Let's talk about: Gear Acquisition Syndrome

[Lode_Runner]

I've discovered a cure that works for me. I made a list of everything I've bought and how much I paid, then I added it all up and felt serious remorse. Then I made another list of everything else I want to buy and added that up, and realised that if I don't stop now that remorse is going to get sooo much worse.

Well hopefully this works. It has however only been 1 week since my last purchase, and I'm looking at the introductory price for Neosoul Keys 3X and getting the shakes

Kontakt is so flippin' addictive, they should just call it Krakk.





Edit: edited once to add the word 'now', then edited again to add this explanation.

[ageofaudio]

I've discovered a cure that works for me. I made a list of everything I've bought and how much I paid, then I added it all up and felt serious remorse. Then I made another list of everything else I want to buy and added that up, and realised that if I don't stop that remorse is going to get sooo much worse.

Well hopefully this works. It has however only been 1 week since my last purchase, and I'm looking at the introductory price for Neosoul Keys 3X and getting the shakes

Kontakt is so flippin' addictive, they should just call it Krakk.

This doesn't work for me I am always buying and selling stuff (at least I sell..).

[trimph1]

Some years I go I thought that my yearly 1000$ gear aquiring equalled GAS, but then I started this thread for the fun of it.

http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=256689

I tell you that compared to some of these guys (no names, you know who you are) my GAS rather looks like a broken nail than a serious disease. I am an amateur, thank God

You had to bring that up didn't you?

[Timfonie]

Holding back on GAS? It's easy, well, in theory at least. In practice it requires to endure some pain or discomfort.

All you need to do is to recognize the moment when some lust for a new piece of gear comes up, followed by the firm decision to redirect and focus your attention to something completely non-music related. Do it everytime you start feeling even the tiniest bit of lust. Actually you don't have an option when it occurs! There's no choice, no moment of consideration. There's only one way which is: connecting the very first moment of gear lust to an activity unrelated to making music.

You can make it easier by avoiding places where GAS is likely to be triggered. Don't read adds, don't read gear reviews and certainly don't read 'I love synth X'-threads.

There's indeed a parallel with addictions like smoking, with the difference there's no significant physical withdrawal symptoms with GAS.

On top of that reward yourself by realizing the new feeling of control you now have. And realize the money you save. And realize you don't feel any less happy by not having bought any new gear.

B.t.w. buying new gear will only boost your happiness for a short time. In the long run it doesn't add any joy to your life. Yet it does hold you back from getting to know and master the gear you already have!

[Numanoid]

At least GAS has become easier to nurse now.

In the 70's and 80's you almost had to re-mortgage your house to be able to buy a synth.

The best plugs these days, like Omnisphere, doesn't really cost more than a lavish dinner out with the missus

[satYatunes]

When I have GAS, I just take a GasX it works.. you can get it over the counter

[sin night]

Well... during the last months I've surrended to gas... I wanted to complete/renew my setup, so I spent quite a bit of money... My resolution/excuse is that I'm going to build a solid and complete setup that I'm going to use for years (almost) without changes.
But mine it's not real gas (well, at least I think it isn't a pathological form); I don't want to suffer of gas, so I try to keep my purchases under control before experiencing problems.


First thing is: you must tell yourself that you can't spend money (either because you don't have it or because you don't want to separate from it )... be mingy!



Seriously, I'm tempted so many times to acquire this or that, but I ask myself:

- Do I really need it or it would be just a nice addition or even something useless?
- Can I resell it? Does the license allow me to do so? Would I lose a lot of money (in comparison to the price I payed in first istance) if I resell the item?
- If an incredible deal for something I really want/need comes shortly after my purchase, would I be able to take advantage of that deal?
- If I need money for whatever reason, do I have enough money after my purchase?
- Is the item overpriced in relation of what it offers or the functionalities I'm going to use?
- Is there anything better that I could buy and that would better suit my needs? (ok, this is dangerous because you may end up buying something more expensive, but it may save youjavascript:emoticon(':D') from buying a "cheaper replacement" that at the end you will replace with the more expensive thing because you weren't fully satisfied)
- Can I get the same (or a similar) result with what I already have? Are there cheaper alternatives?
- Does it improves my workflow or would it make it more cumbersome?
- Is this purchase "fine" for my "long time purchasea plan" (you know, expensive things you really need - like changing pc after some years - and that you have to plan for some months to finance them)?


You have to ask yourself any question that could stop you from buying and think about everything you see "oh, that's the usual shit I wouldn't even bother with".


When you're completely lost in your gas, I think one of the best solutions is to stay away from places that may trigger it and put yourself in condition that you can't buy the thing when your gas is at it's maximum... and if you buy things online, use a rechargable credit card that it's not related to your bank count and that you can't recharge online, so you have to go out if you end the money... Sometimes laziness could do miracles!


But then I think it's better to educate yourself to buy things only when it really makes sense rather than escaping from gas...


Oh, and don't forget that your main purpose is to make music, not collecting gear! Think about that prior to any purchase!

[CapnLockheed]

I've discovered a cure that works for me. I made a list of everything I've bought and how much I paid, then I added it all up and felt serious remorse. Then I made another list of everything else I want to buy and added that up, and realised that if I don't stop that remorse is going to get sooo much worse.

Well hopefully this works. It has however only been 1 week since my last purchase, and I'm looking at the introductory price for Neosoul Keys 3X and getting the shakes

Kontakt is so flippin' addictive, they should just call it Krakk.

This doesn't work for me I am always buying and selling stuff (at least I sell..).

Doesn't work for me either....fortunately I spend MUCH more money on USED hardware than anything else....sometimes I buy it broken and repair it. Sometimes I refurbish it....but I almost always buy it cheap, use it for as long as I like and then re-sell it usually for more than I paid for it. I find in this way I can feed my GAS addiction AND stay married!

[braj]

I think some of the 'gear' I need to acquire is inspiring music that will move me to do more with what I have. I was watching a couple tracks from Yes' Live at Montreaux 2003 last night and that was better than getting a new synth, effect or whatever. I need to listen more, to inspiration from outside and from within.

[zerocrossing]

For a long while I had serious G.A.S. However, I found that my recent additions to my studio have really made my inclinations go away.

For me it was realizing I had no talent for holding a guitar, mouse, keyboard and midi controllers all at once (randall voice: Jezzzzzzz, what a nightmare! )

Oh! What you need is an audio looper!

http://www.circularlabs.com/

[hibidy]

No thanks buster, I have maschine for that!

[zerocrossing]

...I also like "limited" units, but with a special twist, special color, special unique something.

So I might conclude that I'm really suffering of the GAS, but ...... I fully enjoy it.

I feel like this too. I justify it by compartmentalizing my G.A.S. (collecting) as being a separate but related hobby to making music. I also realized that having something to show at the end of a time period is unnecessary. My goal is to be happy. If collecting odds and ends starts making me feel bad (it does sometimes) I'll avoid it for a while and jump into playing. I'll spend hours and hours filling RAM buffers with audio loops that get deleted like Monks blowing their sand Mandala's into the wind. For me it's about the process of doing and the end result is inconsequential.

Sometimes I'll hit periods of feeling kind of uninspired to that sort of "wankery." Sometimes I'll force myself to actually produce something, but more often than not I'll find myself distracted by the latest bit of software or hardware that's tickled my fancy. There's nothing wrong with it. None of it goes in a credit card ever. It's all money I've budgeted for this exact purpose. There's no child's college fund that's suffering (yet) so... yeah. It's a bit of mindless consumption but to me sometimes there's nothing more fun than digging into something with "a special twist, special color, special unique something" and just messing about with it. Maybe after I'm done I never use it again but I look at it like going to a nice restaurant. I'm going to poop out whatever I eat no matter what. That's the goal. But not really, eh? The goal is the experience which becomes part of my life. Part of me. Just like going to Japan or Thailand was. Or all the college courses I attended which don't have a direct relation to my job but maybe made me a bit more well rounded.

Oh yeah, and did I mention that because of Oxium and Diva that I now need a new computer? The beast needs to be fed!

[zerocrossing]

No thanks buster, I have maschine for that!

No no, this is something very different. I have Maschine too, but Mobius running along side will give you a whole new way of "jamming." Try it! It's free! It's very addictive though, be warned.

[hibidy]

Oh yeah, and did I mention that because of Oxium and Diva that I now need a new computer? The beast needs to be fed!

Just look at him go, my goodness, he's bad-ass at justifying things.

Ok, I'll stop now.

[Nielzie]

Anyone here who wants to buy Corona for a great price?

http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... 15#5046915

You know you want it...