Why I Think I am finally over years of G.A.S

[jocknaethick]

I own my plants, I own my skateboard, I own my Marley/Tosh/Skatalites albums...life is cheap and no f#cking subscription required!

[machinesworking]

Funny, because the topic is relevant to this site I didn't even notice how grammatically it's messed up, extra letters etc.

GAS is interesting to me because it's so different for software than hardware. It's impossible for me to worry much about spending less than $75 on something, that's what dinner for two costs around here if you don't buy booze with it. So I'm guilty of death by one thousand papercuts, I just checked my VST3 folder something like 380 plug ins, 412 in the Audio Unit folder.

When it comes to things like FX I don't really think there much of a limit, various chorus algorithms for instance affect the sound differently, so having a half dozen or more to choose from makes sense. The area I have regret about is software instruments, getting to know Falcon or F'em etc. better over buying the latest sale, Reaktor has little in the way of limits, but instant gratification is king right?

So yeah, not knowing Falcon or Reaktor in depth is a great reason not to jump on the latest VI, personally I like knowing a synth like Zebra 2 completely. I try to keep that in mind when jumping on the latest. Caveat is a well designed simple synth like BA-1.

[Milkman]

I have collectivitis, yes, but its related to my passion and is inseparable from it.

I began my hobby as a person who..... tried many products before buying them, so I have wide exposure to many types of audio production softwares among others. I RELISH in browsing through new content of all kinds, and its something my ADHD/spectrum brain reacts very, very well to. I will spend entire 8-10 hours days perusing new content, tweaking each, trying a quick jam with each, and moving to the next. It feeds and satisfies my brain in ways very little else can do, and I've tried a lot.

This being said, I am now around the big 50 as well and many things in my life have changed, namely COVID related trauma and the adjustments to every part of our lives that resulted. Ive refocused on what is important, and I now I shop for music gear and software with purpose.

Im married to a wonderful person who is immune compromised and also a medical professional, so our lives have been living hell, suddenly, starting 4 years ago, and many, many people around us have chosen basic conveniences over trying to keep people like my wife, her mother, her grandparents, my grandparents, etc, alive. COVID killed her dad... when he came to visit us 3 years ago. Took him within 5 days.

This has had a catastrophic effect on us, and on our small children. Before COVID we were already fairly fierce leftists ideologically, but today? lol I wont take the thread in too much a political direction, but it should suffice to say we are very intolerant, militant, and angry about what the western oligarchies have done. I dont let my mind wander as much anymore, I dont consume as much content (that I realistically might not ever get a chance to use), and I seek only what can bring more happiness inside my home, what will benefit our savings most, and what I might... hand down to the kids, should I wind up kicking the bucket sooner than I have planned.

Im buying a bit of hardware now, and Im really thinking about what I need vs what I want or what lights up the GASsy parts of my brain lol. I am very focused on MPE hardware and software, and I hope I am able to use these things to make my 100% distanced family smile here and there. That's my hope.

[FranklyFlawless]

Im buying a bit of hardware now, and Im really thinking about what I need vs what I want or what lights up the GASsy parts of my brain lol. I am very focused on MPE hardware and software, and I hope I am able to use these things to make my 100% distanced family smile here and there. That's my hope.

Well if you ever need to know what kind of MPE hardware is out there, I maintain lists for synthesizers, controllers, and more in my signature. Unfortunately, the Arturia MicroFreak is not MPE-compatible, either as a synthesizer or controller.

The pandemic has changed me to become more rational and grateful for the moment. Every intent, thought, word, and decision has more weight now.

[Bombadil]

I think I've bought my last guitar. I've driven myself and my Missus nuts with my guitar obsession. I'm too old for this shit, really.
I think I have 15 guitars. Could be 16. I know I wanted it down to 13, but that is unlikely.
Spent 150€ on Valhalla plugins. Money isn't the top issue for me when buying software. It's the SSD space it takes up.
I want EW Opus, but I would need a larger external SSD as well as re-installing samples etc from my other plugins. My VSL SEs are over 100 gb.
Too much hassle. Time to actually make music with all of the great toys I have.

[Milkman]

Im buying a bit of hardware now, and Im really thinking about what I need vs what I want or what lights up the GASsy parts of my brain lol. I am very focused on MPE hardware and software, and I hope I am able to use these things to make my 100% distanced family smile here and there. That's my hope.

Well if you ever need to know what kind of MPE hardware is out there, I maintain lists for synthesizers, controllers, and more in my signature. Unfortunately, the Arturia MicroFreak is not MPE-compatible, either as a synthesizer or controller.

The pandemic has changed me to become more rational and grateful for the moment. Every intent, thought, word, and decision has more weight now.

And you know, if I had read your reply before the microfreak showed up, I would have been informed.

Instead, I didnt read this reply until just now, and spent the last 2 days trying to figure out why some MPE VST synths dont hear the "poly AT" coming from the freak. It isnt MPE, its "poly AT", and this breaks many MPE presets. Ive got a support email with the Plasmonic creator right now, and he may try to patch Plasmonic later this year so it plays more nicely with the microfreak and other controllers that do this.

I will definitely check out your list of MPE stuff!!! I am very much excited by and interested in MPE and even just poly AT devices. Its too bad the "Poly"Brute isnt poly AT!!!! WTF!? I might have been willing to be up-sold to the PolyBrute if it was poly AT/MPE, but nope.

"Every intent, thought, word, and decision has more weight now."
This^^^

[FranklyFlawless]

I will definitely check out your list of MPE stuff!!! I am very much excited by and interested in MPE and even just poly AT devices. Its too bad the "Poly"Brute isnt poly AT!!!! WTF!? I might have been willing to be up-sold to the PolyBrute if it was poly AT/MPE, but nope.

You will find the lists to be comprehensive. I use the LinnStrument myself, but recently sold all of my MPE hardware synthesizers in order to prepare for a different one. I am all in on MPE hardware.

I highly suggest returning the Arturia MicroFreak for a refund. As you are aware now, polyphonic aftertouch and MPE are not the same. While there is common ground between them, there is a dramatic difference in terms of expression control. Each hardware implements MPE differently, so take note as to how expression is configured/performed on them to understand what works best for your needs. If you need advice or suggestions for MPE hardware against a criteria, I would by happy to provide them.

[Milkman]

I will definitely check out your list of MPE stuff!!! I am very much excited by and interested in MPE and even just poly AT devices. Its too bad the "Poly"Brute isnt poly AT!!!! WTF!? I might have been willing to be up-sold to the PolyBrute if it was poly AT/MPE, but nope.

You will find the lists to be comprehensive. I use the LinnStrument myself, but recently sold all of my MPE hardware synthesizers in order to prepare for a different one. I am all in on MPE hardware.

I highly suggest returning the Arturia MicroFreak for a refund. As you are aware now, polyphonic aftertouch and MPE are not the same. While there is common ground between them, there is a dramatic difference in terms of expression control. Each hardware implements MPE differently, so take note as to how expression is configured/performed on them to understand what works best for your needs. If you need advice or suggestions for MPE hardware against a criteria, I would by happy to provide them.

Your well-researched list is impressive. Ive followed probably 20 links to these various products by now, and have added that thread to my bookmarks. Thank you for taking the time to do this!

I am actually very much like you in that regard. I am considering selling my microkorg XL+ to make room in my studio for new MPE and/or poly AT synths, synth modules, or control surfaces, and I plan to slowly replace anything not MPE/poly with something that is. The NI maschine MK3 is frustrating in that regard, having actual poly AT but only allowing that poly AT to be available when inside "note repeat". (the entire feature is dedicated to making machine-gun trap hihats lmao!)

A shame the Sensel Morph died! I just realized that after viewing your list. I had my eyes on that a couple years ago and was going to grab one after recovering from the costs of my other gear. It seemed possibly gimmicky, but people said it was a good surface.

I am transfixed by the Linnstrument, and I have enjoyed watching many of Roger Linn's videos over the years! He is great engineer and a wonderful person. I may grab the Linnstrument at some point but have not yet because it feels like it might intimidate me at first.

EDIT: oh, forgot to add- I wont be returning the microfreak. Not by a mile. Its features are fabulous, it is a good sound design device, it has novel feature sets such as a multitrack modulation sequencer, and I genuinely enjoy the device. Plasmonic will be patched later this year, and that should make it 100% compatible with the microfreak. Until then I use my novation 61SLmkiii for anything that Microfreak doesnt like.

[FranklyFlawless]

I am actually very much like you in that regard. I am considering selling my microkorg XL+ to make room in my studio for new MPE and/or poly AT synths, synth modules, or control surfaces, and I plan to slowly replace anything not MPE/poly with something that is. The NI maschine MK3 is frustrating in that regard, having actual poly AT but only allowing that poly AT to be available when inside "note repeat". (the entire feature is dedicated to making machine-gun trap hihats lmao!)

Reclaiming space has been one of my highest priorities, since it allows me to carefully consider my options for the future. Everything I own now, I use frequently. Everything else has already been given away or sold. Less is more.

A shame the Sensel Morph died! I just realized that after viewing your list. I had my eyes on that a couple years ago and was going to grab one after recovering from the costs of my other gear. It seemed possibly gimmicky, but people said it was a good surface.

For the price then, it was a good value. It is unfortunate that the firmware for it remains closed-source.

I am transfixed by the Linnstrument, and I have enjoyed watching many of Roger Linn's videos over the years! He is great engineer and a wonderful person. I may grab the Linnstrument at some point but have not yet because it feels like it might intimidate me at first.

It makes more sense if you come from a guitar background. I came from a piano/keyboard background, so it was definitely more difficult to transition to. I changed to the tritone layout shortly after I acquired it, which solidified a framework for my future performances.

I suggest contacting Roger Linn, either with the provided information, or on the forum. You may be able to ask to test it yourself at his residence, as it is within the Bay Area.

[jocknaethick]

Funny, because the topic is relevant to this site I didn't even notice how grammatically it's messed up, extra letters etc.

Funnily enough, it completely escaped me too.

[machinesworking]

^^^^ Lol!
On topic, I'm trying to aim my GAS at actual holes if there are any. The biggest one is a CV ribbon controller. I bought a Metsonix Wretch Machine, and by far the most fun way to play it is with the joystick, better pitch control in this unstable device than MIDI, so I've often thought about a CV ribbon for it, working on that.

[Milkman]

I am actually very much like you in that regard. I am considering selling my microkorg XL+ to make room in my studio for new MPE and/or poly AT synths, synth modules, or control surfaces, and I plan to slowly replace anything not MPE/poly with something that is. The NI maschine MK3 is frustrating in that regard, having actual poly AT but only allowing that poly AT to be available when inside "note repeat". (the entire feature is dedicated to making machine-gun trap hihats lmao!)

Reclaiming space has been one of my highest priorities, since it allows me to carefully consider my options for the future. Everything I own now, I use frequently. Everything else has already been given away or sold. Less is more.

A shame the Sensel Morph died! I just realized that after viewing your list. I had my eyes on that a couple years ago and was going to grab one after recovering from the costs of my other gear. It seemed possibly gimmicky, but people said it was a good surface.

For the price then, it was a good value. It is unfortunate that the firmware for it remains closed-source.

I am transfixed by the Linnstrument, and I have enjoyed watching many of Roger Linn's videos over the years! He is great engineer and a wonderful person. I may grab the Linnstrument at some point but have not yet because it feels like it might intimidate me at first.

It makes more sense if you come from a guitar background. I came from a piano/keyboard background, so it was definitely more difficult to transition to. I changed to the tritone layout shortly after I acquired it, which solidified a framework for my future performances.

I suggest contacting Roger Linn, either with the provided information, or on the forum. You may be able to ask to test it yourself at his residence, as it is within the Bay Area.

Thanks for the info! I am an old flute player from the 1980s who never learned guitar or piano, but over the last 10 years I have been slooooooowly, painfully teaching myself the keys. I have finally subscribed to an online piano teacher, but mostly for the benefit of my children. I sit in on all the lessons. My wife is the guitar player.

I have to decide how much to bite off, as they say. As mentioned earlier, COVID has left us in a bad way and we mask/distance 100%. I havent had as much as a simple cold in close to 4 years, and I do this to keep my wife alive around all.... this. Travel is difficult... lately. : /

[FranklyFlawless]

Thanks for the info! I am an old flute player from the 1980s who never learned guitar or piano, but over the last 10 years I have been slooooooowly, painfully teaching myself the keys. I have finally subscribed to an online piano teacher, but mostly for the benefit of my children. I sit in on all the lessons. My wife is the guitar player.

I have to decide how much to bite off, as they say. As mentioned earlier, COVID has left us in a bad way and we mask/distance 100%. I havent had as much as a simple cold in close to 4 years, and I do this to keep my wife alive around all.... this. Travel is difficult... lately. : /

You do not have to subscribe to the piano layout if you do not want to. I had to give it up after over 15 years because it has inherent limitations that affected my expression, among many other reasons. It is up to you whether or not you want to continue learning it under discomfort.

Roger is willing to schedule video calls for demonstration purposes and to field all questions you may have about the LinnStrument. He has been helping me with my DIY hardware modification projects over Jitsi Meet, and has been very accomodating to my needs. I exclusively use gratis and libre open-source software.

[foosnark]

When I see announcements for certain types of new things, I do get excited. And then usually I cool down and realize I have that zone covered already. The teasers for new Make Noise stuff for instance... sounds great to me and they make intriguing stuff, but so far I feel like can make those sounds with my current gear. Curiosity and excitement do not usually make it all the way to the Add To Cart button.

This example didn't age well. Once they revealed what Spectraphon was it got a lot more exciting. Not "must-have" even though it's unique, but I'm very curious to explore it and I believe I'll be happy with it replacing some of my current gear.

[Milkman]

Thanks for the info! I am an old flute player from the 1980s who never learned guitar or piano, but over the last 10 years I have been slooooooowly, painfully teaching myself the keys. I have finally subscribed to an online piano teacher, but mostly for the benefit of my children. I sit in on all the lessons. My wife is the guitar player.

I have to decide how much to bite off, as they say. As mentioned earlier, COVID has left us in a bad way and we mask/distance 100%. I havent had as much as a simple cold in close to 4 years, and I do this to keep my wife alive around all.... this. Travel is difficult... lately. : /

You do not have to subscribe to the piano layout if you do not want to. I had to give it up after over 15 years because it has inherent limitations that affected my expression, among many other reasons. It is up to you whether or not you want to continue learning it under discomfort.

Roger is willing to schedule video calls for demonstration purposes and to field all questions you may have about the LinnStrument. He has been helping me with my DIY hardware modification projects over Jitsi Meet, and has been very accomodating to my needs. I exclusively use gratis and libre open-source software.

Well. Back to what you said a few comments back, to do with returning... the Microfreak.

I have run into an issue, and this issue may be a show stopper for me using the mF. The mF has, and the issue is well known among the customers who have posted on the Arturia forums going back... years.., a problem with its arpeggiator when used inside any DAW.

In standalone mode, the mF works perfectly and I love the thing. Inside a DAW, using the mF's midi sync, the arpeggiator does not work. Patterns/sequencer works, but arp does not. It plays a single not, then stops. If you tap on the keyboard at a rate higher than the current arp, you hear the arp at regular speed. If you hold them down, you hear nothing. According to other users on the arturia forums, this is because the mF SENDS midi sync out of the same port it should be RECEIVING it, and this cannot be disabled for some... reason.

I have a ticket in with arturia now, and if the new firmware (coming in about 10 days, the 5.0 firmware) does not solve this, I will for sure return it.

I actually spent a LOT of time getting familiar with the Vector Synth. https://www.vectorsynth.com/
Now I dont have a proper MPE or poly AT controller *if* the mF doesnt work out, but the sounds and features of the Vector are to DIE for, coming from my perspective. If I send mF back, then I must buy a good poly AT/MPE controller + Vector synth.