Remember, buying shit ain't the same as doing. Also: pour one out for my dog who's getting neutered today ✂🍒🐶 Become a Patron ► venustheory.com/patrons Free Kalimba Instrument ► bit.ly/kalimbavt New String Library ► bit.ly/alt-strings-vt
I would love to see larger creators convincing beginners and generally untrained or just musically untalented people to simply get out and start doing that thing they love, despite their own personal shortcomings. Almost in my 40s and I'm just now getting into music (my last experience being recorder flutes in elementary school) and sucking at it. But I'm having a blast and really surprising myself with something really beautiful things every once in a while. I would love to see others just get a mic and that old guitar out of the attic or a cheap MAudio interface and a synth or just a USB keyboard and Garageband and start creating bad stuff and maybe you'll eventually start making good stuff!
You mention the value of time. One thing that became clear to me several thousands of dollars into this rabbit hole is how much time it takes to learn new gear. So not only are you spending money, you’re taking time that could go toward making a track.
Great point, but I gotta say some of my own favorite creations were made while deep-diving into a piece of gear. It could be time well spent, not time wasted :)
This is why I like you, Cameron. You do what you want with your channel, even if it’s not the most popular. I’m sure the gear videos would be a lot more popular, but I enjoy these kinds of videos so much more. Keep it up, man
'Preciate it partner. More than enough gear videos to go around anyways, might as well do something more interesting than rattle off specs twice a month 😅
This isnt just him. The algorithm is borderline oppressive and people are exhausted. Expect to see even more videos of people going off their expected rails and "I'm leaving youtube" videos.
@@Clee3421 lol, truth! UA-cam is great isn't it!?! LoL More and more as time goes on I am sure youtube will find more ways to punish content creators hahaha 👊😉👍
I'm a graphic artist and i gotta say this is something that is probably true for most creative endeavours. There's no better way of getting a project started than limiting yourself. Creativity is fundamentally a process about problem solving, so you have to give yourself some problems to solve. This is especially the case for aspects of your craft that you struggle with.
"...because the hardest way to make something is to wait until the time is right to do it" I feel seen. Thanks for saying that, I guess I needed to hear it.
mannn i feel this in my bones. i made my first song with audacity, a fisher price piano, a pawnshop acoustic guitar and a rockband usb mic... and its easily the most authentic, soulful piece of music ive ever made
Ah the days of the 'dude we can record I have a rockband mic' haha. Good times - did that many times myself in my buddies basement growing up because his parents could afford rockband 😅
Sameeeee, I made my first song with my first strat, a Rocksmith real tone cable and mix craft midi bass and MTpowerdrumkit, ended up being one o my best songs to this day.
I made my first song with a mp3 player and ten dollar earbud mic. It was 4 cords from my out of tune piano, a drum loop from who the heck knows where and I used some DAW nobody has ever heard of
I've only dabbled with music production over the years but recall purchasing the original Dance eJay (1997). However my younger brother became particularly interested and from there went on to pursue an education and career in sound engineering and performance. Sadly he's no longer with us but that simple PC program was his acorn.
You hit the nail on the head. I've become more selective with my UA-cam subscriptions lately. I'm gravitating towards channels that prioritize genuine content over marketing fluff
I was 18, it was 1987. I had two old 1980's synthesizers and two cassette recorders (to bounce tracks back and forth), I would write and record a song each day, and then play it at my club that night (I was working as a club DJ in Toronto). Crazy how productive I was. Then I got a four-track Tascam cassette recorder, what a revelation! Now it takes me days to figure out which of the thousands of drum sounds I have on hand are going to be the best for the middle 8 of the song.
@@ShaunyWalker look up the video on my channel titled "the story of how I got started in music and synths" from June of 2021 - I tell the whole story there, including footage from some of the clubs.
BAck in the 80's and 90's, before "in the box", recalling your half-finished project was a nightmare. There was no "Save Entire Project" when you were using a sampler, analog synth (with no presets), analog mixing desk and some outboard FX etc. They'd note down mixing desk settings and everything, to try and carry on working later if needed. But often, it just didn't sound right! So most (electronic, house, DnB) producers finished and mixed tracks as fast as possible, just so we didn't lose them. Recall making 4 or 5 mixes of a track, doing live fader and filter changes on each, then choosing the best later. In hindsight, I think that's why many producers struggle to finish tracks now. You can always save and "perfect" it another time, so that's what we do. Always planning to tweak something, swap out the drums, change the bass, remix the sub. It wasn't an option back then, you finished and moved on, because finishing a half-done track a month from now wasn't an option.
This was a good to hear. Thank you. I have over the last 25 years bought, sold, re-bought and re-sold thousands of dollars of music gear . I just did it again. I bought a Novation Bass Station II for the second time. It is a good piece of kit. It is simple and does what it says on the box. So why did I let the 1st one go 3 years ago only to purchase it again? It re inspired me. When I was fiddling about with it in the store it gave me a feeling that recently I had not had. I don't feel creative.. I am bored. I have no steady source of income. I am in between jobs. I am 54. I am gaining weight. I just want to feel the dopamine and excitement of a purchase. I want to jump start my coping mechanism and buy some happy. The sad truth, I have played that Bass Station II once since I got it 4 weeks ago. It has collected dust sitting up against the wall .I have thought about taking it back to the store this loop has to end. It was ok 25 years ago with a steady stream of income, but now it's a gamble and risk. There is now this shame that I tricked myself in to believing that this purchase was going to make me happy. I'm amazed that such a simple instrument like the Bass Station II has created such a complex sequence of emotional responses that are not very pleasing to hear. Your segment here helped in a way. I never felt alone in this. I knew G.A.S. was a real thing. I lived it. Still do. Guess I got a little more work to do. Get a job, Get back to the gym. Respect and cherish that I still have my health at 54. Look forward to the future. Sell the Bass Station II new in box.
Brilliant and courageous analysis. I've suffered from GAS for decades, but recently moved and discovered just how much crap I acquired, never used, and stuffed in a closet for some ersatz rainy day. In the time I owned the gear, I was so consumed with studying and acquiring the instruments, hardware, plugins, DAW alternatives, libraries, etc., that I also discovered that I didn't make much to show for my money and time. Since this epiphany, I've managed to sell about 75% of that very same gear that I spent so much time and money acquiring. With each sale came this cathartic relief, so powerful and rewarding, that I just kept selling more. After two years, I'm down to "just the basics", only the equipment and software that I actually use, and I have now re-discovered the concept of actually making music. I've completed a number of songs just in the past few months, songs that eluded me for years. Perhaps the "analysis paralysis" and acquisitions were an excuse to not create, but now they no longer exist, and now I'm creating. So, bravo to you for pointing this out. Here's to the actual process of creating using what we have, and nothing more.
Back when I got my Native Instruments Collection, I was really overwhelmed, so I set up a challenge just for myself: Only create music using the Minimoog clone (Monark) and built-in VSTs of my DAW. This gave me two really good insights: How to best use the free stuff that comes with the DAW, no fancy plugins needed, and how to get the most out of Monark at all. Pads, Leads, Drums, I can now confidently recreate a sound I have in my head. If I wouldn't have done this I would probably still be doing preset-hopping instead.
I've always agreed with this. It doesn't just stop with gear and creativity though. There's also an obsession with perfect mixdowns and sound design that has a similar affect on productivity. I've tried to assure people repeatedly, that if the music is good, it doesn't very much matter if you have the worlds best mixdown. A good song with a mediocre mixdown is always better than a bad song mixed by Dave Pensado. People start convincing themselves that unless they have the best gear, and the best engineers, they simply can't make a good song. Obviously nothing could be further from the truth. The best songs I've ever made were when I spent less time worrying about the perfect drum sample, or the perfect synth patch, and instead focused on the composition and got the idea out of me. I can always go back later and make a new synth patch, or find a better drum sample, but what I can't do, is go back and get the creative moment I was having, after I spend 2 hours making the perfect kick drum. I think the dirty little secret is, some of us actually enjoy making the perfect kick drum more than we enjoy making a good song, and a lot of us just don't know it.
I made an album 1 or 2 years ago using just one Microfreak and free reverbs with a DAW. I was just jamming and recording, took the best takes and saved each as a song. I'm not a "professional" musician and I certainly doubt I would ever make enough money with the hobby I do on my free time, but that album is one of the most listened on my bandcamp (which doesn't have a lot of traffic, so that's really something). It was really just one instance, of one instrument, and free plugins. Not a masterpiece, but plenty of people liked it.
I got my gear acquisition syndrome by watching UA-cam videos to inform myself, making up my lack of knowledge about what "Works". As you rightly point out, it's not the gear that works but me. As I was watching I got all gooey over your 3rd wave desktop synthesizer. Like any addiction, mine required me to own it and figure out strategies to keep it under control.
Like a slap in the face with a wet fish, this was just the video I've been needing to break the gear acquisition cycle! Looking back with fondness to where I started with a Tascam 244 Portastudio, four tracks on tape cassette, a Casio VL-1 and my mates dad's Eminent organ, bouncing tracks down to squeeze more tracks onto a C90 cassette....so much fun and such a creative time...Enough typing, time to go make some tunes. Thank you so much 😊
I never commented on this channel but damn these videos help me a lot. With them I was able to make more music and evolve, today I got signed to two good labels under a new name and I'll start a new journey, thank you Cameron!
For me, it was never gear but courses. I was a sucker for production courses, and I have many I didn't even half finish. And obviously there are good courses with good information out there, but for me it became a mental block "I'll just learn this one thing and THEN my music will be good". In the end, nothing taught me more about making music that...uhh... making music.
Excellently put. Interesting note regarding anticipation and justification, simply talking about a project to others and feeding off of their reactions gives us similar feelings in our reward centres as actually doing the project. So it satisfies the same craving, but gets nothing done. I stepped back and realized that every good thing I've made did not go through that little hype train exercise.
You make several good points with this video (as usual!). G.A.S. Is a real issue for lots of us. To control my G.A.S. I started a policy (5 years ago this month): “If I want to buy something, I have to sell something”. In other words, take the value in what I owned, recover it by selling it, and then use that money to buy the next thing. That saved me from falling over the cliff. That kept me from filling a room with an impossible to use amount of gear. I also agree with your point about using things for JOY, and not limiting a purchase to mere utilitarian reasons. Rock on!
I recently did this and it was an awesome way to get rid of things that I didn’t use to get something rare and relatively expensive that I use a lot and sounds great. I bought things used, so the value stays stable when time to sell
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Many thanks for this! I've done a few gear vids, but by far the most engagement I got is for my one on G.A.S. and I think that's cos it's a universal issue, and often gets in the he way of creativity to our frustration. Fundamentally it's way EASIER to buy things than to CREATE THINGS. Nothing is on the line when you click buy now. You get some dopamine, you can feel like it's an achievement. And you know don't get me wrong, it's fun to have stuff and that's fine to enjoy it however you like. But it's when it becomes an excuse for not creating when you know you want to, that I feel it gets quite toxic. When it's filling a hole that should be filled with art. It can lead to serious issues, debt and depression and so on. I too tire of the endless kit cycle and agree it holds back creativity, and try to stay out of it for the most part. Since I used to work at Sound On Sound as news editor about 10 years back it was very hard to let go of being deep into the industry and buried in gear cycles and so on, but I think it's good for you creatively to do so, so I'm trying my best!
George Lucas said something that stuck with me. Translated to a music context it goes like this. According to George there are two types of happiness, pleasure and joy. And happiness cant be both at the same time, it’s either one. Pleasure is the feeling you get buying a new synthesizer. The peak of happiness goes high but does not sustain very long. The thing with pleasure is, you don’t remember it. When it’s gone it’s gone. And the next time you will have to buy a synthesizer twice as good to get the same level of pleasure. Because it insulates. Joy on the other hand is something you do remember. It comes from unselfish acts like giving yourself to someone or something. It doesn’t peak as high like pleasure, it comes with small doses of happiness. But it can stay for a life time. Joy is being proud of your kids, helping others grow in their craft by sharing your knowledge and experience, being there for a friend, or giving yourself to your craft. Pleasure is easy to attain, while joy requires discipline and effort, but if you are ready to do the hard work, joy can be an infinite pool of happiness to draw from. For me, George wise words have helped me when i felt stuck constantly looking for the next gadget to get excited for. Sure it is nice to check out the latest products on UA-cam now and then, pleasure is fine too but it's impossible to sustain. Like mentioned in this great video, to look for new gear is so much easier then to do the hard work with what you have. For me the problem is when I put too much of my valuable spare time into the effortless pleasure activities, like scrolling through social media. I think Georges wise words really resonates with our time, and i think this is the year change will start happening. Source: ua-cam.com/video/CnHyStDZ3_U/v-deo.html
Man I could probably unsubscribe from every other music channel on UA-cam, but yours always brings something valuable to the table. This vid in particular was exactly what I needed to hear this morning
Anytime I see a video in my feed about procrastination I save it to the watch later playlist. "Get of the internet and make something" ... you know I just might.
You're right dude. I ended up uninstalling most of my vsts and have made more music than I did before. Choice paralysis and thirsting for the next best thing takes so much energy and time.
Most VSTs come with a googolplex of presets and you end up masturbating 90% of the time listening to the stupid presets than doing anything constructive. Kind of a reason i like old monosynths is you have zero presets, you work to get something that sounds like your imagined goal, or even better, stumble on the happy accident, then you make a tune with it. Minimal masturbation.
That Hainbach album is so brilliant. It's a perfect example of how real creativity will always shine, no matter what gear - if anything, it's the limitations that *especially* made it so good. And the fact you made a sample library on budget gear to prove the point is pretty funny, but definitely works. Always appreciate your honesty and cynicism on these topics.
Refreshingly honest. The most sincere message I've heard online in years. Me thinks this guy could do fairly well with a channel just on philosophy and culture.
I’ve butted heads with GAS a few times and my best way to deal with it (when I’m able to resist) is to truly enjoy the research into what the new shiny thing can do and how it does it. I really enjoy the process of learning it’s depths and I think that’s to do with the anticipation you mentioned, and I’ve found if I ride that wave long enough the urge to actually buy it diminishes and I can move onto a new obsession without having spent my money on what would become a prop. I also having learned so much about what it does and how I find myself better able to experiment with recreating it with what I’ve already got.
That last line hits straight to the core of being alive and, for me, makes this even more of a video i need to return too often. Definitely talked off the GAS sinkhole!
5:48 strangely refreshing and remarkably freeing thought. Sometimes it is just nice to have the stuff i have even though i dont use it all the time. No need to stress over it tok much. Thanks!
Great stuff. In my personal experience, it can take a while and cycling through a bunch of gear, to find a setup and workflow that works for you personally. Yes, anyone can make music with almost anything, but there are some great devices out there that trigger the deepest wells of creativity inside of you. My current setup is almost completely different from when I started out over 3 years ago. But I am finally in a place where I feel that that well of creativity is ready to be fully tapped.
I'm a decent artist, that hasn't really shared much of my work. And I've been buying $1,000+ virtual instruments for the past five years. Every time I compose my music, I think "This could sound better. If only I had..." and would continue to buy yet another, expensive virtual instrument. Like you were saying, I'm happy having them still. And they mean a lot to me. I just forget that my ability is lacking more than my equipment, just how you explained in the video. We get sucked-up into a void believing that if we just bought... No, it won't make you significantly better. There's many more methods & directions of learning you could pursue to make you a better artist than buying every new piece of equipment. Thank you for the video :D
"Whether you do, or whether you do not, time is gonna pass any way, and regret for having not tried sure makes suffering with existence a whole more harder." - Cameron (2024) Words to live by.
Thank god I'm not the only one thinking about this stuff. I sometimes feel like I'm the only one who's tired of jokes about buying more gear and the rampant consumerism surrounding music gear. Thank you for making this video.
This is such a relevant and reality based video, perfect for the new year. I made a few unnecessary purchases as I just got into this whole music production thing 4 months ago. Jumped in fully. It was supposed to be just getting back into mixing music so I picked up a DJ controller. Very quickly I decided I enjoy making beats and bought the latest version of Beatmaker and that started a spiraling out of control purchase frenzy. First I purchased a Akai MPC Live 2. I then needed an Audio Interface and studio sepeakers which led to wanting to have a better mixer because of the other gear I decided I needed. I settled in on a Tascam Model 12 so I could hook all the equipment. A Keystep Pro, MicroFreak, Faderfox EC-4, T.E. EP-133, and to actually make sounds outside of VST's I just picked up a ASM Hydrasynth to round out my studio. Former gambling addict and I love to buy shit. Every hobby I've embarked on I've been a full or nothing participant. Well, now it's time to continue learning how to use all of this equipment and making some music. Stay tuned.
Absolutely feel you haha. Recently did a big purge a few months ago of that pile of 'stuff I probably might need' that I accumulated over the last decade or so and that was a massive eye opener of how many things I owned that needed dusted off every few months!
2:41 Lol, oh the irony! My entire career was built on the Rode NT2(a) and I still use them as my main mic to this day. When I started my first professional studio I ended up with a nice mic collection but ended up selling a Neuman U87 and keeping the Rodes as they just sounded better in far more situations. Past 2010 your audio interface / mic pre is worth less than a 1% difference.
I sold all of my recording stuff, synths, etc. I just have my guitars, chinese instruments etc. Focusing on practicing and being a good musician, can always record the stuff I write as i focus on being a more proficient instrumentalist later in life. Very rarely did a piece of gear lead to me coming up with any novel musical idea. the best ideas come from practice and experimentation with limited tools.
This advice applies to so many things in my life - gamedev, programming, music production, technical research/writing, etc. Thank you for these style of videos, they mean a lot to me and others, I’m sure.
I think one of the big problems as well is GearTube. None of the others I've commented on have either responded or they've gotten defensive when I say that everyone should just admit and own the fact that they're part of each company's advertising department. No matter what is said, it's advertising the product, in the vast majority of the time, favorably. Which pushes people to do the endless gear buying/upgrading etc. The Beatles used 4 tracks on tape. I myself felt most creative when I had a 4 track cassette deck in the 80s or my computer with a Digidesign Audiomedia II card in the early 2000s.
Friends think I spend too much money on gear. I played 5 different instruments in high school band, filling gaps wherever I was needed. But for me a new instrument is like a vacation. Something to explore. One day after my sister made a comment about my musical purchases I said "I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't do drugs, I don't fish. This is my hobby. It could be worse." Now they don't say anything, and my long gathered collection of instruments helped to finance early retirement.
I built my studio partly because I always wanted to have a space that looks like that. It’s weird, but it’s a physical manifestation of my success at work. That said, I did start acquiring a lot more gear during the pandemic…at the same time I discovered music UA-cam. It’s really quite frightening the influence it has.
Thank you for making that video, I'll use it to answer to another person ranting about how their DAW or their gear misses something, when in reality it won't make them more creative. To anyone who doubts that assertion, just check what Tanzanian artists are making with just Virtual DJ, or how some awesome records have been made with a Macintosh 128k back in the days.
Preach. I bought my DAW, a few basic VSTs like Korg M1(I make house, can't live without it) & Pro Q 3 (for the mid-side goodness) and that's it! That's all you need unless you are chasing a specific sound or publishing commercially.
I made an entire album's worth of songs with Audacity, the free version of Roland Zenbeats, a $40 acoustic guitar and an electric guitar plugged into a cheap amp. I recorded the acoustic guitars in the walk-in closet, since the clothes helped dampen the echo. It took me forever to edit and mix the songs, and they eventually made it into the streaming services. They don't sound professional by any means, but I'm still incredibly proud of those compositions.
Thanks for the video. What you say about time at the end reminded me of Slavoj Zizek's theory of interpassivity. In short, it's a state in which you become overwhelmed by the options for interactivity, and as a result, you avoid them. Zizek gave the example of recording all the interesting programs on videotapes, in the hope of watching them later. But in reality your VCR is potentially watching them, storing them, freeing you from the burden of interactivity. It's probably similar with collecting musical equipment: your new instruments interpassively, potentially, create music for you. But in reality nothing is created, because either you don't have time or you're afraid to take action. So, burdened with guilt, you simply buy another instrument again that will free you from the burden of creativity, and the cycle begins all over again. All the best!
Reminds me of an old saying that we have all probably heard at least once, "It is a poor mechanic who blames his tools" Or to quote John Lennon, "I'm an artist. You give me a tuba, and I will get you something out of it."
This is why I like the idea of Jamuary. Just, go! Clear that little corner of the room (or desk, or park bench), point a thing that records at it and create something. Aside from the promise to myself and other people doing the same, there is no drive to do 31 jams, ideally one each day, for a month. I'll be dammed, it is a driver to be creative!
How dare you be so factful and accurate!! Goddammit man, your videos are often right on the nose. I'd hate to know how many hours I've spent watching videos about gear I don't really need instead of just making music with the already significant amount of gear I have. Thanks dude, your videos are so often a kick up my ass to go and make music.
Completely in love with this! The tools that we use are just an extension of our skills we already possess but relying on the tools as a crutch won't make us any better.
I agree all of it what you saying. But the last thing is the whole true! Time is going whatever we do or not. Every minute is a chance to do something beautiful.
In the 90s I had so much gear it heated my apartment. I was a young 18-35er then, unsure of myself as a player, thus susceptible to "this is pro" marketing. Like the weed I grew to buy it, all the gear is gone. Kids, save your money. Time makes the player and leads to good music.
I love this take. I wrote my first album 20 years ago on a busted laptop, using no hardware except for an entry level Tascam US-122 audio interface and monitoring it through the speakers I borrowed from my parent's old stereo. Despite now having an entire studio full of fancy gear, that album is still my favourite pieces of work I've produced and it got me booked on a tour that went around the world for over two years. Gear isn't what's holding you back. You're what's holding you back. Get started!
Last years new hot itens, we all drooled over, are still exceptional devices. We font need the latest, tat. Im no David Lynch, but I had my most creative burst, when I started out. £40 mixer, a turntable, a stack of spoken word and effects vinyl. A £15 Fab Chorus, £20 Distortion,£25 Reverb, £30 Delay and a Monotron delay, along with radios, old cassette deck and a dictaphone. I was frustrated, but happy and inventive. I took up the artform late in life, when my hands were too worn out for heavy creative metalwork. I consider my creative process to be resilient, now, no matter what my health or resources, I can create with an old laptop, open source software and a smartphone as a field recorder, from a hospital bed. I've begged, stole and borrowed, Ive built, hacked and invented many devices, Im overwhelmed with gear. Im at a point where it's time for a lot if it to go. Im cool with that as well, I just cant decide, which ones, lol.
Oh yes, thanks so much. I cannot emphasize enough. The times of my life I was the most productive is when I had a single limited piece of gear, no Internet and... time ! Always good to recall this ! Cheers
I wish we could just talk someday. I search everywhere in Tokyo for calm logic driven comversations but rarely find someone like you. I hope this reaches you someday because I think whoever you are friends with, they should remind themselves that they have a 1 in a million friend
I came back to comment on this video just to say this sentence stuck with me: "Don't do, just buy". It's so nicely condensed. Only in the recent two months we got the new TE PO-2, the Kaoss Replay and now the Yamaha SEQTrak. While I am lusting fot the PO-2 a bit, my general feeling is that these boxes are rehashes of rehashes, they are quite samey to me in a way. I guess I like to complain, not sure what my point is after all. I do like collecting gear but what is the point of having 10 limited samplers in the end. Maybe my GAS times are coming to an end.
One thing I enjoyed about recording real drums for the first time recently, is that the sounds I got weren't exactly the sounds I was going for, but they still sound good.
I have to keep reminding myself that I used to make all my recordings doing things like bouncing channels on a stereo 2-track, or recording a crash cymbal separately, because I didn't own one, etc. etc. - because I had to feed the inate need to make the song, which usually started out with a riff or just an idea. Now I have plenty of riffs and ideas, and WAY more than I need to do something with them. Except that new nifty compressor plugin. 😜 Thanks for another great vid, Cameron. You continue to inspire.
Every time I watch one of your videos (which I think are great, by the way) - your voice reminds me of Baz Luhrmann's Everybody Free to Wear Sunscreen and I find myself reciting in my head...!
I have so many plugins, and honestly, my favourite ones aren't the ones that sound best, they're the ones that allow me to work quickly and save me the most amount of time.
You are so on point. I'm there now. I have 3 DAWS have not leaned them good enough But i keep buying plugins that sound good until I try to use them. I made more music for myself in the 80's/90's with cassettes the radio and dj set up. than what I have now. I go on YT to get inspired but stay there and never make anything. I'm just glad to know it's not just me. Thanks.
I have a lot of gear and my approach is basically to hardwire each piece into its place in the mix and the stereo field. This cleans a lot of the mental clutter and allows for a more consistent sound across tracks.
Thanks for reminding me that all that really counts is one's own creativity. I used to buy gear because I thought it makes my music sound good. But it's actually me who in the end makes it sound good. Thanks for the reassurance!
Great message, thank you for sharing this. I am guilty of wasting too much time watching UA-cam demos of gear, thinking that a new device will make me a better musician. It won't. Only making music will make me a better musician. Like you, I have a ridiculous amount of equipment at my disposal now as compared to 30 years ago. Sometimes, I find I just have to grab an old acoustic guitar and get out of my studio to force myself to focus on creating something with only one instrument. When I return to my studio, I realize I already have more than I need. GAS averted for another day. Cheers Bill
Superb video as always! I also discovered a couple years ago that the research of the ''perfect gear/plugin'' for the ''perfect sound'' was just keeping me from creating music and complete tracks. At some point, I decided to just stop looking to acquire new gear and just create. And here I am three years later about to drop my first self-produced album that I recorded with a cheap audio interface, a macbook pro 2012, a guitars, a bass and a 500$ mic. I mean, it's probably not the highest quality, but still I created something and I will never forget these moments. I wish I could have seen a video like this one 10 years ago! Keep up the good work!
Very well said. We see this in everything. I see it in music, I see it in body building, in studio gear, in any hobby. At the end of the day, the people taking out ads, or sponsoring content have invested interest in selling you gear. No one is taking an add out in a magazine to tell you to learn and become an expert with what you have or that practicing more will make you sound much better in the long run than a new pickup or plug in. ❤
1:16 This video reminds me of the day I started creating music with just one android phone and a cracked FL studio mobile. From that setup, I was able to make several lo-fi albums. It reminds us whatever we have right now is not a stumbling block to enable us to create something but the opportunity to make us creative and create something from what gear or instrument we have right now.
I like this video a lot. Reminds me of something I picked up from my art history studies specifically the minimalist movement, circa 1960’s. It’s also a common tip in graphic design circles which says simply - “less is more”. A number of artists have at least some sort of story regarding their bare bones, humble hardware (simple software, maybe?) beginnings. For example, I recently watched Moby’s autobiographical documentary where he explains how the pinnacle of his creativity (and happiness) happened at a time in his life when he was dirt poor and living/making music in an abandoned factory. “Less is more” might sound a little pretentious or maybe even esoteric but in practice I think it really makes sense. Anyway, great video. Cheers. 😎👍
Fantastic video. I agree with everything you said, but I would point out that the urge to buy new gear isn't the only way that this kind of creative paralysis can manifest itself. I think it's something to do with a level of insecurity and impostor syndrome that almost all artists suffer from to some degree. And the internet is a very competitive place, where everyone is constantly trying to one-up everyone else, whether it's with their gear, their knowledge of Serum, their exhaustive taxonomical knowledge of every obscure club genre known to man, or their ability to detect minor flaws in your mix. So the longer you spent online, the more you're reminded of how much you don't know, or can't do, or can't afford to do, and all of that is paralysing, especially for beginners.
GAS is a real problem for many people. Being Rightpondian, I call it PETROL (Pathological Eagerness To Reach Overdraft Limit). Nearly two years ago I set up a new studio in the house I'd moved to. It's only in the last month (basically over Christmas) that I've really started to make music, and I'm finding that it's really helping my mental state and I'm sleeping better. I'm not entirely sure exactly what I was waiting for that whole time in between, but I suspect that a feeling of "I just need this one last thing" was a contributory factor. In December I got an Osmose... and I think perhaps that helped. It was such a beautiful instrument that part of me just took it as a sign. It was as if my brain said to me "come on, you have one of THOSE now so there's really no excuse any more!". I know all about the expense of unused gear, having tried to get into orchestral film music in about 2008. I forced myself to go back through all my records and make a spreadsheet so I could calculate how much I'd spent (mostly on expensive sample libraries, the total of which vastly overshadowed even the cost of my "cheesegrater" 2009 Mac Pro, even though the 256Gb SSD I installed in it was 525GBP at the time I bought it, unthinkable nowadays). The total cost of software that I might never use again was a bit terrifying, and made me wonder how much I'll regret it when I retire (which is probably only just over a decade away for me). My advice to anyone is: get on with it! Don't wait, DO things.
This video is beautiful and exactly what I needed to see these past three days as I've fought the urge to buy an ASR 10 that I absolutely DON'T need. I truly appreciate the honest conversations that you have with listeners of this channel 🙏.
Enjoyed this! This is something I’ve thought a lot about. I’ve had tons of gear and plenty of time in the past. But I have very little time now-but I make more music than I ever thought I would. Part of it is because of me accidentally figuring out that you can do EVERYTHING with a single iPad. But even having the tools only gets you so far. I crave music… I love making stuff that I like-it’s even better when other people like it too. But it’s my love for music in general that I think is the origin of my creative energy. Everyone is different, but I offer this advice to anyone who needs it: listen to music. Listen to lots of music--different music/new music. For me, I can find inspiration from almost any music. I hear things that inspire me to try things in my session later. Also, record as often as possible. When I get in a funk, I often just go back and grab an old project to build on or remix. Nothing is perfect and that’s a good thing. The closer you get to authentic expression, the more you will enjoy you own music. At least for me that is true.
Last words of this video hit hard. I find myself in this endless loop when I can create something because of the frustration about the fact that I couldn't create something in the past because of "insert any adult problem here"
Remember, buying shit ain't the same as doing. Also: pour one out for my dog who's getting neutered today ✂🍒🐶
Become a Patron ► venustheory.com/patrons
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sending love for your wee dog ♥
I'll pour one out when I get home. Hope it goes well for your pup
I would love to see larger creators convincing beginners and generally untrained or just musically untalented people to simply get out and start doing that thing they love, despite their own personal shortcomings. Almost in my 40s and I'm just now getting into music (my last experience being recorder flutes in elementary school) and sucking at it. But I'm having a blast and really surprising myself with something really beautiful things every once in a while. I would love to see others just get a mic and that old guitar out of the attic or a cheap MAudio interface and a synth or just a USB keyboard and Garageband and start creating bad stuff and maybe you'll eventually start making good stuff!
@@ghfjfghjasdfasdf Soundcloud isn't really Soundcloud anymore.
@@ghfjfghjasdfasdf So was the original Soundcloud. You probably weren't even born yet.
Casually creates a sample library to prove a point
'tis the way of the grumpstache 🤠
put a massive smile on my face
Seriously
@@VenusTheory to you sir, the highest of fives 🫡
Hours of work for about a 30-second montage. That's dedication
"Whether you tell yourself you can, or tell yourself you can't, you're right!
- Henry Ford
ooh... a Henry Ford quote! Spot on!
You mention the value of time. One thing that became clear to me several thousands of dollars into this rabbit hole is how much time it takes to learn new gear. So not only are you spending money, you’re taking time that could go toward making a track.
Great point!
Great point, but I gotta say some of my own favorite creations were made while deep-diving into a piece of gear. It could be time well spent, not time wasted :)
But then there's also the great fun in learning a new piece of gear, at least for me. That has great value in of itself.
By learning new devices u learn new approaches of making music,so I d consider it useful most of the times
@@soejrd24978Agree it can be fun to learn the gear, and that can be a reward in itself!
This is why I like you, Cameron. You do what you want with your channel, even if it’s not the most popular. I’m sure the gear videos would be a lot more popular, but I enjoy these kinds of videos so much more. Keep it up, man
'Preciate it partner. More than enough gear videos to go around anyways, might as well do something more interesting than rattle off specs twice a month 😅
On god this guy has helped me so much with these vids
This isnt just him. The algorithm is borderline oppressive and people are exhausted. Expect to see even more videos of people going off their expected rails and "I'm leaving youtube" videos.
@@Clee3421 lol, truth! UA-cam is great isn't it!?! LoL More and more as time goes on I am sure youtube will find more ways to punish content creators hahaha 👊😉👍
Suddenly feeling inspired. Thanks for this. Seems it was the 🔥 I needed lit under my ass! @VenusTheory
I'm a graphic artist and i gotta say this is something that is probably true for most creative endeavours. There's no better way of getting a project started than limiting yourself. Creativity is fundamentally a process about problem solving, so you have to give yourself some problems to solve. This is especially the case for aspects of your craft that you struggle with.
I think it’s true for whatever you do when you are awake 😂 the info pipeline is strong 💪
That’s the reason I like using Pocket operators, limited capability while still being provided everything I need to make Musik.
Agreed for sure
❤️❤️❤️absolutely
I've always found this, regardless of the field I was working in at the time.
"...because the hardest way to make something is to wait until the time is right to do it"
I feel seen. Thanks for saying that, I guess I needed to hear it.
I was in that comment too 🫂
I second this. I spend waaaay too much time "setting the stage" as opposed to actually doing stuff... guess I'm a work-in-progress on that level.
mannn i feel this in my bones. i made my first song with audacity, a fisher price piano, a pawnshop acoustic guitar and a rockband usb mic... and its easily the most authentic, soulful piece of music ive ever made
Ah the days of the 'dude we can record I have a rockband mic' haha. Good times - did that many times myself in my buddies basement growing up because his parents could afford rockband 😅
Sameeeee, I made my first song with my first strat, a Rocksmith real tone cable and mix craft midi bass and MTpowerdrumkit, ended up being one o my best songs to this day.
I made my first song with a mp3 player and ten dollar earbud mic. It was 4 cords from my out of tune piano, a drum loop from who the heck knows where and I used some DAW nobody has ever heard of
I've only dabbled with music production over the years but recall purchasing the original Dance eJay (1997). However my younger brother became particularly interested and from there went on to pursue an education and career in sound engineering and performance. Sadly he's no longer with us but that simple PC program was his acorn.
Year 2040... Brings out UA-cam video on why Fisherprice is the new go-to retro device for synth musicians. Costs: £2000 on Ebay. 😂
You hit the nail on the head.
I've become more selective with my UA-cam subscriptions lately. I'm gravitating towards channels that prioritize genuine content over marketing fluff
I was 18, it was 1987. I had two old 1980's synthesizers and two cassette recorders (to bounce tracks back and forth), I would write and record a song each day, and then play it at my club that night (I was working as a club DJ in Toronto). Crazy how productive I was. Then I got a four-track Tascam cassette recorder, what a revelation!
Now it takes me days to figure out which of the thousands of drum sounds I have on hand are going to be the best for the middle 8 of the song.
I miss my Tascam Portastudio.
Which club in Toronto, btw cheers fellow Torontonian 👍😎🖑
@@ShaunyWalker look up the video on my channel titled "the story of how I got started in music and synths" from June of 2021 - I tell the whole story there, including footage from some of the clubs.
BAck in the 80's and 90's, before "in the box", recalling your half-finished project was a nightmare. There was no "Save Entire Project" when you were using a sampler, analog synth (with no presets), analog mixing desk and some outboard FX etc. They'd note down mixing desk settings and everything, to try and carry on working later if needed. But often, it just didn't sound right! So most (electronic, house, DnB) producers finished and mixed tracks as fast as possible, just so we didn't lose them. Recall making 4 or 5 mixes of a track, doing live fader and filter changes on each, then choosing the best later.
In hindsight, I think that's why many producers struggle to finish tracks now. You can always save and "perfect" it another time, so that's what we do. Always planning to tweak something, swap out the drums, change the bass, remix the sub. It wasn't an option back then, you finished and moved on, because finishing a half-done track a month from now wasn't an option.
Scott what a moving video. Thank you so much! Come back to visit Georgetown again...@@ScottsSynthStuff
This was a good to hear. Thank you. I have over the last 25 years bought, sold, re-bought and re-sold thousands of dollars of music gear . I just did it again. I bought a Novation Bass Station II for the second time. It is a good piece of kit. It is simple and does what it says on the box. So why did I let the 1st one go 3 years ago only to purchase it again? It re inspired me. When I was fiddling about with it in the store it gave me a feeling that recently I had not had. I don't feel creative.. I am bored. I have no steady source of income. I am in between jobs. I am 54. I am gaining weight. I just want to feel the dopamine and excitement of a purchase. I want to jump start my coping mechanism and buy some happy. The sad truth, I have played that Bass Station II once since I got it 4 weeks ago. It has collected dust sitting up against the wall .I have thought about taking it back to the store this loop has to end. It was ok 25 years ago with a steady stream of income, but now it's a gamble and risk. There is now this shame that I tricked myself in to believing that this purchase was going to make me happy. I'm amazed that such a simple instrument like the Bass Station II has created such a complex sequence of emotional responses that are not very pleasing to hear. Your segment here helped in a way. I never felt alone in this. I knew G.A.S. was a real thing. I lived it. Still do. Guess I got a little more work to do. Get a job, Get back to the gym. Respect and cherish that I still have my health at 54. Look forward to the future. Sell the Bass Station II new in box.
Get in the gym yes, but even more, eat healthy.
This hits hard. Be well!!
Keep your chin up mate 🙂
Don't sell it. USE it!
You bought it for a reason. Twice!
LET'S GOOOOOOOO!!!
Ya you’re not alone It really is a matter of getting moving first thing in morning staying off phone and reprogramming yourself All the best
Brilliant and courageous analysis. I've suffered from GAS for decades, but recently moved and discovered just how much crap I acquired, never used, and stuffed in a closet for some ersatz rainy day. In the time I owned the gear, I was so consumed with studying and acquiring the instruments, hardware, plugins, DAW alternatives, libraries, etc., that I also discovered that I didn't make much to show for my money and time. Since this epiphany, I've managed to sell about 75% of that very same gear that I spent so much time and money acquiring. With each sale came this cathartic relief, so powerful and rewarding, that I just kept selling more. After two years, I'm down to "just the basics", only the equipment and software that I actually use, and I have now re-discovered the concept of actually making music. I've completed a number of songs just in the past few months, songs that eluded me for years. Perhaps the "analysis paralysis" and acquisitions were an excuse to not create, but now they no longer exist, and now I'm creating. So, bravo to you for pointing this out. Here's to the actual process of creating using what we have, and nothing more.
John Darnielle recorded at least eight Mountain Goats albums on a Panasonic RX-FT500 boombox using the built in microphone and cassette tapes.
Back when I got my Native Instruments Collection, I was really overwhelmed, so I set up a challenge just for myself: Only create music using the Minimoog clone (Monark) and built-in VSTs of my DAW. This gave me two really good insights: How to best use the free stuff that comes with the DAW, no fancy plugins needed, and how to get the most out of Monark at all. Pads, Leads, Drums, I can now confidently recreate a sound I have in my head. If I wouldn't have done this I would probably still be doing preset-hopping instead.
I've always agreed with this. It doesn't just stop with gear and creativity though. There's also an obsession with perfect mixdowns and sound design that has a similar affect on productivity. I've tried to assure people repeatedly, that if the music is good, it doesn't very much matter if you have the worlds best mixdown. A good song with a mediocre mixdown is always better than a bad song mixed by Dave Pensado. People start convincing themselves that unless they have the best gear, and the best engineers, they simply can't make a good song. Obviously nothing could be further from the truth. The best songs I've ever made were when I spent less time worrying about the perfect drum sample, or the perfect synth patch, and instead focused on the composition and got the idea out of me. I can always go back later and make a new synth patch, or find a better drum sample, but what I can't do, is go back and get the creative moment I was having, after I spend 2 hours making the perfect kick drum. I think the dirty little secret is, some of us actually enjoy making the perfect kick drum more than we enjoy making a good song, and a lot of us just don't know it.
Perfect can be the enemy of finished.
I made an album 1 or 2 years ago using just one Microfreak and free reverbs with a DAW. I was just jamming and recording, took the best takes and saved each as a song. I'm not a "professional" musician and I certainly doubt I would ever make enough money with the hobby I do on my free time, but that album is one of the most listened on my bandcamp (which doesn't have a lot of traffic, so that's really something).
It was really just one instance, of one instrument, and free plugins. Not a masterpiece, but plenty of people liked it.
I got my gear acquisition syndrome by watching UA-cam videos to inform myself, making up my lack of knowledge about what "Works". As you rightly point out, it's not the gear that works but me. As I was watching I got all gooey over your 3rd wave desktop synthesizer. Like any addiction, mine required me to own it and figure out strategies to keep it under control.
Like a slap in the face with a wet fish, this was just the video I've been needing to break the gear acquisition cycle! Looking back with fondness to where I started with a Tascam 244 Portastudio, four tracks on tape cassette, a Casio VL-1 and my mates dad's Eminent organ, bouncing tracks down to squeeze more tracks onto a C90 cassette....so much fun and such a creative time...Enough typing, time to go make some tunes. Thank you so much 😊
You couldn't be more precise with timing and content. It's so obvious, but also so hard to determine on your own. Thank You.
I never commented on this channel but damn these videos help me a lot. With them I was able to make more music and evolve, today I got signed to two good labels under a new name and I'll start a new journey, thank you Cameron!
For me, it was never gear but courses. I was a sucker for production courses, and I have many I didn't even half finish. And obviously there are good courses with good information out there, but for me it became a mental block "I'll just learn this one thing and THEN my music will be good". In the end, nothing taught me more about making music that...uhh... making music.
Excellently put. Interesting note regarding anticipation and justification, simply talking about a project to others and feeding off of their reactions gives us similar feelings in our reward centres as actually doing the project. So it satisfies the same craving, but gets nothing done. I stepped back and realized that every good thing I've made did not go through that little hype train exercise.
Oh wow I resonate with this here
Dude, I'm so glad you had to prove a point! This kalimba plugin was exactly what I needed
I love the term "equipment influencer" I'll be using that about ppl
i remember the days when hardware sound modules were all the rage. you want more sounds, buy a new piece of hardware! God I wanted all of them!
You make several good points with this video (as usual!). G.A.S. Is a real issue for lots of us. To control my G.A.S. I started a policy (5 years ago this month): “If I want to buy something, I have to sell something”. In other words, take the value in what I owned, recover it by selling it, and then use that money to buy the next thing. That saved me from falling over the cliff. That kept me from filling a room with an impossible to use amount of gear. I also agree with your point about using things for JOY, and not limiting a purchase to mere utilitarian reasons. Rock on!
I recently did this and it was an awesome way to get rid of things that I didn’t use to get something rare and relatively expensive that I use a lot and sounds great. I bought things used, so the value stays stable when time to sell
Many thanks for this!
I've done a few gear vids, but by far the most engagement I got is for my one on G.A.S. and I think that's cos it's a universal issue, and often gets in the he way of creativity to our frustration.
Fundamentally it's way EASIER to buy things than to CREATE THINGS. Nothing is on the line when you click buy now. You get some dopamine, you can feel like it's an achievement. And you know don't get me wrong, it's fun to have stuff and that's fine to enjoy it however you like.
But it's when it becomes an excuse for not creating when you know you want to, that I feel it gets quite toxic. When it's filling a hole that should be filled with art. It can lead to serious issues, debt and depression and so on.
I too tire of the endless kit cycle and agree it holds back creativity, and try to stay out of it for the most part. Since I used to work at Sound On Sound as news editor about 10 years back it was very hard to let go of being deep into the industry and buried in gear cycles and so on, but I think it's good for you creatively to do so, so I'm trying my best!
I love your regular reminders to be creative delivered with self-reflective psychology. Thank you.
George Lucas said something that stuck with me. Translated to a music context it goes like this.
According to George there are two types of happiness, pleasure and joy. And happiness cant be both at the same time, it’s either one.
Pleasure is the feeling you get buying a new synthesizer. The peak of happiness goes high but does not sustain very long.
The thing with pleasure is, you don’t remember it. When it’s gone it’s gone. And the next time you will have to buy a synthesizer twice as good to get the same level of pleasure. Because it insulates.
Joy on the other hand is something you do remember. It comes from unselfish acts like giving yourself to someone or something. It doesn’t peak as high like pleasure, it comes with small doses of happiness. But it can stay for a life time.
Joy is being proud of your kids, helping others grow in their craft by sharing your knowledge and experience, being there for a friend, or giving yourself to your craft.
Pleasure is easy to attain, while joy requires discipline and effort, but if you are ready to do the hard work, joy can be an infinite pool of happiness to draw from.
For me, George wise words have helped me when i felt stuck constantly looking for the next gadget to get excited for. Sure it is nice to check out the latest products on UA-cam now and then, pleasure is fine too but it's impossible to sustain.
Like mentioned in this great video, to look for new gear is so much easier then to do the hard work with what you have. For me the problem is when I put too much of my valuable spare time into the effortless pleasure activities, like scrolling through social media.
I think Georges wise words really resonates with our time, and i think this is the year change will start happening.
Source: ua-cam.com/video/CnHyStDZ3_U/v-deo.html
Man I could probably unsubscribe from every other music channel on UA-cam, but yours always brings something valuable to the table. This vid in particular was exactly what I needed to hear this morning
Anytime I see a video in my feed about procrastination I save it to the watch later playlist.
"Get of the internet and make something" ... you know I just might.
You're right dude. I ended up uninstalling most of my vsts and have made more music than I did before.
Choice paralysis and thirsting for the next best thing takes so much energy and time.
Most VSTs come with a googolplex of presets and you end up masturbating 90% of the time listening to the stupid presets than doing anything constructive. Kind of a reason i like old monosynths is you have zero presets, you work to get something that sounds like your imagined goal, or even better, stumble on the happy accident, then you make a tune with it. Minimal masturbation.
That Hainbach album is so brilliant. It's a perfect example of how real creativity will always shine, no matter what gear - if anything, it's the limitations that *especially* made it so good. And the fact you made a sample library on budget gear to prove the point is pretty funny, but definitely works.
Always appreciate your honesty and cynicism on these topics.
As a frequent sufferer of gear acquisition syndrome, I felt this in my bones. 😂 Your channel is gold, Cam!
Making music ought to be both an individual way of creativity and interpreting life itself.
Thanks for your inspiring thoughts.
Refreshingly honest. The most sincere message I've heard online in years. Me thinks this guy could do fairly well with a channel just on philosophy and culture.
I’ve butted heads with GAS a few times and my best way to deal with it (when I’m able to resist) is to truly enjoy the research into what the new shiny thing can do and how it does it. I really enjoy the process of learning it’s depths and I think that’s to do with the anticipation you mentioned, and I’ve found if I ride that wave long enough the urge to actually buy it diminishes and I can move onto a new obsession without having spent my money on what would become a prop. I also having learned so much about what it does and how I find myself better able to experiment with recreating it with what I’ve already got.
I totally agree: It’s not about the camera … it’s about the Cameron!
That last line hits straight to the core of being alive and, for me, makes this even more of a video i need to return too often. Definitely talked off the GAS sinkhole!
one of my favourite creators on this platform. So inspiring
Glad to be of service!
5:48 strangely refreshing and remarkably freeing thought. Sometimes it is just nice to have the stuff i have even though i dont use it all the time. No need to stress over it tok much. Thanks!
Great stuff. In my personal experience, it can take a while and cycling through a bunch of gear, to find a setup and workflow that works for you personally. Yes, anyone can make music with almost anything, but there are some great devices out there that trigger the deepest wells of creativity inside of you. My current setup is almost completely different from when I started out over 3 years ago. But I am finally in a place where I feel that that well of creativity is ready to be fully tapped.
I'm a decent artist, that hasn't really shared much of my work. And I've been buying $1,000+ virtual instruments for the past five years. Every time I compose my music, I think "This could sound better. If only I had..." and would continue to buy yet another, expensive virtual instrument. Like you were saying, I'm happy having them still. And they mean a lot to me. I just forget that my ability is lacking more than my equipment, just how you explained in the video. We get sucked-up into a void believing that if we just bought... No, it won't make you significantly better. There's many more methods & directions of learning you could pursue to make you a better artist than buying every new piece of equipment. Thank you for the video :D
"Whether you do, or whether you do not, time is gonna pass any way, and regret for having not tried sure makes suffering with existence a whole more harder." - Cameron (2024)
Words to live by.
Yeah that was hilarious! :D
Good video too. I like these essayistic styled 'gear/music' videos.
Thank god I'm not the only one thinking about this stuff. I sometimes feel like I'm the only one who's tired of jokes about buying more gear and the rampant consumerism surrounding music gear. Thank you for making this video.
This is such a relevant and reality based video, perfect for the new year. I made a few unnecessary purchases as I just got into this whole music production thing 4 months ago. Jumped in fully. It was supposed to be just getting back into mixing music so I picked up a DJ controller. Very quickly I decided I enjoy making beats and bought the latest version of Beatmaker and that started a spiraling out of control purchase frenzy. First I purchased a Akai MPC Live 2. I then needed an Audio Interface and studio sepeakers which led to wanting to have a better mixer because of the other gear I decided I needed. I settled in on a Tascam Model 12 so I could hook all the equipment. A Keystep Pro, MicroFreak, Faderfox EC-4, T.E. EP-133, and to actually make sounds outside of VST's I just picked up a ASM Hydrasynth to round out my studio. Former gambling addict and I love to buy shit. Every hobby I've embarked on I've been a full or nothing participant. Well, now it's time to continue learning how to use all of this equipment and making some music. Stay tuned.
Absolutely feel you haha. Recently did a big purge a few months ago of that pile of 'stuff I probably might need' that I accumulated over the last decade or so and that was a massive eye opener of how many things I owned that needed dusted off every few months!
2:41 Lol, oh the irony! My entire career was built on the Rode NT2(a) and I still use them as my main mic to this day. When I started my first professional studio I ended up with a nice mic collection but ended up selling a Neuman U87 and keeping the Rodes as they just sounded better in far more situations.
Past 2010 your audio interface / mic pre is worth less than a 1% difference.
Another astute observation on creators and the creative process, my friend. You show wisdom beyond your years.
I sold all of my recording stuff, synths, etc. I just have my guitars, chinese instruments etc. Focusing on practicing and being a good musician, can always record the stuff I write as i focus on being a more proficient instrumentalist later in life. Very rarely did a piece of gear lead to me coming up with any novel musical idea. the best ideas come from practice and experimentation with limited tools.
This advice applies to so many things in my life - gamedev, programming, music production, technical research/writing, etc. Thank you for these style of videos, they mean a lot to me and others, I’m sure.
I think one of the big problems as well is GearTube. None of the others I've commented on have either responded or they've gotten defensive when I say that everyone should just admit and own the fact that they're part of each company's advertising department. No matter what is said, it's advertising the product, in the vast majority of the time, favorably. Which pushes people to do the endless gear buying/upgrading etc. The Beatles used 4 tracks on tape. I myself felt most creative when I had a 4 track cassette deck in the 80s or my computer with a Digidesign Audiomedia II card in the early 2000s.
"Babe wake up VT just dropped a new hard look in the mirror."
Friends think I spend too much money on gear. I played 5 different instruments in high school band, filling gaps wherever I was needed. But for me a new instrument is like a vacation. Something to explore. One day after my sister made a comment about my musical purchases I said "I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't do drugs, I don't fish. This is my hobby. It could be worse." Now they don't say anything, and my long gathered collection of instruments helped to finance early retirement.
I built my studio partly because I always wanted to have a space that looks like that. It’s weird, but it’s a physical manifestation of my success at work.
That said, I did start acquiring a lot more gear during the pandemic…at the same time I discovered music UA-cam. It’s really quite frightening the influence it has.
Thank you for making that video, I'll use it to answer to another person ranting about how their DAW or their gear misses something, when in reality it won't make them more creative. To anyone who doubts that assertion, just check what Tanzanian artists are making with just Virtual DJ, or how some awesome records have been made with a Macintosh 128k back in the days.
I have literally never spent I cent on music production. I am a firm believer that working on your skills is far more important than the tools you use
As grandpa would say: a bad craftsman blames the tools.
@@VenusTheoryGranpa also said: "a goot tool will allow you to forget about it and focus on your craft"
Truth!@@VenusTheory
Preach. I bought my DAW, a few basic VSTs like Korg M1(I make house, can't live without it) & Pro Q 3 (for the mid-side goodness) and that's it! That's all you need unless you are chasing a specific sound or publishing commercially.
So what do you use to upload the music 💀
I made an entire album's worth of songs with Audacity, the free version of Roland Zenbeats, a $40 acoustic guitar and an electric guitar plugged into a cheap amp. I recorded the acoustic guitars in the walk-in closet, since the clothes helped dampen the echo.
It took me forever to edit and mix the songs, and they eventually made it into the streaming services. They don't sound professional by any means, but I'm still incredibly proud of those compositions.
I’m pretty sure most UA-camrs make these gear videos just so they can get a new piece of gear and write it off as a business expense.
If I am not mistaken, Brian Knutson played briefly in a band with me in the 80's. He played Sax and Yamaha WX-7. Excellent musician!
Intro gave me anxiety 😂
This is me every time I try and work on learning something new.
himbo-casual slutty thumbnail is a blessing
Spent a solid 3 hours figuring out that intro having to edit it over and over and over haha, was on the verge of a mental breakdown myself 😅
I had my work volume up too loud as I walked away and had to turn right around and bring it down...😬
@@VenusTheory 🔥
Thanks for the video. What you say about time at the end reminded me of Slavoj Zizek's theory of interpassivity. In short, it's a state in which you become overwhelmed by the options for interactivity, and as a result, you avoid them. Zizek gave the example of recording all the interesting programs on videotapes, in the hope of watching them later. But in reality your VCR is potentially watching them, storing them, freeing you from the burden of interactivity. It's probably similar with collecting musical equipment: your new instruments interpassively, potentially, create music for you. But in reality nothing is created, because either you don't have time or you're afraid to take action. So, burdened with guilt, you simply buy another instrument again that will free you from the burden of creativity, and the cycle begins all over again. All the best!
Venus Theory Philosophy. On point! Another awesome video. One of the few successful UA-cam channels that actually care about his audience.
Wow, I never have felt more attacked yet more understood at the same time, ha. This was fantastic.
Reminds me of an old saying that we have all probably heard at least once, "It is a poor mechanic who blames his tools"
Or to quote John Lennon, "I'm an artist. You give me a tuba, and I will get you something out of it."
This is why I like the idea of Jamuary. Just, go!
Clear that little corner of the room (or desk, or park bench), point a thing that records at it and create something.
Aside from the promise to myself and other people doing the same, there is no drive to do 31 jams, ideally one each day, for a month. I'll be dammed, it is a driver to be creative!
How dare you be so factful and accurate!!
Goddammit man, your videos are often right on the nose. I'd hate to know how many hours I've spent watching videos about gear I don't really need instead of just making music with the already significant amount of gear I have.
Thanks dude, your videos are so often a kick up my ass to go and make music.
Completely in love with this! The tools that we use are just an extension of our skills we already possess but relying on the tools as a crutch won't make us any better.
I agree all of it what you saying. But the last thing is the whole true! Time is going whatever we do or not. Every minute is a chance to do something beautiful.
In the 90s I had so much gear it heated my apartment. I was a young 18-35er then, unsure of myself as a player, thus susceptible to "this is pro" marketing. Like the weed I grew to buy it, all the gear is gone.
Kids, save your money. Time makes the player and leads to good music.
I love this take.
I wrote my first album 20 years ago on a busted laptop, using no hardware except for an entry level Tascam US-122 audio interface and monitoring it through the speakers I borrowed from my parent's old stereo.
Despite now having an entire studio full of fancy gear, that album is still my favourite pieces of work I've produced and it got me booked on a tour that went around the world for over two years.
Gear isn't what's holding you back. You're what's holding you back. Get started!
"On the Shortness of Life" of Seneca is a gem. So inspiring.
You're F'ng Right! I love you and what you stand for. It's been quite in influence on me in regards to just... doing what I WANT TO DO.
Last years new hot itens, we all drooled over, are still exceptional devices. We font need the latest, tat.
Im no David Lynch, but I had my most creative burst, when I started out. £40 mixer, a turntable, a stack of spoken word and effects vinyl. A £15 Fab Chorus, £20 Distortion,£25 Reverb, £30 Delay and a Monotron delay, along with radios, old cassette deck and a dictaphone. I was frustrated, but happy and inventive.
I took up the artform late in life, when my hands were too worn out for heavy creative metalwork.
I consider my creative process to be resilient, now, no matter what my health or resources, I can create with an old laptop, open source software and a smartphone as a field recorder, from a hospital bed.
I've begged, stole and borrowed, Ive built, hacked and invented many devices, Im overwhelmed with gear. Im at a point where it's time for a lot if it to go. Im cool with that as well, I just cant decide, which ones, lol.
Oh yes, thanks so much. I cannot emphasize enough. The times of my life I was the most productive is when I had a single limited piece of gear, no Internet and... time ! Always good to recall this ! Cheers
I wish we could just talk someday. I search everywhere in Tokyo for calm logic driven comversations but rarely find someone like you. I hope this reaches you someday because I think whoever you are friends with, they should remind themselves that they have a 1 in a million friend
I came back to comment on this video just to say this sentence stuck with me:
"Don't do, just buy". It's so nicely condensed.
Only in the recent two months we got the new TE PO-2, the Kaoss Replay and now the Yamaha SEQTrak.
While I am lusting fot the PO-2 a bit, my general feeling is that these boxes are rehashes of rehashes, they are quite samey to me in a way.
I guess I like to complain, not sure what my point is after all.
I do like collecting gear but what is the point of having 10 limited samplers in the end. Maybe my GAS times are coming to an end.
The video applies to all creative disciplines. Thanks for reminding us of this important fact of life.
Been struggling with this lately. Like how to stop shopping and start doing. So thanks 😊
One thing I enjoyed about recording real drums for the first time recently, is that the sounds I got weren't exactly the sounds I was going for, but they still sound good.
I’m learning to appreciate the imperfections and flexibility of live instruments and getting out of the grid of the DAW
I used to have a Casio SK-1 when they originally came out. I miss it very much.
I have to keep reminding myself that I used to make all my recordings doing things like bouncing channels on a stereo 2-track, or recording a crash cymbal separately, because I didn't own one, etc. etc. - because I had to feed the inate need to make the song, which usually started out with a riff or just an idea. Now I have plenty of riffs and ideas, and WAY more than I need to do something with them.
Except that new nifty compressor plugin. 😜
Thanks for another great vid, Cameron. You continue to inspire.
Every time I watch one of your videos (which I think are great, by the way) - your voice reminds me of Baz Luhrmann's Everybody Free to Wear Sunscreen and I find myself reciting in my head...!
I have so many plugins, and honestly, my favourite ones aren't the ones that sound best, they're the ones that allow me to work quickly and save me the most amount of time.
You are so on point. I'm there now. I have 3 DAWS have not leaned them good enough But i keep buying plugins that sound good until I try to use them. I made more music for myself in the 80's/90's with cassettes the radio and dj set up. than what I have now. I go on YT to get inspired but stay there and never make anything. I'm just glad to know it's not just me. Thanks.
Just stop watching UA-cam until you get yourself back
THIS is why I follow you. Thank you.
I have a lot of gear and my approach is basically to hardwire each piece into its place in the mix and the stereo field. This cleans a lot of the mental clutter and allows for a more consistent sound across tracks.
Damn bro, once again your voice lightened the burden I bear by having some stuff I never really used to production. I love it
Thanks for reminding me that all that really counts is one's own creativity. I used to buy gear because I thought it makes my music sound good. But it's actually me who in the end makes it sound good. Thanks for the reassurance!
Great message, thank you for sharing this. I am guilty of wasting too much time watching UA-cam demos of gear, thinking that a new device will make me a better musician. It won't. Only making music will make me a better musician. Like you, I have a ridiculous amount of equipment at my disposal now as compared to 30 years ago. Sometimes, I find I just have to grab an old acoustic guitar and get out of my studio to force myself to focus on creating something with only one instrument. When I return to my studio, I realize I already have more than I need. GAS averted for another day. Cheers Bill
Superb video as always! I also discovered a couple years ago that the research of the ''perfect gear/plugin'' for the ''perfect sound'' was just keeping me from creating music and complete tracks. At some point, I decided to just stop looking to acquire new gear and just create. And here I am three years later about to drop my first self-produced album that I recorded with a cheap audio interface, a macbook pro 2012, a guitars, a bass and a 500$ mic. I mean, it's probably not the highest quality, but still I created something and I will never forget these moments.
I wish I could have seen a video like this one 10 years ago! Keep up the good work!
Very well said. We see this in everything. I see it in music, I see it in body building, in studio gear, in any hobby.
At the end of the day, the people taking out ads, or sponsoring content have invested interest in selling you gear.
No one is taking an add out in a magazine to tell you to learn and become an expert with what you have or that practicing more will make you sound much better in the long run than a new pickup or plug in. ❤
Restrictions breed creativity.
1:16 This video reminds me of the day I started creating music with just one android phone and a cracked FL studio mobile. From that setup, I was able to make several lo-fi albums.
It reminds us whatever we have right now is not a stumbling block to enable us to create something but the opportunity to make us creative and create something from what gear or instrument we have right now.
I like this video a lot. Reminds me of something I picked up from my art history studies specifically the minimalist movement, circa 1960’s. It’s also a common tip in graphic design circles which says simply - “less is more”. A number of artists have at least some sort of story regarding their bare bones, humble hardware (simple software, maybe?) beginnings. For example, I recently watched Moby’s autobiographical documentary where he explains how the pinnacle of his creativity (and happiness) happened at a time in his life when he was dirt poor and living/making music in an abandoned factory. “Less is more” might sound a little pretentious or maybe even esoteric but in practice I think it really makes sense. Anyway, great video. Cheers. 😎👍
Fantastic video. I agree with everything you said, but I would point out that the urge to buy new gear isn't the only way that this kind of creative paralysis can manifest itself. I think it's something to do with a level of insecurity and impostor syndrome that almost all artists suffer from to some degree. And the internet is a very competitive place, where everyone is constantly trying to one-up everyone else, whether it's with their gear, their knowledge of Serum, their exhaustive taxonomical knowledge of every obscure club genre known to man, or their ability to detect minor flaws in your mix. So the longer you spent online, the more you're reminded of how much you don't know, or can't do, or can't afford to do, and all of that is paralysing, especially for beginners.
I own a Studio with really fancy gear. Turns out I rarely use anything there and always refer back to my Behringer UMC + 2 Mackies HR824 from 1997.
GAS is a real problem for many people. Being Rightpondian, I call it PETROL (Pathological Eagerness To Reach Overdraft Limit). Nearly two years ago I set up a new studio in the house I'd moved to. It's only in the last month (basically over Christmas) that I've really started to make music, and I'm finding that it's really helping my mental state and I'm sleeping better. I'm not entirely sure exactly what I was waiting for that whole time in between, but I suspect that a feeling of "I just need this one last thing" was a contributory factor. In December I got an Osmose... and I think perhaps that helped. It was such a beautiful instrument that part of me just took it as a sign. It was as if my brain said to me "come on, you have one of THOSE now so there's really no excuse any more!".
I know all about the expense of unused gear, having tried to get into orchestral film music in about 2008. I forced myself to go back through all my records and make a spreadsheet so I could calculate how much I'd spent (mostly on expensive sample libraries, the total of which vastly overshadowed even the cost of my "cheesegrater" 2009 Mac Pro, even though the 256Gb SSD I installed in it was 525GBP at the time I bought it, unthinkable nowadays). The total cost of software that I might never use again was a bit terrifying, and made me wonder how much I'll regret it when I retire (which is probably only just over a decade away for me). My advice to anyone is: get on with it! Don't wait, DO things.
This video is beautiful and exactly what I needed to see these past three days as I've fought the urge to buy an ASR 10 that I absolutely DON'T need. I truly appreciate the honest conversations that you have with listeners of this channel 🙏.
Enjoyed this! This is something I’ve thought a lot about. I’ve had tons of gear and plenty of time in the past. But I have very little time now-but I make more music than I ever thought I would. Part of it is because of me accidentally figuring out that you can do EVERYTHING with a single iPad. But even having the tools only gets you so far. I crave music… I love making stuff that I like-it’s even better when other people like it too. But it’s my love for music in general that I think is the origin of my creative energy. Everyone is different, but I offer this advice to anyone who needs it: listen to music. Listen to lots of music--different music/new music. For me, I can find inspiration from almost any music. I hear things that inspire me to try things in my session later. Also, record as often as possible. When I get in a funk, I often just go back and grab an old project to build on or remix. Nothing is perfect and that’s a good thing. The closer you get to authentic expression, the more you will enjoy you own music. At least for me that is true.
Last words of this video hit hard. I find myself in this endless loop when I can create something because of the frustration about the fact that I couldn't create something in the past because of "insert any adult problem here"