2025: A Year in Gear (What You've Bought or Want to Buy in 2025)

[McLilith]

A new Year of Gear is coming soon. So, it's time for new thread.

Even though it's not 2025 yet, we can still start this thread by discussing what we hope to get in 2025.

One of my top priorities is saving money for a spiffy new custom computer system for music use, hopefully by spring of 2025. I'm still running an old notebook computer that has a 3rd gen. i5 processor! Do you think I'll notice much improvement, if I build a Ryzen 9950X desktop system to replace it?

I don't plan to do everything "in the box" though. I'll still be perusing the used synth gear, looking for some affordable classic gems and curiosity pieces. (I'd still like to get a transparent Red Microbrute, for example.)

What do you hope to acquire in 2025?

[kritikon]

A Behringer Jupiter would be nice, but not sure they'll have it ready for 2025.

Something from PWM, not sure which one, maybe even something new from them?

I have a plan to build a new studio out in the garden, not sure if I'll get around to it in 2025 but hopefully. Don't need planning permission/consent etc as long as it's under 30sq.m, so I'm thinking 6m x 4m or so built from scratch. My current room downstairs is just not that good, too narrow, gets mouldy in winter, irritates the missus cos it's directly below the lounge and I can't crank the volume up, so a brand new building sleepout kinda thing away from the main house (we have a big section - 5 acres), properly insulated etc. Plan to do it all myself, and will probably do it better than the bog standard building code most builders here follow. Looking forward to it though it'll take me a while all on my own. I figure plans should be go big or go home.

[McLilith]

If I could afford it, I'd build a home studio 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high. Then, I'd stock it with two of every synth and effects unit ever made!

[cryophonik]

I made far more changes to my studio in 2024 than I had anticipated, and have no concrete plans for 2025 at this point. The Dreadbox Artemis looks very intriguing, so I’ll keep an eye out for a secondhand one, or maybe buy a new one when it’s released into the wild. A few of my current synths are feeling a little redundant, so there may be some downsizing or swapping out in my future, but nothing really stands out as replacements right now, so I’m in no hurry. Other than that, we’ll see how Superbooth goes, or what opportunistic deals pop up.

This actually may be the year that I upgrade all of our Nikon lenses and camera bodies to mirrorless instead of making any major changes to my music studio, but we have a LOT invested in high end Nikon and Zeiss glass, so that’s gonna hurt. I need cheaper hobbies, but I digress…

[justin3am]

When I was at Perfect Circuit yesterday, I played with a Polyend Synth and found that to be a lot of fun. I think I might grab one of those next year, it seems like it will be a great performance instrument.

I'm also gonna get a Mekari pedal from Walrus Audio. What I really want is a full featured stereo BBD delay in rack mount format but this will do for now. Better than trying to use my two Memory Men for stereo!

[elxsound]

Chase Bliss Audio Mystery Box to come sometime in January.

I can be tempted whatever Make Noise is up to in 2025, and they’re definitely up to something.

New audio interface. I’m looking at the 4th gen Focusrite 18i20 to replace my 3rd gen.

Otherwise, hopefully nothing else!

[ghettosynth]

Nothing. 2025, 2026, 2027, and 2028 will be four years of living like a monk. No consumption during the Trump years, well, I do need to buy like eight bags of rice this weekend, maybe some salt.

Ok, well, this probably won't go to plan.

[vurt]

I can be tempted whatever Make Noise is up to in 2025, and they’re definitely up to something.

will need a new case first, but will more than likely also be tempted by make noise offerings in 2025.

other than these, im a blank slate, waiting to be filled with desires!

although, now ive moved, space is not something i have a great deal of
having gone from a room in the old house, for music alone, that was bigger than the room i now have music and pretty much everything i own (my cd cabinets are downstairs still)
im happy with things this way, just means have to think a bit when i see a thing, not just order it and work it out when it arrives

[foosnark]

I want to make 2025 a serious "buy less stuff" year, but I have now said that several years in a row. It's starting to feel more serious though.

No more desktop synths. I have the WitchBrute pair, Elmyra 2, Sn, Thingamagoop 3000 and Wingie 2, that's plenty.

I do plan to get Whimsical Raps Silhouette (release Dec 30 2024, so if I'm lucky enough to grab one from the first production run it'll technically be a 2024 purchase even if I don't see it until 2025). (Successfully bought the minute it was released.) That will replace Bunker Archeology and/or Planar, which may leave room for whatever the Next Shiny Thing is.

I think I'm going to resist the temptation to grab a second Noise Engineering Alia just so I can have my dedicated Toros while still switching between Cursus and Manis. I'll just embrace the Ataraxic/Toros team.

[FranklyFlawless]

What do you hope to acquire in 2025?

Stage:

1. K&M 18806 Trolley for the K&M 18860 Spider Pro
2. Erica Synths Steampipe for the LinnStrument 200
3. L1 Pro32 Portable Line Array System with Sub2 Powered Bass Module (I already have one pair, so I need one more pair for stereo)
4. Mogami Overdrive Guitar R Cable - 12 Feet for the Steampipe (I already have one, so I need one more for stereo)

The first two are realistic acquisitions, but the last two require financial compromises from other competing interests in order to satisfy the entire list.

[whyterabbyt]

I have a Scrooge kit and Daisy Pod incoming, but its FedEx so no idea when they'll arrive.

Sounds like the Stylophone Drone Synth may be released early-mid January, so that would probably be the first purchase of 2025.

Stuff I still want so may eventually get includes Befaco Oneiroi, Vostok Atlas and MT Workshop System.

Also newly intrigued by the Black Noise Cosmos.

[vitocorleone123]

In 2024 I spent thousands of dollars on hardware and some on software to overhaul my studio gear.

2025 has only 3 new items on my list: Digitone 2 (sell my current v1), Exquis controller or similar inexpensive MPE, and a Cioks Solar (5 port guitar pedal distribution block).

[Constructed Identity]

Yea, I don't think I'll get much in 2025 other than filling the 60hp open on my case. At this stage the plan is:

Pretty sure I want a Qu-bit Stardust and an output module, the rest is open for debate.

[jwalkermed]

I'm running short on space at the moment. I'd have to get another jaspers stand and another rack converter to keep expanding. I don't really need anything at the moment. But things on my GAS short list are the multi/poly, ob-6 and trigon-6. Also I've though about moving to DANTE but that cost a good bit.

[WatchTheGuitar]

I need to move a few things on before I contemplate buying more gear.
I’m not rich but also I don’t have the house room.
Major reorg of the “studio” that is actually my lounge so I don’t need to keep moving equipment about. Especially because my back has been flaring up badly over the last few weeks.