Semi-noob again, just went crazy, some questions

[FuzzyGreen]

Background: I've been playing electronic music for ~25 years now. About 8 years ago I had build up an ultimate home studio (software + hardware), but due to working at a start-up that stopped paying the employees without telling them (I'm a software engineer in silly clone valley), I ended up selling off most of it. Most of the vst's were cracked, or hacked, and sucked anyway. The only ones I had actually purchased were atmosphere, Vintage Warmer, Sonar, and Fruity Loops, which I naturally kept. I always felt guilty about the stolen software, but oh well, at least I learned what I liked from it and grew some integrity over time.

Music Style/history: I play mostly electronic ambient/chill with some trance/house and mogwai'ish guitars. I'm pretty good and have a few releases to my name with some minor EDM record labels and some better club plays. Probably would have actually done better if I put more time into it, but as I said, I'm a software engineer and that is my main profession.

So now, it's better times for me and I decided it was time to get back into playing music. I am going almost fully software this time since I already have a great PC and don't really have room for tons of synths now.

Problem is, I went gear nuts:

I first got a keyboard controller- Novation 49 SL2 and while I was there I picked up an Arturia Analog player, which is pretty freaking awesome for the price. Threw in some KVR 5's for a decent monitor.

Then I updated my sonar to X1 Pro extended with all the bells and whistles.
Did the same for FL Studio Producer.

And finally I rounded out everything with Komplete 8 and a Korg MonoTribe.

I'm now sitting on something like 50 VSTi's and 150 VST's all either legit paid for or free.

So the questions:

1. When I play with all these samples and hardware, I get immediately inspired just going through the presets. Then I start making songs, but then end up putting the track away before finishing it because I figure everyone else in the world has already heard that sample/sound and I don't want to be trite or have a "used" sound. Does this make sense? How do you avoid this pitfall, if it even is one.

2. I just got an email from UVI for string machines and the demo's really made me want it. I'm tempted to just buy it today, but I've already got way more then I can play with. How do I stop this gear lust? Hell, since I can afford it now, should I just go crazy and build my ultimate studio again?

SlumberMachine.

[Nielzie]

but then end up putting the track away before finishing it because I figure everyone else in the world has already heard that sample/sound and I don't want to be trite or have a "used" sound. Does this make sense? How do you avoid this pitfall, if it even is one.

That's why effects are so important

Everyone can give their own personal "flavour" to a sound to make it unique and stand out.

[zorniko]

I'm a software engineer

Why don't you create your own "gear"? Or program your own sounds?

[Lotuzia]

Just reverse the question : Listen to your ten favorite tracks and try to picture wich presets of wich synths were used. Difficult ?

If you can't then most people won't either.

But theres more : THey dont care

There have been zillions of tracks beeing written with guitars and my GF doesnt give a f. about if its a Strat ( Wot ?) or a Gibson ( Mel ?), or else.

( Most) Guitarists know, but usually you're not -at least not only - making music for your pairs, but for real people. So why bothering ?

Keep the tracks coming. That the only thing that matters.

My brutal 0.002

[FuzzyGreen]

I'm a software engineer

Why don't you create your own "gear"? Or program your own sounds?

I do program my own sounds, but my question was to do more with playing with presets with only minor tweaking. Whenever I get some new sounds I first just go through presets, usually finding tons of ideas for songs while I do.

As for programming my own gear? No time, I barely have enough time to play with what I already have, let alone make synths.

Thanks for the replies!

[Tricky-Loops]

Just reverse the question : Listen to your ten favorite tracks and try to picture wich presets of wich synths were used. Difficult ?

If you can't then most people won't either.

But theres more : THey dont care

There have been zillions of tracks beeing written with guitars and my GF doesnt give a f. about if its a Strat ( Wot ?) or a Gibson ( Mel ?), or else.

( Most) Guitarists know, but usually you're not -at least not only - making music for your pairs, but for real people. So why bothering ?

Keep the tracks coming. That the only thing that matters.

My brutal 0.002

And all tracks are written within the same scales and the same chords. You can't create any new melody without some phrase that was formerly used by any other musician.

When I listen to music - either it rocks or makes me dance or affects me or not... I don't think, oops, the synth is Massive, for the drums they have used EZ Toontrack and the reverb is from Valhalla, preset number XX...

So my opinion is: Even if you make a track only with free samples and free synthesizers and free presets - if it hits the people, then it's a hit...

Good music is good music no matter if it's made with 20,000 $ hardware synths or with free Oatmeal...

[aciddose]

How do I stop this gear lust? Hell, since I can afford it now, should I just go crazy and build my ultimate studio again?

have five kids, then get a divorce.

[risome]

How do I stop this gear lust? Hell, since I can afford it now, should I just go crazy and build my ultimate studio again?

have five kids, then get a divorce.

lol

[Shy]

As for programming my own gear? No time, I barely have enough time to play with what I already have, let alone make synths.

Thanks for the replies!

Spending time to check all this stuff and buy, and no time to learn how to tweak an instrument to get your own sounds, that's your problem. You'll keep being unsatisfied. My advice (and I'm serious):

1. stop buying shit right now, except maybe the synth I mention in step 2, since it's the best "virtual analog" and amazingly powerful, but you could use the demo
2. download Aalto
3. go through its presets
4. finish being amazed after realizing that this little synth is capable of making all those cool sounds
5. tweak a sound in it, spend some time doing that, a lot of time, maybe check the manual.

If you do that, you will end up with all kinds of new sounds of your own, that you likely haven't heard elsewhere, at least much.

Next step is effects, but if you actually do what I mentioned first, you're already on the right track.

I realize that someone who's so set in his ways and insists on using nothing but presets in virtual instruments he buys would likely never, ever bother to try what I suggested. Like I said, that's your problem, and it's solvable.

[aciddose]

the problem with owning so many sets of effects and instruments is you'll have an enormous amount of redundancy.

out of your 500 effects, how many really distinct features are there and how many normal features are there. divide these numbers by 500, then look at the resulting ratios.

unique vs. number = probably a very small fraction like 20/500
unique vs. features = probably similar, 1 / 20 or worse?

they can all have their own variations, but how often are these variations limited to a common set?

it can be far more efficient and rewarding to work with one effect or instrument so much that you really learn it's features and what makes it distinct. then once you understand that compare it against others. you'll be able to identify what it lacks and what it's good at.

to solve your gearlust issue you need to identify what actually drives it. is it the variety, or is it more like collecting a ten ton jar of pennies?