too many synths too many presets =too much headache ??

[Tofu2019]

does being minimal help you get creative ?
does having one or two synths that you go too make your life easier ?
ie does having too many synths or presets mean you get bogged down in thousands of presets trying to find that elusive sound ?
I can make some of my own presets now but still I like a nice professional bank that's a lot better than my own
my main question is this
would you delete preset packs and or vst that you bought that you didn't like ?
strip it down and take a loss on what you don't want or do you just keep it installed ?

[sl1914]

You don't have to delete anything.
You can just decide not to use more than 1 or 2 synths for some projects.
Surely you will learn to know those synths better than before.

And maybe use other 1 or 2 synths in some later project.

[Tofu2019]

You don't have to delete anything.
You can just decide not to use more than 1 or 2 synths for some projects.
Surely you will learn to know those synths better than before.

And maybe use other 1 or 2 synths in some later project.

if they are there though youll go through them

[JerGoertz]

I got 99 problems but a synth ain't one.

[sl1914]

You don't have to delete anything.
You can just decide not to use more than 1 or 2 synths for some projects.
Surely you will learn to know those synths better than before.

And maybe use other 1 or 2 synths in some later project.

if they are there though youll go through them

That's up to you. I've used the idea I described above myself and it worked just fine.
Of course it doesn't work unless YOU YOURSELF want to limit yourself to just 1 or 2 synths.

[original flipper]

Hi

I don't have a problem using multiple synths - 'A' problem arises when they have less than satisfactory preset browsers - typically this would be a scroll down list filled with a mish-mash of random genre type presets this is bad news!
A good preset browser (for me) has categories, so you can get to the type of sounds you want with 2 clicks: > open browser > category ... you can now view, scroll or whatever for 'THAT' type of sound.
BUT, I would uninstall anything that is of no use, has been superseded by new purchases or is just sitting there doing nothing.

[cantaloupe]

I found this to be a problem, yes. I uninstalled them all after a period of creative suffocation. Currenly getting by with a software sampler, a DX7 and a tiny hardware modular and lots of multitracking/experimentation.

An abundance of choice and access/excess is a huge hurdle on the path to developing an interesting and singular aesthetic. I'm really inspired by the radiophonic workshop people and early electronic composers in general when it comes to workflow and gear. Some of them have explicitly stressed the importance of simplicity and limitation of tools (Delia Derbyshire, Arne Nordheim).

It's less about some fetishistic attempt at minimalism and more about having some personal relation and cohesion to the creative process, not getting lost and seduced by the endless capability of shiny tech. There is a great feeling of freedom in not having to constantly choose between different synths and doing all these microdecisions all the time.

[Tofu2019]

I found this to be a problem, yes. I uninstalled them all after a period of creative suffocation. Currenly getting by with a software sampler, a DX7 and a tiny hardware modular and lots of multitracking/experimentation.

An abundance of choice and access/excess is a huge hurdle on the path to developing an interesting and singular aesthetic. I'm really inspired by the radiophonic workshop people and early electronic composers in general when it comes to workflow and gear. Some of them have explicitly stressed the importance of simplicity and limitation of tools (Delia Derbyshire, Arne Nordheim).

It's less about some fetishistic attempt at minimalism and more about having some personal relation and cohesion to the creative process, not getting lost and seduced by the endless capability of shiny tech. There is a great feeling of freedom in not having to constantly choose between different synths and doing all these microdecisions all the time.

I think this is more what i mean , i have bought new stuff but once i really get used to a couple of things i dont need more stuff its all overkill, how many presets does omnisphere come with , how do you even find a fav preset in 1000 presets ? I know its not the same for everyone but im clearing out and not buying again unless its totally something i actually need or lack for my music , maybe one synth doesn't do all but 3 probably does , and id rather buy a pack of 50 quality presets than 1000 mediocre ones , i think some synths should just ship with 150 top quality presets quality over quantity, and i think it helps you to begin with limited choices and forces you to tweak and create more and learn your tools and get creative more quickly, than being said i know some people who are happy with an abundance of tool , so my opinion is not for everyone , but ive learned my lesson

[chk071]

Too much bloat demotivates me, too much limitation demotivates me. Guess i'm pretty boring.

[vurt]

[deastman]

Not sure about creative, but I was much more prolific as a teenager with only an Emax, DW-6000, HR16, and a Quadraverb, sequencing with Vision on my old Mac Plus. As the years wore on, I’ve accumulated a massive amount of gear, but my output has diminished. A lot of that can be attributed to the grownup demands of real life. But that’s the thing- with only limited time for creativity, and a massive amount of gear, I can never truly become a master of any of it. I come back in o my Eurorack modular after not using it for a year, and I’ve got so many modules that I spend half my time just hunting around for the one I want to use... I literally can’t remember the layout of all of them! I’ve always said that having too much gear isn’t a problem because you don’t actually have to use every piece of gear on every track. But perhaps it also has to do with the increasing complexity of each piece of gear. I’m never going to remember all the modes and secret combination button presses on my Morphagene, let alone my Octatrack, when they only get used once or twice a year.

[lotus2035]

I got 99 problems but a synth ain't one.

I got 99 synths but a multi-band compressor with side-chain capabilities ain't one.

[Forgotten]

It shouldn’t matter how much gear you’ve got as long as you don’t get caught in the trap of thinking that the instrument itself is your only source of inspiration.

[whyterabbyt]

You don't have to delete anything.
You can just decide not to use more than 1 or 2 synths for some projects.
Surely you will learn to know those synths better than before.

And maybe use other 1 or 2 synths in some later project.

if they are there though youll go through them

nope. exactly the same as I don't use the entire contents of my fridge and cupboards every time i make a meal.

[Tofu2019]

You don't have to delete anything.
You can just decide not to use more than 1 or 2 synths for some projects.
Surely you will learn to know those synths better than before.

And maybe use other 1 or 2 synths in some later project.

if they are there though youll go through them

nope. exactly the same as I don't use the entire contents of my fridge and cupboards every time i make a meal.

I do I buy food daily or ill eat it all maybe why i'm a bit fat hahah true though