2020 a year in gear (what have you/are you bought/buying?)

[WatchTheGuitar]

I know how it is, and I see that people very rarely have one hardware device only, so...

very true, but then how many people working in the box stop buying soft synths, or reverbs etc even when they have more than enough to record everything from Autobahn to Pet Sounds?

First hardware synth I bought was a Boog in February last year, funnily enough, and I’ve added Deepmind 12, Hydrasynth, TD-1 and Uno Drum in the nearly 2 years since which isn’t too outrageous considering Lockdown and all the boredom this year.

I think it helps to have a limited amount of space in whatever your studio is to house (and power) it. I’ve reached the point now where I only have one spare input on my (Arturia Audiofuse ADAT expanded with 8 inputs on a Behringer ADA8200) audio interface and I want to keep everything on discrete channels without using a mixer or getting tempted to spend loads on other interface solutions. Only have 2 hands so anything I buy from now on will probably be a desktop version or have to replace one of the existing synths. I think adding a third tier to my keyboard stand is a slippery slope.

[McLilith]

I’ve reached the point now where I only have one spare input on my (Arturia Audiofuse ADAT expanded with 8 inputs on a Behringer ADA8200) audio interface and I want to keep everything on discrete channels without using a mixer or getting tempted to spend loads on other interface solutions.

For your synths that have stereo outputs, do you actually use them in stereo, or do you use them in mono mode to maximize the number of synths you can have connected to your interface simultaneously?

[WatchTheGuitar]

I’ve reached the point now where I only have one spare input on my (Arturia Audiofuse ADAT expanded with 8 inputs on a Behringer ADA8200) audio interface and I want to keep everything on discrete channels without using a mixer or getting tempted to spend loads on other interface solutions.

For your synths that have stereo outputs, do you actually use them in stereo, or do you use them in mono mode to maximize the number of synths you can have connected to your interface simultaneously?

Keep them stereo as they both have great onboard stereo effects.

[Gridlocked]

yeah a few mins.
we had an old mini at the studio, that did take a noticeable time to be anything but wobbly. but ive never noticed any drifting with any of my own analogues, not even the bug which is getting on now.


but yup, could be that i don't care so don't notice. i don't even tune my guitar often

My MS20 drifted a whole tone across the keyboard - scaling completely off! That ones gone in for a service...My Prophet 5 Rev 3 needs at least 15 minutes to get to some form of stable tuning, though it's always worth hitting the tune button again before actually recording!

[chk071]

I know how it is, and I see that people very rarely have one hardware device only, so...

very true, but then how many people working in the box stop buying soft synths, or reverbs etc even when they have more than enough to record everything from Autobahn to Pet Sounds?

First hardware synth I bought was a Boog in February last year, funnily enough, and I’ve added Deepmind 12, Hydrasynth, TD-1 and Uno Drum in the nearly 2 years since which isn’t too outrageous considering Lockdown and all the boredom this year.

I think it helps to have a limited amount of space in whatever your studio is to house (and power) it. I’ve reached the point now where I only have one spare input on my (Arturia Audiofuse ADAT expanded with 8 inputs on a Behringer ADA8200) audio interface and I want to keep everything on discrete channels without using a mixer or getting tempted to spend loads on other interface solutions. Only have 2 hands so anything I buy from now on will probably be a desktop version or have to replace one of the existing synths. I think adding a third tier to my keyboard stand is a slippery slope.

I just took a look at my Thomann orders over the years (since late 2011), and, it's been ~ 1000 €, alone for the hardware to drive or control my software. May not appear outrageous to most here, but, if you add the software I bought over the years to that, it will surely rather be 2000 € (probably more, but, let's rather say it was a bit less). And, if I imagine I had bought hardware instruments and effects, I'm sure it'd rather be 4000 to 5000 €, if I had been economical, and 7000 to 8000 if I hadn't be. For a hobby I maybe practive every 2 to 4 weeks.

Surely everyone had to decide, and rationalize for himself. I'm rather happy that I didn't spend so much money. Because, one day, you might wake up, and realize that this isn't really your thing anymore, and then you sit on loads of expensive stuff which you may or may not be able to easily part from.

Just my opinion.

[WatchTheGuitar]

It’s very easy to buy software and instantly give in to GAS though at least with hardware the reality of your GAS splurges stares you in the face. I’ve spent loads more on software over the last couple of years and at least hardware is always sellable secondhand and doesn’t suddenly lose its value overnight because the creator sells it at 75+% off in sales.

[chk071]

True. Even though I had frequent urges to buy hardware, even though I'm not really a hardware guy.

[whyterabbyt]

Eventually, everything will be available from the settings, just a matter of time.

Well, considering how much is still left after 5 years, please, hold your breath....

[chk071]

Considering how much was still left in the control panel 3 or 4 years ago, I'd call that quite some progress.

I totally understand why it's so hard to migrate all that stuff. E.g., I have no idea how they want to migrate those 5 or 6 tab windows, for example for the sound input and output settings to the normal Windows 10 settings. Takes time, but, eventually, there'll be nothing left of the control panel.

[whyterabbyt]

Considering how much was still left in the control panel 3 or 4 years ago, I'd call that quite some progress.

Yeah, its probably as much as one line of code per employee per year.

[foosnark]

I'm going to assume that I won't buy any more gear in 2020

Overall, this year cost me $2580 for hardware (including trades, shipping costs etc.) and $820 for software (including the charity auction and a few license sales).

I'm annoyed I can't resell my Audio Damage Enso license because I never use it, but maybe I can get something back for Gullfoss since I'm using TEOTE 100% now.

In hardware, I added a Pod 60 and 0-Ctrl, DAFM Synth and Purple Rain, but I sold off my guitar pedals. I traded my Lyra-8 directly for a Medusa, and my Reface CS for a Microfreak. There were some pricey Euro modules (notably the E520 and CVilization) that replaced cheaper stuff I had.

But the spending was more than covered by not going to restaurants for the past 10+ months...

[chk071]

Considering how much was still left in the control panel 3 or 4 years ago, I'd call that quite some progress.

Yeah, its probably as much as one line of code per employee per year.

I could understand your objection if that would be the only feature they would work on.

[pekbro]

I'm going to assume that I won't buy any more gear in 2020

Overall, this year cost me $2580 for hardware (including trades, shipping costs etc.) and $820 for software (including the charity auction and a few license sales).

I'm annoyed I can't resell my Audio Damage Enso license because I never use it, but maybe I can get something back for Gullfoss since I'm using TEOTE 100% now.

In hardware, I added a Pod 60 and 0-Ctrl, DAFM Synth and Purple Rain, but I sold off my guitar pedals. I traded my Lyra-8 directly for a Medusa, and my Reface CS for a Microfreak. There were some pricey Euro modules (notably the E520 and CVilization) that replaced cheaper stuff I had.

But the spending was more than covered by not going to restaurants for the past 10+ months...

We got a free $500 restaurant card from the state for being unemployed that was pretty nice,
I still have about $150 left to spend on it. Your cost for the year was way better than mine,
and I still have probably 1 more $600-ish module that I have to buy before the end of the year
as it's limited and that will be the only chance to get it, and that's fine as I have to go back to
work in a little under 2 weeks now anyway.

[resynthesis]

Just picked up a TC Alter Ego and a Zoom UF-01 Fuzz. Been after the Zoom for ages and I can't wait to shoo Mrs Resynthesis and Resynthesis Jr out of the house tomorrow so I can give it a proper go.

BTW I can wholeheartedly recommend the Zoom 01 series pedals, they're all ace.

[Shabdahbriah]

Considering how much was still left in the control panel 3 or 4 years ago, I'd call that quite some progress.

Yeah, its probably as much as one line of code per employee per year.

Some former MS employee breached their NDA by revealing that this as the normal method of operation within MS.