Changing spending habits for 2013

[blueman]

I'll refrain from calling it a "new year's resolution", but I am done spending hundreds of dollars on software. For 2013, if I buy anything that's not hardware (and I'm sure I will), it's going to be UNDER $99 (as a rule). There are a few reasons for this:

1. I already have virtually EVERYTHING I need...well, almost
2. Acquiring more sounds, FX, and programs is no longer making my music "better". It's just giving me decision anxiety.
3. I'm not currently making money writing music (I've reached the point of negative return on investment). This is a big one! Most musicians and songwriters I know are no longer able to generate profits for their efforts, so why are we investing so much money on the tools? As far as expensive hobbies go, perhaps sailing lessons or a Tae Kwon Do class would be money better spent
4. GAS is a serious condition! I'm starting to worry
5. My hard drive has become a clusterf*ck of files and folders and I cannot even keep track of (inventory) everything I have now. So, what's the point of adding more?
6. The market is finally saturated with TOO MUCH of everything: new sounds, new emulations of this and that, new versions of the same ole "analog" gear that is even more "warm" and "vintage" and an infinite variety of "high-quality" samples of everything that can we can hit, pluck, or make a noise with. F*********ck! Is anyone else getting sick of this yet?! How many versions of drum sounds do we REALLY need?!?

The end of 2012 (and now, the beginning of 2013) has seen a sickening number of "sales" such that my email is getting hit daily. It makes me want to unsubscribe from everyone.

I'm hereby entering into bargain-hunting mode. I truly believe we've reached the point of over-saturation and I'm just throwing money down a hole. Maybe I'll just save up for a new guitar that I can actually touch, visually appreciate, and resell someday. Hmmm....

Is anyone else kind of over it already? Or, do you still feel the need to obtain more of more?

Rich

[ariston]

I hear you... I'm still feeling GAS, and it's not just because of the 3 cups of lemon ginger tea I just had. But I have so much software it's kind of ridiculous. I've got so many variations of the 808 and 909, and STILL my ears perk up when I hear of a new sample library by Wave Alchemy... Pavlovian Dog, all right.

I will spend more money on real life activities this year... hard ware, if you will. I will take a few singing lessons, I'm going to get a good microphone, maybe do some Tai Chi, maybe get back to Tennis or Basketball.

Many have said this before, but it doesn't get less true with each repeat: getting to know the tools you have is much more rewarding than constantly buying new stuff. I've been neglecting a few plugins, like Alchemy, Twin and Iris. I'll be getting back into those, and instead of buying sample libraries, I'll be playing my piano, drums, bass and guitar more. I'm going to make more of my own drums with my own samples - I did a recording of our car last year and made some great percussion samples with that raw material.

[blueman]

I'm going to make more of my own drums with my own samples - I did a recording of our car last year and made some great percussion samples with that raw material.

Nice! I've always wanted to sample the glass bowl sink in our bathroom. It has a lovely percussive, ringing tone when you tap it with your fingers

[michael2]

i feel like much of the whole thing for me is that I have less time to record with 2 kids around the house, a job and school. reading about music and acquiring stuff makes me feel like I am actively involved with music. pathetic, but there you go.

I keep telling myself that I am going to use the time I do spend in my DAW tinkering more productively: work on 1 part of a song at a time instead of getting frustrated when I can't knock out the whole thing. and make more of my own samples and post them for others to use. I always appreciate when other people do this, but so far I have only managed to post 1 drum set.

I will try and do better this year. hopefully. we'll see.

[ontol]

[blueman]

reading about music and acquiring stuff makes me feel like I am actively involved with music. pathetic, but there you go.

I can relate to that!

[tehlord]

I plan on spending exponentially more money on gear in 2013.

[thecontrolcentre]

In 2012 I spent less on music gear than in 2011 ... in 2013 I intend to spend even less. I already own far more than I need. I may upgrade from Live 8 to 9, but it will depend how much Ableton decide to charge me.

[trimph1]

Once I finish with the barn reno I'll have a studio in here...that will require an exponential increase in dinero to procure the desks and such needed..

[Ja.x]

I'll not buy any synth, unless it's "phat". Or any effect unless it "warms" my tracks. Promise .

[BERFAB]

The OP described my situation exactly.

I did spend significantly less in 2012 than in 2011, mostly due to Cubase adding so much cool stuff to the DAW. Cubase 7 has even more cool stuff which will, hopefully, help me avoid additional GAS pains.

Got hurt pretty badly in December because of all the specials though. But I must say, the few new projects I've started since then are really killer. In addition to the new cool toys in Cubase 7, I'm really getting my (blowout sales price) money's worth out of Waves CLA signature bundle, Tremor and the new CS Grand Bundle from IK.

Now that I have so much redundant gear, I can probably start selling some stuff just to clean out the folder.

Yeah, as if.

Cheers
-B

[vurt]

im changing my spending habits too, this year i intend to buy some fruit.

[bluedad]

im changing my spending habits too, this year i intend to buy some fruit.

plug the monkey into the suit
feed the habit
daily fruit

[hibidy]

I PROMISE I..........

[heffus]

Less software, more real things in 2013.