Ableton Forum

GAS is kind of a funny thing to me. I understand where people are coming from with their comments and I always enjoy reading Tarekith's posts, but whenever I start to have doubts about what I am buying, I think about it from my wife's perspective. She loves to cook. She is not a trained chef or anything, but just has a knack with putting stuff together and coming up with fantastic food. I call her a natural cook. I have never in 21 years eaten a forgettable meal. Really. Over that time she has amassed quite a large collection of bits and bobs, on top of her 'go to basic' bits of gear. Even after all this time she still finds things to add to her kit. We often end up in shops checking out the 'tools' on offer. Sometimes its to replace items, other times its to find kit to make a task easier for her. Some of her stuff gets used daily, other stuff once a year. Also, admittedly, something shinny and new replaces a perfectly good working item, but its just a better quality item.

She is not a shopaholic, buying for the sake of spending money and opening boxes. Neither am I when it comes to buying musical gear or woodworking tools. I admit to having gear and SW I have not plumbed the depths of, but for me though (as well as the wife's stuff) its all about the long term focus. Its just something I do everyday, literally. I think if I was buying gear in a way that was as uncontrollable as a gambling problem at a casino then I think I would have an issue.

An interesting thing for me recently has been coming up with solutions to getting things done with some of my current gear. I have enjoyed the realization that I am getting to know some of my kit in ways that actually prevent me from spending money. Finding work arounds is very gratifying. However, it will not stop me from next year replacing perfectly good working bits of musical kit for fairly minor reasons. I will upgrade, replace and add without hesitation (but within budget of course).

I guess what I am trying to say is that there is a happy balance to strike with GAS. I don't think there is anything wrong with regular acquisitions on a sustained long term basis, even if it doubles up on things you already have. But you have to have some sort of frame work in place to filter the purchases, which is what a lot of Tarekith's post is about anyway. I am comfortable with my rationale, and everyone owes it to themselves to shape their own framework, if for nothing else but to avoid irrational guilt.

Cheers.

Woops Double post.

The best antidote for GAS is not poverty. That doesn't stop drooling. It is to be working on your music, knowing what you want to accomplish, and getting there. Suddenly you are: "What you say, NAMM? Korg Krokodilos? Sure, great, whatever. What, the latest ACME Gear catalog arrived? Fine." (absentminded toss towards the trash can) "Now, how do I modulate to the next section better than this?"

The clearer you can formulate your musical objective, the clearer it becomes what takes you there, and more often than not, it's not a $,$$$ digital whizbangerator.

I should know. I bought two

http://www.edge.org/q2011/q11_11.html#lehrer

Gotta fly!

e.

I think I had this GAS syndrome also. But as the machines have evolved (I'm into this GAS process for those last 12 years), I'm happy pretty with MOG (My Own Gear). I mean, I don't have to stop my work flow cause I can't listen to to a mix or to fight against gear possibilities. I still hope that someday I'll mix without thinking CPU limitations, but I CAN work really well with MOG Only two things : I would enjoy an SSD drive in my laptop + an high RME/Apogee audio interface. For everything else I'm all set

THE POINT IS : I realized there is no reasons, again no reasons at all to not produce great songs. That's the main point for me. Ex. I have access to a big facility with the big rig PTHD / ICON and I really don't care. (ask me few years ago ) I only need the great room at this place. Now, wtih my ableton + my workflow, nothing can be better Happy with MOG. Just saying I feel actually better ! ... /// ok I actually bought Grado Sr325is for Christmas and EQU for iphone ///

Great post Tarekith !

I find a pretty good antidote for GAS is to go back and read the manual of gear I already own.

In addition to that fellating opening paragraph: "Thank You, Wise Sir, for your most valued purchase of some of the finest gear on the market today, which in addition to being undoubtedly the key to your musical destiny, also singles you out as a man of rare style, refinement and taste..." I always learn new things, or think of new ways to work, and get a bit of that new gear feeling of possibility - "oh cool, it does this... and this... and this..."

Admittedly it's a bit harder to kick back with a pdf manual tho...