IAA wrote: ↑Sun May 22, 2022 7:57 am
.........Real instruments are where I’m struggling most. I’m keen on the new oberheim but don’t really need it.........
I am holding onto hardware, even though most of it sits in a corner collecting dust. But I am amazed at how much money some things are now worth that I wonder how long will it be before we see someone on Antiques Roadshow deliriously gleefullful after being told how much their EMS Synthi A is worth
Someone on eBay is asking £750 for a Supernova Rack V1, OK, asking and getting are two different things, but prices of £500+ are not uncommon whereas only a few years ago I sold mine for £275 and thought myself lucky to get anywhere near that
I'm very aware that my own urge to "system build" - this could be collecting guitars, retro-fitting cars, collecting football stickers, collecting roles in government, having the entire IKEA catalogue in my kitchen - is the handle by which clutter providers get into my life and house.
The most powerful filter question for me is always, "what am I looking to achieve?". If the answer is to fill my house with kit that never gets used then - fill your (my) boots. If the answer is, "make music" then often the gear collection part is a distraction rather then a step on the road.
I should add that, having recently moved house I realise I have a shed full of actual tools, mostly good quality second hand with a sprinkling of Chinese pig iron, which are rarely used so I know of which I speak.
Posts:8637Joined: Sun Dec 09, 2007 12:00 amLocation: Manchester, UK
“…I can tell you I don't have money, but what I do have are a very particular set of skills. Skills I have acquired over a very long career” - (folk musician, Manchester).
... well I just lucked on an ex-radio-station studio desk to house all my gear so I've been revamping my hardware and software into some sense of order ... about halfway through at the moment, I'm now calling my studio "turn-of-the-century meets state-of-the-art" 'cos, while most of my work today is done ITB on a Windows 11 Pro PC using Samplitude Pro X, I still have a Mac G4 with ProTools LE and a Digi001 and am about to resurrect Cubase VST32 on an old Pentium with a parallel port so I can play flying faders on my Soundcraft Digital 328 ... and don't talk about all the various VST instruments and effects - I've lost count
The age of the computer has limited the DAW upgrades for me. It’s a 2010 model. Most new plugins require the newer OS.
I can say what I want to say with what I have.
Sometimes something new comes along that does something I like doing a little easier and quicker and I consider it because it helps keep me in the zone when inspiration is flowing.
I finally jumped a few iOS versions to the latest because previously I never considered that device security must try and keep up with hacker skills if one connects the device to the internet.
An Akai MPC X but with HDMI graphics output to computer monitor, and with disk streaming so it is realistic to record audio, really good Cubase'esque MIDI editing, VST Host to run a few really good SoftSynths, ability to use USB Keyboard/Mouse/Music Keyboard and that'd be me, kissing goodbye to computers.
I am to keep my computers for 10 years, or until new ones are 10 times faster. This is just about achievable, but in the Mac world, old machines stop being able to run new OSes in about that time, or slightly less, and my DAW software will only run on the latest and penultimate OS, so it’s close.
blinddrew wrote: ↑Sun May 22, 2022 10:25 am
I'm in the process of drafting a 'rebuttal' to this piece, will pop it in the Feedback forum when it's done.
Good man! This might be a good topic for a poll once you've done that. I don't like subscriptions either. It all smacks of trying to convince the customer that what's good for the shareholders is good for the end users.
Arpangel wrote: ↑Sun May 22, 2022 7:55 am
It’s not until you buy something, sometimes, that you realise, you really don’t need it.
LOL - Spot on, back of the net, you got it in one.
I suppose, logically thinking. If upgrades had a profound impact on our creativity, then in going from version 1 to version 12 (and beyond) of whatever, would mean we should all be rich and famous by now!
Just look at me, and I never upgrade.
Besides, upgrading, doesn’t that mean getting something better? quite often the reverse is true, that’s why I’m so scared to "upgrade"
Probably the only software I upgrade regularly is Reaper because upgrades are usually totally painless and even the latest version still works on my oldest, currently working, 2004 vintage machine.
I stopped upgrading Adobe Audition when it went to subscription only but I find that version 3 is still useful and still runs on the current version of Windows 10. Other useful software like Plextools and CD Wave also mainly runs fine in Windows 10 with just the occasional odd behaviour (like no dragging and dropping files in Plextools).
I also felt that Sam was totally wrong in his conclusions regarding software subscriptions. I prefer the software maintenance model where you buy a license and then pay an annual fee for support and upgrades. If you stop paying the maintenance fee you keep the software that you have but won't get any upgrades or support.
I chose Reaper because I liked their business model and because I thought their licence fee was extremely good value. I will upgrade to V6 soon I think but am holding off as V5 is still running well on my 2008/El Capitan Mac Pro.
Sam Spoons wrote: ↑Sun May 22, 2022 2:52 pm
I chose Reaper because I liked their business model and because I thought their licence fee was extremely good value. I will upgrade to V6 soon I think but am holding off as V5 is still running well on my 2008/El Capitan Mac Pro.
Another happy Reaper user here, I’m running various versions on different machines, I’ve not had an issue yet.
I upgrade Logic when upgrades appear, I don't upgrade my OS unless logic demands it, though the last couple of logic upgrades I'm not entirely sure why I bothered as they changed nothing really that I use on a day to day basis.
I also upgrade plugins that I actually use (Slate/Waves Abbey Roads mastering/Relab)
I've also been reducing the breadth of what I use, concentrating on stuff that actually gets the job done for me. I'm more focused on getting stuff to do more (more mics, stands, cables etc) so I can do live to multitrack recordings, which is more useful in my area right now...and of course that helps the live work I do
