the constant desire for NEW

[tiredrobots]

... If I can limit my tools to a core set, it'll be easier to actually get things done; whereas, if I'm always trying out new things I'm in a constant state of tinkering...and we all know that leads to, well, nowhere.

This. Absolutely. I live by it. I honestly feel that things will typically only start to become "bad" when you're attempting too much with too little. While that may sound like it would mean more gear is in order, it really shouldn't. For example, my high school recording rig had a really nasty hiss in a very small frequency band. So I would EQ it out, because I couldn't afford better gear to fix it. Now I was forced to work my songs around this now missing band of frequencies and still make it sound good.

Was I able to achieve everything I hoped to because of this? No, of course not. But it did teach me to still produce what I thought was good quality sounds and not overreach myself. And I feel that as we acquire more gear it's still important to recognize that deficiencies are just something to work with sometimes and not a reason to stop working period.

[steinbruchel]

[billygomberg]

I have this "problem" too.

somehow i don't have this at all for technology and stuff. i use the same two plugins and max patch since at least 5 years. i have about 200 other plugins on my computer and i doubt that i've ever opened more then 10% of them. i arrange and compose my tracks in logic, but probably use about 5% of the possibilities that are packed into that program. i've never opened any of the internal instruments, so i have no idea if i'm missing out on something or not. of course there can be the feeling of missing out on something, but as long as i'm satisfied with what i'm doing and it keeps me busy i'd rather spend time on that then spending to much time on things that i don't know where they're going...

a long time ago, i've spent an evening every week at a friends studio and each time i brought along a new track (or part of it) to listen to and each time he showed me some new gear and software stuff. since i know him i've never heard a finished track by him because there was always a specific sound or tool or gadget or whatever missing...

a good fact and a better anecdote.  whenever I have acquired something new, more or less for the sake of its newness, it has been pretty useless for my work - as a result I've really stopped buying plugins that are just "cool."  I've been using the same Reaktor/Max combo for about the last four years, and every time I try to add/change something it never quite works out.

but that Teenage Engineering thang....

[steinbruchel]

but that Teenage Engineering thang....

i can understand this obsession for technology, but i just don't have it. sure this teenage engineering gadget looks great (even if the name itself is endlessly stupid), but i've read the facts, tech lists and stuff about it posted on this wonderful forum and i don't see what purpose it could server in my workflow.

instead of trying out new stuff i'd rather spend the time working on another track or listening to new music (which i'm completely obsessed with) or go sledding with my boy... or very seldom do something which doesn't have anything to do with music 

[billygomberg]

but that Teenage Engineering thang....

i can understand this obsession for technology, but i just don't have it. sure this teenage engineering gadget looks great (even if the name itself is endlessly stupid), but i've read the facts, tech lists and stuff about it posted on this wonderful forum and i don't see what purpose it could server in my workflow.

which is exactly why I will probably never own it.  it is a sexy, boutique item, whose sexy, boutique nature probably trump usability or usefulness.

[taylordeupree]

i wouldn't be so sure, billy 


very commendable stance, ralph... i used to be really bad about buying new plug ins and such, but i haven't bought a plug in in so long now. and finding it much easier to ignore the constant deluge of new plugs.

i guess i can justify what i do, and my minor case of gear lust by the fact that i actually *am* productive and prolific. although lately i've just had such a desire to return to simpler means.. thus my obsession with hardware loopers. or at least a desire to not stare at a computer when making music.

i definitely see a LOT of people.. on some forums especially. where they have mountains and mountains of synthesizers, yet never actually USE them for anything.

i think we all need to realize that the best music is often made by the simplest means. and just keep that in mind when eying your next purchase..

[wixel]

hello. i wanted to chime in on this one too even though i have not much to add.

sometimes i feel i want to get out of these internet lives we're all living.. i think about 90% of my friends (and me too) are on the internet more than several hours per day, each day - which is quite amazing when we didn't have internet at all 15 years ago. i find it very refreshing to spend time in nature and not bringing a laptop or a phone. simple 2 week or 3 week trips can work miracles. cause face it, how else am i going to check out about new music?

i'm also all for limiting oneself.. for one of my records from last year, i limited myself to just one instrument and no plugins. just a basic acoustic guitar and i found it hugely rewarding to compose in what seems to be a very limited world, but in fact is enormous. a mind then becomes very creative in finding ways to bend the rules..

[Guy Birkin]

In terms of the amount of technological tools (plug-ins, synths etc.) and creativity, I think we're talking about constraints. By having a problem (such as a hissy recording rig) you have a constraint put in place. The same goes for reducing the amount of gear or limiting the ways you work with it. Constraints nourish creativity because they give something to push against and work with.  Also, they allow us to make sense of things by limiting the vocabulary or alphabet of the language of art. We need to constrain the palette (of colours, sounds, words...) to make a unified and coherent statement.

[jimmy behan]

Here's my belief: Having Live 8 opens the door to Max For Live, which, in turn, opens the door to an endless stream of new devices and tools. As a result, my work flow will always be in flux and I will never finish a track ever again. If I can limit my tools to a core set, it'll be easier to actually get things done; whereas, if I'm always trying out new things I'm in a constant state of tinkering...and we all know that leads to, well, nowhere.

I can totally relate to this. With so many options available to you, it becomes harder to pick the right one. I think it's one of the most difficult considerations with regards to electronic/software based music. You've got so much control with the ability to go in so many different directions, it's often hard to simply choose one one as it's always in the back of your head: "maybe I could do this better/differently".
I often envy traditional composers, or even rock bands, whose sound set is quite pre-defined, as they know what kind of sounds they're going to be using before they start. With computer music the sound palette is so wide and varied, the initial blank canvas can be quite intimidating. I think it's why in recent years I've tried to narrow the sound palette in an attempt to just get me started.
I've never been too interested in the latest gizmos, mostly due to financial restraints, but I'll still occasionally get stuck into Gearslutz or whatever, if I'm in the market for new gear and spend days researching my options.
Lately, I've been tinkering with some diy fx pedals and recently I found myself wanting to put a low-pass filter on the output of one. In the end, it involved sourcing new parts, getting the drill out and a bit of trial and error. I couldn't help thinking this would have taken about 4 seconds and three clicks of a mouse in Audiomulch, but it was still strangely gratifying.

[Koda]

I base it on a reward system: Finish your current project (have yet to do) and reward your hard work with the newest version of Logic, Ableton...

[machinefabriek]

I'm probably the least technical person on this forum... I still use SoundEdit, a incredible simple editor that runs on system 9. So I have to use my old laptop that can run classic, to emulate system 9....
obviously, nothing is as simple and user-friendly as that program. But ofcourse the limitations are huge. But great for my creativity.

I've just bought myself Logic 8 for a bargain price, but I'm gonna have a hard time learning it, and letting go of SoundEdit...
Basically, I feel like it's time to try new things, to improve the soundquality of my music, and to be prepared if my old laptop dies...

[leaf]

it was something like "neophilia"...

my point is... if we all shut off our internet connections for a YEAR... would we not get more done? we we stop thinking that what we already have is inferior? would we stop wanting new things? would we use what we have more, and in better ways?

[Le Berger]

I'm finding this to be a very interesting topic, so fair warning, there may be (read will be) ramblings.

machinefabriek mentioned being probably the least techy person in this thread, I'm probably at par with that. I have many friends or colleagues who are gear afficionados, some for more legitimate reasons than others. And in the case of Taylor who mentioned mastering other projects, or someone who would have a recording studio to accomodate different projects / bands / artists, it only makes sense to have what makes that process viable and up to par with "industry standards" at least in some fashion.

However, when it comes to an artist and their needs, the need to create far surpasses that of acquiring tools. It's not necessairly that black and white mind you, as we are not cavemen hitting on things to make sounds anymore. And I guess so long as the tools help in achieving the ideas you have, they definitely are no harm or hindrance.

It happens so often that friends will show me their new machines and things, and when I ask what they'll do MORE with it than they were already doing, I'd say about 90% of the time it does not improve the quality of their creation, or improves creativity itself.

My latest project came about through the contingency of actually having broken gear, which didn't allow me to record anymore, analog or digitally. But I could use what was already in the computer as source material.

Anywho, long story short, I found that to be one of the most fulfilling artistic experiences of my life. Even if the end result is not as polarized and versatile as it could be given millions of things and tools to work with, the process of working with very little forces one to re-evaluate the creation process.

Minimalist expression not only in the end product, but during the process and pervading the outlook on life itself and what is needed to achieve one's end. Fun stuff.

I realize I'm necro-bumping here, but it seems like this thread struck a chord.
Don't mind me.