JohnKenn
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What have we become...
Maybe an unpopular topic, even more than me, so won’t slit my wrists if nobody responds… Just a question, observation, wondering where others stand…
Email was spammed like it is daily with every junk mail 72 hours left purchase of a lifetime offer. Audio Deluxe, many others.
Scrolled down thru the to die for sales on Waves, other guys fire sale, page after page. 50 percent off, 20 percent off. Apply your secret coupon code at the checkout and life will be bliss. You won't get this chance again.
Trying to put it into a broader perspective and understand when enough is enough. Was asking myself, what am I chasing that can’t be done a thousand times over with what I already got if used correctly.
Still, the plastic card quivers and vibrates with every new discount thrill.
Problem is, after a couple decades cyber gear lust, can’t say I’m any better off for it.
Anyone in this same boat?
John
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Doktor Avalanche 
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Re: What have we become...
2015/09/23 20:34:39
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Sonar Platinum(64 bit),Win 8.1(64 bit),Saffire Pro 40(Firewire),Mix Control = 3.6,Firewire=VIA,Dell Studio XPS 8100(Intel Core i7 CPU 2.93 Ghz/16 Gb),2 x 1TB SSD (Samsung EVO 850),GeForce GTX 460,Yamaha DGX-505 keyboard,Roland A-300PRO,Roland SPD-30 V2,FD-8,Triggera Krigg,Shure SM7B,Yamaha HS5. Rap Pro,Maschine Studio+Komplete 9 Ultimate+Kontrol Z1,Addictive Keys,Waves Silver,Izotope Nectar elements,Overloud Bundle,Geist,Acronis True Image 2015.
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Sidroe
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Re: What have we become...
2015/09/23 20:47:00
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My buying has slowed way down. I tend to buy out of necessity rather than GAS attacks. Over several years of sporadically buying a necessary tool, I have the tools I need and am comfortable with. My main problem now is keeping the ones I have updated! LOL!!!
Sonar Platinum, Sonar X3e, Sonar X2a , Sonar X1 Expanded and 8.5.3 (32 and 64 bit), Windows 10 on a Toshiba P75-A7200 Laptop with i7 @ 2.4 quad and 8 gigs of RAM and secondary WD 1 Tb drive, Windows 10 desktop, Asus i5 @ 3.2 quad, 12 gigs RAM, 1 Tb drive, 1 500 gig drive, MOTU 24io, 2 Roland Studio Captures, Saffire 6 USB for laptop, Soundtracs Topaz Project 8 mixer, Alesis Monitor 2s, Event BAS 20/20s, Roland Micro-Monitor BA-8s, and 45 years worth of collecting FX, Mics, Amps, Guitars, and Keyboards!
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Doktor Avalanche
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Re: What have we become...
2015/09/23 20:50:25
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Sonar Platinum(64 bit),Win 8.1(64 bit),Saffire Pro 40(Firewire),Mix Control = 3.6,Firewire=VIA,Dell Studio XPS 8100(Intel Core i7 CPU 2.93 Ghz/16 Gb),2 x 1TB SSD (Samsung EVO 850),GeForce GTX 460,Yamaha DGX-505 keyboard,Roland A-300PRO,Roland SPD-30 V2,FD-8,Triggera Krigg,Shure SM7B,Yamaha HS5. Rap Pro,Maschine Studio+Komplete 9 Ultimate+Kontrol Z1,Addictive Keys,Waves Silver,Izotope Nectar elements,Overloud Bundle,Geist,Acronis True Image 2015.
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cclarry
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Re: What have we become...
2015/09/23 21:14:26
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It's a strong union John...
Now that Mom is gone, and the only income I have is from the band,
seeing as that I can't get a job at 55 years old, even at Walmart, my spending has been
drastically curtailed as reality has settled in. I had enough to keep me afloat while
taking care of Mom up till about 6 months ago....3 months ago she passed, left nothing
but the roof over my head and enough for burial..and that leaves me where I am...
and, ideally, you are right, there's nothing that I can't do a thousand times over with
what I already have...just adding "more toys" to the toy box...but man I sure love toys...LOL
KVR helped me quite a bit..but even there no one is really buying anymore unless you're going
to "give it to them"...
But am finally starting to "see the light" in not jumping
on everything like I've done...survival first...toys later...
and sometimes you've got be forced to "walk the walk"...
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Jimbo21
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Re: What have we become...
2015/09/23 22:00:11
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☄ Helpfulby Mesh 2015/09/24 11:05:34
I get those emails too. I use to look at almost all of them with longing eyes. Now, I delete almost all of them with out opening. I've got so much software it's crazy. So many must have plugins that I don't use. I bide my time and wait for the really good deals now, at least for the most part.
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rtucker55
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Re: What have we become...
2015/09/23 22:04:50
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☄ Helpfulby cclarry 2015/09/23 23:50:04
Same boat here but the plastic card is not quivering as much and is almost paid off. The thought just hit me, that if something happened to me, what would my Son be able to liquidate? Unfortunately, most of the software that I have purchased either can not be sold, would cost more to sell than he would make, or just wouldn't pay for the time he would spend trying to sell it. Seriously, almost nothing I have spent on this hobby would have much liquidation value but only the enjoyment I get from using it. I have more than enough to keep enjoying the hobby and one of my Goals is to get through the upcoming sale season without spending much more if anything. I still enjoy browsing the emails and sales but just don't see anything else that makes me want to use that plastic. Now, if some company produces a product that includes that elusive "talent button' I may just eat my above words... 
Purrrfect Audio DAW here. Wow!...
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BassDaddy
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Re: What have we become...
2015/09/23 22:13:56
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My buying of software has gone way down. But I have put a couple hundred away for the Fall deal season and will put away a bit more. So far I only bought the D16 FXtra Bundle for $9.99 at MF and Amplitube 4 with gear credits I bought at last years Summer Strummer. I passed on a couple of tough ones and have only spent $9.99 out of pocket and it feels good. I have so much good stuff. I think I will sit back and loosen my belt a notch.
It's Bass, not Bass. i7 2700K, 16GB DDR3, 2 SSD sample drives and OS drive, HDD SATAIII for projects, 2 24" monitors Focusrite Saffire Pro 24, Focusrite VRM Box, LAVA Lamp, SONAR Platinum 64 bit, Mackie MCU and 1 MCU XT, Akai Advance 49, Windows 10, Komplete 9 Ultimate, Cakewalk, Toontrack, IK, AAS, XLN, UVI, Air Music Tech, Waves Factory, Sample Tek and Sonivox VSTi's. Overloud, T-Racks, Audio Damage, D16, Nomad Factory, Waves Gold FX
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clintmartin
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Re: What have we become...
2015/09/23 22:45:08
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I'm getting to where I'm selling things off to buy more practical plugins I may actually use. I didn't even get tempted to buy Pro-C 2...so I think that is a good sign. I did sale some things to buy a couple of EQ's I wanted which did have features I think I need.
No more Eqs, comps, reverbs, delays or limiters...for now! Hahaha!
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Vastman
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Re: What have we become...
2015/09/23 23:08:35
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At least in the USA we've been trained to consume... the growth model, endless capitalistic growth. It's much bigger than just us artists... it's everywhere, the throw away society... As we enter the age of limits and technological change this will all come crashing down... I like the perspectives of Jeremy Rifkin, who's latest work focuses on "The zero marginal cost Society". Hours of good discussions on this jump that's underway on YouTube... with your interest in this you should do a google... short video on the shiftshort discussion; European shift underway; Singularity one-on-one (fantastic discussion) It's an exciting trend/transition. The other main thinker in this realm is Richard Heinberg... It all bucks up against the perpetual growth model which the rich/wannaberich continue to prop up to extract "profit" from stuff.
post edited by Vastman - 2015/09/23 23:32:20
Dana We make the future... Climate Change MusicVastMaschine:SP4L/W10/i74930K/32GB/RME/CAD E100s; The Orchestra! NOVO!/Inspire/BohemianViolin&Cello, ARK1&2,/MinimalCapriccioMaximoSoto/OE1&2, Action&Emotive/Omni2/Tril/RMX/All OrangeTree/Falcon/APE Jugs/Alpha&Bravo/BFD3 & SD3Gravity/DM307/AEON/DM/Damage/Diva/HZebra/Hive/Diversion/VC4/Serum/Alchemy/blablablaSpitfire/8DIO/SL/KH/EW/NI; Shred1&2/AGF,G,M&T Torch&Res&Ren/GD-6; Ibanez SR1200&SR505NOVAX FanFret Tele&Strat
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cclarry
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Re: What have we become...
2015/09/23 23:43:30
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Vastman
It all bucks up against the perpetual growth model which the rich/wannaberich continue to prop up to extract "profit" from stuff.
Yes, IK I know subscribes to this Model 
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lawajava
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Re: What have we become...
2015/09/24 00:28:35
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John, Thanks for the sanity check. I think if anyone's been around a bit here on the forum there have been terrific deals with terrific discoveries and tools. But, absolutely, most of us could just go cold turkey now and not acquire another thing and we'd never use all of the stuff we already have. Like many have expressed here, I've slowed way down. clintmartin
No more Eqs, comps, reverbs, delays or limiters...for now! Hahaha!
Agreed. I fully believe that I will never, ever, ever, ever, buy another compressor (or EQ, or reverb) I'm also at that point with synth sounds. I'm dizzy with the options already at my disposal. And yet, when something unusual or new, with a capability that I didn't have previously comes along, it gets intriguing.
Two internal 2TB SSDs laptop stuffed with Larry's deals and awesome tools. Studio One is the cat's meow as a DAW now that I've migrated off of Sonar. Using BandLab Cakewalk just to grab old files when migrating songs.
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Magic Russ
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Re: What have we become...
2015/09/24 00:45:10
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I have been collecting these for a while. I have a bunch of synths, and sample libraries, etc. It is going to take a lot to get me excited to spend any more money at this point. At least until Black Friday.
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strikinglyhandsome1
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Re: What have we become...
2015/09/24 03:30:25
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I've basically locked my system down. No need to buy anything now. If you look at what you have I suspect you can make every noise under the sun. The odd fun tool may come up or something may go ridiculously cheap but I felt they ran out of ideas long ago. Things get a little bigger, slightly easier to use and may be closer to the 'real' thing but it's becoming marginal.
Of all the music ever created none of them used the latest plugins, which basically only set out to recreate the past anyway.
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mudgel
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Re: What have we become...
2015/09/24 09:34:44
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☄ Helpfulby rtucker55 2015/09/24 10:10:48
I feel like I've been GAS'd into inactivity.
Mike V. (MUDGEL) STUDIO: Win 10 Pro x64, SPlat & CbB x64, PC: ASUS Z370-A, INTEL i7 8700k, 32GIG DDR4 2400, OC 4.7Ghz. Storage: 7 TB SATA III, 750GiG SSD & Samsung 500 Gig 960 EVO NVMe M.2. Monitors: Adam A7X, JBL 10” Sub. Audio I/O & DSP Server: DIGIGRID IOS & IOX. Screen: Raven MTi + 43" HD 4K TV Monitor. Keyboard Controller: Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S88.
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bapu
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Re: What have we become...
2015/09/24 10:16:42
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I too am (mostly) at the want vs need stage of buying. And my funds are limited too.
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bitflipper
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Re: What have we become...
2015/09/24 10:24:41
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☄ Helpfulby cclarry 2015/09/24 10:41:33
The consensus seems to be that everyone is slowing down with their software acquisitions. That could merely reflect the average experience level on these forums - most of us here have been at this digital audio game for at least a decade. Eventually you accumulate all the essential tools you really need, and over time you experience enough disappointments to realize that the promise of a new plugin is rarely fulfilled. If, after a decade or more, you're still burdened by GAS, the reasons are emotional rather than logical.
I think it's like gambling.
Everybody gets a thrill when they win some money gambling. Everybody's bummed when they lose. Whether or not you become a problem gambler (or a non-gambler) depends on how big the thrill of winning is for you relative to the downer of losing. Some people get such a high from the win that they forget about all the losses and illogically pursue that win rush, improbable as it may be.
My weakness is virtual instruments. One in ten will become standbys and the source of creative inspiration. The other nine will mostly just take up disk space. (1:10 is still better odds than a slot machine, though.)
The trick is learning to identify that one in ten in advance. I haven't mastered that yet, and maybe never will. I'm such a sucker for great demo songs, which really only demonstrate that a good composer/arranger/mixer can make something good out of anything.
 All else is in doubt, so this is the truth I cling to. My Stuff
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ampfixer
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Re: What have we become...
2015/09/24 10:43:22
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I can't keep up with the urge to buy stuff. I used to be able to have toys but not today. My self medication was to start building stuff. It's much harder and takes a lot longer, but when it's done I get a good feeling that I have control over something in my life. Most of the regulars on the forums seem to be onto their fallback careers after doing something much bigger. There seems to be a lot of unemployed engineers that had their companies dissolve from beneath them in their 50's. I used to be a QA manager at the biggest steel company in Canada. It's gone now and I'm an over qualified and unemployable geezer. A tough pill to swallow. Recording, and its related tech has given me something to tinker with that requires a bit of brain power. It passes the time, plain and simple. Too bad we can't all kick in and open a business because I sense a lot of under utilized folks around here.
Regards, John I want to make it clear that I am an Eedjit. I have no direct, or indirect, knowledge of business, the music industry, forum threads or the meaning of life. I know about amps. WIN 10 Pro X64, I7-3770k 16 gigs, ASUS Z77 pro, AMD 7950 3 gig, Steinberg UR44, A-Pro 500, Sonar Platinum, KRK Rokit 6
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Mesh
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Re: What have we become...
2015/09/24 11:08:23
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☄ Helpfulby cclarry 2015/09/24 11:41:40
We've all been in this infinite loop, and some of us still are...... 
Platinum Gaming DAW: AsRock Z77 Overclock FormulaI7 3770k @ 4.5GHz : 16GB RAM G.Skill Ripjaws X 250GB OS SSD : 3TB HDD : 1TB Sample HDDWin 10 Pro x 64 : NH-D14 CPU Cooler HIS IceQ 2GB HD 7870Focusrite Scarlett 2i4The_Forum_Monkeys
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bluzdog
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Re: What have we become...
2015/09/24 11:22:07
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I always gas but do a reality check. I never buy gear/software on credit so with my limited budget I ask myself: Can I afford it? Do I already have something that can accomplish this? Is it worth it? Do I have higher priorities on my wish list? That keeps thing in check for me.
Rocky
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yorolpal
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Re: What have we become...
2015/09/24 11:24:42
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☄ Helpfulby cclarry 2015/09/24 11:41:25
And the fact that we all are slowing down in our purchases and acquisitions means the software makers and wholesalers will just continue to lower their prices and run more and more "sales" to entice us. We...and they...are doomed. Or not.
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MachineClaw
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Re: What have we become...
2015/09/24 12:47:30
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I have a wish list excel spreadsheet document. if it's on the list and on sale then I might consider buying it.
the list has gotten very short, not much new has been added to the list. now sometimes even on sale I just don't pull the trigger.
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Mesh
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Re: What have we become...
2015/09/24 13:00:11
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☄ Helpfulby cclarry 2015/09/24 15:56:54
Larry has my list.... 
Platinum Gaming DAW: AsRock Z77 Overclock FormulaI7 3770k @ 4.5GHz : 16GB RAM G.Skill Ripjaws X 250GB OS SSD : 3TB HDD : 1TB Sample HDDWin 10 Pro x 64 : NH-D14 CPU Cooler HIS IceQ 2GB HD 7870Focusrite Scarlett 2i4The_Forum_Monkeys
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bitflipper
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Re: What have we become...
2015/09/24 13:19:00
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I used to maintain a wishlist like MachineClaw. But it kept getting shorter, until it pretty much included only things that were too expensive to ever justify. Most of my wishlist items today are hardware for live performance, e.g. the Crumar Mojo. That one's been on the list since its introduction, but it hasn't gotten any cheaper and you never see used ones for sale. Maybe it's less expensive in Italy. Not enough cheaper to offset the airfare, I suspect.
All else is in doubt, so this is the truth I cling to. My Stuff
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Crowned One
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Re: What have we become...
2015/09/24 14:09:09
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I have found this thread very interesting how many have seemed to follow the same trends that I have also found myself on. I have seen my purchases especially of software slow down remarkably this year.
It is also funny that I have a spreadsheet that like you guys has got shorter and shorter list of potential purchases and sitting right above the list are the few questions similar to rocky which I read before I make a new purchase.
I think the market has not reached a point of saturation with so many versions of la2a, 1176 pultec etc.....
I also read a few posts and articles with the challenge to invest in training and resources to improve my playing/tracking/mixing which has also been a better area of investment as one video series or course can be less than a new plugin.
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MachineClaw
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Re: What have we become...
2015/09/24 15:36:05
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☄ Helpfulby cclarry 2015/09/24 15:56:27
Groove3.com a really good investment in the 1 year pass. you can learn all the toys you have bought.
my current list is mostly hardware in the "I can dream really big" way. Kempler, Axe II FX +, VOX AC30C2 with foot switch, a Roland Fantom X6 with cards (I don't need since I have Integra 7 but hey dream big), that Blue Bottle microphone with all the caps will put a dent into any ones budget, things like that. Vienna Instruments complete Cube. dream big, yea never know.
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Rain
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Re: What have we become...
2015/09/24 15:48:09
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There seem to be many facets to this problem in my case. 1 - Usually, if I'm really inspired, I am less inclined to be on the look out for new things or switching DAWs. Likewise, I'm less likely to fuss around with a dozen EQ's or compressors. 2 - The less time I spend on this particular forum, the better. :P 3 - Hardware. I've noticed at some point that I was kind of compensating by buying plug-in after plug-in, wasting hundreds and even thousands $ when a single reasonably priced outboard EQ, a preamp or a new pick up for one of my guitars would make a much more radical difference. Often, instant availability and the illusion of saving $ made the software option more appealing - but that was a temporary fix and pretty soon, I'd find myself in the same position. TBH, I can't remember what was the last plug-in I bought. Must have been sometime last year.
post edited by Rain - 2015/09/24 15:58:30
TCB - Tea, Cats, Books...
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Ham N Egz
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Re: What have we become...
2015/09/24 15:57:12
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I am saving for the renewal of my Cakewalk Subscription, seeing that it has been, for me anyway, a great return on the dollar.
Now do i wait for a deal to renew for 149 vs 199?
Green Acres is the place to be I dont twitter, facebook, snapchat, instagram,linkedin,tumble,pinterest,flick, blah blah,lets have an old fashioned conversation!
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rtucker55
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Re: What have we become...
2015/09/24 16:11:46
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Ham N Egz
I am saving for the renewal of my Cakewalk Subscription, seeing that it has been, for me anyway, a great return on the dollar.
Now do i wait for a deal to renew for 149 vs 199?
Just the opposite here. I'm a little disappointed that the new model has not brought more fixes and less content. I don't think I am using anything New they have introduced yet. I still struggle with drawing controller info in the PRV and the lack of persistent midi ports. It seems crazy that I should still have to turn every damn controller on before I start Sonar or I have to set the stuff up again next time I start Sonar. Time will tell but I may just sit next years update out and see if it has anything to offer me.
Purrrfect Audio DAW here. Wow!...
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dmbaer
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Re: What have we become...
2015/09/24 16:23:04
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MachineClaw
Groove3.com a really good investment in the 1 year pass. you can learn all the toys you have bought.
Same here. I've had my wife buy me the one-year all-access deal for a birthday/Christmas present for the last three years. But I've basically exhausted that - at least for a while. There's nothing there of interest that I haven't already watched, in some cases multiple times. So, I'm trying to figure out what else I can ask for that she could pick up for about a hundred bucks on Black Friday/Monday. And you know what? I don't need a friggin' thing for my DAW. I suppose Rob Papen's Blue II would be cool, for example, but the chances that I would find something in it to delight that I don't have elsewhere are slim. I've lost count of all the software instruments I've acquired over the last few years. I do occasionally still grab something on impulse at a ridiculously low price, like a PSP EQ for 20 bucks last month. But I certainly did not need it. I guess that general feeling of satisfaction means that life is good. 
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