Moving Beyond GAS: How Many Synths Do You Actually Need?
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- čas přidán 20. 06. 2024
- / robertoblivion
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I've spent a long time caught in the spiral of GAS and GASeous thinking and in this video I try to explain clearly what I believe is going on and the adjustments one needs to make in their thinking in order to move beyond GAS
Chapters
00:00 - Intro
00:19 - TLDW
00:35 - What Even is GAS?
02:09 - What is the Optimal Amount of Synths?
04:12 - How to Address the Fundamental Problem? Diagnosis
09:57 - Revising the Third Axiom. Treatment
15:04 - For Those Who've Succumbed Already
16:29 - Re-homing/Donating Synths
18:23 - But Spending Money Feels Good
18:52 - Concluding Thoughts
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I have another channel where I do music with my band @CyberspaceOBlivion
Check it out if you like analog synth music
• Cyberspace O'Blivion -... - Hudba
I suffer from GAS as well as POO (Plugin Offer Overspending), which is a crippling addiction to plugin sales. Together they form the spectrum disorder known as POOGAS.
My thoughts and prayers go out to fellow sufferers of this debilitating condition.
😂🤣😅🙃🙂
LOL 😄😄😄
There's hope for all of you! I have overcome GAS and its even more annoying cousin, GRaS (Gear Re-acquisition Syndrome). After real life gave me a reason to thin down the heard a bit (I needed some cash for my wedding), I undertook a campaign to identify the very best of my collection and to ruthlessly sell off the rest. Some ideas that made the difference:
1) Sampling a piece means that its essence will always be available to you for a future track. Multisample that favorite patch or ten and set that "one trick" synth free.
2) Closely but not perfectly replicating a sound in another synth is not a failure: in important ways it's better than the original because it is familiar and original at the same time. Learn how to understand what one synth is doing and how to do the same thing on another
3) Modulation and filter types are responsible for most of what we call "sonic character." Find a synth or two with lots of mod slots and filters that you love or that can pretend to be other synths.
4) You don't need all the things. You only need the things that make the sounds you love.
5) Sometimes the "one thing about that synth" is available as a pedal or a plug in.
I make warm deep house, so I eventually landed on a digital piano, an analog poly, a wavetable synth, a sampler, two drum machines, and a mixer/ recorder. Sounds like a lot and it still is, but it's recovery for me. More importantly I spend a lot less time on Reverb. One day at a time, right?
Words of wisdom!
Sounds like you've reduced your setup to perfectly meet your needs. Imo, that's the right amount to have. Very insightful!
GRaS is my fear. I have only succumbed to it once. I tracked down the same model as my first saxophone. On the plus side I paid less for the re-acquisition than I got from the trade-in (and that's not even allowing for 30 years of inflation).
You have too much money
I own 6 synthesizers, one from each category of sound synthesis: 1 workstation, 1 analog, 1 virtual analog, 1 wavetable, 1 wavesequencing, 1 vocoder. This setup helped me realize that I don't need to check out every synth in existence. For example: When I felt compelled to check out the Blofeld I realized I already have a wavetable synth, so I stopped looking, And so on.. Right now it's clear to me that the possibility of actually needing a new synth is really low. But, it took me 4 years and around 20 synths to realize that this was the trick. But it worked and for the first time in years I feel relaxed because, everytime a fake "need" appears in my head it gets rejected because 99% of the time this fake need is a synth from a category I already have. So if I do buy a wavetable synth, I will first sell the wavetable synth I already have.. ;-) The only recent exception to the rule is the Osmose, which is a category of its own. But I can't buy it right now because the company has low availability anyhow, so, I am saved. For now. Anyhow I think that if everyone follow the "category" rule, they can help themselves in decreasing their GAS.
what about groovebox, FM, west coast?
@@HenningSprang I hate FM synthesis. As for drums and rhythms, I rely on my DAWs (FL studio, Adobe Audition etc).
As an older guy whose music career is mostly in the past, I've been treating myself to all sorts of new toys. But I don't think I'm a GASsy person.
I started in the early 80's buying whatever I could afford, but when sampling became somewhat affordable, I went down a long Ensoniq road. I kept my trusty Mono/poly around, but I was really into digital audio manipulation. Then, I went straight into DAW-based music, and did that for years. I completely passed over and forgot about my original first love and what drew my into electronic music in the first place...analog synthesizers!
I still have a couple vintage synths I stashed in the closet, but I've finally come full circle back to a DAWless setup. Only now, I'm buying and using classic designs that were WAY out of my budget when they first came out, and I later passed on due to disinterest when folks were dumping them for nothing during the 90's.
It truly is a new golden age for electronic music gear! And I'm grateful I have the experience to know exactly what I needed to buy to realize the music in my head! Better late than never, right? I am in heaven!
Great video, and in hopes of more content like this, I've subscribed. (I might even share this video with the kids on Facebook...they can use insight like this!)
Have a good day!
Wholly crap!
Thank You! Yeah we absolutely live in such a perfect time for making music and using analog synths. I'm honestly so grateful that I'm alive and making music at this moment in history. Thank you for the kind words, and have a good day too!
@@RobertOBlivion definitely and I am down to 1-2 synths all needed for music production. Wish I had just bought a Virus TI2 15 years ago and stuck with that itself
Wants to discuss G.A.S. and the infinite need for MOOR. Leaves flashy synth with colored lights on in blinking in the background. :)
As someone who has struggled with GAS for many years, ive found that what helped rid me of a lot of GAS is just by surrendering to it, buying a bunch or stuff, and then realizing first hand how much of it is totally unnecessary. Youll buy and sell and buy and sell and eventually, with a bit of common sense, youll have the setup you want and nothing more. My setup is kinda big but i use it. I have a rule that if something sits around unused for 6 months or more, i get rid of it.
The only things i struggle with are eurorack modules and effects pedals. Theres so many good ones but ive managed to keep a fairly tight rein on my spending.
this is both friggin' hilarious and quite intelligent at the same time! I have 1 keyboard, 1 synth keyboard & 1 synth...but then there's like a half-dozen synths also in my DAW, so now I've lost track😂🙌
As a retired autistic idiot with too much money and free time, I did develop GAS a few years back, but I soon found a method to solve my predicament.
I'm big on lists, OCD big on lists, and the like, and writing things down on paper in general.
so,
I started keeping a list of every new shiny synthesizer, drum machine, sampler, FX processor, whatever it was I wanted. The longer the list became the harder it was to decide which one to go far, this then forced me into a position where I had to wait, consider, and really think,
- is it want or is it need? Does it do something not possible with all the other stuff I've acquired over the last 40 or so years.
I still have and use the list method to this day.
So, if I see something I think I "need" I pull out the list, remind myself of all the other gear I "need", often I then realize,
- NO,.. the things already waiting to be bought on the list are better than this new shiny device, so it doesn't even make it on to said list, and the GAS is eleviated pretty much there and then,
- but if it does make it to said list, it goes to the bottom of the list,
- this giving me yet another chance to realize, over time, that it would be surplus to requirements, and thereby it is removed.
Works for me, but I'm weird...
- love to ALL, feel no hate
I am not autistic and rather early on in my own gear adventure, but this is terrifyingly similar to my approach (besides of the fact that I also love lists and similar ordering schemes)...
I too love lists. I have used this method for some time and I can attest to it working. I really like lists. I didn’t think I was autistic, or weird….. but now I’m not sure. ✌️ (this method does work well, not much new gear actually makes it onto the list and not much leaves either)
The chip shortage fixed my GAS! It forced me to put time into learning the synths I already had (especially my Roland AE-30 wind synth). Then I realized I had fewer sonic gaps to fill than I thought I had. 😎
I really like the way you've outlined GAS here. I can definitely empathize in some respects. For me, I always have a crippling sense of shame when making big purchases, so that's usually been enough for me to refrain from spending too much at a time. I've recently picked up music again after getting burned out over 10+ years. I sold a lot of my stuff and when I got burned out, so I gradually take it back up, I've been investing in gear again. Unfortunately, the thing that really hooked me back in to experimenting and creating music again was my small Eurorack. Most of my GAS over the past couple months has been on setting up an initially useful system, but damn modular is such a slippery slope for GAS. It's so easy to be like "well, I don't really have enough modulation" or "I only have one oscillator" or "this sequencer does something sooo different than the one I already have" etc
For me, since I am genuinely trying to explore the modular world more deeply, it's been a pretty large up front investment, but I have no qualms about getting rid of things that don't really work out - the problem is that there's just so much to experiment with to get a setup that actually works for you lol. Like, my ideal is to have the perfect minimal setup - I just have a lot of buying and selling gear to get through on the way there. On top of that, I live in a part of the world where there isn't really a big Eurorack market and import taxes are insane, so it's pretty nice motivation to use what I have until I make a trip somewhere to buy stuff that's more reasonably priced.
In any case, thanks for making this vid. Always a nice reminder to keep myself in check when I'm investing a lot in making weird sounds.
Also , you should start a Discord or something. You're one of the few creators I've seen on here where I'm like "yeah, this guy has some cool insight and I wanna meet other people who like what he has to say." :)
Thanks for the comment. I've been so tempted on multiple occasions to jump into eurorack/modular, but the up front investment always scares me away and reminds me that I already have more than enough synths to make the music I want to make.
Honestly, I haven't really considered starting a discord but that's actually a solid idea. I'll take a look into what it takes to set one up
That's the nice thing about VSTs. There so many free ones you can GAS all you want without spending a dime. I have bought about 4 really cheap ones, but I have more than enough to create, and explore with them.
Great video and topic!
Your totally on the money.
This affects people who have more money than talent.
It's weird that people even joke about gas as though it's funny.
It's not just a problem for the person with bad values, but it affects many others because these mindless hoarders drive up the value and demand for gear and this makes it almost impossible for struggling artists who do actually make music to afford this gear.
Owning multiples of the same gear that never gets used is another example.
I think much of this problem comes from people with high incomes who are also interested in making music.
They have the income to buy everything they want but either no time, talent or headspace to actually focus on music.
So they keep buying the next thing that either they feel will make music easier or that a manufacturer promises to make music even easier.
It's usually a constant side stepping issue that is perpetuated by not having any really talent or skill because they are to busy buying instead of playing.
I have never met anyone who has gas who actually makes enough music to justify ownership of so much gear.
It's like those old guys who collect old tools but don't make anything with them.
Then there's the guys who buy gear for its status so they can be sure to mention it in online forums like gearspace.
It's just crazy.
I've encountered this a lot with my work as a sound engineer. Those who focus the most on having the nicest, most expensive instruments and pedals are rarely the people who can actually use their gear the best. Unfortunately, buying gear results in a higher dopamine state than practising an instrument does.
I have the best vaccine for this syndrome which is being broke.
😆 Honestly, having to be careful with money was really helpful in me resolving to not aimlessly grow my setup
Robert, your content is truly excellent, in depth, inspires people to think!
Great talk, so many things to think about, and then so many synths I still want to buy. Subscribed for more!
I spent decades collecting synths and other gear........I can SO relate.........
Here's my take on your video......excellent and entertaining, and worth thinking about.
I spent decades as a well paid, full time performing/recording musician. My perspective on gear was always this: as long as I'm making good money, and my clients expect my to have great new sounds available, I can justify buying gear. I always bought high end synths, so I considered it 'An Investment - a business expense....not an extravagance'.
I could always sell synths if I outgrew them, often for more than I'd paid for them. I had good relationships with retailers and even companies like MOOG. I'd go to the NAAM shows, see the new stuff before it was released, sometimes have the opportunity to buy it at the end of the trade show, (so they wouldn't have to ship it all back) etc. It was an amazing life.
Now, I'm old and just do music for fun - not profit.
My new rule: I always sell a piece of gear, before purchasing another piece of gear to replace it.......
(for instance - I just sold my SOMA Cosmos last week, to buy a C.B. MOOD mkII)
I have a dear friend, also collecting synths, and other recording gear, drums, basses.......................Here's his theme in a nutshell - when asked by his wife:
Q: 'How many basses does one person really need?'
A: 'Just one more'
I've always remembered that - funny, but true.
Great upload - thanks! Very enjoyable.
Respectfully disagree with a few points here.
Son, it's not about how much gear you own but how much you own your gear. I sold 14 synth to 0, so I'm speaking from experience.
Of course its not about how much gear you own but now that you sold ALL of your synths, how are you better off besides a little more cash in your pocket? Were ya just not using them or something? Is this some kinda no-car, tiny-house, mega minimalism thing?
Sounds like you've thought through your relationship with synths and have found a balance which is healthy for you. I have a lot of respect for that
@@artisans8521 yep :)
@@indirektdjs it doesn't sound like full-blown GAS if you're exploring the capabilities of each new synth. IMO the worst form of GAS is buying new gear without deep-diving the synths one already has.
brilliant video! Speaking facts
Thank you Pablo!
Thanks for the insightful and thought provoking video on GAS. I agree with your breakdown and assessment including having goals of getting better at what you have rather than acquiring more to fill the gap. I'm now a new subscriber.
I thought I only needed a couple, but it quickly went exponential.
Axiom 4. The amount of synths coming in at one time should be equal to the total amount you currently have 😉
FANTASTIC VIDEO ROB , Ive watched the first half and can definitly confirm i have a SERIOUS SYNTH Addiction ,, only yesterday i had a friend put NUMEROUS Synths on an auction site as i have boxes i havent even opened yet that have been lying around for years in my studio ,, i think it is SOOOH important to own only what you need as FX Peddals add such a huge dimension to an ageing synth and its about what you can create not how many synths that is important ,,,
This video has left me with a feeling of insight, self reflection and the urge to buy a matrixbrute
🤣
Great video, love the tone and humor
One thing I would add is that there is a powerful techno-industrial machine designed to extract the small amount of wealth you have from you. We are being actively mined for wealth and resisting those forces are extremely difficult. They hit you where you are weakest and your weak point is often your exhaustion and desire to feel good.
I agree that replacing the sticky habit with a stickier one is the only way. Beginning practice each day is the hardest thing. Once you start you are off to the races.
A follow up video on how to move your mind towards this daily practice might be good?
You talk about films, but don't mention video games. Not only can you use your synths to write music for games, but also sound effects. It's also a good outlet for those short but great loops that you can't figure out how to turn into a full song. It's a lot easier to find small game developers in need of these services than small film makers, especially if you're willing to work for cheap (or free) to get experience and exposure -- just don't sell yourself short.
That's a really good point. Making SFX with synths is so much fun. I'm influenced by my own personal bias towards filmmaking as a medium. I was into films and making short films before I discovered synths and making synth music, so that biases a lot of my thinking around this stuff. But you're dead on that making music and sfx for games is a really great path for synthesists looking for a way to develop a portfolio
Negative GAS - Brilliant! 😊 Purchases are based on emotion rather than logic which is a tougher battle to fight. It's not so much about need as want 😊
Exactly how I would put it.BUT I DON'T NEED ANOTHER ANALOG MONOSYNTH 😂🤣
@@MrXamanX Oh heck! I do 😄
I don't suffer from GAS, I enjoy every minute of it 😉
Great video and timely. I have been putting more energy into GAS lately than creating, and the truth is I don’t need more stuff, and could probablt be more focused on music making with less.
Clever but sarcastic at times. Those VHS recorders kept me watching - awaiting a tape to pop out with a ‘BlockBuster’ label on it 😀
Clearly the correct number of VHS recorders to own is how many you have, plus 1. :)
The sad part is they're all broken, so I either need to funnel my life savings to the @RedLetterMedia guys or actually buy more! Planning to rehome these ones to the local tip when replacing them though
Not something fixable? I’ve so far not seen VCRs fail beyond head cleaning and replacement belts. @@RobertOBlivion
Doesn't seeking out opportunities and subsequently offering to do free work for a project, effectively devalues both your own work and the work of musicians trying to make a living from music in a similar way (films, theatre, sound effects/gaming, etc)?
When I played electric bass, being a poor student (still am) helped with GAS. I think what I realised with skill progression was that learning different families of skills (which means producing different sounds) usually helped a lot with plateauing.
Recently, I picked up weightlifting and I find that once a lot fatigue accumulates (either manifests as physical fatigue or boredom, etc.) doing variations of exercises still allows for progress and helps you get around being stalled which I think leads to GAS like motivation forming: "New piece of gear will make me more creative", etc.
I personally would say (and I am 50 years old) that: Is due to boredom.
The reason of getting yet another synth is because I want to sound like... Depeche Mode, Armin Van Buuren, Goa Trance, etc... so I need that to be that....
I want that specific texture...
I want to show off my synths...
My synths makes me stand out...
I do not know how to make music but this synth will help me out...
At the end... you get a load of gear because you are just not good musician and because you do not have an actual girlfriend. I once met a girl and she was so hot that I was just fine getting rid of all my gear... she was the new toy.
The other reason is... you haven't found your sound, so you get gear because you want to sound one day like Moby and the next day like The Christal Method.
And there is a problem, synths and sounds are addictive.
If one considers themself BOTH a synthesist AND a collector, is there any hope? ;)
Do as the stamp collectors do. Specialise on a theme : only monophonic, or only one manufacturer. Stamp collectors like closed themes: defunct regimes, Franco, Weimar Republic. No new stamp will emerge. Moog may be a closed topic, perhaps.
No, I'm sorry.
The prognosis is rather grim I'm afraid 😂
@@hermask815 - The collection is already specialized into "not modular". Best I can do is to keep the the large 80's style keyboards.
My mate had a reality check with consumerism regarding G.A.S. and its many forms (pedals, plugins) and was seeing how much he lost focus of what he loved about the synths he had (deepmind and sub37 and a buncha guitars) and he fully agrees with most of the premises you put fourth regarding how much it limits your creativity in the end :)
I don't have even one synth, just a casual listener.
I had GAS in other areas though, like computer equipment and other types of gadgetry.
To be honest I wonder if GAS is actually just a side effect of something less obvious, something which makes hoarders out of people; in any particular area of interest.
Anyway, I love the axioms, especially the first one... lol
what a great overview
🤣🤣🤣 This caught me just after unboxing my new Behringer Pro-800... But you are spot-on with the vid.
Excellent how well you put this into the real perspective of seeming and creating meaning in life in general. For too long this addiction is treated as a joke but as someone with bpd it has really been a dangerous addiction to replace and sometimes supplement other addictions and destructive behaviors. I’ve slowly been able to sell of a decent amount of modular gear I knew I didn’t love and I’m moving into other hardware now as well and next is all the guitar and fx shit. Don’t get me wrong there is a line at which I know I love this hobby and it does bring me joy and creative inspiration, and a certain pride of having built something unique to me. But whenever I sell off the clutter and the rest becomes more concise, consolidated, and deliberate. The more I can really appreciate and see “myself” in what remains. Anyway you are a conscious, intelligent human talk about a “niche problem” and I really appreciate what you have to say here.
Forgive my fucked up grammar. I’m on drugs
Thank you. I wish you the best with your musical endeavours
I used to have a bunch of kurzweils a few Yamaha since some rolling equipment. Now I find I just use my Korg Kronos for everything.
As many as I can fit into my studio 😻
And when I run out of space
I will extend my studio
I love twisting my knobs
And I love having GAS 💨
This video is surprisingly wholesome!
Great take on GAS! It took me three years to finally realize that I'm the most productive with just one device. Every time I try to hook two pieces of gear together, the creative process goes from fun exploration to endless midi configuration headaches and a cable mess. Currently my go-to synth is the Syntakt, which I've almost made an album on at this point. I definitely miss polyphony and samples though, so I'm most likely going to invest in something else like the Push 3. And because I hate plugging things together, that probably means the Syntakt will either be kept to collect dust as a sentimental piece of gear, or I'll sell it and try not to look back.
Fantastic advice! Even after putting stuff away to see if I miss it, I definitely missed my Yamaha CS and Boog Model D despite having multiple synths that completely outclass them in every department. They've got character, and I actually enjoy their limitations! And portability 🧳One of the things that helps me decide [because all I really "need" is the syntakt, Juno-X, and a DAW], is asking "Does this still spark joy?". Despite my V drums being the best tool for most jobs, they don't spark joy anymore, and I always prefer playing on my little Gretsch kit. Bye bye V drums, you were an important part of my journey. They deserve a home where they'll be enjoyed on the regular 🥲
For many many years I gigged in covers and originals bands with my trusty old beaten up Yamaha S90. Never used 1% of what that synth was capable of, just needed a decent piano, Rhodes, organ, trumpet, strings, etc.
I don’t gig often anymore but recently I wanted to experiment with a Rhodes+Minimoog setup (my slightly cheaper version is Korg SV2S & Behringer Poly-D). I love the simplicity of knob twiddling, no lcd screens or menu diving.
I treated myself to a drumbrute impact drum machine. An ancient terrible sounding Korg Poly-800 was lying around (with a fiddly 256 step sequencer!) creates my bassline! I now play for pleasure for hours.
The key thing here is learning everything about what you already have. There’s a lot to be said for a minimal setup and really discovering what it can do.
Oh, and actually learning how to play by practicing and jamming!
As a guitarist, bassist, recent synth and sampler fan, and photographer.... yeah, GAS is an issue. I'm FINALLY getting to the point where I'm trying to actually finish an album and have sold off a lot of my extraneous gear so I can have what remains better organized and ready to go.
Gear lust is an activity due to subconsciously avoiding developing the mastery of your music - because it’s hard.
I have GAS, but I‘m no way suffering from it.
I.o.w.: you may have given many correct answers, but the question is - well - questionable.
From my point of view should be: How many synths do you actually *like* to have?
My answer: currently ca. 20 (along with some other keyboards), from a Behringer MS-1 to an OB-X8, half of them analogue, half digital.
Of course there are minor and also huge overlaps - but each single synth can do something all others cannot!
And yes, it max distract me from making an album or even record one single song. However, this isn‘t my ambition! I‘m content with making patches, noodling around with interesting layers of 2 or more synths (e.g. a PPG-style wavetable + a smooooth Prophet pad) and *having fun*. Sorry for that. 🤷♂️
As I state upfront in the video, I'm not here to shame the aimless knobtwisters. If your synths are bringing value to your life and you're fulfilled by them, that's perfectly valid and really cool!
I can still walk easily into my music room. So obviously I need more. 😊
Great video 😂
i thoroughly enjoyed this video. my collection is all but nil, so the n+1 or more rule still applies but i am in no rush to add to my collection. rather am happy to continue to build a relationship with the instruments i have, and if any more happen to come along naturally they will be welcomed indeed.
17:15 there's one called the Portland Synth Library that's quite cool. Haven't accessed it myself as I live in Canada, but I do think it looks like something that deserves more recognition.
Thank you! Yeah, this is exactly the kind of place I want to feature! I've added a link to their fb and site in the description, and as well for the Prague Synth Library, a sibling organization of the portland one operating in Prague.
I transferred my gas to acquiring pedals. I liken getting music gear to getting different shades of paints. There are so many colors but you really only need the primary colors to make em all. The big part is avoiding that dopamine rush I've been trying to get versatile gear these days. Another thing that really has helped me is trying to do trades be it with people for gear or for store credit at a place with gear. Identifying a goal is important and you helped me realize mine is building a catalog not as much albums. Thanks for the vid entertaining and helpful to listen to when stacking wood for winter. Happy holidays!
Haha the tables have turned and now it is the humans that are getting played by the instruments.
Really liked this.. very well thought out and _kind_ towards those who need to consider their relationship with gear. I've been literally riding dopamine hit after dopamine hit for the past couple of years _purely_ on the synth spec I've created for myself and the videos about modules in said spec❕I'm deliberately limiting myself to the sum total width of a TipTop Happy Ending plus a Frap Tools Plus-worth of modules (84HP + 42HP), then adding only a MIDI groovebox, MPE, 25key paraphonic, DI & MIDI hub boxes, 8-channel mixer / recorder, mounted power strip, and my iPad for the *entire* setup.
I made sure to select modules & gear that were highly interoperable either thru midi or via a decent amount of CV ins, and also picked several "swiss army knives" so that learning each of them over several weeks / months at a time should be super-fulfilling. I even spec'd out the Odyssey case and DJ table down to the centimeter / sq. cm to ensure I had all the real-estate on a 2D surface to play all the gear, and in 3D to transport it❣🤩
I know GAS is a real thing, but you did miss something, and that is those of us who don't get addicted to it, but simply look for the right kind of instrument setup for the right workflow. I can take myself as an example, I don't have 30-100 synths, I have maybe 4-5 that I've bought for a specific reason over a 12 year period. What I look for is something that can improve my workflow. As I get older I tend to lean towards production efficiency, meaning I want it to be simple, fast and non-fiddly. In my youth I could spend YEARS diving into menues and would want the most advanced synths on earth, the more parameters - the more intriguing sounds. But that changes over time, at least for me.
I could write an entire book on the subject, because you're right in a way - GAS - is REAL for some people, I know even from myself in a different area (like - I was an electronics guy so I tended to hoarde up all the electronics components I could find everywhere in order to "build whatever I like", but it...wasn't the solution. I don't do the same with synths. For me when I am buying a synth it has to be super unique, and bring a TON to the table, more polys, connectivity, ease of workflow (preferably press play and go!).
And to prove my point (mostly to myself , lol) I look at my soundcloud files, I look years back and I see when I was the "most productive", it turns out it's not the most expensive or advanced synths that makes me the most productive - but the ones that are easiest to use, aka - Select sound, record, press next sound, record again - and voila you're done!
Great video and I completely agree with all of your points, though I would like to point out something very important to this conversation that is missing from your video: the effect of capitalism on the synth community.
Many companies need to keep putting out new products to survive, even the larger companies, and in being trapped in this continual push from an economical standpoint, synthesizer producers are continually bombarding us with more and more new and innovative products.
As such, it creates a surge of fuel for Axiom 3 to become a looping scenario. Even when we think we have everything we need, the industry is constantly trying, and often succeeding, to convince us that we do not.
I just do not feel that any conversation about GAS is complete without addressing this reality and working to find ways for those of us who really don't need more synthesizers to be able to combat the severe musical and technological insecurity that becomes inherent with the entire capitalistic paradigm of the synthesizer industry.
For instance, one thing that I try to do to battle against the many constant innovations that tempt me to make a purchase, is to try and find workarounds to emulate similar features to new synthesizers. And another thing to generally keep any synth owner excited about the gear they already own is to try and come up with creative new ways to use the gear they already own.
Or even, for those of us with more than a few synths, to find new ways to use our various synthesizers together, like sending the output of one synth into the input of another and using its filter, FX, or amp to color the incoming synth's tone etc.
The way I deal with this is by hyperfocusing on needing the instrument to do something for me that isn’t the sound. Like the instrument needs to be able to do something for me that a plugin and mouse can’t such as being faster/easier to use or being something that makes me want to make more music.
For example, I have an Opsix. This is the single best implementation of fm synthesis. Period. No plugin, no hardware, makes fm synthesis as easy as the Opsix does. Which is why I have it
I wish they'd do an opsix update with full DX7 patch compatibility (especially the DX7 envelopes). I'm happy to program my DX7 IID via the user interface but real-time sliders would be sweet.
This video should be seen by a bigger audience! The whole process of doing research up to clicking that 'Buy Now' button is what causes the dopamine shots. Once the gear has arrived the search for the next item slips in. And what about the need for the next revision, just released! That's a nasty one too!
Managed to limit myself to only one synth, a couple pedals, and some audio treatment so far this year. Still, sales are coming. 😬
Last year was pretty ugly though. 6 drum machines two of them modular. Two separate modular systems, 4 pedals, both a portable and full sized mixer. 😑
Here’s to getting through Black Friday without too much trouble. 🤞
Edit: forgot about the Jasper stand I got recently, it’s still in the mail. Gotta fill more vertical space. 😒
I've been holding off going modular. It'll happen one day, but I'm postponing it as long as I can
The music instrument industry is one of the most addictive loot type games out there. 😏
Seriously, the range and complexity of synths, with different interfaces, workflows, sound engines, etc, makes it easy to start down the path of “the next piece of gear will be better”, or “offers something I don’t have”, or “there’s something more suitable to me”. It could all be true, but it’s endless.
The amount of gear out there is enormous and unnecessary. I have 8 synths (including a groove box) that cover the gambit. And I won’t be buying anything else. I will probably sell a couple. On the other hand, I also have a lot of plugins. I will say that I’ve learned what appeals to me more, and what I like. So I’m basically paring down now. My goal is probably 3-4 synths I really like and use.
I love how just behind you there's a stack of three vhs players
You've got cool videos man, with way more philosophy than I expect from synth videos :) Plus I'm guessing your name is a Videodrome reference? Good stuff all round.
Thanks!
Dudes got 3 VHS decks next to him....he's the king of GAS! Respect! I only have 2.
I love acquiring synths that I could only dream of back in the day (Anything Oberheim, ARPs, Prophet 5 and a DX7). Nostalgia and joy of finally owning something you could never afford back then....Just makes me feel good!!
Very interesting video! Thanks for this. What has helped me is when I get the urge/need to consider buying something I ask myself 1. Can this be done with something I already own? 2. Am I using all of my synths/plugins/presets to their optimal potential? 3. Will I (honestly) get hours and hours of enjoyment playing this synth as opposed to my other synths? Why? If I can logically come up with some solid reasons to make another purchase, I will, but this process usually WAKES ME UP to the reality that I can do very well with what I already own. (Damn that OB-X8 sure would be sweet though...) 🤣😂😆😁
" (Damn that OB-X8 sure would be sweet though...)" Oh, trust me - it is! -- Behringer Neutron x2, Behringer Deepmind 12, Access Virus TI2, ASM Hydrasynth, ASM Hydrasynth Deluxe, Sequential Prophet 10 Rev 4, Roland JP-8000, Roland JP-8080, Behringer PRO-800, Behringer Model D, Quasimidi Sirius, Oberheim OB-X8, Alesis Andromeda A6 x2... Why Yes! Yes of course my GAS is fully under control -- NOT! 🤣🤣 I absolutely acknowledge that I would be a terrible influence on anyone trying to get their GAS under control! "Oh, you have GAS? Here! Have another bowl of beans - or maybe two - or three!" 😂 Nope! I know I don't need a single one of them, but it sure brings a smile to my face just knowing that my little "synth army" is there when I want to noodle around and make some noise. Many of these synths I've wanted since I was in my teens and early twenties (a LONG time ago). We truly are in a golden age of synthesis!
early electronic music pioneers like Depeche Mode and New Order used very limited spartan setups at first like a drum machine and mono synth. Only after the sold millions of records on these small setups did they buy tons of expensive gear!
Great explanations & entertaining thought process! I only have 3 external synths today and I am stopping there :) Do virtual VST synths count?
No, software doesn't count as synths, only hardware 😂😆
In all seriousness though, I don't use software synths in any serious capacity, only for sketching out demo's and idea's and composing, so I really don't have enough perspective to chime in on if VSTs count or not in this equation. They might. It's possible
@@RobertOBlivion There are people who hoard plugins and music software. In some senses it's worse than hardware, because it doesn't take any space, often isn't amenable to resale, and only rarely appreciates in value. Flipping through zillions of plugins to "find the right sound" has less friction than physically moving between hardware, so of course it's easy to spend time doing that instead of getting to the work of composing and production.
I very purposely avoided PC-based DAWs early in my acquisition phase, but even if I stick with that, there are some synths and effects that are likely to always practically remain out of my reach, so the best I can hope for is a VST. (Jupiter 8, CS80, ursa major space station, EMT plate reverb.) I don't want to fall into a SW GAS trap.
What's that microphone you're using? It's proximity effect sounds awesome with your voice. I must have it!!! 😂
Great video ! Off topic, but somehow related : do you plan to make a video about your 3 VCRs ? something about best quality of tape for cheap in a home studio ?
I manage to control my GAS by using TNT -"Tools, not toys". Also helps to have a limited amount of space and having to decide what is worthy of keeping and what has to be let go
I think there's another factor... People sometimes want gear even if they can already make the same sounds, same control, with their existing equipment. They justify it by saying there is a very subtle difference in the filters or the oscillator waveforms. In other words, people like to see themselves as Connoisseurs, as if having great sensitivity for fine wines...
The reality is - especially within mixes - these differences are negligible.
I just dove into the eurorack rabbit hole (for the 3rd time) but it serves a very specific purpose and while my gear is on the bigger side it recognize that spending too much on an ‘optimal live/recording’ isn’t helping my music.
There is also very much a point at which the optimal number of synths to own is “# of synths you own minus > 1”. Arguably, the value of 1 synth utilized to close to 100% of its capacity > the value of n+1 synths, each utilized to
You have to battle GAS with buyer's remorse haha.
Nicely done. I'd struggled with GAS, in various cycles for decades - but eventually let off the pedal. However... soft-synths are equally pervasive... especially on iOS. The wall(s) I've begun to hit are: learning, incorporating, and remembering various aspects of their interfaces, alone, or in tandem. For myself, I now realize: The simpler/intuitive the interface is (generally/overall) - the more likely I will do original/creative things with them. "Cooler/more capable/deeper" ≠ better - LOL!!
I am on my way to sell a lot of stuff now.
I started with DAW, then went thru controller stage, later started to buy synths because it real deal felt cool. Tried to write music with them, but it turned out that I am more efficient using DAW and controller.
After a while I had a collection of gear and I started to perform live. At first with laptop, later went dawless with couple of machines. It escalated up to the point that I needed to bring 20kg suitcase with me to gigs 😅
I bought myself Akai Force which filled a lot of gaps for making live rig smaller and plane travel friendly, and after a while I understood that Force is just a shitty ableton in a weak box.
I took a look at new Push3 standalone, but decided to just buy a Macbook because its essentially the same thing in the end, but is capable of doing more things.
So, yeah. I am on my way to sell plenty of gear and leave only essential tools for live performance. Never going to sell my Novation Circuit tho, I learned it inside out and it became second instrument after guitar where I can really express myself.
Thinking about it like this helps me: I just need one pretty fun and noisy one. Anything else that you think you might need, for the purpose of creating a wide array of sounds and compositions, can be achieved by adding smaller modules or plugins. You may eventually find that you need things that can do one thing really well, but you won't know that until you're in the situation where you do that one thing often enough. With a noisy synth and some sort of modulation and filters you can make most sounds. Choosing things that fit around that ecosystem is just a matter of picking things that inspire you to play them in a variety of ways, or maybe the ease of setup is really important to you. Having some way of recording and sampling and resynthesizing those samples would help too, this can be a simple daw, or other tech.
I no longer believe in GAS. I put my thoughts into a couple videos but I think I’d rather just subscribe to you. Talk later!
Sounds like somebody has GAS
i swear baby after this next synth i'm good ('her ya ok') lol work does suck the life out of me agreed !!!!
I do suffer from gas. At the moment I own a Polybrute and a Miniloque xd and have got it in my mind that I need a third one: hydrasynth, nina, or 3rd wave... but I still haven't mastered the brute and the xd... my focus is workflow and my axiom is you need the synth with the best workflow / ui to truly understand and use synths.
What did help in the last half year: committing myself to making at least one song per month, with or without synths. Most of the time I wrote that song without the use of the brute and the xd.
The VSM is lovely! If you're in the LA area and love synths, a slice of heaven is waiting for you there. They even let you to book time to record their synths.
A clearly defined physical space is certainly a handy limitation, as buying something requires you to sell something. I've got 2 polysynths, 2 monosynths, and 27U of rack gear. The specifics may change, but the total won't because it can't!
I wonder why a lot of videos appear about GAS. I conclude that every person has free will - if having synthesizers brings someone satisfaction and satisfies his needs - I see no reason to judge this and implement any rules. This is not a gamble, but a hobby and passion :)
Saw this in my recommendation, this was a jumpscare and a half! How you doin', by the way? And also, that 'use what gear you've got' sentiment is perfect!
Been well, aye. How bout yourself? I'm having a listen to some of the music on your channel rn btw, really cool stuff!
I've spent $10k+ on GAS this year
The other argument against owning many Synths is Cable Management becomes a nightmare. Pretty soon you have all sorts of power cables audio cables patch cables going every which direction which requires so much time sort out
Previously my depression was fuelling my GAS. I then had to stop my GAS because I needed to spend my money on other things. I feel I have enough synths for now and get to enjoy them making my music.
I heard mylarmelodies describe gear acquisition as nesting, which i think is a helpful metaphor.
Would you mind explaining the nesting metaphor? I'm curious to understand whats meant by that. Is it like, you're preparing the musical environment for a piece of music to be born?
I simply ran out of space for big synths. Also I discovered that for actual playing with band an old tablet with Caustic 3 is surprisingly useful simply because it's very flexible and takes no space in my bag.
I like to fiddle around with synths. Different synths. I like the look of them........the sound of them. Like a vintage car. Sometimes a Novation will do, other times you wanna get out the Casio
For me its how big my mixer is, I'm currently working with a 24. So like 4-6 synths is ideal. Also becuase they all have specifc parts to play. Multi-timbrality is not the win still but I wish it was!
Many schools would be happy to accept your synths and even some libraries. I think the Omaha Public Library has an entire room devoted to a modular synth that you can sign up for use time.
My GAS is much more related to being a mechatronic engineering tech, i dont want more synths - i want more circuits that make noise that i can play with and understand.
If i wanna 'make music' i'm much more liklely to grab Ableton and maschine and v-collection - i know exactly what im going to get.
But when it comes to the fun of playing with tones........ that midi gets different routings ;)
I guess its really Tool Acquisition Syndrome = i kinda want all the tools to do all the cool things XD
Well, I've limited myself to just a couple of synths in each category. It seems to work. I spend more money to get the best synth in each category that I can, so it doesn't really save money, but it does save me studio space! I can also resell them if needed and the classics keep appreciating in value, so you can think of more synths as an investment if you like.
for me its more like - i want to try many synths to find out what i actually like, workflow wise, not neccessarily sound wise. feel is as important as sound i think. and now, i am happy, after a freaking long journey. for me, its the modular and 3 desktop units. done
I went through a spate of buying and selling synths and having up to three at a time and now I have two. They can be used independently or hooked up with c/v to make a dual oscillator monster mono. I consider it good now. Effects on the other hand, still sorting out but very nearly there.
After catching myself in an "I need this" moment, I decided that sure, I could get that, but needed to finish an album first. Life has moved on over the last decade+, the album remains uncompleted, so I'm cured at least for now.
I also really get a kick out of reading professional reviews for the gear I do have, mu:zines is especially helpful for this. (This will heavily depend on the age of your gear.) The novel excitement is contagious.
Another place that rents out synth time: ARPs for All at the Record Co in Boston! It's a charitable program by the Alan R Pearlman foundation.
I only about 10 synths, mostly older rack stuff. If I answer the "do you need these" questions honesty, I could function equally well as a musician with just a laptop, bitwig, and a midi controller.
While there's a couple of smaller rather disappointing synths (looking at you volca sample, and TD-3) I will sell as soon as I figure out how to sell on ebay. But the rest do help create a comfortable environment in my studio. I think there's something valid about wanting to be surrounded by blinking lights and and glowing screens
Does "plug in acquisition syndrome" count also?
The correct number of synths anyone needs, is N+1 where N is the number you currently have. It's the same with bicycles, guitars, Dewalt tools, etc...