Use What You Have

[CrystalWizard]

This would probably fit well in one of the Buy, Buy, Buy, What did you buy?, What will you buy? threads but i think it can have it's own:

"You could spend your life uh shopping and reading manuals. What's
real important is commitment. It doesn't matter what you choose to work with as long as
you make a commitment to it. And, from commitment, you get excitement.
-Daniel Lanois

imo he is a fantastic producer (in the older sense of the term) and musician.
I found this quote on YT in this video which i didn't much like but was worth watching to hear a genius like Lanois speaking:

at 52:19

[Winstontaneous]

This would probably fit well in one of the Buy, Buy, Buy, What did you buy?, What will you buy? threads but i think it can have it's own:

"You could spend your life uh shopping and reading manuals. What's
real important is commitment. It doesn't matter what you choose to work with as long as
you make a commitment to it. And, from commitment, you get excitement.
-Daniel Lanois

imo he is a fantastic producer (in the older sense of the term) and musician.
I found this quote on YT in this video which i didn't much like but was worth watching to hear a genius like Lanois speaking:

at 52:19

Sir, what do you know about music or art or audio-research-ology?
Haha j/k, great points all around!

[Michael L]

"In days where you have so many products on the market [...] instead of having this mad quest about being scared of missing something, try to just...breathe...take a break, and think about what instruments - a plugin, a module, a polyphonic synth... whatever - where you feel a kind of empathy with [...] and then when you choose that, just stay focused for six months or one year only on this. Don't take anything else. Just on one element and try to express yourself because what's going to be unique is yourself.

"It's not the machine. It's not the instrument. It's what you are going to do with it which has the value, and nothing else. And then instead of being fully into the trap of being an archivist of presets, where you don't know who you are, you lose your identity. The best way to create something interesting is express your identity - to develop it - and the only way to do it is to focus on one instrument, whatever it is. [...] Even if you're wrong in your choice, the fact that you choose is more important than anything else."

Jean-Michel Jarre

[threerecurring]

Looking back on a life spent

"shopping and reading manuals"

A chilling thought.

[threerecurring]

So much good stuff here from Jean-Michel J.

"It's not the machine. It's not the instrument. It's what you are going to do with it"
"The best way to create something interesting is express your identity - to develop it"
"the fact that you choose is more important than anything else"

[foosnark]

Moderation in all things, including moderation.

I have no regrets about my gear-trading habits. I don't have an issue with GAS -- I'm within my budget, and I'm certainly not distracted from making music or suffering from choice paralysis.

I don't have an excessively large modular system -- it's enough to feel like a fun playground/laboratory/ensemble without being overwhelming. Nor do I have a lot of extra other hardware. But I've traded a *lot* over the past several years -- this does add up in terms of losses in trading and shipping, and is only somewhat offset by a few beta test modules and meager music sales. But it also means I got to explore a lot of things and learn a lot along the way, and to optimize my setup for my own needs. Right now what I have is a lot of favorite gear which I don't want to part with, which leads to a natural slowing in trading. Of course my mind and musical tastes can change over time, which is fine, but things have definitely been settling.

On the software side... I admit I do have too many softsynths to practically use. But I'm just not the type to be satisfied with two or three flagship synths; I like variety and exploration. I do have some favorites I keep coming back to and have deeply explored. It's just that, I also have several other excellent synths I like a lot that haven't had much opportunity to shine yet.

I have a lot of effects as well, especially in certain categories. I'm not sure it's *too many* but it's definitely *enough*.

It might sound contradictory with other things I talk about, but I am 100% on board with the idea that it's the musician, not the gear. Artists need tools, and they should be good tools, and the tools certainly do influence and inspire the musician. But developing one's own style and skills is really the most important thing.

...

For 2026 one of my resolutions is "No New Gear Year." This is actually the name of a Discord group for modular folks and I'll probably join it. It's not an absolute pledge to buy nothing, but to resist impulse buys and "get to know better the gear we already have." My specific thoughts:

- Don't buy anything just because it's really cool (I already have a lot of really cool), cheap, on sale temporarily, or because some other musician did something wonderful with it.

Eurorack:
- I have one module pre-ordered and another that I've planned to purchase as soon as it's available. I also have two modules currently for sale. This is fine.
- Other than that I will allow myself to sell ONE SPECIFIC module, if after careful consideration, I feel I really should make room for some amazing must-have thing. But no other sales, trades, or purchases in 2026.
- I won't say no to beta testing.

Other hardware:
- Nope. No buying, selling, trading; no pedals, desktop synths, controllers, effects, basses, hand drums, toys etc.

Software:
- Big resistance to software synths. Like, not even Zebra 3 or whatever new thing Dawesome is going to do in 2026. Doesn't matter how incredible they are, I already have several incredible things. The goal is 0 or 1 softsynths in 2026.
- Resistance to software effects. I'm super well equipped in pretty much every category. My goal is 3 or fewer new effects, preferably fewer.
- (Premium VCV Rack modules aren't a thing I buy much of anyway, so I'll just keep doing what I'm doing.)

[CrystalWizard]

...
"You could spend your life uh shopping and reading manuals.* What's
real important is commitment. It doesn't matter what you choose to work with as long as
you make a commitment to it. And, from commitment, you get excitement.
-Daniel Lanois...

Sir, what do you know about music or art or audio-research-ology?
Haha j/k, great points all around!

Not me, Daniel Lanois (and JMJ), most people here know Jarre, but, i'm guessing not so many know Lanois(?)

* edit: i think reading manuals is a good thing. Lanois is probably being hopeful that while shopping people are reading manuals.

[funky lime]

"You could spend your life uh shopping and reading manuals. What's
real important is commitment. It doesn't matter what you choose to work with as long as
you make a commitment to it. And, from commitment, you get excitement.
-Daniel Lanois

You left out the conditional he says immediately after that: "... if you're a talented person with good taste..."

And while it sounds flippant for me to point that out, I think it's relevant. Look at pretty much any billionaire and it becomes abundantly clear that no amount of money can buy good taste.

So I think there's more to the picture than simply "use what you have" (i.e. "stop buying stuff"). Arguably a more important idea is "expand your horizons," i.e. "stay curious" or metaphorically, "eat better (because we are what we eat)."

Then, if you must buy stuff, you can at least do so with a clearer purpose, rather than this hopeless notion of "maybe this is the thing that will finally improve my music." I never would have found my true passion for keys if I had just stuck to guitar simply because "it's what i had."

[Zeisner]

Of course you should always use everything you own to its limits before buying something new. But the best musician can't do anything without proper tools, the best tools won't produce anything if not used by a (skilled) musician. In other words: a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Everything matters because everything is part of the process.

[nitrateaudio]

I stopped buying VIs and I also started purging stuff I haven't used in years. I find it makes for a cleaner DAW.