How can a private person afford these softs?

[No name]

If I am correct in assuming this, then i'd say it is more likely that people put back a little money every paycheck. That's what I do right now, like at the moment I am saving up for something like RMIV and later on I actually plan to get my hands on a MPC, and you think software is expensive? Talk to the lucky few around here who have a minimoog voyager. That thing alone costs more than all the things you listed combined. Then you gotta have the pre-amps,mics,control surfaces/midi keyboard(s). I'll share my list.


Things I plan to buy over the next FEW years.

Haven't made up my mind as to what midi board yet, but I did see a new one from M audio that I liked VERY much ,so let us add about 600 dollars.

Next comes a new computer which (fortunately) I will be getting as a present. lucky me!

Roland Juno..$600

I'm thinking of getting an audiophile from M audio which will run me somewhere around $500 I think.

Shure dynamic mic for $200(?) I think you can get them cheaper though.

A condenser mic which my range will be about 200-300 for that. (i'm so sick of hissing and humming that i've decided to dish out some major bucks for nice equipment.

I might be switching over to a pro tools enviroment. I know M audio and PT are close like that, and plus I liked PT from what I seen in the free version.

Still gotta loo kat compressers, but I really need one because everyone I work with seem to be deaf, they yell at like 1 inch from the mic.

Software...
Sampletank XL or 2XL (depends on if I decide to get it before or after my new PC)

Lin plug's RMIV

Plugsound 2 (?) fretted instruments.

Ahh, too many things to mention, but yea, there you have it!

Edit: oops, forgot two things.

I like old bizarre (grimey sounding) equipment. So something I had planned to get my hands on where the....ENSONIQ MIRAGE! Cheap too. I'll pay about 120 tops I think.

Also, I can't remember the model right now because I just got off work and it is like 4 in the morning. A lexicon multiFX unit, these aren't the incredibly expensive ones. I have plenty of other things I wish to get too. The CHEAPER MPC that is out now and the Triton (61 keys and used of course) are on my list.

Also, note that if I can get any thing used and cheap, I surely will. All of this I am already saving up for now. I currently have about 500 ready a month into saving, so i'm in good timing. That is how it is done

[nuisance sonore]

DyerMaker, you said it all in your first post, those are your "wish" or "want", which need to be separated from your "need". I made the complete sountrack for a commercial video, to be released as soon as I get the proper "signoff", with an $80.00 sequencer, a $50.00 synth, about $100.00 worth of effects and a bunch of freeware. More expensive was the harware to run this on (PC, keyboard controler, monitoring etc.). While the musicianship probably leave to be desired, the sound quality itself is very close to what you would have gotten in a $250 000.00 studio 25 years ago and that, in itself, is amazing. We live in an amazing era.

As somebody pointed out, synth and sequencer collecting can be an expensive hobby indeed, and I'm starting to be guilty of that, but so is collecting anything. Cheaper than collecting cars though , but it's still collecting and I very much doubt you need all those software you listed to make music.

[DyerMaker]

Ezy, you are rigth. All I need to make music is my Acustic. But wouldn it be nice to have some Symphonic Choirs on top of it

Another way to do it is to make the music (songs) with what you can afford, now, not sitting here writing wishlists, and hire a studio with proper equipment when ex. 10 songs are ready.

I also believe that limitations in this regard (equipment) can be a true source of creativeness. Think about Hardfloor as an example. TB Resurrection has a 303 (3 or 4 actually), and a 909. Some synth string on top of some tunes and thats it.

Make music, not threads, is my motto for today.

Seeyaz

[pitchdrifter]

Does Linplug allow selling RMIV? Its the only plug I bought which I don't use *at all*.

[aldred]

Even when you get round to buying something, it's a good idea to give yourself a cool-off period before you press the BUY button. I usually decide to get something, find the place I'll buy it, then wait for a week to see if the urge is still there. It's surprising how often I think 'no, I don't really need this' once the week's up


--

[SuitcaseOfLizards]

For me, it's pretty easy: I'm a software engineer, I'm divorced, no kids, no car, all my friends are online pretty much so my living and entertainment expenses are minimal.

That said, I consider myself an "amateur wanting to be a semi-pro", so when I invest I try to get the best I can afford (like my Roland Fantom X6).

My future purchases: Sonar 5, maybe another rackmount hardware synth (like a used UltraProteus), that's about it. I truly have everything I need already, I just want a couple of bits and bobs to fill the corners in!

[AndrewSimon]

Well I am married with 2 kids and I am not rich.
Here is how I do it.
1 Don't talk prices with wife.
2 Shop on-line with SamAsh where I get 15 payments no interest.
So if I buy $3000 of equipment my monthly payment is $200 (not cheap but within my reach)
3 Never jump on anything, give it time and ask yourself:
Do I really need this?
Is it something I will use with a smile even a few years from now?

[androidlove]

i converted what i make a year to euro. it's 3,860

that's $4,800

[deleted]

DELETED

[SleepyP]

(musical sections sung to the A-Team theme song)
EBAY!!!! DUH DUH DAHHHH!!
EEEE BAYY!! yeah ba by!:D

this works for hardware much better than software, which is when you gotta go for...
GROUP BUY!!! ok ok enough singing
but seriously, you can generally undercut retail by a goodly margin by going for secondhand stuff (ebay is great for this), or when that ain't possible, powershop your way into stuff like group buys or whatever else you can do which will lower the price. software usually comes down in price if you delay the gratification of buying it for a few weeks or months. i'm sure some other people have additional tips on this one.

finally, like these cats said, don't get all angsty about shit you can't afford that you really don't need, unless it's angst which inspires you to write some music. sit down and try to work and then when you run into a specific problem, really really try to overcome it with your current means. RTFM is the first place to go for this (i have discovered a number of "new to me" features this way). then if you find you just gotta get something new to solve the problem, freeware. KVR is a great resource to find this, and freeware does NOT magically make your music sound bad (i noticed some people seem to have this perception problem, like people who would totally change their opinion of music if they found out software was involved in making it a few years ago). if you really have done a bit of work searching and you still can't find a solution you like, then you can finally start sulking about the pain your wallet is gonna feel, but even so, don't just accept a suggested retail price without a fight. wurd.
and my hot tip for the penny pinchers: energyXT! $50 for a great VST host AND VST plugin (it can do either one). i swear the developer ain't human...

[gutanday]

Don't drink. Don't smoke (much). Don't send the kids to college. Dont' tell wife.

Hmmm, I don't drink, don't smoke, don't have kids or a wive, don't have a car, don't have ... well ... not much at all. I must be a complete and utter looser.

But I play my vst's!

[Andywanders]

I dont get it. All I own is FLStudio.

The price tag for all I wish for is enormous.

Heres my top 10 wishlist.
Sonar 5
Live 5
Ampltube2
Philharmonik or EWQL Gold
BFD + XFL
Hardcore Bass
Symphonic Choirs
Ozone 3
Waves Platinum
Stylus RMX

This would be about 5000€ or what? Im not saying these product wouldnt be worth the price. Im just whining and daydreaming. Over and out.

Mike

If you consider what the hardware equivalents would have cost a few years ago (if equivalents were available), then 5,000 Euro is peanuts.

Do you really NEED all of this..? Sure, you're gonna say "no, but it would be nice". And I would agree, but don't forget, a lot of great recordings were made (and are still made) with lesser tools.

Just get what you can, when you can - one piece at a time - and in the meantime, concentrate on the music.

[keyman_sam]

Get Reason 2.5 with some refills on e-bay. That should get you busy for quite a while. Having a few tools and devoting your time to those few will get you more sound than getting a bunch of stuff and using only some of them.

[keyman_sam]

Tip :

For the price that the Fantom S is going now, you'd be crazy to get the Triton instead of the Fantom.

[meeks]

Don't drink. Don't smoke (much). Don't send the kids to college. Dont' tell wife.

Hmmm, I don't drink, don't smoke, don't have kids or a wive, don't have a car, don't have ... well ... not much at all. I must be a complete and utter looser.

But I play my vst's!

one hand sequenceing