Buying new equipment... Addiction???

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God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. This means that I must accept that what I have will certainly be enough for me to realize my compositional dreams. I must also have the courage to delve into the equipment I have and learn how to use it better and better. This means facing the fact that it is not the quality of my equipment that makes the music by rather, the quality of my character, intelligence, humanity, and all fo those ever-so-human qualities that are the essence of making music and artistic expression. And the wisdom to accept the difference, well, this means that when the shortcoming is me, I should not attempt to blame it on the lack of any particular piece of gear. You know, gee, I didn't have an LA-2A and a Soundelux Elam 251 and that is why the publisher rejected my song. Come on, really. I accept that I do not even need an SSL mixing board to produce a hit song, just a good song and a good performance into my Mac G4 and Mackie 24/8 mixing console. Yeah, I know that I am supposed to have a Ghost mixing console to really be hip on this site and the addicted part of me says, yeah, go for it, you can get the money, dump that shitty Mackie, get you a Ghost, get bragging rights, be able to sound cool like some of the other guys here by bashing lesser equipment.

The mere fact that some guys here continually bash lesser equipment than they have rather than discuss the uses tells you alot about what is going on. This is an ego thing, like any addiction. Why spend so much time confirming to strangers that you know that a Soundcraft mixer is better than a Mackie. It is not for the edification of the readers, it is for the egot fulfillment of the writer. And thus we have a serious addiction on our hands. But, not to worry. Those that are overly addicted to gear will have little hope of creating great music since they will spend too much time oggling (sp?) new gear and pounding thier chests about the gear they have.

It takes much, much, much more effort, intelligence, personal sacrifice, hard work etc. to create great music than to own great gear. Anyone with money can own great gear. It is NOT a personal accomplishment of any merit or magnitude whereas writing a hit song is.

So, take it for what is, yeah, gear buying is an addiction for many but, all you need to do to get past that is to ask yourself if the gear you have suits your needs. If so, then forget all of this BS and get to work creating music, recordings, mixes etc. Join a twelve step group for shoppers like shoppers anonymous and pray to the god of great gear for forgiveness.

God, grant me the serenity, to create great music, the courage to be critical of my own work and, the wisdom to purchase gear only when and if I really need it to ACHEIVE A MUSICAL GOAL and not for bragging rights.

Thank you for allowing me the time to preach. Please put ten dollars in the collection plate so that I can get that new Soundcraft mixer I so desperately need. Without it I might die and certainly, will not be able to hold my head up around all the gear snobs that tend to surface on this site.
 
Yeah. Coming from someone with alot of the coolest gear around...:rolleyes:
 
jake-owa said:
I was like you guys, strung out on plastic and electronics. Then I had a child and pow, overnight my whole life changed.

Buy it, buy it all while you can. I had a habit now I have a responsibility. I used to sacrifice food for gear now I'm all about the fruit and diapers. Rent is way higher on the list than mics these days....sniff.:(

Don't get me wrong, I love my baby I just need to install some inputs and maybe rackmount her.:p

Here, here. Although I must say that a 15 month old can come up with some pretty clever drum parts. :)
 
How do the women on this board feel about this? Is it just the guys who have an irrational lust for flashing lights and stacks of gear? Do the women purchase more conservativly and more intelligently?

Lets here from all you ladies. Are us guys just crazy?
 
PhilMckracken said:

The mere fact that some guys here continually bash lesser equipment than they have rather than discuss the uses tells you alot about what is going on. This is an ego thing, like any addiction. Why spend so much time confirming to strangers that you know that a Soundcraft mixer is better than a Mackie. It is not for the edification of the readers, it is for the egot fulfillment of the writer

I have to agree with your entire post, and the statement above. I probably have been guilty as charged at times, however.

but, there is something to be said about have a nice looking and expensive mic, for the singer that is coming over to lay down some tracks for you, and possibly will buy some studio time for themselves too....not to mention the greater ease in recording that better equipment seems to offer...

but anyway...I saw "the light" in your post, Mr. Crackin...;)
 
Do the women purchase more conservativly and more intelligently?
No. Just different toys. In many cases DIAMONDS. GOLD. WHITE GOLD, Ouch. Sometimes EMERALDS. Say goodbye to your studio budget if you're not independantly wealthy.

BTDTGTTS. Twice. Never again.
 
Hi, my name is Mark and I'm a gear-a-holic.

(chorus with echo and verb);"Hi Mark..."

I've been "sober" (meaning; haven't bought any gear) for four days now.

I'm not sure how much longer I can hold out....

My biggest problem (other than what my 17 psychiatrists call gearalogical obsession-compulsion...how silly!) is that the longer I do this crazy recording thing, the more I hear the differences in good vs. not-so-good gear.

I just hope I'm not contagious. I really wouldn't wish this on anyone.

Happy New (gear) Year!
 
It's sad, it really is. I'm 15 and I'm addicted. 15! At least you guys have more money to blow.
 
Just pawned the wife's diamond...must own Vintech pre, and Gretsch 6120.

No problem here....
 
I've had a BAAAADDD case of microphone lust for months now. I just can't stop wanting to buy mics. Thank the maker (and my parents' life education) for the power of financial responsibility, or I'd have an entire mic cabinet full of, well, EVERYTHING, and no less than three mortgages.

And to Phil's point, it wouldn't make a bit of a difference. I bought all this darn stuff to help make the songwriting process easier, and to maybe make a couple of cool demos with my friends. The gear I have now is enough (maybe more than enough) to do that. Man, I just can't believe how many times I've had to keep telling myself that.

And ebay's no help, either... friggin stuff so cheap that I can actually dream of buying those Mackie HR824's, and a Neumann TLM103 (with the shock included for $650). I won't, but it will haunt my dreams :-)

I haven't written a song worth crap in over a year and a half. I have one new year's resolution: stop worrying about the gear I don't have, and start using the gear I do. It's a promise to myself I mean to keep.

Thanks for the venting opportunity! Yes, I have a gear addiction...

-mg
 
I have one new year's resolution: stop worrying about the gear I don't have, and start using the gear I do. It's a promise to myself I mean to keep.

I don't worry too much about what I don't have. I worry about what I really need. Right now, that is a remote for my 1/2" machine so I don't have to keep jumping up and down during mixing.

That, and I need a really good preamp and a CD burner.
 
PhilMckracken said:

The mere fact that some guys here continually bash lesser equipment than they have rather than discuss the uses tells you alot about what is going on. This is an ego thing, like any addiction. Why spend so much time confirming to strangers that you know that a Soundcraft mixer is better than a Mackie. It is not for the edification of the readers, it is for the egot fulfillment of the writer. And thus we have a serious addiction on our hands. But, not to worry. Those that are overly addicted to gear will have little hope of creating great music since they will spend too much time oggling (sp?) new gear and pounding thier chests about the gear they have.


Hmmm. Maybe. Or maybe just trying to save some others from making the same (often costly) mistakes we already made.

I know I've bashed gear in the past. The Alesis X2 board and the 3630 compressor, the Akg C1000 and C3000 mics, and the Oktava 219. Ego? How can my admitting that I was actually dumb enough at one point in my life to actually buy (and try and use) these products be an ego boost? More like a warning from one poor wretch to another...
 
I don't think I have ever conciously bashed gear here. At least not anyone's personally owned gear. That's not like me to do that. I appologize if I have.

I remember starting out a long time ago with nothing except a four-track and an MD-441. Shit man, nothing like starting as a newbie recording with the top of the heap and the bottom at the same time...

And I still don't have the best gear by a long shot. (Except when it comes to firearms. Those I do have the best of and not afraid to admit it.)

We all start with what we can afford to get moving in the right direction toward the ultimate, or what the individual thinks is the ultimate home recording regardless of an outside opinion or industry standards. Don'cha think? I know I will not stop until I hear something of mine on a CD player and it sounds as good as, or better than what I could buy at the store.

What the hell was this thread about? OH YEAH! Gear addiction. Well I succuumbed tonight by placing a bid on E-bay for a piece of equipment I've been wanting for awhile, but was not sure I was ready for, or really needed right now.

Oh well. You can't take it with you.
 
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