2024: A Year in Gear (What You've Bought or Want to Buy in 2024)

[justin3am]

Well it happened...


I managed to avoid scalper prices, so I'm glad I was patient. It's been a long time since I had the Tyme Sefari and a QMMG in the same case. They make some terrifying feedback together!
The TS had been in the Serge/Euro system I use for live performance, so I have to figure out if I'm going to put my old Demora delay in it's place or find a different delay for that system.

[elxsound]

Well it happened...


I managed to avoid scalper prices, so I'm glad I was patient. It's been a long time since I had the Tyme Sefari and a QMMG in the same case. They make some terrifying feedback together!
The TS had been in the Serge/Euro system I use for live performance, so I have to figure out if I'm going to put my old Demora delay in it's place or find a different delay for that system.

Nice one!

And you still have your other one too?

[justin3am]

Yep, the v1 QMMG will stay with the other aluminum panel Make Noise modules.
The 2024 QMMG does sound a bit different from my older one. I haven't done a direct comparison, so it may just be gain staging or whatever. It sounds sweet though and the channels are bit more closely matched on the new one, I think. I appreciate the click-less mode switching too.

[McLilith]

I just added this vintage, translucent blue Zoom RT-323 drum machine to my collection. With less than 30 minutes remaining in the year, I think I can safely say it will be my last musical hardware acquisition of 2024!
.

Zoom RT-323.jpg

[werp]

A boxing day sale went off early where I am...I found it about 4pm on christmas day.
I stumbled across an Hydrasynth Deluxe (73 keys, double hydra engine etc) at the no-brainer price of $1499 AUD...

Wow, £750 is less than I paid for my first HydraSynth, the 49 key model.
Nice score.

Thanks!
A huge surprise seeing the ad before all five units disappeared!
Delighted to say that I've been given a tracking number and it's on the way!
Now the tricky part. I have to make room for it...

[WatchTheGuitar]

Yeah I’ve got one and it’s a bulky beggar. Must admit I don’t play it as often as I’d like as its stand has to be quite a distance from my DAW set up which makes it a faff.
Come summer I hope to do a reshuffle but can’t afford it yet.

[dumbledog]

Going the DIY route this year, mostly as fun things to put together for a while. I've had a few Erica Synths DIY modules sitting in boxes waiting after I screwed up their VCF last year and ragequit, but I've topped off their line along with the Labor breadboard, with a couple duplicates for hi hats etc. Also ordered a few of those little Mystic Circuits 0HP gadgets for practice, and as utilities for the 2600. Fun times.

I went big.


About half of these are the old modules I never built. This should keep me busy for the year!

[dumbledog]

I just added this vintage, translucent blue Zoom RT-323 drum machine to my collection. With less than 30 minutes remaining in the year, I think I can safely say it will be my last musical hardware acquisition of 2024!
.
Zoom RT-323.jpg

Also... damn do I love this. That blue just screams "a year or two after the first iMac came out in 1998."

[MrJubbly]

Happy 2025!

Is this "2024-specific" topic now finished?

[McLilith]

I just added this vintage, translucent blue Zoom RT-323 drum machine to my collection. With less than 30 minutes remaining in the year, I think I can safely say it will be my last musical hardware acquisition of 2024!
.
Zoom RT-323.jpg

Also... damn do I love this. That blue just screams "a year or two after the first iMac came out in 1998."

I've seen a few similar iMac comments online, but there were clear synthesizers several years before the iMac computers. Sequential made a one-off clear Pro-One for display at NAMM, and it was featured in magazine ads and posters. Later, in 1983, the Gleeman brothers made the Gleeman Pentaphonic Clear polysynth. Unlike the Sequential, it was fully functional. Only 20 of the clear versions were ever built, and they're quite rare

I used to work as a synth repair tech for a local music store. They were dealers for both Sequential and Gleeman synths. I remember seeing the clear Pro-One in magazine ads and posters during that period. Our store also had at least one of the new Gleeman Pentaphonic Clears in stock. I thought it looked amazing, but I couldn't afford one. That must have left a mark on me though, because I've wanted some clear synth gear ever since.

The Zoom RT-323 is the first piece of transparent / translucent gear in my collection. With any luck, it won't be the last.

Hmm... I wonder if the iMac computer's styling was inspired by the transparent synths that preceded it?

[McLilith]

Happy 2025!

Is this "2024-specific" topic now finished?

It's still open to anyone who wants to discuss gear they bought in 2024, but I expect activity on this thread will fade away soon.

For any discussions about 2025 gear, please use the new 2025 thread.

[ghettosynth]

Going the DIY route this year, mostly as fun things to put together for a while. I've had a few Erica Synths DIY modules sitting in boxes waiting after I screwed up their VCF last year and ragequit, but I've topped off their line along with the Labor breadboard, with a couple duplicates for hi hats etc. Also ordered a few of those little Mystic Circuits 0HP gadgets for practice, and as utilities for the 2600. Fun times.

I went big.


About half of these are the old modules I never built. This should keep me busy for the year!

I like that labor breadboard, I want one!

[Shabdahbriah]

Going the DIY route this year, mostly as fun things to put together for a while. I've had a few Erica Synths DIY modules sitting in boxes waiting after I screwed up their VCF last year and ragequit, but I've topped off their line along with the Labor breadboard, with a couple duplicates for hi hats etc. Also ordered a few of those little Mystic Circuits 0HP gadgets for practice, and as utilities for the 2600. Fun times.

I went big


About half of these are the old modules I never built. This should keep me busy for the year!

That breadboard thingy looks really cool/interesting. As does the microscope. How has the latter worked out? I've been considering getting one. Any issues/disappointments?

[dumbledog]

I've seen a few similar iMac comments online, but there were clear synthesizers several years before the iMac computers.

Oh no doubt, and I remember having a translucent purple Game Boy Color around '97. But specifically that Bondi Blue evokes the first Rev A iMac from 1998. There seemed to be a couple years where that blue was very trendy in consumer electronics. I'm having trouble finding contemporary reviews but the 323's manual shows it has a SmartMedia card slot which really puts it into the 1999-2003-ish timeframe which tracks.

(I had a Rev A iMac pimped to hell in the day so the nostalgia just hits)

That breadboard thingy looks really cool/interesting. As does the microscope. How has the latter worked out? I've been considering getting one. Any issues/disappointments?

The scope is pretty dang good for magnification and checking that I haven't made any solder bridges or other mistakes. It's hard to actually use it while soldering because you lose depth perception but the integrated LED lights are still useful. The main focus knob's throw is fairly narrow so I have to adjust using by the secondary tighten/untighten knobs more than I'd like. All in all I'm real glad I have it.

[Shabdahbriah]

^^^ cool. TY