POLL: How much have you spent on DAW(s) / upgrades in your life?

[whyterabbyt]

Bit arbitrary though. seeing as those things all cost vastly different amounts based on where you live.

Yeah, and people's earnings tend to be pretty different on a similar-ish basis, also highlighting the inappropriateness of the 'arbitrary amount of money per year' model.

But the specific amount is less the point than pointing out how little the cost of a DAW plugins etc could be per day compared to some things people dont think twice about dropping cash on. People who'll whinge like buggery that a DAW major version upgrade costs £200 happily spend five and ten times that across small expenditures like lunch, coffees and cigs and not bat an eye.

The 'how much in total' is a scaremongerier-than-usual expansion of the typical 'daws are too expensive' you get round here, the per diem comparison is, as I say, perspective.

[sjm]

You could always use the Big Mac index. "How many Big Macs could you have bought per day for the price of your DAW(s) + upgrades".

But then it starts sounding like maths homework

I get your point though, it's totally different to spend 1000 bucks over 20 years, or all in one go.

[Jace-BeOS]

It's funny because it's true. People spend small amounts of money very easily, and very often, on things they don't even consider being a question (and/or they're supporting addictions to alcohol, cigarettes, caffeine). Then they look at the cost of intangibles like software & art/music and act like their costs are crazy high.

I stopped eating fast food two decades ago for different reasons, but it's a really good example of irrational spending (and it's unhealthy). Eating out in general is an expense that can rob people of cash that could be better used elsewhere.

When I consider eating food from a restaurant, I think "how does this compare to grocery shopping?" When I look at buying an iOS app for less than $10, I think "how many meals can I make with this money if I bought groceries instead?" When it's more than $10, it's less of an "impulse buy" scenario and I have less need to rationalize my way through it.

I'm pretty good at avoiding instant gratification spending. Of course, being in poverty means I usually have nothing to spend anyway.

[rod_zero]

It also depends on your previous background, of people previously have bought any instrument when they see what a DAW offers they are not that concerned, after all you can spend 500 for a guitar or a single synth and you are still in the low end tier.

The people that complain the most are the ones that don't know what music gear actually costs and have no point of reference.

[EnGee]

Well, my pocket's blackhole was cigarettes and spirits since 2006 till 2012. I spent about 500 NZD monthly on that! I could afford buying only one DAW and one synth at the time with cheap midi controller.

The most I have spent on my hobbies (music and games) was from 2012 till now. And I have spent less than 1/6 of what I have spent on my poisons! So, over U$2000 is certainly not that much if you living a retired life style

The good thing is that now I'm filled with software and hardware, so my spending is getting really low this year!

[Jace-BeOS]

Well, my pocket's blackhole was cigarettes and spirits since 2006 till 2012. I spent about 500 NZD monthly on that! I could afford buying only one DAW and one synth at the time with cheap midi controller.

The most I have spent on my hobbies (music and games) was from 2012 till now. And I have spent less than 1/6 of what I have spent on my poisons! So, over U$2000 is certainly not that much if you living a retired life style

The good thing is that now I'm filled with software and hardware, so my spending is getting really low this year!

Sounds like a really good substitution to me

[Psuper]

Well, my pocket's blackhole was cigarettes and spirits since 2006 till 2012. I spent about 500 NZD monthly on that! I could afford buying only one DAW and one synth at the time with cheap midi controller.

The most I have spent on my hobbies (music and games) was from 2012 till now. And I have spent less than 1/6 of what I have spent on my poisons! So, over U$2000 is certainly not that much if you living a retired life style

The good thing is that now I'm filled with software and hardware, so my spending is getting really low this year!

Sounds like a really good substitution to me

Engee, you just explained the #1 reason why most people think they "don't make enough money". In reality they "don't know how to save money, or spend it wisely". More importantly, you realized it and made the most positive change you could have!!

I was in the same boat many moons ago when I cut out all that junk and needless overhead. I still couldn't be happier about it (no cable (HD antennae), no smokes, no magazines, cook at home, don't rent, minimal impulse buys, buy used, on and on). I buy what I want, never worry about money, don't need to make much but I do quite well so bonus!

Just DAWs/upgrades? Should have started the bottom end of the poll at 2k.

[EnGee]

Giving up smoking was the best thing I did to myself! While it didn't cost me so much when I was living in other countries, it did cost me a lot of health! - Sorry off topic

Anyway, DAWs or hosts prices are going down with time (in general) and there is nothing revolutionary since 20 years maybe! It is still midi sequencing with Audio. Maybe only the pitch editing for the singing voices, but personally I like non perfect singing and playing!

Still, the DAW or host is the central tool that gathers all other tools. So, IMO, spending on a DAW/host that I really like to work with is not a wasted money. The thing is I needed not a trivial time to be able to know which host is the ideal for me, and that what made me spent over $2k.

Currently I'm still with Cubase Pro version 9 and I have no intention to upgrade to 9.5 at all. I even doubt if I will upgrade to version 10! The need for an upgrade maybe will come when there is a new version of Windows that my Cubase won't work with (which I doubt).

I still might upgrade Reason 10 to a future major version if and only if there is a larger GUI! Otherwise, I'm looking for at least 3-4 years of zero spending on DAWs

[Bombadil]

About €700, I think. Started with Logic Express 7; crossgrade to Logic 8; crossgrade to Logic 9; Logic 10. I've probaby spent quadruple that in plugins. At least.

[Studio Saturn]

Over 2k but now I'm so carful. Usually I used to upgrade in every single version. I stoped becoming any company fan. Just these days I have concluded that any company out there don't bother about their user base. May I say their early adapters. They only want to make money so do I. I have to save money in the other hand. So, I have concluded not to be any company fan and I used to upgrade and upgrade to help the product going while I don't even believe it worths the cash. I have done that. So, I will keep my money in my pocket and upgrade or buy when that product worth it. Look I haven't upgrade Bitwig still not since I don't believe their upgrade scheme worth it. But maybe on version three or 4 I will.

[Mister Natural]

honestly dunno what it has cost me to go from LIVE v.6 to 10 Suite
. . . don't really care as I've gotten my money's worth over the years

[mgw38]

There are people who collect cars, I collect DAWs.

[EnGee]

There are people who collect cars, I collect DAWs.

This is a good idea (and excuse!). What's wrong with collecting DAWs?!
I thought to buy Studio One today I don't know I just missed editing and working with it, so I downloaded the demo just to be sure before I buy it. Everything is good except the integration with the Nektar P4 controller, so I cancelled the idea

[THE INTRANCER]

There are people who collect cars, I collect DAWs.

This is a good idea (and excuse!). What's wrong with collecting DAWs?!
I thought to buy Studio One today I don't know I just missed editing and working with it, so I downloaded the demo just to be sure before I buy it. Everything is good except the integration with the Nektar P4 controller, so I cancelled the idea

The integration does work though...

http://www.nektartech.com/s.nl/ctype.KB ... /KB.533/.f

[EnGee]

There are people who collect cars, I collect DAWs.

This is a good idea (and excuse!). What's wrong with collecting DAWs?!
I thought to buy Studio One today I don't know I just missed editing and working with it, so I downloaded the demo just to be sure before I buy it. Everything is good except the integration with the Nektar P4 controller, so I cancelled the idea

The integration does work though...

http://www.nektartech.com/s.nl/ctype.KB ... /KB.533/.f

Yes it is working but not good enough for me. It even chose it automatically when I started S1 after Sending a sysex file to the device and putting the required folder in its place (as it is indicated in the instructions).

The keys are working. The transport buttons are working and even the sliders for the mixer's tracks volumes, so what's wrong? In P4 it has 4 main sections in the screen: Mixer, Instrument, Transport and Internal. It is only "Internal" is functional and the other three are not. I suspect only S1v2 might be working but not v3. I could 'midi learn' the VSTi controls by assigning internally (Studio One assignments, not the VSTi midi learn). So, it works but not good enough as in Cubase, Reason and Reaper.

It is not S1 fault, but Nektar because it also doesn't integrate well with Ableton Live and FL Studio. So, for anyone who wants to buy Nektar P4 or P6, don't consider buying it for those DAWs (Live, FLS and S1v3).

Damn! How I hate those 'smart' endless knobs!
Oops! Sorry!