Comments on: The price of a guilty conscience.

By: catfingers

catfingers — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:56:56 +0000

because an MPC is not just a piece of gear – it’s an instrument, a world in itself. Not an MPC 500 though – that’s just a waste of money…

By: Keoki

Keoki — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:30:25 +0000

Up till recently, what I “wanted” was always some sort of unit. Not anymore. Now all I’d want is a way to access those interactive patterns they put on newer gear (the “Karma patterns” of new Korgs, the “arpeggios” of Yamaha XS line, etc. etc.)… only the patterns, I don’t care much for the rest of the box.

So since sampling the sounds of older gear is commonplace now, one wonders… perhaps it’s time to find a way to extract these cool sequences too? :-)

By: Josef Mandel

Josef Mandel — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:33:25 +0000

I agree that it can certainly turn into an endless persuit for this piece of vintage gear or , the newest synth etc. However I think like most things in life a happy medium is best! I produce hard trance/hardstyle music and therefore I deemed a couple of tools justified to be bought. I got an access virus indigo 2 and a tb 303 , yes i paid stupid money for the 303 (but it will hopefully gain value as they seem to go up a few hundred a year)! Thing is after loading up my pc with rebirth and abl and other soft synths I just found it so uninspiring after a while. It’s like the difference between playing a snowboarding game or actually going snowboarding in real life.

Now I really dig into the heart of the machines to pull out the sound I want and it’s just so much more satisfying to be pushing buttons on a real tb, or virus . It makes u feel like a musician rather than just another bedroom wannabe tweaking a mouse! that said I know that software is sooo capable these days but I always said I would limit myself to a few pieces of select hardware and integrate that into a predominantly software setup. I think that is the beauty of the times we live in , forget the hardware vs software debate . Hardware and software side by side is just a beautiful thing and between the 2 theres nothing you can’t accomplish!

No matter what buying decisions u make I would say the main thing is don’t forget the point. Ur making music not building a synth museum. As long as your getting it done then that’s the main thing. It’s not about what u NEED, I’m sure JK doesnt NEED 44 ferraris but he has them and thats that.

By: raytrace

raytrace — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:46:49 +0000

yeh it is hard though – cos over on the righthandside of this very page is a link to this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160260595994

*drools*

o_O

By: Alex

Alex — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 18:48:43 +0000

I think we need to gradually shift from being just consumers to the “use only what you need” philosophy. Consuming everything we can is part of what is bringing the world to its knees.

Musicians should know better because they are crreators, not only consumers. And music comes primarly from people, not machines (this is mostly true today still).

So, if you really, and I mean, really, need a piece of gear, well, go ahead and buy it if you can. But hen knowing about our true needs is not easy. we need to train ourselves, and this training is part of the “know yourself” and self-discovery disciplines..

I think on the end one feels better at doing the right thing.

By: digitalbeatsyndrome

digitalbeatsyndrome — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 14:28:35 +0000

Not really….I noticed hardware sounds pretty good when processed with plugins..vsti’s when added too much processing sound like ass. I’d still like an old school Joemeek channel strip.

By: raytrace

raytrace — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:28:37 +0000

having said that, I would be a very happy man if i had an 808, a 909 and 2 303′s lol :)

maybe I wouldnt though because Im sure then once id brought so much ‘out of the box’, id be fussing over getting all the proper hardware compressors, distortions and reverb units, which is another insurmountable hill.

By: raytrace

raytrace — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:26:07 +0000

yeh I have to admit, I have just bought a TR-707, as I’ve always liked the look of them (and emm maybe cos theres NO WAY I can afford a 909 ;) ) – but I definitely dont ‘need’ it, Goldbaby Tape909 and 808 refills sound brilliant IMO. Max vio nice choice – I would really like to get an Alpha Juno 2 someday – proper hoovers :)

emm to get back to point, yeh we do spend a lot of unecessary money on shit we dont need…

By: Max Vio

Max Vio — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:01:40 +0000

Of course you don´t need every fucking drummachine today, there is much better software that can do this job.
Why do people still buy a MPC? Today your setup could be NI Battery with LIVE or FL-Studio as a sequencer.
BUT: big boys need big toys;)
2 weeks ago i bought an akai S-950. Sure i don´t really need it. But it´s just inspiring to look at this machine.
My next hardware-stuff will be a “Roland alpha juno 2″
I want exactly have that 90´s HC-sound of my youth idols (like “dj skinhead” for example^^), i want to get that spirit. and if anybody is honest:hardware is much more sexier than software;)

By: digitalbeatsyndrome

digitalbeatsyndrome — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 19:02:55 +0000

I need a DRM so bad, yet I have VST that can make good blipiness too.
I want a DRM with the new Future Retro XS and an Acidlab bassline on acidline duty.
A Muse Receptor and a RME audio interface, and a discontinued Joemeek channelstrip, the ones where Ted Fletcher owned Jomeek not the new guy.