pages deep, but there is no polyrhythm.
It has a P6 filter that you can use for external gear and has 8 single or 4 paired stereo out.
It has p locks and is seriously easy to use, it's just that I don't use samplers and as a sequencer, that polyrhythm is a let down.
People have side by side comparisons and the SP16 betters the MPC.
I can't get rid of mine due to it being so cheap when I purchased it.
I have an Akai Force too which I have yet to really fire up but that doesn't 1 one very specific thing, which is play till end of sequence before starting another.
Really want an Oxi One but gets expensive to import as no local sellers.
I have enough toys, I am happy.
:D
I have a Roland Fantom 06 and a Yamaha MODX6 all boxed up and ready to sell/trade. Just gotta get to doing it.
I sold 3 synths and got a digitakt and a syntakt, plus I bought Analog lab V. Good move, I can now sit at my keyboard with everything in front of me, great for songwriting, quick sketches, ideas etc. No regrets.
Great video with good production value and insightful thoughts! Subscribed 😀
An interesting question is what conclusion to draw from a piece of gear having held its value: does that mean that it makes sense to keep it (ie because it’s a good investment) or does that mean that it’s even more time to sell it because its price is high now. (For all we know, the company may release a new MK2 or MK3 version that will devalue the gear.)
Yeah… it’s def something to think about. Thanks for your thoughts
If you make decent sampler switch presets by program change you can bring down Kronos / mode prices by 1/3 easy😅
@@micindir4213 Hmm. That _would_ be cool. Maybe I'll add that.
@@DUNGEONMUSICTHEATRE Great video, by the way. It's a topic that's near and dear to my heart because I'm selling a bunch of gear that I never use including my Moog Little Phatty which I actively feel guilty about never using.
Thank you for sharing your thought process on getting rid of gear, it is helpful to hear. I ended up selling the Pulsar-23 I had. It is a unique piece of gear and excels at creating sounds and grooves you could only get from a Pulsar. But, I could not justify keeping it for the space given how often I found myself wanting those sounds.
Thanks for sharing!!
@SYNTHPUNK Howdy :)
Totally agree about the Live 2 being a slow computer DAW
Have you considered a Deluge for your eurorack sequencing? Seems like that would appeal to you more than some of the Euro sequencers you've talked about -- and also handle a lot of the same MPC Live tasks, without feeling like a computer DAW. Only 2 CV + 4 gate out, so might need a MIDI to CV converter to expand it further -- but it's been the best HW sequencer I've used, just dead simple & quick to get up and running.
I typically use mine for sequencing external HW, and also as as audio looper and sampler. Amazing value for the money, despite me barely utilizing its synth/groovebox features.
The Deluge looks amazing and it's on my list to integrate into my setup. I actually don't mind things like the 1U Steppy, which is super fun. Like the whole sequencing/triggering workflow in my eurorack setup is something I'm currently and actively trying to work out. Thanks for stopping by!
Haha.... Oh, man, been through this agonising soooo many times. Great video.
Subscribed.
Happy Christmas!
🎄❤️🎄❤️🎉
Regarding the Pulsar23 internal sequencer, there are at least three other options for syncing (e.g. MIDI, cv, and clock points), so it's not too much of a deal breaker. Frustrating at first, but it may help to think of it like a tape loop. You can get sounds outside of your main bpm and it makes for happy accidents. It's also worth mentioning that the MIDI assign works really well on the P23. Very easy to route any channel to any voice in an instant. Built to last and timeless design. Expensive, but it does come with a snazzy carrying bag.
Hmm, I've heard that before about the PULSAR, thinking of it more like a tape looper. I think that's a fair assessment. I just need to use it more!
@@DUNGEONMUSICTHEATRE Sending something to the delay input is really a fun feature. I like using old radios or cassette players. There are so many 1/8" and 1/4" inputs that you can route to MIX IN, or the effects inputs. Even the channels can receive external inputs. It's one of the coolest features. Keep it. Someday it'll be legendary.
I had to watch this. Congrats on the fact that 4/5 of your pieces for evaluation are unknown to me! You've got some gear!
I went from 3 modular cases to 1. It's not even that I need the money... I 1) Don't really have enough space for all this stuff. 2) I like to focus on one or two pieces of gear every time I make an album anyways. Limitless possibilities are a paralyzing factor for me, and there's so much sound you can actually squeeze out of 6U 84hp. So in general, if there's something I haven't been using for a while it's a good indicator I should get rid of it. The only thing I stubbornly refuse to part ways with is a Prophet X... hopefully when I move to a bigger place and can set it up I'll have it set up so its more comfortable to use.
... also the octatrack,... I have a very shameful history of selling it and buying it again... 4 times....
Hugh underrated aspect of home studio management is space. Even more specific, ergonomic space. No matter how much gear or money you have, there's only so much physical space your hands and arms can reach for. Finding that optimal balance meanings cutting things and consolidating. Thanks for your thoughts!
I’ve had the OT since about a year after launch. I bought an akai mpc thing and I agree with you, it made me miss ableton. I’d NEVER got rid of the OT but it take about 10 years to feel like I truly understand it and I use it daily! For live performance there is none better. PEROID.
I had both MPC and Okta. The same feelings - MPC brings me back to PC\MAC feelings - to check the updates first, load the samples via WIFI ets. While Okta always surveys the main purpose - to mess up with a music, mix and mangle with sound on the go, and so on. I felt Okta should be more complex to master that MPC, but at the end - I forgot what to do with Akai all the time I'm touching it, while Elektron gets more and more intuitive with every usage. So, MPC - gone, Okta - left (+ added more elektron devices)
I love the Elektron stuff - I have an Octatrack and an Analog 4. They have a steep learning curve because they work so differently to many other products, but after using them, I’ve convinced they have given a lot of thought to the workflow, and they have made it very logical - harder to learn, but much easier to stick with it.
personal preferences are great, I have the metropolix and absolutely love it. I personally don't mind the menus as a lot of it can be set and forget but I can understand how it wouldn't gel with a lot of people as it is so deep as you say.
as far as sequencers for euro go maybe take a look at varigate 4+ by malekko it has some button combos to learn but it's far more accessible and immediate than the metropolix (its probability based so maybe suit your style more) you can give it a probability from 0-100% of whether a step will fire or not. it can either be 4 gate sequences, 4 cv sequences or 2gate and 2cv.
another VERY cool and overlooked sequencer is the erica pico seq, if I want a really fast sequence I always go for that. it has a randomize button, so you basically select a scale for it to work to, an octave range then select how many steps you want (up to 16) and press random a few times till you get something you like. (of course you can also enter notes manually if you want) also its VERY cheap and only 3hp
Sold all my gear apart from my MPC and my microfreak ,I had a room full of gear and now I have the instruments I will actually use ,no regrets ,I used the money to buy my girl some nice presents
Pulsar-23 is less "sequencer" and more "CV looper." Try: rst-.25clk (sets the loop length), record random tapping on an instrument, quantize, erase random parts, quantize, tap randomly again, etc.
Use that as a way to breakup and add character to a clock trigger source for that signal. It can be really useful and fun when you don't think of it as a sequencer
I’ll give it a try
Oddly entertaining! Mainly because it was like hearing my own voice...I own much the same kit for much the same reason :) I kept my Octa as it just has some tactility that draws a different creativity from me. Don’t try a Terra ;) ...but you should
Haha. That was fun to watch someone else go through what I do constantly. I also once owned a Deckard's Dream and went through the exact same process. But I include another question: What could I get instead with the money I would make? Ulitmately I sold the Decard's Dream and don't regret it.
I've also moved along a Roland Jupiter 8 and replaced it with four other synths, some microphone and other studio gear. Now I'm selling the Prophet 10 that replaced the JP8 as my primary synth. Ultimately it's once again because it doesn't inspire me. Is it iconic? Yes. Beautiful? Yes. Nice sounding? Yes. But I'd rather get a PolyBrute and pocket the change.
The other thing that triggers selling gear is workflow. If I can find ways to improve my workflow by selling something and replacing it with something else, I will.
Thanks for sharing! Great insights! Workflow is really the trigger for sure!
Gear I sold and I miss every day: Yamaha Reface CS and DX, Kurzweil PC3LE6, Korg Opsix (what an amazing synth) Akai MPK Mini Play MKIII (the one with built in sounds). Gear I sold and I don't regret having done so: Behringer TD3, RD6, Volca Sample1 and 2, Volca Bass. Gear I actually own and I'm considering selling: Roland SH201, Roland T-8, both ultra fun, but I just can't have everything. I'm not including any midi controller, or effects boxes, it would be too long, I owned like 10 midi keyboards.
I was commenting with another viewer how there's probably a full video that can be made just on "Gear I should never have sold! Why???" thanks for sharing!
Cool vid. Exactly the reason i got a mpc1000 instead of a new akai
My music comes from a DAW and software but I wanted a physical representation of the software I have used for two decades. I bought a Navation Peak and MiniNova and Behringer Monopoly, a looper and distortion reverb and Flanger. I only buy used gear and only a place in around london I can travel to.
Well done! Thank you for sharing!
Great vid. I flip gear a lot but don’t want to keep things I don’t use much.
The intro to this video is hilarious. Very nice setup you got man! I have to say though I disagree with you big time on one key point. You state "There's no point to really hoarding gear". This is a statement I can't get behind lol! I love buying junk I really do have an obsession ha.
Hahahah! Dude I love your setup as well, so much great vibes!
What a great video! No wonder you got 6k views in a day!!!! The intro was entertaining. Also, for those of us with G.A.S. (gear acquisition syntrom), this is a great "pep talk" for us to review our inventory in a purposeful way. Case in poinrt ... I sold my Metropolis. It was cool but the notes themselves were not part of what was "saved" in a preset. Since I'm largely focussed on live performance, it was not what I needed.
get a life, or get a room
@@busterbuster1641 is that a joke about Gear Acquisition Syndrome? ( if so, it's pretty funny ).
Very fun to watch - your perspective on gear is always good. I usually get very emotionally attached to any gear I've ever used in a songwriting or jamming session. Extremely rare that I ever sell music gear - usually only happens if/when I'm desperate for rent money or groceries, which luckily hasn't been the case for a few years now. It's also bad to sell (in my experience) when you're desperate to raise cash immediately, since you can't patiently wait for a good deal but have to take whatever money you can get "that day." Just another reason that it's good to review your gear before you're forced to! lol
side note - One of my boutique guitar pedals that I bought 12 years ago after college for
OMG, selling my Octatrack is one of the best things I ever did. I spent a year learning and using it, only to be disappointed by it's actual capabilities. This unit like no other gains credit for being "powerful" because nearly nobody who owns one actually gets far enough through that crappy and conflicting user interface to realize it's actual capabilities. It's pretty limited compared to so much other gear you could get. I feel a lot of gear does this to us... we "feel" like we should be getting more out of it because we see someone else doing that. But in the end, it's just a bad piece of gear for us that is stealing our attention and time. It's ok if someone else loves the same gear and makes music on it. But my rule is, if I don't vibe with something immediately, I probably never will. It has never been worth the effort on gear like that for me, no matter what the marketing on it says.
I did keep my MPC Live II though. I agree with you (and others) that it does have some "bad in-the-box" elements, but it also has some killer pads on it that are fun AF to jam on. And the speaker and onboard is the deal sealer for me. While I would never mix or make crucial decisions on these, the ability to drag ONE box anywhere I go is excellent and can promote a lot of music making and experimentation. Limitations on power just force you to make decisions sooner and move on. Then add the fact that it can sample, auto multi sample, control via CV or midi out, use audio interfaces, and export full stems, and you have seriously the best game in town IMHO. I think of it as a scratch pad rather than a DAW replacement, and for many that shift in focus can make all the difference. "The best" is the enemy of getting shit done. "Good enough" lasts all day/night long! Also, not to start a flame war, but feature to feature, the MPC live shits all over the Octatrack when it comes to features and power. Honestly, the gap is TREMENDOUS. And yet interestingly people tend to refer to the MPC as underpowered, and the Octatrack as super powerful.
"The Best" is the enemy of productivity. Never truer. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Disagree. I used a Live for a while and all I felt like I was doing was the same work as in a DAW but with ho hum in box elements and an annoying sequencer/interface. I see no benefit from the speakers and personally I hate pads.
An Octatrack takes a lot to learn, and it isn’t perfect, but I like the zone it puts you in and the immediacy of mangling samples and audio.
For me the fact that the Octatrack has limits helps. The design is well thought out, but you have to learn its constraints and be aware of the time investment for that. To me that makes it more like a musical instrument.
Since you use eurorack, adding a Dubldeca or Hexinverter Mutant Brain will make your OT a brilliant addition to control your eurorack. I mostly use the OT as a sequencer/LFO/CV modulator now days and it delivers in spades. On top of that its the most fun and hands on sample mangler.
I also have an MPC Live mk1...its the polar opposite to the Octatrack. Its made its money from gigs and the fact that it runs on batteries and I don't have to plug an audio interface and use it as a "3rd deck" when playing out (that sends clock to my gig eurorack 6U, is the reason I like it.
Decard's Dream is brilliantBut I can't being my self round to splashing out for it'd the reason for that is (and I know its blasphemy)...Arturia's CS-80.
Thanks for sharing! Also some great tips I will def check it out. Also, arturia cs-80 especially the new v4 is damn useful. Not blasphemous at all my friend!
extremely enjoyable video. and Def an important topic. I realize I'm nervous to sell gear for a variety of reasons
Nice video! This is the first time I've seen your channel, hilarious that you started it out as "Stereotypical Asian accountant guy", which made the switch to YOU as you are all the more enjoyable.
I have an MPC Live (one, not two) as the brain of my hardware setup. Interesting that you feel like it is like being tied to a computer. One of my favourite things about it is that it means I'm NOT tied to my computer. No notifications, no fussing with a mouse and keyboard. Just pads, buttons, and the touchscreen. I've gotten well used to the interface and workflow, having used it since 2017, in which time I've seen its functionality improved upon by Akai for all of these years. As a sequencer/controller for all of my hardware synths, not to mention the device that turns tracks and sequences into printed MP3 and FLAC files, it's a Godsend, especially as it removes any need for a computer in the process.
I've seen that you have a LOT of gear, how do you get your music from all that gear into recordings, MP3s, and sharable sound files? What's the end process or end step, for you?
Anyhow, thanks again for the enjoyable video and Merry Christmas, brotherman.
Thanks for the kind words. Obviously Akai is a great piece. I just wasn’t jiving with the touch screen Ux even though it’s very well implemented. I guess I felt a little bit too much like an iPad for a computer. But still yeah I hear yeah! Thanks for sharing!!!
@@DUNGEONMUSICTHEATRE Yep, I can totally understand how a device can work for some and not for others. :D Neither makes it good or bad, at least not universally, it just is what it is.
Anyhow, thanks again for the great presentation! Happy holidays, brotherman.
I recently sold a Dreadbox Typhon. It has a real nice sound but I struggled with the menu layout. And though I got some real nice sounds out of it, I also had a high level of frustration. Sometimes you turn a knob and nothing happens. Sometimes you barely touch a knob and it goes off the rails and even though I've saved it I still can't get back to the original sound. I sold it and replaced it with an Elektron Digitone. Too early to tell but so far I am glad to make the trade.
I haven't sold anything since 2004, - and the last device I sold was a TB-303.
These days, I just buy gear I know I'll want to keep, - I don't rush out anymore and do pre-orders for every new shiny thing that comes out, like I did when I was younger.
Older and wiser! Thanks for sharing!
Fun video. Love the cap! (Warrior fan here.)
Go warriors! But this season tho :( ugh
You shouldn't check the asking prices to know the value of gear. When you check the price guide on Reverb, you will see sold prices are a lot lower than the asking prices.
Yes! Forgot about this during the shoot, but realized after. Reverb has excellent analytics on price historics. Thanks for the reminder!
Thanks for the video. Should I sell my Jupiter-8?
yes! to me! for cheap! :) But seriously, if you own a good working condition Jupiter-8, I can't imagine selling it. :(
Personally, I would. Price is not likely to increase at the rate it has. Plus... component failure WILL happen. I just think these nostalgia pieces are going to die with the boomers.
@@BlackMan614 The J8 is a pretty awesome synth.
@@Bananskuden No one doubts that. Good luck with getting parts when - not if - it fails.
I think I’m the only bloke in the world that didn’t like the sound of my Pulsar 23. I sold it at a loss but don’t miss it. Sold a Buchla Easel two years ago and still miss it.
mpc all day! best maschine to chop samples etc.
i have a mpc live 2 and a roland tr8s + a minilogue but i will sell the minilogue and get me a sequential pro 3 soon. thats all i need. :)
Dope vid. The MPC is not a reissue. It’s just the latest version of MPC. But yeah it’s not for everyone especially if your beatmaking journey began after 2000 or 2010 as there are so many more options for the task with their own unique workflows.
right! thanks! funny now that I sold it, I kinda miss it! (UGH the madness!)
Super helpful assessment of mpc live. Been thinking about getting into the modern mpc's but now think I won't. The easiest gear to sell is gear you never bought!
To be fair, I was told persons other Akai mpc versions are less computery so perhaps you can look into the other versions? I think they are cheaper and more compact! They don’t have speakers though..
I have not yet sold anything in 20 years. There is always something unique or appealing about all my hardware. I have learnt something from most of them. Picking things up with I have stored for years is jsut plain fun. I may never sell anything and just deal with the losses as particular things die. Failing backlights and tact switches are getting common.
Thanks for sharing! Appreciate your perspective!
I own the Akai MPC X and love it. I'm going DAW less, so the X is a keeper
Selling things just got a lot more complex. Well, in the US. We're about to all feel the pain of the new 1099-k threshold.
Good point!
I sold all my gear and got a iPad m1 and I’m mobile now no cable problems and found cheap apps that replaced all my machines. and hook it all together with AUM and cubasis 3 , also don’t have to learn several workflows just touch screen and go no learning curve. Also I can’t tell the difference in sound from apps to real machines or pedals .
Octatrack's like a Medusa. Absolute PITA to use but you just keep wanting to go back to it!
This is my first time watching one of your videos and I’m definitely excited to see more.
On the MPC, if you look at the prices of the Live MK1, it’s like half the price it came out at.. (I know, cause that’s when I bought it).. so I have no expectations of it holding its value long term.
I say hold onto the Pulsar. Why not use it for sound design? I can’t think of anything like it or that would fill the same space.
I’ve actually never really sold gear… I mate for life.. such a commitment I know.. but also I have a lot less gear.. and I meticulously plan what I get so that everything has specific rolls… which in part I do because of I don’t have the means to buy more, more often.
Thanks for sharing. Ideally, that is where I’d like to be. There’s a lot of energy wasted buying, selling, learning. Everything costs time, which is def the most precious commodity!
I like this comment.... once bought, learn a device inside out....marry it and make yourself become creative with it. And this was my first time seeing a video by this RUclipsr and I'll be watching more :)
The real way to feel best about keeping a Deckard's Dream is that an actual CS-80 goes for like $50k+ ...
Love this! Yes!
I'm thinking Deckard's Dream will retain its lofty value over the long haul and its really an excellent, unique analogue poly. Played alongside the most excellent Novation Peak there's sonorities and timbre quality in the DDR that, imho just aren't available in the Peak - ( ...but that Peak UI is really laid out extremely well).
@@xpump876 I can only hope as I spent more on the DD than anything musical I own other than my Mac Studio.
Recently sold a Korg Modwave, don't regret it so far although there are a lot of cool things about it. I found myself drawn to using other gear that overlapped with it in various ways, and they are all I need right now (mainly using a Hydrasynth, Deluge, Opsix, Zoia, and Typhon).
Thanks for sharing! :)
Good video, cogent reasoning… to counter G.A.S & clutter.
Really enjoyed hearing you talk about which gear to keep or sell. I’d say keep the Pulsar, it looks like it has great potential for amazing sounds.
Gear cleansing, I like it! Recently sold a U220.
Rock on!
I sold my Waldorf Iridium because I was always overwhelmed with options. Too many possibilities become paralyzing to me, unfortunately.
Great video. I needed this 👍
Seeing you in a dress shirt made me sit up a little involuntarily to match the pro atmosphere at the beginning, lol
😂😂😂
Sold my Juno 106 (about 6 years ago) and recently my Digitakt. An excellent combo if you only want a few pieces of gear, but they were doing nothing since I started Eurorack. Also I could use the cash 😅
Not the Juno!! :( I owned a Juno 106 in college and I didn’t know what I had! I traded for a Korg M1 and I so regret it) ahh to be young and foolish!
@@DUNGEONMUSICTHEATRE yes 😔 Do I regret it? No, not really... played on it now and then, only because I wanted to have it turned on and off once in a while. If I see the prices today, ok, I should have kept it and sold it now, but still, no regret.
I sold my Live 2 and got a second hand MPC ONE and a Syntakt with the money.
Hoarding is fun....hoarders unite!
Love this video. I'm glad Deckards made the cut and happy you're keeping it. Regarding, Pulsar 23, Agreed on the sequencer, but sending triggers in (try noise Engineering's Zularic Repetitor). Aso, send Deckard's Audio into some signal paths in pulsar. siiiiiick!
Thanks for the suggestion. Appreciate the support! :)))
Pulsar-23. I never really “play” it. I do sample the hell outta it into my digitakt. It makes so many deep original tones that are almost endless.
I just wish I could get more into the sequencer part of Pulsar. I mean I paid for it and if you think about it, sequencer feature is absolutely HUGE for any type of drum machine. Music is after all "time-based" and the way you trigger if over time is so critical. I think tone generation is certainly a huge part, but if the sequence portion was as innovative, Pulsar could have been truly magnificent.
I totally agree with your thoughts on the MPC Live vs Octatrack. I trialed the MPC but it felt like using a computer, which I already have. I ended up sending it back. Even if the Octatrack is a bit wizardy in its workflow its unique and I don't think I'd be able to do the things I do with it on the computer with the same immediacy. Maybe I should have given the live more time because it obviously has legendary pedigree when it comes to sampling but it didn't click with me at all.
There’s so much to learn and you got only so much time. I think there’s a point where okay I spent X amount of time, I’m not jiving with it, it’s gone. And we shouldnt feel guilty because it’s our money and time. And if we missed out on a great product because we were a little too rushed, I think that’s okay. This is probably what caused me to hold on to thing way too long
I would keep the pulsar and learn a better way to sequence it via midi or cv. I kinda want that drum machine some day.
Thank God cooler heads prevailed with the Pulsar 23. A lot of folks who have commented have probably regretted selling synths or studio gear we would like to have back!
My problem is that if I don't actually need the money for something else then I don't sell anything.
I've got a stack of stuff that I've meant to sell just to move it out for more than a year including an expanded OP-Z, a whole rack of the Tangible Waves modular from early in their run with several discontinued modules, a Moog Rogue, a Roland 80 boutique, the very first version of Ericas Polivoks euro synth, hell even an old Synare drum synth. I just never seem to get around doing more than putting it in a pile in the corner of my studio.
Then there's things like my Korg Arp 2600 FS that I almost never use for who even knows what reason, likely the same as your Deckard's Dream. That's appreciated like crazy and to the point I'd never buy a replacement again if I moved it on. I doubt I could ever sell it though just because it's a full size 2600. The keyboard is pretty sweet too and that really holds back any other clones or mini versions.
It's all sort of stupid.
Thanks for writing in. Yeah, I feel ya. Though here's the thing, I feel like if you're blessed with having good amount of gear, but don't need it, I think by purging a bit is very healthy even if you don't need the money. So for me, once a gear fails my "keeper" test, it's done. It also contributes to others getting to use it without manufactures making more stuff.
@@DUNGEONMUSICTHEATRE I don't mind buying new synths and helping to keep the companies I love in business.
It's not like these are disposable razors.
I must agree, ear cleansing really helps my music.
I think this is a good practice to just go through old gear that has been collecting dust and just focus on using it and see if you still click with it. Maybe find new ways to use it or decide to get rid of it. I might take stuff I am not using and do a bracket style thing to see which ones survive.
The way you feel about the Deckard's Dream is exactly how I feel about my Korg Prologue 16. It doesn't really fit in my setup, but it has just such a particular sound. Also, it's knobs all the way down.
I wish we could just all share gear, like a commune.
For example, there’s a ton of gear I have which I’m not using but I’m not sure I want to sell - Nord Modular G1, Kurzweil K2000RS, Emu Audity2000, tons of rack FX, etc. I’d be happy to share tho and see someone else enjoy, make cool music with, maybe I’d get inspired to use again or collaborate with them.
Reciprocally , I’d love to borrow and learn and use your pulsar-23 for a bit. I’d love to buy one but don’t have $2k to just splash out, to find out if if I like/love/hate it.
I think letting gear get dusty actually decreases the flow of creative juice in your studio. I don’t know how to explain it beyond woo ideas. Machines want you to spend time with them and reward you for doing so.
gear locker concept or gear library isn’t new. It’s just hard to implement. Either it’s strictly an honor system amongst pro’s (who do this quite often) or it’s super restrictive and it becomes like a rental service. Yeah :( but it’s possible. Thanks for sharing
I highly recommend to dig deeper into the Octattrack. After learning it in and out, you will never see any point in selling it ever again. With this much stuff in your studio, it will always come in handy to have it around. cheers
Much appreciate the feedback!
I am doing exactly this! Hear that I was super excited about buying, that just hasn’t worked it’s way into my workflow.
Selling this month:
Chase Bliss Habit
4MS SWN
Deckards (beautiful but not for me)
Pladask Matrise
lol I just GOT the Habit. What wasn't working for you?
@@DUNGEONMUSICTHEATRE I can’t put my finger on it. I was still using the Blooper and the Mood regularly, but just wasn’t feeling myself drawn to using the Habit. I would have been interested in the looping element had it not been restricted to 3 mins in length. The delay sounds I felt like I had covered in other pedals (EG Timeline) albeit without the quirkiness.
I fully expect to see awesome vids of people using the Habit over the next few months and getting regret-GAS over it!
For me, I just don't get along with some gear... its not a rational thing its just a combination of does it inspire plus do I find it easy to use. For some reason I find using my Kawai K5000 both inspiring and pretty easy to use... despite most people finding it a bear to program. I guess my brain just works the same way as the people who designed this pad monster!
Keep it. I got a mother 32, hate the sequencer, don't use it often and even though it is expensive for what it is + the second hand price is good I will never sell my mum. But seriously, That Pulsar is as everything else from Soma, iconic, best quality build and such a weird invention that you just have to keep it for the sake of it. Got the Lyra, same as with mum, don't use it often but no no to sell.
That's +2 for Pulsar! :)
Never sell any music gear. You will regret it.
You are missing on option with the Pulsar-23 which is "Give it to Lennart!" 🙂
MPC def gotta stay lol. I never felt like it was computer. Actually the opposite. I love standalone. Hook any piece of gear u want to it. Great workflow…..
AGREE! Nowadays you just need one good powerful functional computer, a good quality interface and a couple of plug ins and that's it.
I’d say 5k worth of samples and s3000 in 1998.
Good samples are still priceless.
keeping and collecting is much more easier than selling gear for me. to sell gear you need to take an decision and think about it. buy, store and "forget" ist much more easier if you are not in moneytrouble or storageissues. BUT i confirm that it is healthy to sell stuff(and also gear) that you are did not really -need- ! the upcoming new year is an good time check your gear-storage for stuff that you did not really need. BUT in the way of mine - I always having less time - I dont want to make an mistake that I can going to hate in future - sold an gear but without knowing it deep enough to see the potencial of creativity ;-) best regards, Frank Liebe
It definitely took some discipline to set up a small table, scale, and packaging tape station to make things easier to sell. Also you gotta get in the habit of taking good care of your gear and make sure you have all the parts and accessories that it came with. It IS a pain for sure! :)
I'm selling digital/beatbox/sampler/midi controller asap when realize not clicking (my latest sell Force, RolandMV-1, BeatstepPro. Final rebuy-and-keep forever are Push2, Maschine+, OP-Z (those are all beatbox/midi). For synthesizers I try to buy and keep forever, so far managed past 6 years: Moog Subsequent 37CV, Buchla208C, Polybrute (also my main keys), Korg ARP2600m.
It was cool decision to keep Deckard's Dream (though it too expensive, and would keep the value). Keeping sequencer Octatrack sounds strange since over time it will be version 2, 3, X, so can't count on it keeping value. Though if it still inspires you (maybe not every day) its a value for you. Cheers!
I might buy Metropolix at some point .... as soon as get my first enclosure, but manage staying away from modular so far :)
Managing to stay away from Euroack! Impressive and good luck :)
I'm here for this!