"Stop hoarding, start creating" (not a deal)

[audioschmaudio]

I subscribed to the EDMprod newsletter a while ago, just to get some freebies, and yesterday I got a newsletter that I wanted to share because it's a good reminder that we shouldn't fall victim to Gear Acquisition Syndrome. I believe that people like us on deals forums are especially prone to GAS, that's why I post it here.
The mail subject was "Stop hoarding, start creating" and I think he put it quite well:

Quote

Stop hoarding, start creating

"You're never going to accidentally become good at making music." - Me, to every producer with 500GB of unused samples

Producer Reality Check: Why 99% of producers never finish tracks

Most producers think their problem is not having enough tools.

They watch YouTube tutorials for hours.

They buy every sample pack on sale.

They research plugins instead of making music.

But after working with hundreds of producers, the real problem is simple:

You're using education and gear as expensive procrastination.

Why this kills your progress:

Learning feels productive - Watching tutorials gives you dopamine without the risk of making bad music

Shopping feels like progress - That new sample pack makes you feel like you're "investing in your craft"

Research feels necessary - "I need the right compressor before I can mix this track"

Creating feels scary - What if the track sucks? What if I'm not ready yet?

Here's what actually separates working producers from wannabes:

Working producers make music with whatever they have right now.

Calvin Harris didn't become famous because he had perfect samples.

Deadmau5 made hits with basic stock plugins.

Burial created masterpieces with simple audio editing software.

They made music. Lots of it. Most of it probably sucked at first.

Want proof you're doing this?

Check your "Recent Projects" folder vs your "Downloads" folder.

I bet you have more unused sample packs than finished tracks.

That ratio is your problem.

Your 30-day reality check:

• No new downloads (zero presets, samples, or plugins)
• Finish 4 tracks using only what you already have
• 15 mins minimum in your DAW daily (no tutorials, just creating)
• If you can't finish a track with your current tools, you won't finish one with new tools either

Stop shopping for motivation.

Start making music.

-Aden

I was aware of these things, but it drives the message home differently when I see it written from someone else, somehow.

[ZincT]

Thanks @audioschmaudio 

Now I just need to action it! 🤦🏻‍♂️😂

[Kreveta Puket]

great topic

[solema]

I've reached this point where I've started to consider selling some licenses for things I don't even use. And these aren't bad plugins at all; they're from very respectable brands and developers. I think this is a great indicator that you've hit that threshold where enough is enough. $9.99 here, $29.99 there... a bundle is obviously a better deal, right? It all just stacks up in the end.

There are some plugins I couldn't live without, but there are three or four times that many that I can live without. The biggest issue isn't the quality, but just having too many duplicates that are aimed at emulating or performing in a similar fashion. Think compressor emulations or EQs doing... EQ things. Workflow really matters the most here. If you intuitively launch some plugins and get the results you want, they're really made for you. But if you're deep in a session then stop and think, "Hmm, I haven't used that one in four years, what is that?" why do you even have it installed then?

I could use something that is arguably better and newer (because people and reviewers are telling me this, especially some Grammy-award-winning producer I've never heard about), but if it requires me ten clicks to achieve something I want when I could've done it with three clicks in some VST or stock plugin that comes with my DAW, what's the point then?

My piece of advice: stick to a few favorite ecosystems, and that's it. I know it's a meme that every company has installers/downloaders/activators, and this problem really occurs when you're a customer of every single one of them. So, selectively cut those branches.

[jude77]

4 hours ago, solema said:

There are some plugins I couldn't live without, but there are three or four times that many that I can live without. The biggest issue isn't the quality, but just having too many duplicates that are aimed at emulating or performing in a similar fashion. Think compressor emulations or EQs doing... EQ things. 

I could use something that is arguably better and newer (because people and reviewers are telling me this, especially some Grammy-award-winning producer I've never heard about).

There are some good points here because there is soooooooooooooo much marketing hyperbole around plugins.  "This one sounds EXACTLY like an LA2A that used vintage solder made before 1957."  They seem to always be finding a new angle to sell us the same stuff.   More and more I try to consider "What do I have, and what do I really need?"  That alone does wonders for the credit card balance.

[Brian Walton]

10 hours ago, audioschmaudio said:

I subscribed to the EDMprod newsletter a while ago, just to get some freebies, and yesterday I got a newsletter that I wanted to share because it's a good reminder that we shouldn't fall victim to Gear Acquisition Syndrome. I believe that people like us on deals forums are especially prone to GAS, that's why I post it here.
The mail subject was "Stop hoarding, start creating" and I think he put it quite well:

I was aware of these things, but it drives the message home differently when I see it written from someone else, somehow.

Gotta love some made up statistics.

 

99% of producers never finish tracks?  Guess what, that means they are not a producer because they are not producing anything.  

I agree virtually all of us should spend more time actually creating than shopping/collecting.  But I also think this idea of GAS is overrated for anyone that is an actual artist that is driven to create.  

Some are creators and others well, are not.

My music circles are not EDM so perhaps the perspective is different, but the actual musicians I know are driven to play/create and those that do not, are not really stuck in the creative side - they are more on the technical - just like to tweak things side.

Edited 14 hours ago by Brian Walton

[solema]

52 minutes ago, jude77 said:

There are some good points here because there is soooooooooooooo much marketing hyperbole around plugins.  "This one sounds EXACTLY like an LA2A that used vintage solder made before 1957."  They seem to always be finding a new angle to sell us the same stuff.   More and more I try to consider "What do I have, and what do I really need?"  That alone does wonders for the credit card balance.

It's just classic consumerism. You've got constant sales in your face with "BUY NOW!" rhetoric and people, or out-of-nowhere experts, recommending you get things (like 9 out of 10 dentists recommending our toothpaste). "Buy 2, get 1 for free," "$9.99," "$29.99," "$99.99!" Then you get a free* gift. Seems familiar, doesn't it? It's like going to a supermarket and grabbing things you never planned to get at all. But because it's on sale, your shopping cart is full. That's it.

I like innovations, trying new stuff, and always get excited seeing new releases, but over the years, there's been one conclusion: my purchases have been fueled by a "this could be useful" or "this would be nice to have" mindset. "Would"- that's the word to keep in mind. A 20GB orchestral Kontakt library? It might be cool to have, but in practice, how will I use it? Do I even like it at all? Why the hell do I need an entire choir of altar boys? Then we reach the upgrade territory: getting the latest version because it's the latest. You get a plugin, then one or two years later, they drop a new version (I won't mention names, but those who know, you know), and for a simple fee (to them), you can get it too. Meanwhile, the first version hasn't been used in forever.

In conclusion, it's fine to hunt for deals and all that, but for my own sake and when advising others, be more specific and very selective with your purchases. The variety is huge, with people telling you that you need this and that, and YouTubers shilling that "this is a game-changer." At least demo the products. See how you can implement them into your projects, templates, and general workflow. Having options is great, but having too many options keeps you on this update/upgrade loop when you don't even know what you want in the end and you live in this "would-be-nice-to-have" universe. Try to avoid it. Seriously.

 

[Mr No Name]

I 've gradually escaped from the clutches of the cult of GAS,

just use the damn plugins you have.

how many can you use at once anyway?

 

I knew it was a thing I should be avoiding when I bought a "fairchild" compressor plugin, then decided I needed 2 other fairchild emulations a day later.

I didn't need them at all, cost about £100 for 3  bits of computer code.

not good imo.

[Mr No Name]

I could have got a years subscription to Sonar for that.

[pwalpwal]

collector syndrome

[Byron Dickens]

I have scads of stuff in Amplitube, for example, that I got either dirt cheap or free that I scroll through periodically and I always come back to the Marshall JMP model. 

[kitekrazy1]

16 hours ago, audioschmaudio said:

I subscribed to the EDMprod newsletter a while ago, just to get some freebies, and yesterday I got a newsletter that I wanted to share because it's a good reminder that we shouldn't fall victim to Gear Acquisition Syndrome. I believe that people like us on deals forums are especially prone to GAS, that's why I post it here.
The mail subject was "Stop hoarding, start creating" and I think he put it quite well:

I was aware of these things, but it drives the message home differently when I see it written from someone else, somehow.

BTW the thumbs down is sarcasm on my part.  Like that is nonsense, no way, I don't believe - never tired it.  Oh wait I did back when I had little money.

It seems like my more enjoyment is picking up an instrument and playing it.  No system to boot up, no external gear settings.  Just pick it up and play it.