What I have learned: follow your music. When that is your sole guiding star, everything falls into place. I bought a Korg ARP 2600, and to me it is a true musical instrument. The retailer suggested that I would tire of it, but I could easily sell it later. No, just no. Figure out your music first, buy what you need for that music, and then make music. That's a working formula.
Appreciate the feedback. I couldn't agree more and making music is everything. I think tho, these types of TH-cam videos are a tiny slice in the day in the life of a creative's journey. So the subject of gear is very much out-of-context commentary of a working creative. 90% of my effort and thought goes into how I can make my music better, more compelling, more inspired. The small 10% goes into gear and all the rest. But those videos, well, I DO make them, but it's much less popular. Anytime I do a top 5 best/worst gear, it gets x10 views. So go figure...
@@DUNGEONMUSICTHEATRE True in photography as well. It is not the camera or instrument that makes the art, it is the artist. We always get distracted by something shiny, and forget what we were doing.
Absolutely. Could Not agree more. But he mentioned couple pf times, thats him. But I ask myself why this Video then, eventho I like his Videos but this one was really weird.Specialy the microfreack, which absolutely costs nothing for probably the best arturia product in my opinion. Or Pamelas pro. 1 or 2 devices i dont know, but mostly i disagree.
I have been using PCs since forever (early 1990s) for music production and have never regretted it. I also work totally in the box. No room or $$$ for hardware. My modular systems are VCV Rack and Voltage Modular. No regrets.
Same! I got started with a pink looking tracker program and a disc of low bitrate break loops on a 386 and DOS, ended up going to school for audio production, just upgraded to Mixbus 10 for my home studio. I've been meaning to dive into vcv rack and I have voltage modular too, thanks for the reminder. Such a clever solution to the cost of eurocrack, and as I'm planning a diy multivoice synth using daisyseed and Arduino, it'll give me a chance to explore and find what I'm looking for without having to make a million prototypes along the way.
New subscriber here. I like your content but I have a little tip for videos like these. Set yourself up with a teleprompter on your camera so you can keep looking at us but also consult your script while talking so you’ll keep on track. Keep up the great work!
We do live in awesome times for synths and electronic music. New stuff and re-creations of vintage stuff is everywhere, and coming out real fast, at amazing (low and high) prices. That's the temptation for me, until like you i noticed one ends up with a lot of stuff seldomly used, not even taking the time to deep dive in it. It is more about the instruments then about the music. So i recognize a lot of the points you make in your video, and feel the support in the road i'm taking now: music first!
Great to see you again! I love your content. I agree with you on so many points. I have realised that I am not so found of tweaking sounds as I thought I would, so I have gone more the software route as todays VSTs sounds great and can usually be bought at the fraction of a price of the hardware version. I only buy hardware based on how fun it looks to use, more so than sound. Regarding Apple products I completely agree with you. The positive is that they usually works for a long time. I bought an MacBook Pro used last year. I would had to pay almost twice as much for the same specs new. I rely on using external SSDs for music, photography and videography and it works for me.
Re. your last point. I'm an old fart who's been using Windows computers since forever. My last few have been INCREDIBLY stable, fast and utterly reliable. Most of my computers have been upgraded throughout their life and a few of them have needed repairs (which I've been able to perform). I seriously cannot imagine buying a machine that I'm not able to fix or upgrade, let alone one that NO ONE can fix or upgrade. I love your 'everyone abandon Apple for a month' scenario. Though I'd be tempted to suggest that a century might be a better starting point 🙂
As a happy eurorack enthusiast, live musician that uses the MPC live II pretty much on the daily and just got introduced to the Mac ecosystem a few months ago with a 1Tb 32gb RAM i9 macbook pro I LOVE all the takes you have in this video. It honestly made me realize why a lot of the decisions I have been making with my gear lately hasnt been very bad. Now I just have to solve my addiction to a lot of the Plugin alliance stuff for mixing but at least they have that subscripting thing that ~kinda solves my gas 😅. My personal solution for the whole yearly upgrade thing for hardware has been to wait 2 sometimes even 3 generations before upgrading. Albeit its not like I'm doing any genetic protein fold predictions in my DAW, so that might partially be how I've been able to get away with that this long 🤣
I could do an entire video on Plugin addiction going back to the day I decided to buy every UAD plugin, which I don’t regret. But it was a turn point for me to never buy any more plugins unless it passed a bunch of tests. Even then, I think at a certain point, it’s better to stick;) with a hardware box - which is probably an entire video of its own.
I definitely feel you on the ADDAC Ganular Looper, I knew I didn't need it (already had Beads, and Morphagene) but I got a great deal on a mint used ADDAC and I am so happy I did. I adore Beads and Morphagene, but the ADDAC is just an amazing powerhouse that, for me at least, justifies the HP.
Another thing related to the upgrade compulsion is the 'gotta have it all'/ completed system. Similar to the vst purchases you mention. Often if I buy a synth that could have hardware upgrades or expansions i feel the compulsion to buy all of them when in fact I rarely need or use the added functionality. Likewise once in an eco system, like elektron, theres the "well I'm commited to learning and like their workflow....guess i need to buy everything they make" attitude that can easily lead to overbuying.
very right on with stuff. I sold my MPC as well, like you was sold on the idea, but the reality proved otherwise. I haven't been making much music lately, getting back into it. I've decided to sell like half of my gear, because I just feel like there's too much overlap, and falling into specific workflows or ecosystems like you mentioned with the ADDAC. I'm an amateur musician, but I've been into electronics and programming for decades, so I see this stuff through a different lens and have GAS for different reasons, but at the end of the day its more important to just play the instruments than get caught up in minutia around them, a little usability goes a long way
I must say I've purchased some high-quality outboard equipment 6 to 8 years ago and all of it has appreciated in value because of inflation the prices have gone up about 30 to 35% and used ones are now more than I got them for new. I had some stuff from the early 00's that I sold and it has skyrocketed because it was discontinued. I think if you get decent deals very few things depreciate, especially if you buy used. Audio interfaces, computers, and cheap stuff may be an exception.
The "I'm so sad my Mac is now obsolete" thing is really freaking me out since all I use are Thinkpads from the 2011-2017 time frame. And that 2017 one actually is not currently in use. So "cry me a river" is what comes to mind? I don't think I'll ever understand "boohoo it's now outdated" grief.
I have a (now slowly dying) Macbook from 2009! Did I ever feel like replacing it? Not really. It's old in the tooth in terms of OS and available software but the one thing that will put it out on the pasture is the failing cooling system. The CPU is getting too hot occasionally. I suspect that the thermal compound has lost performance. Other than that... just because something is new doesn't mean that it's "so much better" that I have to have it. There are a few technology steps IMHO that one really "had to have". GPUs come to mind and back-illuminated sensors. Low light performance is, indeed, night and day, both in cameras and smart phones. OLED panels are worth an upgrade, but even that was only a limited upgrade compared to plasma displays (except in resolution, of course, I don't think anybody ever made a 4k plasma tv). I still have an HD plasma tv, which in winter also doubles as a space heater. When I put on the yule log video, I can literally feel the heat from the fire. OLED just can't keep up with that. ;-)
Interesting POV..............I found myself feeling almost the opposite about the MicroFreak - I wasn't overly blown away, even after hearing the factory sounds I felt it couldn't compete with anything else I use......AND YET.....Every time I plug the MicroFreak into an external effect, I find I'm instantly inspired...........even more than I was when I recently borrowed my best friend's Iridium!.............anyway, as someone who's been seduced by dozens of pieces of gear over the 40 + years I've been buying and selling synths..............I'm always interested to hear other people's insights and perspectives.......great upload........and YES, holding Apple to account for the fact that they generally rate all their releases as 7 years - then it becomes 'Legacy' and they don't support it.........it's so uncool, (not to mention that it's environmentally obscene). I still hold on to 2 older MacBook Pros..............one which is from mid 2012, just to run editing/librarian software for my Virus synth..............
if depreciation is a primary consideration, always buy used, or better yet, design and make your own gear from scratch. then you're either 1. making the previous owner take on most of the depreciation cost 2. generating fresh value out of your own labour. eurorack is the best for this since the front panel can be an aluminum PCB (very cheap per-unit compared to even guitar pedal enclosures). then you make howevermany you want for yourself and sell the rest.
After I bought iPad 1, I swore to never buy another apple product simple because few years later it wasn't even able to browse the internet, just because Apple wanted me to buy the next iPad. Not.
I'm shocked by the motives of, and the ease with people are sending things back. It seems we first buy and only then start thinking if we can find use for it, beyond spiking our dopamine and adrenaline rush during clicking it into our cart. In my world we only return things when there's something wrong with it.
I think as a good citizen you don’t want to be abusing return policies. It’s generally a pain anyway to return items and you are taking a risk by having it in your possession if there’s anything that goes wrong with it. But I see no reason under the return policy agreement and law that if you are not satisfied within the return window, you can fully return it without issue or guilt, especially online purchase where you as a consumer is taking a big risk by buying items sight unseen. Appreciate the feedback tho.
I really like apple products, I use an iPad pro. However, I use a dedicated desktop and windows laptop for music production as it is significantly more affordable. My current laptop and desktop were about $2500 combined. Yes, combined. And I'll be using these rigs for about a good 7 years.
@DUNGEONMUSICTHEATRE The pc and laptop are completely dedicated to music. I first strip windows to its most essential parts, update drivers and windows, and install my music apps: Ableton Live, NI Komplete, Roland software, Arturia software, VSL Piano, and some hardware drivers for synths. Once I do that, I make a complete backup and turn automatic updates off. I will only update windows when there are big security updates or when I have time to restore from back up if anything goes wrong. I've never had an issue because again, these are music dedicated rigs. I have friends that use one rig for both their music and videos, but nothing else. It works perfectly fine for them too. I have another laptop for my office and day to day shenanigans, and even then it was all cheaper than getting one MacBook pro. To each their own, but these days both windows and macos are stable systems for music. It just depends on what you want to use. Windows has been ultra stable, seriously, I've had no issues with it. It just comes down to the tools you want to use.
One of the things that got me the live music gigs I loved over the years was I never went for the gear that was "universally loved." That stuff is often way more expensive than the improvement in sound justifies and I was always looking to play in "weirdo" bands (was with a brother by another mother in an 80s flavoured, freakbeat revival band for 20 years because I had a sound and feel that my BBAM just couldn't find in more perfectionist bassists. So, niche artists of any kind should definitely avoid the universally loved or they find themselves never quite fitting in as an indie or a mainstreamer. There are, of course, exceptions to this rule - Sting, a jazz bassist, getting the break of his career in the best punk/post pumk band of all time, The Police 😄
Regarding Apple products. Wait until they did their yearly update then buy the latest Base model for most people. Typically they can run the current OS for six years.
I've been dealing with GAS a lot lately. I bought a ton of stuff I thought I needed but I'm still figuring out what I need. At least with this round of GAS, I've been sending stuff back when I used to be too embarrassed and thought the problem was me because everyone else likes the stuff. Like, the Akai just doesn't speak to me either. I don't know why. It should be perfect for me but it's not. Instead, I ended up going with the RC-505 looper station because I also want something far more live performance related. For my DAW in my live setup, I'm using an iPad Air 5th generation with an M1 chip. Anything above the M1 chip is overkill for music production on the iPad. I've got a Mac Studio with the M2 Ultra chip and the amount of VSTs and plugins I can load on 32 tracks before it starts slowing down is almost obscene. I'm not going to have to upgrade that computer for another decade. Only video, graphics, and animation folks need these new M4 chips. I wouldn't upgrade otherwise. But yeah use that return window on your gear purchases if you don't like them! That's why I only buy through Sweetwater when I can because they don't hassle you about it.
The "Mac's are just better" thing really baffles me. Please read this with a friendly voice. I've used both Mac and PC computers regularly for both professional work and personal purposes since the early 90s, and it's really a BS way of thinking about things. Whatever computer a person uses can get the job done. Seriously. The "better" and "more stable" things are weird left over artifacts from marketing or something. Think about it... over 90% of the worlds computers run on Windows and Linux/Unix systems... overwhelming majority. They run entire airports, banks, financial institutions, the stock market, hospitals, spacecraft, scientific research, public utilities... you name it. If they were "unstable" or "not good" these computers would not be in any way capable of doing mission critical work. And if you've ever done heavy lifting work like game development or real time 3D graphics you would know just how stable and fast (and essential!) a non-Mac system can be. So... "Macs are just better" is NOT in any way a reality, or even a defensible conversation point. I don't say that to shit on Apple products... I own many myself. And a person can choose to use and pay for whatever they want. But when Apple wants $600 for an m.2 drive upgrade that can be found anywhere for under $200, and every other upgrade is priced equivalently, and the base machines come with 16gb of ram which isn't even enough to run a modern OS smoothly much less do anything heavy, simple napkin math will tell you that the marketers have been running the show at Infinite Loop for a long time, and the Apple we used to know and love died somewhere around the time the iPhone was born. It's ok to save your money and "think different" about using a different computer. In the end, it's about the music and art... not the operating system or hardware. You don't "Apple" all day long, you work in Ableton or Pro Tools or Maya or whatever... and that experience is the same. But it can cost a hell of a lot less for a hell of a lot more hardware power if you "think different". So when I want a light travel computer, it's my 13 inch M1 iMac. But everything else is a custom build PC, which you can do for far less than $2k. If you want a beefy video card for gaming, 3D work, AI, etc, then add that price on top. Also, "workflow" and "fast" are BS concepts now. If a render or task takes more than real-time to complete, you walk away and let the machine do it's work. A single person with a huge render workload is more effective with two reasonably priced computers (of any brand!) than with a single super expensive one. Or... just batch process slow tasks at night. Anyhow... it's OK to stop believing that 30 year old hype. It was real in the 90s for creative professionals... today it's just a near criminal money grab.
Hey appreciate the insights! I think it's important to caveat that some of us "prefer" the MacOS over Windows but that doesn't mean it's superior so I hear ya. If you take a comprehensive approach for what is "superior" (i.e. cost, performance, ux preference) you can make a case for either. But I can safely say that Avid Pro Tools and Universal Audio stuff (hardware and plugins) just runs smoother with less issues on Mac from my experience over the course of last 10+ years. Iv'e tried to run those on PC's with not so great results. My hunch is that it's software developers (Avid/ UAD) pay more attention to the wider install base (which is MacOS) so it's less buggy then Windows? Or the hardware configuration is a lot more diverse on Windows so it's just by nature less stable and more variables to test on PC/Windows than say Macs? Anyway, I agree it's more complicated than a simple one's "better" than the other nowadays so thank you for the feedback!
I like to buy my macbooks used. I find it to be a better value. Then, I wait several years until I need a better one. I was on an used 2017 MBP until about a year ago when I upgraded to a used M1 macbook because the Arturia plugins were bogging down the 2017.
I bought my first Pams used right after the new model came out. Quite a few people used the chance to upgrade to put their old version on Reverb. So I was happy. I put off getting a MicroFreak for a LONG time. And I wish I would have gotten it sooner. I love the weird "keyboard". It's not great as a keyboard, but as a touch/expression controller it's phenomenal. If you like the sounds of digital modules like Plaits but don't already have it, then the MF can be a good fit. But if you have a rack filled with Plaits, Braids, Rings, Elements, etc. Then MF is perhaps redundant. If I had the discipline for minimalism, I think I could get a LOT of mileage out of the MicroFreak, an effects pedal, a multitrack recorder (a PC or hardware multitrack), and perhaps a drum machine (Korg Volca Sample, PO-33, EP-133, PO-12, TT-78, LIVEN Lofi-12, ...)
Good conversation. I have had many regrets over time, but I have also found that anything that i get can eventually serve a purpose if I keep an open mind about it. Even the "bad" or cheap stuff. I used my $40 fallout pedal the other day, like the world's crappiest delay pedal i got early on, and it helped turn my DFAM into a strega sound when I turned the feedback way up. No harm in selling stuff to get new stuff either. I regret parting with some things and glad i sold others. I guess you can't really ever know how anything will turn out...
Good video, and well timed for Black Friday. I tend to agonize over purchases forever because that feeling of regret when you make a bad choice is noooot fun. Also why I almost never buy anything brand new. I’m sitting here with a Polybrute 12 on the way though, which is the most expensive and first new thing I’ve ever purchased, so fingers crossed I don’t regret it!!
@DUNGEONMUSICTHEATRE only a wobble. Spent a while doing research and now gonna see if I can achieve decent alternative sounds using my ER-301. GAS is back under control....
Microfreak desperately needs a few pedals afterward to sound good. I use a UA Max compressor/preamp and a 10 band EQ to give it some grit, some body, and some stereo life. This isn't even including the 100% necessary reverb that I already owned. But at that point I had spent almost 1000$ lol. And there are for sure better synths for that money, but they don't fit on my desk.
I disagree. :( Arturia might not be for everyone, but it's a great company and they build great products. Not all are home runs tho and nothing is for everybody.
I love the Microfreak in line of all! Doing live DJ-Setup with Maschine or plug it in between exsisting guitarpedals or modular. But alone without „the band“ on the stage it’s lost of couse! Soundforge it with osmose mpe and as oscillator for Moog Input…
Very good content as always 1) MV FOMO advice - don't get caught in the upgrade loop, and don't get caught in the BlackFriday panic. 2) My heart goes out to everybody who pays that Apple Tax. That first gen CPU to the M1 was amazing in terms of performance, but that will never happen again in terms of performance. The recent upgraded CPUs are virtually no different but the price keeps climbing. Non-repairability is a deal breaker for me. I have been building customs PCs for over 15 yrs and I am never going back to Mac.
I have Pam’s New and glad you cleared my gas for the Pro… also you helped validate my avoiding the granular ADDAC, however I now really want the Tasty Chips GR1 more than I already did (I always wanted it)
@@proxymerchantoh noes! The point of this video was not trying to get folks to buy more gear 😂😂😂 but certainly you wont get any objections from me. $750 sounds like a solid deal.
Great video! That Apple buy is definitely pretty painful. But what I will say is: with all of the innovation and updating Apple has done with the M-series chips over the years (and doubling and tripling down on no upgrade paths) they have really forced me to think of more efficient ways to not have to rely on Apple specifically for things like storage. They've made such powerful computers that I feel very comfortable buying base models (especially now that all base MacBooks come with 16gb of RAM standard) and building out a separate external storage solution (combo of NAS and external drives) so the computer ends up just being what it should have always been: just a brain. I know at the end of the day it would be better to be able to run our machines into the ground (and to be fair I've run my fair share of Macs into the ground) and then upgrade without needing to buy something new, but at a 4-6 year lifespan cycle for silicon, I'm actually okay with paying the minimum for a base machine once or twice every decade or so.
Yeah for sure that I just got unlucky missing out on a generational tech upgrade. But it’s all good, besides the battery issue and umm loud overheating fan noise, it’s the hub for my mobile rig. No point in selling it. Thanks for the insights!
I felt the exact same about the Microfreak. It's a very enjoyable synth and I got some good use out of it but I was constantly battling modulation parameters and having to dissect the patch to try and remove some strange noise or something. Cool, well priced, not for me at all.
Thanks for the video, I am currently trying to recover (and protect) myself from pretty much everything you stated. I started eurorack after getting a moog mother-32 and got my mind blown, went to dawless route, (I hated the experience on windows), got a lot of modular stuff and didn't sink enough time in it to really learn deep stuff about particular modules (for example, I got a rené I never really knew what to do with, it was one of my first modules. I got a MI braids, a Squarp Hermod+, and an intellijel rainmaker, all of which I never managed to make anything really productive or enjoyable with..), recently got an elektron analog four to stay focused, it made me learn that the hardest part about it for me is to stay focused on one place to grow something I enjoy (I have been managing to start doing that). I guess the modular stuff is greatest when it complements stuff that allow focus.. I find it quite hard to figure out how I will use modules in advance in the end. I also tried audio production on Linux to start recording some of my stuff and have "long term" track projects, but I have the same experience as you, the potential for Linux for audio production is insane but the sheer amount of setup time and potential debug makes it not worth it at all, Apple is the only real valid option for something that doesn't "get in the way" but apple is apple... I just know I'll never pay the apple upgrade tax to get a maxed out mac, I'd rather simplify if the CPU struggles or use an external hard drive or nas if I need more storage... Loved the video (and so many of the other ones you made)
@@quantum_ocean Linux users don't use it because it's free, chaining the price of a mac to the complexity of Linux is irrelevant (the common direction if it was about price would be windows for almost everyone). For usage, imho it all boils down to expectations and competency. For my use cases I expect some stuff to work flawlessly, some stuff to give me full control, some stuff to be light.. and I accept some stuff to have involved setup and/or require competency. It's all usecase dependent.
Linux to be fair is amazing but you have to set your expectations proper. I think moderately technically astute folks, like your self, might find it incredibly refreshing, lean, minimalist, and endless customizable. It holds your hand less, but with great power comes responsibility.
Not sure what people mean by Mac is more stable? Maybe it is the software you are using. I use Reaper on Windows and the only time Reaper crashes is when a plugin is at fault and crashes. Cannot blame Windows for plugin issues though. Very stable these days and in this context. To each their own though.
For me personally, when I’ve tried to run Ableton on windows with my UAD (the PC version) I’ve had a lot of issues with freezes and crashes, a lot more than I’ve experienced on Mac. And you are right, it’s probably the software developers not thoroughly testing on Windows as say a Mac. I think Windows with so many endless configs, by definition it can’t be as stable as say a Mac which has a more narrower hardware configuration. This is of course a generalization and anecdotal since I didn’t thorough test down the list. But nevertheless it was real for me and disruptive enough for me to not do any further experiments on Windows. Also once you are vested in a system like me who’s mostly on Mac now and if it’s running stable, I probably wont take the time to run in on windows since it’s a lot of effort to switch production systems. It’s very possible Windows with the right configuration runs great but I just have old scars that keeps me from dabbling in it. Perhaps now might be the time… ;)
A quick question before my long post. What is that monitor you are using? I'm in the market for another monitor to go with the new M4 Mac mini. This will be a long post so feel free to read or not. I've been working freelance in design, video, and now sound design for many years. Adopted Apple back in the beginning and I have a good insight that I can share. First off, you really need to do the research and understand the variables to your situation before you buy. What is your budget and what are your needs? Do you make a lot of money from your computer and have time constraints? After all....time is money unless your workflow or use case is different. The general rule of thumb is buy the middle range unless you are a busy professional and have the budget and need for speed and have a lot of applications open and clients whispering in your ear to hurry up. When I buy, my computer lasts until it slows down enough that I can justify a new one. Rinse and repeat. For me, that usually turns out to be 5 years before I start to see diminishing returns. I normally buy mid-range and more ram because I do memory intensive task such as rendering 4K from Adobe AE. I invest in external storage, not internal. Anyway...if it's a hobby for someone then that lifecycle could be up to 7 years maybe more depending on what they do and unless it's a laptop (battery gets con$umed). Once I buy, I don't lament...I just use it and get on with my life. There are always going to be "new" things coming out and it's best to focus on what you have then plan for future purchases. Again, I base that purchase off usability (is a new computer going to help me make more money and make my life better?) and do I need it to enhance my workflow. A couple of points from the video. There is no need to buy a larger drive than 1TB due to Thunderbolt and USB-C. I only have apps on my computer and store all of my files on external drives. I sometimes work from my internal but I always offload to external storage including backups. In addition, audio files are generally smaller than video or hi-rez photos. If you rely on sound libraries those can also be stored on an external without too much slow down. External SSD are expensive but at least they are upgradable. Most people can get by using a basic external drive instead of paying premium for SSD. However, if you are in a professional setting you probably have a network storage solution anyway so that's moot. Finally, as for amount of Cores, RAM and GPU...it all depends on what you do with your computer and how each application uses the processing power. You don't need to max out ram if all you're doing is audio editing with a couple apps open. Actually, on modern SOC it's much more efficient so less need for major memory upgrades unless your apps need it. 24TB for ram is probably enough for most use cases. If you are a video editor using AE or Premier with multiple layers of effects AND other suite of apps open, then yea...get as much ram as you can afford. As for processing....are your apps optimized for GPU or Cores? And again...what are you doing and how fast do you need it. In the end, ask yourself...does my computer meet my needs or would I be better off upgrading? If it meets your needs, then just keep creating and do less lamenting, then plan for the future. Nobody is forcing you to anything. Well, except for an impatient client :) By the way...if all you do is work in a studio setting with a monitor, don't buy a laptop! You are paying premium for things you probably don't need. Finally...as for Apple, user upgrade paths after purchase is never going to happen going forward because system on a chip is so complicated due to all components are embedded on the chip. Even if they could or would, the average consumer won't do it or won't be able to do it. Even most professional studios are not going to crack open their Macs to upgrade. They buy or lease what they need then plan for upgrades as needed.
Regarding the computer, the internal storage was something I wanted to avoid external drives (for a number of reasons) but yeah.. thanks for the feedback! :)
You: "It's got a hard drive etc etc"..... Me: "you mean it has a DAW?"... You: "It is sounding like my laptop". Me: "damn... he's already clocked it". haha.
Guilty of owning too much granular pédals ans modules!!! But i have to say im still running my 2011 Mac pro cheese grate and a 2016 MacBook pro. My neighbor is a mac tech so hé can fix my machines almost all the Time. Until i’m forced to upgrade to a model wich is not upgradable/fixable…
Apple's turn to no longer make products that can be upgraded or repaired was a huge reason why I switched to an Eluktronics laptop when the MacBook's time was up. Will be looking at Framework and like-minded brands in a few years once this one's kaput. In general, I also think people replace electronics way too frequently. It baffles me how many people I know that buy a new laptop or phone every year or two. Unless you're torturing the battery, those things can last much longer! And odds are the upgrade will be marginal anyways.
I don't buy maxed out Apple products but I'm generally happy with Apple desktops. It is annoying to use external SSDs but they are fast and drop-proof and 1TB is just enough for most-used sample libraries. I have MacBooks that are over 12 years old still working well enough in the household. No brand- or DIY-PC ever had half that durability for me, although its been over a decade so perhaps things have changed?
@@SpaceshipEarthlingThings haven't changed much, really. I'm currently looking to upgrade my M1 MacBook Air (the first M-series laptop). It's...4 years old, this month, and is still working great, and if it weren't for the fact that the screen is just a little too small, I'd probably hang on to it for a few more years. This was intended as a "temporary" purchase, because I needed an M-series laptop (I'm a software developer), and it was the first available. I fully-expected to replace it within a year, but it's been *so nice*, on many levels, that I haven't felt the need. A strategy I try to follow in general with Apple products is to never buy the maxed-out version of anything. When I replace this laptop, I'll probably be switching back to a MacBook Pro, and I'll get the M4 Pro version. There's a ridiculous price jump between the Pro and the M4 Max, and I really can't justify the additional cost. That laptop will last me for another 5 or more years, I'm sure.
Interesting take. I have a Microfreak. I also have 3 Mutable INstruments Shruthi-1s (including and XT). I'm not sure why I still have the microfreak. As far as Apple goes and their 'right to repair/upgrade' situation: There are multiple things at play here that I as a certified technician see...one is that Apple bases many of their choices on aesthetics and secondly user experience. I have always stated that the best Apple product to buy is the one that is 2 generations behind. I currently have a (ancient) pre-butterfly keyboard macbook that is still running the most current OS (thanks to OCLP). I paid less than $400 for the unit. My next upgrade if I choose wiill be an M1. Lastly-I was a guy who grew up poor and did my first record with 3 pieces of gear...and my live rig was sequenced by a PC-AT running DOS (not even Windows!!!). Sometimes, simplicity is better than the mountain of tools...I hope you have a great day!
so glad to get pams pro. blows the original away. I was going to sell the new workout, no way even 2 isn't enough. the gas is strong. your well funny, you have tons of gear. way more than anyone needs but if you got the space and cash happy days. beautiful studio.
I know exactly what you mean about Apple's greedy ideas they sell to us as 'alternative'. However, they gradually took away our freedom of choice and ability to upgrade or repair our computers. Remember when you could still open a MB Pro and change the motherboard, battery, speakers, memory/SSD yourself? The USB ports, the HDMi, etc ... all gone in exchange for dongles to connect and reconnect? It's mad, and wasteful, but Apple don't care, they're just interested to convince you they're alternative and so worth the money. I used to buy new MBs, and then one day decided ... no more. My solution (which I will have to stop doing soon), is to just buy second hand MB pros from early 2015. I still have two, running very well with strong batteries (several hours of use, no problem), 2 USB ports, accessible opening back for changing the battery, speakers, et al. It runs Monterey, which is fine, although as I said above, I guess that won't work for ever. BTW, the last one I bought was in perfect condition, with 1TB of memory, all for .... 200€. As for your other gear, we're all suckers for GAS. I guess the moral of the story is 'listen to the voice of reason', and always wait a few days/weeks before pressing 'buy'. I often find once the initial urge has subsided, you make better decisions. And, if after a few months you see that the module/plug-in/synth is what's needed, well try it.
use bitwig ,cardinal or vcv on ubuntu any sub $800 amd laptop will run just fine up to 8-16 tracks more with ASIO external sound card or just get a m4 mac mini😎
Yeah, Apple is no friend to the-right-to-repair. I've been a Mac user since the mid 80s, but repair/upgrade... ugh! When my parents died, I bought a maxed out, gen 1 Mac Book Air. I don't regret the 4 grand Australian it cost me, I got 7 years out of the 2013 Air that preceded it (and even that was 7 years out of a gen 1 butterfly keyboard, and those things died like flies on a butcher shop UV light), It's still doing great, still a ton of room on the 2TB SSD. Not fond of the new Logic Pro. Sessions tracks are not as good as the original drummer tracks, still haven't figured out how to change the chords of each region to bring the music into line with my quirks, will probably still only ever use the drummer tracks. I'm leaning DAWless because none of the DAWs, even Ableton have that pushbutton friendliness of something like a recording mixer like the Tascams or the Zoom LiveTrack series. I briefly had some SSL mixer experience at the dawn of my radio "production operations" career in the late 80s and my LiveTrack has a real SSL feel. If not the build quality. First thing I did was put it in a guitar pedal case, properly screwed to the tray via the socket nuts in the bottom of the LiveTrack. That tray is mounted securely on top of my production rack. If it were ever dropped without the protective hardware, it'd be a write-off. Gig bags and road cases are essential, if annoyingly expensive.
Ugh that Intel Macbook upgrade hurts 😅 Yeah, Apple burned me bad with their bad thermals on the Intel Macs. I've been on Mac since 2004 and the Intel transition was painful, but I thought it was a good thing at first. Intel Macs were pretty great for a few years. Until I bought a Macbook Air in 2015 which showed its infamous thermal crashes by 2016. Logic board replacement needed so that wasn't really repairable. I realised then that they were just doing planned obscolescence with their laptops, killing them early through bad design. So, I refused to spend any money on Macs after that. I used older Macbooks trying not to tax them too badly, but by 2020 they also showed the same thermal damage and I really needed to upgrade then. So, I went Hackintosh. Only when I built that machine did I finally understand why this thermal debacle wasn't entirely Apple's fault. The cooler on my Hackintosh is the size of a baby's head and I optimised the cooling in my case as much as I could, but it still runs at 80°C under load. Better than the 100°C of last gen Intel iMacs, but not exactly optimal. It would be entirely impossible to keep that chip cool in any way that would be compatible with Mac designs. Intel chips are really good space heaters nowadays because the architecture design is practically EOL after 50 years. So, begrudgingly I must admit that Apple Silicon is actually really good and I upgraded to an M3 Macbook Pro now. Hands down one of the best laptops I've owned since the iBook G4. I was really sceptical after Apple's design choices in the past, but the performance, thermals and power efficiency speak for themselves.
My Apple desktop is a 1700 paperweight after 4 years Total garbage Worst computer I’ve ever owned Longevity wise Apple laptop I’m a little smarter with Don’t save anything to your computer that could be on external hard drive And always use an externally powered usb so you don’t degrade the power supply
Regarding the macbook price, and computer purchases, I suggest listening to what Alec Empire said about it over on the Atari Teenage Riot channel. DON'T SPEND THE MONEY.
I do regret purchasing both the Model Cycles and the Syntakt, Ive tried liking them, specially the Syntakt but I just dont gel with it. After a year I think its time for it to go. The only decent thing about that thing is the kick..thats it, the rest sounds awful imo. Just got a Digitakt II and Im in love with it. It sparked my creativity in a way the SY never did
Also intetesting: The opposite of it. Gear that you regret you have sold. For me it is the 0-coast. I got it now for the third time after selling it two times 😂 Now i will never sell it again.
Oh man, you’d hate me! Yeah.. i don’t really have gear buying regrets.. Though I do have regrets about times I didn’t pull the trigger fast enough on a deal? On Apple products.. I think you do need a strategy. One might be “oh, well I’m going to hang on to this for x period, and the difference between what I bought it for and sold it for is what it cost me to own for that period.. and generally trying to stick as close as you can to stock configs is probably optimal.. and you just kind of search for sweet spots.. or, I mean, that’s on approach. There’s another kind of user that tends to go for the big powerful system that remains your main system for as long as possible. Right now the Mac Pro’s are the only systems users can replace a hard drive.. and you pay such a premium, that it doesn’t seem worth it.. but, I mean, you could have multiple OS installs to manage orphan ware? I’m not entirely sure if I’d Trust a Mac Studio to still be running north of a decade from now.. given the hard drive issue. But economically.. imagine these as two opposite approaches. The big expensive system means there’s an ecosystem of hardware, around your computer, that you’re not going to have to upgrade because of shifting connectivity standards.. so, like, there’s a lot of things you could potentially account for.. and then try and compare.. and see what you can do. I’m hoping to buy a new Mac soon. It’ll be a $3,600 custom config MacBook Pro.. for audio, video, animation, visual effects, and immersive art and design. This years design, for me, is a whole lot better then recent options.. and blah blah blah…. But I’m way past the point of needing to upgrade. Right now I’m relying more heavily on hardware then makes sense for the way I want to work, but I thought it was important that I prioritize hardware for a kinda long period of time.
I bought a m1 Mac mini for music production . I haven’t been able to max it out yet , but I’m no pro.. some tubers test older Mac hardware on ableton to see what can be square out. It’s a lot !
In 2010 I bought my first 27” iMac, and didn’t pay the Apple tax in advance, ordering an i5 instead of an i7, with a 512gb hard drive. By 2015 I had realized the error of my ways and needed to get it replaced. I paid about $3,500 for an Apple i7 27” iMac instead 2015, with a 1TB SSD and 8 go of memory which you could still user replace to 32 GB. Now that machine has lasted almost 10 years! But I do have an M chip in my near future. Had I bought a Windows machine in 2010, I would likely be on my 5th upgrade by now-and it would probably be to a new M chip Mac!
I mean that’s amazing that you were able to run your Mac for that long. I’ll give Apple credit for sure. I still have my Mac mini that runs fantastic. But also as a paying customer, I think have the right to gripe about their current practices. I think their pro level machines should be user upgrade able
yes? If you are asking what I think you are asking, I think there is a difference between more general purposed electronics, like a laptop, versus a more purposeful device that's built for music production. There's less friction and less distraction with purposed device then a general device usually.
I really really hate most of the new Roland stuff besides the 404 even though I sent it back I just can’t connect to them and it feels like a wall in between me and Roland gear none of it clicks with me or sounds good to me idk why
I purchased Batumi V1 one week before Batumi V2 released ( Should have done my research and I could have returned it and V2 tor a difference of 150$ Which led me to beware of Xaoc cause they re-released Drezno V2 Batumi V2 Lipsk V2 ( Just a Orientation thing ) I'm Sure Zadar 2 is coming I won't be purchasing Xaoc Products Cause it's insulting to customers The same with re-releasing a Cd / DVD with Bonus Content The first batch purchased got sold out cause of the original lovers now the original lovers got to Double Dip
My big mistake was buying a NI Maschine Mk2. I never clicked with it, I hate the pads and it just got dropped from support by Native Instruments. Its no good as a general purpose controller, and I really regret buying it. I will never buy a hardware/sofware combo again. I'll buy hardware, I'll buy controllers, but I won't buy anything that locks me into an ecosystem/software interface again.
Hey yeah, so many interesting points! So funny, i'm making music for over 35 years now and A LOT of gear has been come and gone in my workflow. So for example things like the real Polymoog, what a hell when it comes to service, or the many diffenrent solutions when it comes to sampling and sequencing. Also sold my real Rhodes MkI after GSI released their FANTASTIC Mr. Ray MkII plugin, and here it starts to get interesting, it sounds like the real deal (the ONLY Rhodes plugin that had this amazing re-pedaling feature) BUT is still on 32bits... i started building Hackintosh solutions back in the 2010s, and now i'm still working EVERYDAY with my HP8570w upgraded with 32gb of ram and the fastest intel processor (3940XM, 4 cores @ 3 ghz) and two 2 tb HDs, 2 tb only for samples. Since i started using Logic when it came out back in 1992 i'm so into it in every lil detail, and it runs fantastic on this machine. And since i'm still running OSX 10.13.6, still able to run all necessary actual stuff like Melodyne, synths like Serum etc. AND still have my 32bits plugins running i don't see any point in upgrading😂 Don't get me wrong, i know about the M1 (and following up to the M4) features very well but hey, in the end it's the music that matters, and I earn my money with this machine and work professionally everyday. So yeah, we don't have to make ourselfs slaves to the constant upgrading and „new gear craziness“ as long as we don't miss a sound or workflow we need. I can make ALL kinds of music on my machine, from acoustic to fully modular electronic and everything in between. Never change a running system (of course changing things that slow you down have to be changed) Cheers✌
Seen your old style looking keyboard for your Mac or PC? here before and must say I 'm a bit disappointed that your T-shirt didn't say Qwerty Toys. That red plastic over the screen on Pamela's new workout is horrible. Solution: Just took it out and now the module is better. I have however decided I want one more and wonder if the Pro is better regarding clocking issues? If not I'll get another Pam's new workout secondhand, or the cheaper and smaller Sitka Gravity + the expander. Regarding granular. I don't get why so many sell their Braids, and cheapish. Might get another one. Btw, it's the only one I got, but from what I heard and read, and the workflow of other granular modules, and the price of Arbhar that is the only one I find tempting, my guess is that another Braids will be better for me. About not selling modules before it's to late. I got a few of those, + some of them are buggy, partly broken or got other issues, (just like us who got into this crazy hobby). But remembering the three module challenge that I think DivKid introduced years ago, I thought why not do something similar with some of these? Record the mess and then maybe filter a bit and slap some reverb on it? Limitations are usually really good for creativity. If only big pharma could make filter and reverb pills. My next PC will be made for and run on Linux because F@Øx!!! Windows and Mac for reasons.
@@DUNGEONMUSICTHEATRE I do everything music outside the PC. Record it on two 4ms wav Recorders. One for beats and one for the rest. If I want to upload something the easiest way is to get one of my friends to do it for me, but I haven't done that yet, only transferred some stuff to friends/colleagues directly from the cards, to their mac or pc for collaborative projects. I did a video ages ago, on Linux mint, for a track some of my friends made, but I can't remember what I used, only that I uploaded the video to TH-cam. I had a macbook pro once, but gave it to a friend. Sitting with a sad Windows machine now that must be replaced, but I'm so sick of Windows as there are no benefits to use it over mac, except that I'm very used to the workflow, and mac is to expensive. Silly to say I know, as I'm euroracking, but modules are more fun than these machines. Mint is very similar to Windows and user friendly, excellent support on div fora etc, except when you want to do things it can't do. : D
Never clicked with anything on this list own a mf have had basically all the mpcs and sold all them but I really really clicked with the te ko2 133 that’s the best sampler workflow ever
lol I mostly use my microfreak as a controller; it's perfect; it can control CV instruments and has a generative arp (sound is cool enough but I don't use it live)
they're easily converted to a module if you have access to a 3D printer (to print the housing) The model is on thingiverse and is reverseable if you save the parts.
@@johngannon the kb is connected by a ribbon cable so converting is trivial. You also lose the action buttons (on top of the keys) after removing the keyboard fyi.
Thanks for the feedback! So what audio I/O is working for you on PC for multitracking? Ableton working out okay for you on PC? Maybe I need to give it a go on my gaming PC 😂 Just got burned awhile back on PC instability but maybe it’s worth it
@@DUNGEONMUSICTHEATRE I'm using a very ancient MOTU 828Mk2 with firewire! computer has tons of RAM and really good CPU though. usually recording 4 stereo 24bit 48KHz, so not pushing it...
The 2 Pamelas workout absolutely doesnt belong here imho. The Screen Upgrade alone worth the money. The new workout was imposible to read. The pro workout also can so much more. Also microfreack I can‘t get at all. Beside minifreack the greatest arturia product imo.
With the apple thing what I dod was quit apple. Entirely. Haven't had one of their products of any kind in like half a decade. The whole one is better than the other thing is just rubbish. The best one is the one you're used to useing and are skilled with. Get used to something else because if you stop bying tech with pictures of fruit on it you'll have a four figure sume more money in your bank at yhe end of the year with zero impact on your productivity. Actually your productivity might even go up as all your rechargeable devices will actually hold a charge and be repairable if necessary.
Ill never buy an apple macbook again. I use them for my work, they are awesome, but just wayyyy too expensive for what you get. My utra powerfull windows gaming/music production rig was cheaper than the latest mbp and that includes a gtx4090... Let that sink in. Yeah I dont include the display in that price, because I already had a widescreen curved display. A desktop pc is upgradable, add some memory later? no problem.. I dont pay apple prices 300 euro for 16g extra. I get 32g for 100 euro. Stop believing the apple hype. Windows is fine for music production. If anything its technically better than osx, it works on such a range of hardware, osx only works on apple hardware.
Microfreak SUCKS lol. biggest hype synth in recent years. Like you said, thin sounds. Sounds plasticy AF. Unintuitive browser and preset saving, just an all around bleh synth. Its FUN to play, but thats about it.
I'm new to the electronic music thing. I've literally just unboxed my midi controller and didn't even have time to like it before I started to think I need a better keyboard. I've spent countless hours researching and browsing keyboard upgrades only to discover that really there is nothing wrong with my midi controller, it's still the best bang for buck in my price range. And the brand is one of the few where you don't need the packaged software to make it work and it does integrate with my daw perfectly. And then there is the endless synth hype where really, all synths are pretty much the same. Some oscillators, an LFO or two and a bunch of onboard effects. Synths by their nature can create nearly any sound so one over the other....I don't get the arguments really. It's all just a bit more polyphonic, here, a few voices give or take there, a chassis and whether or not you like it. I use a VST and while I'm enjoying that I don't see the point of yet another piece of hardware.
Hands down if I had to do a video on software vs hardware, software wins no question. But hardware has a small window of space that it's really good for, tactility, inspiration, cool factor. With endless ability to also post process, what sounds better than what anyway? Right? But hardware tends to be more fun to make videos with for me personally and my channel mostly deals with hardware so it's not that hardware is better than anything, it's not. It's just more interesting to me and I like making videos on hardware. Thanks for stopping by though! :)
Appreciate you may permanently have been put off Windows ;p However I think with the release of Windows Midi Services early in 2025, Windows is finally taking music production seriously. Interesting video about it here..th-cam.com/video/-pe29zIVUCA/w-d-xo.htmlsi=ZsDpteFbDM_lTG6c
I think the most frustrating part was dealing with audio drivers. Pops and clocks, lack of real thunderbolt support, and certain software I’m keen on (logic and pro tools) that tend to be more stable on Mac. But I will def check this out and thanks for ur heads up on Windows MIDI service!
Bad Gear channel is more parody than reality. I think you just scratched the surface. I have bought eurorack modules based on YT reviews - BIG mistake. Intellijel Steppy... looking at you. I think guitar pedals are very similar. Too much influencer pedaling to the point you can't trust anything. AFA Apple goes... I had a Mac Pro v2 which I was able to upgrade the CPU, GPU, SSD's, RAM. There were even firmware hacks to upgrade to latest Mac OSX! Lasted 15 years. Would buy a new generation Mac Pro if they ever come out with one, again.
My strategy: 1. Get a good MPE instrument, like a cheap electric guitar + MIDI Guitar 3, and a MIDI breath sensor. 2. Buy the best bundles from black friday sales. (You can get pretty much everything from IK Multimedia and Arturia for under 500 and there are many other such examples) If you have all of IKM and Arturia software there's little more you need outside supreme fidelity like SWAM, Diva, Serum, Pianoteq, top-grade drums and orchestral. I got IK Multimedia Studio MAX that has everything they have for 150. It's absolutely mind blowing crazy good deal. People are seriously sleeping on this. Just Amplitube + TONEX alone are more than worth the price. 3. Buy Reaper DAW for something like 60 bucks. 4. Buy a good synth like Pigments, Diva, etc. I already have more opportunities to explore musical creativity than I have time to live. But I guess some people aren't as limited by money. It's just diminishing returns kick in pretty early on and if you are more hardware based, the clutter really drags me down. p.s. All Apple devices above their minimum offerings are complete fucking scam. The memory and hard drive space have insane margins.
It's a bit ironic to do a video with the lesson "be careful about buying gear you don't need" while surrounded by the most gear I've literally ever seen in a single room. I recommend turning your advice inward, before emboldening yourself to advise other people. Why on earth would you buy that much gear?? It's an addiction. Sending love, hope you can find some peace.
Appreciate the feedback. 1 - you gotta start somewhere. 2. the gear you see (mostly) I’m perfectly happy with, gets used a lot, and is a source of serious inspiration. So I’m at peace. I just have a handful a regrets. This video ain’t advice directed at you. It was always me first and then you can choose to learn from my mistakes. Thanks for playing! ☺️
not rich af, but I should make it more clear and I have added new notes to my bio. I'm a retired professional audio direct/producer/composer in film/tv/games. So couple decades of pro audio work, you tend to accumulate gear. But I could see the misunderstanding.
What I have learned: follow your music. When that is your sole guiding star, everything falls into place. I bought a Korg ARP 2600, and to me it is a true musical instrument. The retailer suggested that I would tire of it, but I could easily sell it later. No, just no. Figure out your music first, buy what you need for that music, and then make music. That's a working formula.
Appreciate the feedback. I couldn't agree more and making music is everything. I think tho, these types of TH-cam videos are a tiny slice in the day in the life of a creative's journey. So the subject of gear is very much out-of-context commentary of a working creative. 90% of my effort and thought goes into how I can make my music better, more compelling, more inspired. The small 10% goes into gear and all the rest. But those videos, well, I DO make them, but it's much less popular. Anytime I do a top 5 best/worst gear, it gets x10 views. So go figure...
@@DUNGEONMUSICTHEATRE True in photography as well. It is not the camera or instrument that makes the art, it is the artist. We always get distracted by something shiny, and forget what we were doing.
This was a really strange episode of Bad Gear.
At first glance it's ticking all the boxes.
Absolutely. Could Not agree more. But he mentioned couple pf times, thats him. But I ask myself why this Video then, eventho I like his Videos but this one was really weird.Specialy the microfreack, which absolutely costs nothing for probably the best arturia product in my opinion. Or Pamelas pro. 1 or 2 devices i dont know, but mostly i disagree.
Beat me to it🎉😂@@noahward9445
Dying 😂
@@noahward9445 lmao you beat me to it..
What I know is that it is also possible to make unique music with old cheap instruments.
I have been using PCs since forever (early 1990s) for music production and have never regretted it. I also work totally in the box. No room or $$$ for hardware. My modular systems are VCV Rack and Voltage Modular. No regrets.
Same! I got started with a pink looking tracker program and a disc of low bitrate break loops on a 386 and DOS, ended up going to school for audio production, just upgraded to Mixbus 10 for my home studio.
I've been meaning to dive into vcv rack and I have voltage modular too, thanks for the reminder. Such a clever solution to the cost of eurocrack, and as I'm planning a diy multivoice synth using daisyseed and Arduino, it'll give me a chance to explore and find what I'm looking for without having to make a million prototypes along the way.
Same. Bought and sold it all. ITB for real flexibility.
New subscriber here. I like your content but I have a little tip for videos like these. Set yourself up with a teleprompter on your camera so you can keep looking at us but also consult your script while talking so you’ll keep on track. Keep up the great work!
Yeah! For sure I actually have one but stop using it for a bunch of reasons. Appreciate the feedback!
We do live in awesome times for synths and electronic music. New stuff and re-creations of vintage stuff is everywhere, and coming out real fast, at amazing (low and high) prices. That's the temptation for me, until like you i noticed one ends up with a lot of stuff seldomly used, not even taking the time to deep dive in it. It is more about the instruments then about the music.
So i recognize a lot of the points you make in your video, and feel the support in the road i'm taking now: music first!
Well said sir!
It's funny, I was just looking at your channel earlier today thinking it had been a couple months since you posted. Glad you're back.
it's good to be back. Thanks again for the kind words! :)
This was a fantastic video made at the EXACT right moment. Thank you. You may have saved me a LOT of money.
Oh I think that's not a real concern. For one both the op and I have already spent tons.... and likely still will, just perhaps more responsibly. Lol
Great to see you again! I love your content. I agree with you on so many points. I have realised that I am not so found of tweaking sounds as I thought I would, so I have gone more the software route as todays VSTs sounds great and can usually be bought at the fraction of a price of the hardware version. I only buy hardware based on how fun it looks to use, more so than sound.
Regarding Apple products I completely agree with you. The positive is that they usually works for a long time. I bought an MacBook Pro used last year. I would had to pay almost twice as much for the same specs new. I rely on using external SSDs for music, photography and videography and it works for me.
Re. your last point. I'm an old fart who's been using Windows computers since forever. My last few have been INCREDIBLY stable, fast and utterly reliable.
Most of my computers have been upgraded throughout their life and a few of them have needed repairs (which I've been able to perform). I seriously cannot imagine buying a machine that I'm not able to fix or upgrade, let alone one that NO ONE can fix or upgrade.
I love your 'everyone abandon Apple for a month' scenario. Though I'd be tempted to suggest that a century might be a better starting point 🙂
I don’t k ow why everyone hates windows for audio production. Been using it since 2001.
As a happy eurorack enthusiast, live musician that uses the MPC live II pretty much on the daily and just got introduced to the Mac ecosystem a few months ago with a 1Tb 32gb RAM i9 macbook pro I LOVE all the takes you have in this video. It honestly made me realize why a lot of the decisions I have been making with my gear lately hasnt been very bad. Now I just have to solve my addiction to a lot of the Plugin alliance stuff for mixing but at least they have that subscripting thing that ~kinda solves my gas 😅. My personal solution for the whole yearly upgrade thing for hardware has been to wait 2 sometimes even 3 generations before upgrading. Albeit its not like I'm doing any genetic protein fold predictions in my DAW, so that might partially be how I've been able to get away with that this long 🤣
I could do an entire video on Plugin addiction going back to the day I decided to buy every UAD plugin, which I don’t regret. But it was a turn point for me to never buy any more plugins unless it passed a bunch of tests. Even then, I think at a certain point, it’s better to stick;) with a hardware box - which is probably an entire video of its own.
I definitely feel you on the ADDAC Ganular Looper, I knew I didn't need it (already had Beads, and Morphagene) but I got a great deal on a mint used ADDAC and I am so happy I did. I adore Beads and Morphagene, but the ADDAC is just an amazing powerhouse that, for me at least, justifies the HP.
Another thing related to the upgrade compulsion is the 'gotta have it all'/ completed system. Similar to the vst purchases you mention. Often if I buy a synth that could have hardware upgrades or expansions i feel the compulsion to buy all of them when in fact I rarely need or use the added functionality. Likewise once in an eco system, like elektron, theres the "well I'm commited to learning and like their workflow....guess i need to buy everything they make" attitude that can easily lead to overbuying.
Great insights! 🙏
very right on with stuff. I sold my MPC as well, like you was sold on the idea, but the reality proved otherwise. I haven't been making much music lately, getting back into it. I've decided to sell like half of my gear, because I just feel like there's too much overlap, and falling into specific workflows or ecosystems like you mentioned with the ADDAC. I'm an amateur musician, but I've been into electronics and programming for decades, so I see this stuff through a different lens and have GAS for different reasons, but at the end of the day its more important to just play the instruments than get caught up in minutia around them, a little usability goes a long way
I must say I've purchased some high-quality outboard equipment 6 to 8 years ago and all of it has appreciated in value because of inflation the prices have gone up about 30 to 35% and used ones are now more than I got them for new. I had some stuff from the early 00's that I sold and it has skyrocketed because it was discontinued. I think if you get decent deals very few things depreciate, especially if you buy used. Audio interfaces, computers, and cheap stuff may be an exception.
The "I'm so sad my Mac is now obsolete" thing is really freaking me out since all I use are Thinkpads from the 2011-2017 time frame. And that 2017 one actually is not currently in use. So "cry me a river" is what comes to mind? I don't think I'll ever understand "boohoo it's now outdated" grief.
I have a (now slowly dying) Macbook from 2009! Did I ever feel like replacing it? Not really. It's old in the tooth in terms of OS and available software but the one thing that will put it out on the pasture is the failing cooling system. The CPU is getting too hot occasionally. I suspect that the thermal compound has lost performance.
Other than that... just because something is new doesn't mean that it's "so much better" that I have to have it. There are a few technology steps IMHO that one really "had to have". GPUs come to mind and back-illuminated sensors. Low light performance is, indeed, night and day, both in cameras and smart phones. OLED panels are worth an upgrade, but even that was only a limited upgrade compared to plasma displays (except in resolution, of course, I don't think anybody ever made a 4k plasma tv). I still have an HD plasma tv, which in winter also doubles as a space heater. When I put on the yule log video, I can literally feel the heat from the fire. OLED just can't keep up with that. ;-)
Even my old T480 is able to run 40 input tracks with full on effects
Interesting POV..............I found myself feeling almost the opposite about the MicroFreak - I wasn't overly blown away, even after hearing the factory sounds I felt it couldn't compete with anything else I use......AND YET.....Every time I plug the MicroFreak into an external effect, I find I'm instantly inspired...........even more than I was when I recently borrowed my best friend's Iridium!.............anyway, as someone who's been seduced by dozens of pieces of gear over the 40 + years I've been buying and selling synths..............I'm always interested to hear other people's insights and perspectives.......great upload........and YES, holding Apple to account for the fact that they generally rate all their releases as 7 years - then it becomes 'Legacy' and they don't support it.........it's so uncool, (not to mention that it's environmentally obscene). I still hold on to 2 older MacBook Pros..............one which is from mid 2012, just to run editing/librarian software for my Virus synth..............
if depreciation is a primary consideration, always buy used, or better yet, design and make your own gear from scratch. then you're either 1. making the previous owner take on most of the depreciation cost 2. generating fresh value out of your own labour. eurorack is the best for this since the front panel can be an aluminum PCB (very cheap per-unit compared to even guitar pedal enclosures). then you make howevermany you want for yourself and sell the rest.
After I bought iPad 1, I swore to never buy another apple product simple because few years later it wasn't even able to browse the internet, just because Apple wanted me to buy the next iPad. Not.
I'm shocked by the motives of, and the ease with people are sending things back. It seems we first buy and only then start thinking if we can find use for it, beyond spiking our dopamine and adrenaline rush during clicking it into our cart. In my world we only return things when there's something wrong with it.
I think as a good citizen you don’t want to be abusing return policies. It’s generally a pain anyway to return items and you are taking a risk by having it in your possession if there’s anything that goes wrong with it. But I see no reason under the return policy agreement and law that if you are not satisfied within the return window, you can fully return it without issue or guilt, especially online purchase where you as a consumer is taking a big risk by buying items sight unseen. Appreciate the feedback tho.
I really like apple products, I use an iPad pro. However, I use a dedicated desktop and windows laptop for music production as it is significantly more affordable. My current laptop and desktop were about $2500 combined. Yes, combined. And I'll be using these rigs for about a good 7 years.
Thanks for sharing. Great to get some perspective. May I ask what music tools are you running on your windows rigs?
@DUNGEONMUSICTHEATRE The pc and laptop are completely dedicated to music. I first strip windows to its most essential parts, update drivers and windows, and install my music apps: Ableton Live, NI Komplete, Roland software, Arturia software, VSL Piano, and some hardware drivers for synths. Once I do that, I make a complete backup and turn automatic updates off. I will only update windows when there are big security updates or when I have time to restore from back up if anything goes wrong. I've never had an issue because again, these are music dedicated rigs. I have friends that use one rig for both their music and videos, but nothing else. It works perfectly fine for them too. I have another laptop for my office and day to day shenanigans, and even then it was all cheaper than getting one MacBook pro. To each their own, but these days both windows and macos are stable systems for music. It just depends on what you want to use. Windows has been ultra stable, seriously, I've had no issues with it. It just comes down to the tools you want to use.
One of the things that got me the live music gigs I loved over the years was I never went for the gear that was "universally loved." That stuff is often way more expensive than the improvement in sound justifies and I was always looking to play in "weirdo" bands (was with a brother by another mother in an 80s flavoured, freakbeat revival band for 20 years because I had a sound and feel that my BBAM just couldn't find in more perfectionist bassists. So, niche artists of any kind should definitely avoid the universally loved or they find themselves never quite fitting in as an indie or a mainstreamer. There are, of course, exceptions to this rule - Sting, a jazz bassist, getting the break of his career in the best punk/post pumk band of all time, The Police 😄
TH-cam needs more videos like this! Thx!
Regarding Apple products. Wait until they did their yearly update then buy the latest Base model for most people. Typically they can run the current OS for six years.
I've been dealing with GAS a lot lately. I bought a ton of stuff I thought I needed but I'm still figuring out what I need. At least with this round of GAS, I've been sending stuff back when I used to be too embarrassed and thought the problem was me because everyone else likes the stuff. Like, the Akai just doesn't speak to me either. I don't know why. It should be perfect for me but it's not. Instead, I ended up going with the RC-505 looper station because I also want something far more live performance related. For my DAW in my live setup, I'm using an iPad Air 5th generation with an M1 chip. Anything above the M1 chip is overkill for music production on the iPad. I've got a Mac Studio with the M2 Ultra chip and the amount of VSTs and plugins I can load on 32 tracks before it starts slowing down is almost obscene. I'm not going to have to upgrade that computer for another decade. Only video, graphics, and animation folks need these new M4 chips. I wouldn't upgrade otherwise. But yeah use that return window on your gear purchases if you don't like them! That's why I only buy through Sweetwater when I can because they don't hassle you about it.
The Apple tax is rough. I started using Linux for music production, but I've only found one DAW that really works (and that I like to use): Bitwig.
good video. amazing studio! always happy for your content.
The "Mac's are just better" thing really baffles me. Please read this with a friendly voice. I've used both Mac and PC computers regularly for both professional work and personal purposes since the early 90s, and it's really a BS way of thinking about things. Whatever computer a person uses can get the job done. Seriously. The "better" and "more stable" things are weird left over artifacts from marketing or something. Think about it... over 90% of the worlds computers run on Windows and Linux/Unix systems... overwhelming majority. They run entire airports, banks, financial institutions, the stock market, hospitals, spacecraft, scientific research, public utilities... you name it. If they were "unstable" or "not good" these computers would not be in any way capable of doing mission critical work. And if you've ever done heavy lifting work like game development or real time 3D graphics you would know just how stable and fast (and essential!) a non-Mac system can be. So... "Macs are just better" is NOT in any way a reality, or even a defensible conversation point. I don't say that to shit on Apple products... I own many myself. And a person can choose to use and pay for whatever they want. But when Apple wants $600 for an m.2 drive upgrade that can be found anywhere for under $200, and every other upgrade is priced equivalently, and the base machines come with 16gb of ram which isn't even enough to run a modern OS smoothly much less do anything heavy, simple napkin math will tell you that the marketers have been running the show at Infinite Loop for a long time, and the Apple we used to know and love died somewhere around the time the iPhone was born. It's ok to save your money and "think different" about using a different computer. In the end, it's about the music and art... not the operating system or hardware. You don't "Apple" all day long, you work in Ableton or Pro Tools or Maya or whatever... and that experience is the same. But it can cost a hell of a lot less for a hell of a lot more hardware power if you "think different". So when I want a light travel computer, it's my 13 inch M1 iMac. But everything else is a custom build PC, which you can do for far less than $2k. If you want a beefy video card for gaming, 3D work, AI, etc, then add that price on top. Also, "workflow" and "fast" are BS concepts now. If a render or task takes more than real-time to complete, you walk away and let the machine do it's work. A single person with a huge render workload is more effective with two reasonably priced computers (of any brand!) than with a single super expensive one. Or... just batch process slow tasks at night. Anyhow... it's OK to stop believing that 30 year old hype. It was real in the 90s for creative professionals... today it's just a near criminal money grab.
Hey appreciate the insights! I think it's important to caveat that some of us "prefer" the MacOS over Windows but that doesn't mean it's superior so I hear ya. If you take a comprehensive approach for what is "superior" (i.e. cost, performance, ux preference) you can make a case for either. But I can safely say that Avid Pro Tools and Universal Audio stuff (hardware and plugins) just runs smoother with less issues on Mac from my experience over the course of last 10+ years. Iv'e tried to run those on PC's with not so great results. My hunch is that it's software developers (Avid/ UAD) pay more attention to the wider install base (which is MacOS) so it's less buggy then Windows? Or the hardware configuration is a lot more diverse on Windows so it's just by nature less stable and more variables to test on PC/Windows than say Macs? Anyway, I agree it's more complicated than a simple one's "better" than the other nowadays so thank you for the feedback!
I like to buy my macbooks used. I find it to be a better value. Then, I wait several years until I need a better one. I was on an used 2017 MBP until about a year ago when I upgraded to a used M1 macbook because the Arturia plugins were bogging down the 2017.
I bought my first Pams used right after the new model came out. Quite a few people used the chance to upgrade to put their old version on Reverb. So I was happy.
I put off getting a MicroFreak for a LONG time. And I wish I would have gotten it sooner. I love the weird "keyboard". It's not great as a keyboard, but as a touch/expression controller it's phenomenal. If you like the sounds of digital modules like Plaits but don't already have it, then the MF can be a good fit. But if you have a rack filled with Plaits, Braids, Rings, Elements, etc. Then MF is perhaps redundant.
If I had the discipline for minimalism, I think I could get a LOT of mileage out of the MicroFreak, an effects pedal, a multitrack recorder (a PC or hardware multitrack), and perhaps a drum machine (Korg Volca Sample, PO-33, EP-133, PO-12, TT-78, LIVEN Lofi-12, ...)
Good conversation. I have had many regrets over time, but I have also found that anything that i get can eventually serve a purpose if I keep an open mind about it. Even the "bad" or cheap stuff. I used my $40 fallout pedal the other day, like the world's crappiest delay pedal i got early on, and it helped turn my DFAM into a strega sound when I turned the feedback way up. No harm in selling stuff to get new stuff either. I regret parting with some things and glad i sold others. I guess you can't really ever know how anything will turn out...
Wise words!
Good video, and well timed for Black Friday. I tend to agonize over purchases forever because that feeling of regret when you make a bad choice is noooot fun. Also why I almost never buy anything brand new. I’m sitting here with a Polybrute 12 on the way though, which is the most expensive and first new thing I’ve ever purchased, so fingers crossed I don’t regret it!!
Same here. I rarely by new, either used or refurbished. It adds up to big savings in the long run!
You made me now want a GR Mega
No!!! lol unintended consequences hah
@DUNGEONMUSICTHEATRE only a wobble. Spent a while doing research and now gonna see if I can achieve decent alternative sounds using my ER-301. GAS is back under control....
You kinda nailed it on upgrading Apple products. Holding onto my 2018 ipad pro 11" as long as possible, great production device in itself.
Microfreak desperately needs a few pedals afterward to sound good. I use a UA Max compressor/preamp and a 10 band EQ to give it some grit, some body, and some stereo life. This isn't even including the 100% necessary reverb that I already owned. But at that point I had spent almost 1000$ lol. And there are for sure better synths for that money, but they don't fit on my desk.
Arturia is hipsterjunk sorry
I disagree. :( Arturia might not be for everyone, but it's a great company and they build great products. Not all are home runs tho and nothing is for everybody.
I love the Microfreak in line of all! Doing live DJ-Setup with Maschine or plug it in between exsisting guitarpedals or modular.
But alone without „the band“ on the stage it’s lost of couse!
Soundforge it with osmose mpe and as oscillator for Moog Input…
Very good content as always
1) MV FOMO advice - don't get caught in the upgrade loop, and don't get caught in the BlackFriday panic.
2) My heart goes out to everybody who pays that Apple Tax. That first gen CPU to the M1 was amazing in terms of performance, but that will never happen again in terms of performance. The recent upgraded CPUs are virtually no different but the price keeps climbing. Non-repairability is a deal breaker for me. I have been building customs PCs for over 15 yrs and I am never going back to Mac.
I have Pam’s New and glad you cleared my gas for the Pro… also you helped validate my avoiding the granular ADDAC, however I now really want the Tasty Chips GR1 more than I already did (I always wanted it)
You could sell the new and get the Pro Pamela. I just don’t know if you need both
@ should I pull the trigger on a $750 GR-1?!? I love granular and don’t have a lot of it in my studio… have you made a video singing its praises?
@@proxymerchantoh noes! The point of this video was not trying to get folks to buy more gear 😂😂😂 but certainly you wont get any objections from me. $750 sounds like a solid deal.
Great video! That Apple buy is definitely pretty painful. But what I will say is: with all of the innovation and updating Apple has done with the M-series chips over the years (and doubling and tripling down on no upgrade paths) they have really forced me to think of more efficient ways to not have to rely on Apple specifically for things like storage. They've made such powerful computers that I feel very comfortable buying base models (especially now that all base MacBooks come with 16gb of RAM standard) and building out a separate external storage solution (combo of NAS and external drives) so the computer ends up just being what it should have always been: just a brain. I know at the end of the day it would be better to be able to run our machines into the ground (and to be fair I've run my fair share of Macs into the ground) and then upgrade without needing to buy something new, but at a 4-6 year lifespan cycle for silicon, I'm actually okay with paying the minimum for a base machine once or twice every decade or so.
Yeah for sure that I just got unlucky missing out on a generational tech upgrade. But it’s all good, besides the battery issue and umm loud overheating fan noise, it’s the hub for my mobile rig. No point in selling it. Thanks for the insights!
I felt the exact same about the Microfreak. It's a very enjoyable synth and I got some good use out of it but I was constantly battling modulation parameters and having to dissect the patch to try and remove some strange noise or something. Cool, well priced, not for me at all.
Thanks for the video, I am currently trying to recover (and protect) myself from pretty much everything you stated. I started eurorack after getting a moog mother-32 and got my mind blown, went to dawless route, (I hated the experience on windows), got a lot of modular stuff and didn't sink enough time in it to really learn deep stuff about particular modules (for example, I got a rené I never really knew what to do with, it was one of my first modules. I got a MI braids, a Squarp Hermod+, and an intellijel rainmaker, all of which I never managed to make anything really productive or enjoyable with..), recently got an elektron analog four to stay focused, it made me learn that the hardest part about it for me is to stay focused on one place to grow something I enjoy (I have been managing to start doing that). I guess the modular stuff is greatest when it complements stuff that allow focus.. I find it quite hard to figure out how I will use modules in advance in the end. I also tried audio production on Linux to start recording some of my stuff and have "long term" track projects, but I have the same experience as you, the potential for Linux for audio production is insane but the sheer amount of setup time and potential debug makes it not worth it at all, Apple is the only real valid option for something that doesn't "get in the way" but apple is apple... I just know I'll never pay the apple upgrade tax to get a maxed out mac, I'd rather simplify if the CPU struggles or use an external hard drive or nas if I need more storage... Loved the video (and so many of the other ones you made)
I feel sorry for people who can’t afford a Mac M4. Linux sounds like a nightmare to me.
@@quantum_ocean Linux users don't use it because it's free, chaining the price of a mac to the complexity of Linux is irrelevant (the common direction if it was about price would be windows for almost everyone). For usage, imho it all boils down to expectations and competency. For my use cases I expect some stuff to work flawlessly, some stuff to give me full control, some stuff to be light.. and I accept some stuff to have involved setup and/or require competency. It's all usecase dependent.
Linux to be fair is amazing but you have to set your expectations proper. I think moderately technically astute folks, like your self, might find it incredibly refreshing, lean, minimalist, and endless customizable. It holds your hand less, but with great power comes responsibility.
Not sure what people mean by Mac is more stable? Maybe it is the software you are using. I use Reaper on Windows and the only time Reaper crashes is when a plugin is at fault and crashes. Cannot blame Windows for plugin issues though. Very stable these days and in this context. To each their own though.
For me personally, when I’ve tried to run Ableton on windows with my UAD (the PC version) I’ve had a lot of issues with freezes and crashes, a lot more than I’ve experienced on Mac. And you are right, it’s probably the software developers not thoroughly testing on Windows as say a Mac. I think Windows with so many endless configs, by definition it can’t be as stable as say a Mac which has a more narrower hardware configuration. This is of course a generalization and anecdotal since I didn’t thorough test down the list. But nevertheless it was real for me and disruptive enough for me to not do any further experiments on Windows. Also once you are vested in a system like me who’s mostly on Mac now and if it’s running stable, I probably wont take the time to run in on windows since it’s a lot of effort to switch production systems. It’s very possible Windows with the right configuration runs great but I just have old scars that keeps me from dabbling in it. Perhaps now might be the time… ;)
@@DUNGEONMUSICTHEATRE ah. I've not much experience with Ableton to be fair. Cannot vouch for that. In that case fair enough. lol
A quick question before my long post. What is that monitor you are using? I'm in the market for another monitor to go with the new M4 Mac mini.
This will be a long post so feel free to read or not. I've been working freelance in design, video, and now sound design for many years. Adopted Apple back in the beginning and I have a good insight that I can share. First off, you really need to do the research and understand the variables to your situation before you buy. What is your budget and what are your needs? Do you make a lot of money from your computer and have time constraints? After all....time is money unless your workflow or use case is different. The general rule of thumb is buy the middle range unless you are a busy professional and have the budget and need for speed and have a lot of applications open and clients whispering in your ear to hurry up. When I buy, my computer lasts until it slows down enough that I can justify a new one. Rinse and repeat. For me, that usually turns out to be 5 years before I start to see diminishing returns. I normally buy mid-range and more ram because I do memory intensive task such as rendering 4K from Adobe AE. I invest in external storage, not internal. Anyway...if it's a hobby for someone then that lifecycle could be up to 7 years maybe more depending on what they do and unless it's a laptop (battery gets con$umed). Once I buy, I don't lament...I just use it and get on with my life. There are always going to be "new" things coming out and it's best to focus on what you have then plan for future purchases. Again, I base that purchase off usability (is a new computer going to help me make more money and make my life better?) and do I need it to enhance my workflow.
A couple of points from the video. There is no need to buy a larger drive than 1TB due to Thunderbolt and USB-C. I only have apps on my computer and store all of my files on external drives. I sometimes work from my internal but I always offload to external storage including backups. In addition, audio files are generally smaller than video or hi-rez photos. If you rely on sound libraries those can also be stored on an external without too much slow down. External SSD are expensive but at least they are upgradable. Most people can get by using a basic external drive instead of paying premium for SSD. However, if you are in a professional setting you probably have a network storage solution anyway so that's moot. Finally, as for amount of Cores, RAM and GPU...it all depends on what you do with your computer and how each application uses the processing power. You don't need to max out ram if all you're doing is audio editing with a couple apps open. Actually, on modern SOC it's much more efficient so less need for major memory upgrades unless your apps need it. 24TB for ram is probably enough for most use cases. If you are a video editor using AE or Premier with multiple layers of effects AND other suite of apps open, then yea...get as much ram as you can afford. As for processing....are your apps optimized for GPU or Cores? And again...what are you doing and how fast do you need it. In the end, ask yourself...does my computer meet my needs or would I be better off upgrading? If it meets your needs, then just keep creating and do less lamenting, then plan for the future. Nobody is forcing you to anything. Well, except for an impatient client :)
By the way...if all you do is work in a studio setting with a monitor, don't buy a laptop! You are paying premium for things you probably don't need.
Finally...as for Apple, user upgrade paths after purchase is never going to happen going forward because system on a chip is so complicated due to all components are embedded on the chip. Even if they could or would, the average consumer won't do it or won't be able to do it. Even most professional studios are not going to crack open their Macs to upgrade. They buy or lease what they need then plan for upgrades as needed.
It's an ASUS 40 ROG HDR display tho can't quite recall the exact model. These companies have the most unmemorable model numbers /smh
Regarding the computer, the internal storage was something I wanted to avoid external drives (for a number of reasons) but yeah.. thanks for the feedback! :)
You: "It's got a hard drive etc etc".....
Me: "you mean it has a DAW?"...
You: "It is sounding like my laptop".
Me: "damn... he's already clocked it". haha.
Guilty of owning too much granular pédals ans modules!!! But i have to say im still running my 2011 Mac pro cheese grate and a 2016 MacBook pro. My neighbor is a mac tech so hé can fix my machines almost all the Time. Until i’m forced to upgrade to a model wich is not upgradable/fixable…
Apple's turn to no longer make products that can be upgraded or repaired was a huge reason why I switched to an Eluktronics laptop when the MacBook's time was up. Will be looking at Framework and like-minded brands in a few years once this one's kaput.
In general, I also think people replace electronics way too frequently. It baffles me how many people I know that buy a new laptop or phone every year or two. Unless you're torturing the battery, those things can last much longer! And odds are the upgrade will be marginal anyways.
I don't buy maxed out Apple products but I'm generally happy with Apple desktops. It is annoying to use external SSDs but they are fast and drop-proof and 1TB is just enough for most-used sample libraries. I have MacBooks that are over 12 years old still working well enough in the household. No brand- or DIY-PC ever had half that durability for me, although its been over a decade so perhaps things have changed?
@@SpaceshipEarthlingThings haven't changed much, really. I'm currently looking to upgrade my M1 MacBook Air (the first M-series laptop). It's...4 years old, this month, and is still working great, and if it weren't for the fact that the screen is just a little too small, I'd probably hang on to it for a few more years. This was intended as a "temporary" purchase, because I needed an M-series laptop (I'm a software developer), and it was the first available. I fully-expected to replace it within a year, but it's been *so nice*, on many levels, that I haven't felt the need.
A strategy I try to follow in general with Apple products is to never buy the maxed-out version of anything. When I replace this laptop, I'll probably be switching back to a MacBook Pro, and I'll get the M4 Pro version. There's a ridiculous price jump between the Pro and the M4 Max, and I really can't justify the additional cost. That laptop will last me for another 5 or more years, I'm sure.
Interesting take. I have a Microfreak. I also have 3 Mutable INstruments Shruthi-1s (including and XT). I'm not sure why I still have the microfreak.
As far as Apple goes and their 'right to repair/upgrade' situation: There are multiple things at play here that I as a certified technician see...one is that Apple bases many of their choices on aesthetics and secondly user experience. I have always stated that the best Apple product to buy is the one that is 2 generations behind. I currently have a (ancient) pre-butterfly keyboard macbook that is still running the most current OS (thanks to OCLP). I paid less than $400 for the unit. My next upgrade if I choose wiill be an M1.
Lastly-I was a guy who grew up poor and did my first record with 3 pieces of gear...and my live rig was sequenced by a PC-AT running DOS (not even Windows!!!). Sometimes, simplicity is better than the mountain of tools...I hope you have a great day!
Thank you for the insights!
so glad to get pams pro. blows the original away. I was going to sell the new workout, no way even 2 isn't enough. the gas is strong. your well funny, you have tons of gear. way more than anyone needs but if you got the space and cash happy days. beautiful studio.
Never needed Pam.
I know exactly what you mean about Apple's greedy ideas they sell to us as 'alternative'. However, they gradually took away our freedom of choice and ability to upgrade or repair our computers. Remember when you could still open a MB Pro and change the motherboard, battery, speakers, memory/SSD yourself? The USB ports, the HDMi, etc ... all gone in exchange for dongles to connect and reconnect? It's mad, and wasteful, but Apple don't care, they're just interested to convince you they're alternative and so worth the money.
I used to buy new MBs, and then one day decided ... no more. My solution (which I will have to stop doing soon), is to just buy second hand MB pros from early 2015. I still have two, running very well with strong batteries (several hours of use, no problem), 2 USB ports, accessible opening back for changing the battery, speakers, et al. It runs Monterey, which is fine, although as I said above, I guess that won't work for ever. BTW, the last one I bought was in perfect condition, with 1TB of memory, all for .... 200€.
As for your other gear, we're all suckers for GAS. I guess the moral of the story is 'listen to the voice of reason', and always wait a few days/weeks before pressing 'buy'. I often find once the initial urge has subsided, you make better decisions. And, if after a few months you see that the module/plug-in/synth is what's needed, well try it.
Thanks for the insights!
use bitwig ,cardinal or vcv on ubuntu
any sub $800 amd laptop
will run just fine up to 8-16 tracks more with ASIO external sound card
or just get a m4 mac mini😎
Yeah, Apple is no friend to the-right-to-repair. I've been a Mac user since the mid 80s, but repair/upgrade... ugh! When my parents died, I bought a maxed out, gen 1 Mac Book Air. I don't regret the 4 grand Australian it cost me, I got 7 years out of the 2013 Air that preceded it (and even that was 7 years out of a gen 1 butterfly keyboard, and those things died like flies on a butcher shop UV light), It's still doing great, still a ton of room on the 2TB SSD. Not fond of the new Logic Pro. Sessions tracks are not as good as the original drummer tracks, still haven't figured out how to change the chords of each region to bring the music into line with my quirks, will probably still only ever use the drummer tracks.
I'm leaning DAWless because none of the DAWs, even Ableton have that pushbutton friendliness of something like a recording mixer like the Tascams or the Zoom LiveTrack series. I briefly had some SSL mixer experience at the dawn of my radio "production operations" career in the late 80s and my LiveTrack has a real SSL feel. If not the build quality. First thing I did was put it in a guitar pedal case, properly screwed to the tray via the socket nuts in the bottom of the LiveTrack. That tray is mounted securely on top of my production rack. If it were ever dropped without the protective hardware, it'd be a write-off.
Gig bags and road cases are essential, if annoyingly expensive.
I’m dreaming of having 2 Pam’s in my setup.
That’s how it starts!
What keyboard are you running?!
It’s the s88 from Native Instruments :)
Ugh that Intel Macbook upgrade hurts 😅 Yeah, Apple burned me bad with their bad thermals on the Intel Macs. I've been on Mac since 2004 and the Intel transition was painful, but I thought it was a good thing at first. Intel Macs were pretty great for a few years. Until I bought a Macbook Air in 2015 which showed its infamous thermal crashes by 2016. Logic board replacement needed so that wasn't really repairable. I realised then that they were just doing planned obscolescence with their laptops, killing them early through bad design. So, I refused to spend any money on Macs after that. I used older Macbooks trying not to tax them too badly, but by 2020 they also showed the same thermal damage and I really needed to upgrade then. So, I went Hackintosh. Only when I built that machine did I finally understand why this thermal debacle wasn't entirely Apple's fault. The cooler on my Hackintosh is the size of a baby's head and I optimised the cooling in my case as much as I could, but it still runs at 80°C under load. Better than the 100°C of last gen Intel iMacs, but not exactly optimal. It would be entirely impossible to keep that chip cool in any way that would be compatible with Mac designs. Intel chips are really good space heaters nowadays because the architecture design is practically EOL after 50 years. So, begrudgingly I must admit that Apple Silicon is actually really good and I upgraded to an M3 Macbook Pro now. Hands down one of the best laptops I've owned since the iBook G4. I was really sceptical after Apple's design choices in the past, but the performance, thermals and power efficiency speak for themselves.
My Apple desktop is a 1700 paperweight after 4 years
Total garbage
Worst computer I’ve ever owned
Longevity wise
Apple laptop
I’m a little smarter with
Don’t save anything to your computer that could be on external hard drive
And always use an externally powered usb so you don’t degrade the power supply
Regarding the macbook price, and computer purchases, I suggest listening to what Alec Empire said about it over on the Atari Teenage Riot channel.
DON'T SPEND THE MONEY.
Appreciate the feedback!
I do regret purchasing both the Model Cycles and the Syntakt, Ive tried liking them, specially the Syntakt but I just dont gel with it. After a year I think its time for it to go. The only decent thing about that thing is the kick..thats it, the rest sounds awful imo. Just got a Digitakt II and Im in love with it. It sparked my creativity in a way the SY never did
Thanks for writing in! :)
I noticed that you patched left and right line input on the line out module to arbhar scan and length inputs, is that a workaround for something?
Also intetesting: The opposite of it. Gear that you regret you have sold. For me it is the 0-coast. I got it now for the third time after selling it two times 😂 Now i will never sell it again.
🤣
Oh man, you’d hate me! Yeah.. i don’t really have gear buying regrets.. Though I do have regrets about times I didn’t pull the trigger fast enough on a deal?
On Apple products.. I think you do need a strategy. One might be “oh, well I’m going to hang on to this for x period, and the difference between what I bought it for and sold it for is what it cost me to own for that period.. and generally trying to stick as close as you can to stock configs is probably optimal.. and you just kind of search for sweet spots.. or, I mean, that’s on approach.
There’s another kind of user that tends to go for the big powerful system that remains your main system for as long as possible. Right now the Mac Pro’s are the only systems users can replace a hard drive.. and you pay such a premium, that it doesn’t seem worth it.. but, I mean, you could have multiple OS installs to manage orphan ware? I’m not entirely sure if I’d Trust a Mac Studio to still be running north of a decade from now.. given the hard drive issue.
But economically.. imagine these as two opposite approaches. The big expensive system means there’s an ecosystem of hardware, around your computer, that you’re not going to have to upgrade because of shifting connectivity standards.. so, like, there’s a lot of things you could potentially account for.. and then try and compare.. and see what you can do.
I’m hoping to buy a new Mac soon. It’ll be a $3,600 custom config MacBook Pro.. for audio, video, animation, visual effects, and immersive art and design. This years design, for me, is a whole lot better then recent options.. and blah blah blah….
But I’m way past the point of needing to upgrade. Right now I’m relying more heavily on hardware then makes sense for the way I want to work, but I thought it was important that I prioritize hardware for a kinda long period of time.
I don’t hate you :) lol appreciate your thoughts!
I bought a m1 Mac mini for music production . I haven’t been able to max it out yet , but I’m no pro.. some tubers test older Mac hardware on ableton to see what can be square out. It’s a lot !
In 2010 I bought my first 27” iMac, and didn’t pay the Apple tax in advance, ordering an i5 instead of an i7, with a 512gb hard drive. By 2015 I had realized the error of my ways and needed to get it replaced.
I paid about $3,500 for an Apple i7 27” iMac instead 2015, with a 1TB SSD and 8 go of memory which you could still user replace to 32 GB. Now that machine has lasted almost 10 years!
But I do have an M chip in my near future.
Had I bought a Windows machine in 2010, I would likely be on my 5th upgrade by now-and it would probably be to a new M chip Mac!
I mean that’s amazing that you were able to run your Mac for that long. I’ll give Apple credit for sure. I still have my Mac mini that runs fantastic. But also as a paying customer, I think have the right to gripe about their current practices. I think their pro level machines should be user upgrade able
Doesn’t everything have a computer chip inside?? If it’s electronic, it’s a computer or some sort of
yes? If you are asking what I think you are asking, I think there is a difference between more general purposed electronics, like a laptop, versus a more purposeful device that's built for music production. There's less friction and less distraction with purposed device then a general device usually.
I really really hate most of the new Roland stuff besides the 404 even though I sent it back I just can’t connect to them and it feels like a wall in between me and Roland gear none of it clicks with me or sounds good to me idk why
I purchased Batumi V1 one week before Batumi V2 released
( Should have done my research and I could have returned it and V2 tor a difference of 150$
Which led me to beware of Xaoc cause they re-released
Drezno V2
Batumi V2
Lipsk V2 ( Just a Orientation thing )
I'm Sure Zadar 2 is coming
I won't be purchasing Xaoc Products
Cause it's insulting to customers
The same with re-releasing a Cd / DVD with Bonus Content
The first batch purchased got sold out cause of the original lovers
now the original lovers got to Double Dip
My big mistake was buying a NI Maschine Mk2. I never clicked with it, I hate the pads and it just got dropped from support by Native Instruments. Its no good as a general purpose controller, and I really regret buying it. I will never buy a hardware/sofware combo again. I'll buy hardware, I'll buy controllers, but I won't buy anything that locks me into an ecosystem/software interface again.
Great insights! Thanks for sharing!
Hey yeah, so many interesting points! So funny, i'm making music for over 35 years now and A LOT of gear has been come and gone in my workflow. So for example things like the real Polymoog, what a hell when it comes to service, or the many diffenrent solutions when it comes to sampling and sequencing. Also sold my real Rhodes MkI after GSI released their FANTASTIC Mr. Ray MkII plugin, and here it starts to get interesting, it sounds like the real deal (the ONLY Rhodes plugin that had this amazing re-pedaling feature) BUT is still on 32bits... i started building Hackintosh solutions back in the 2010s, and now i'm still working EVERYDAY with my HP8570w upgraded with 32gb of ram and the fastest intel processor (3940XM, 4 cores @ 3 ghz) and two 2 tb HDs, 2 tb only for samples. Since i started using Logic when it came out back in 1992 i'm so into it in every lil detail, and it runs fantastic on this machine. And since i'm still running OSX 10.13.6, still able to run all necessary actual stuff like Melodyne, synths like Serum etc. AND still have my 32bits plugins running i don't see any point in upgrading😂 Don't get me wrong, i know about the M1 (and following up to the M4) features very well but hey, in the end it's the music that matters, and I earn my money with this machine and work professionally everyday. So yeah, we don't have to make ourselfs slaves to the constant upgrading and „new gear craziness“ as long as we don't miss a sound or workflow we need. I can make ALL kinds of music on my machine, from acoustic to fully modular electronic and everything in between. Never change a running system (of course changing things that slow you down have to be changed) Cheers✌
Oof the apple one is painful
Yeah….
Ableton does so much.
Ableton is kinda great yep!
Seen your old style looking keyboard for your Mac or PC? here before and must say I 'm a bit disappointed that your T-shirt didn't say Qwerty Toys.
That red plastic over the screen on Pamela's new workout is horrible. Solution: Just took it out and now the module is better. I have however decided I want one more and wonder if the Pro is better regarding clocking issues? If not I'll get another Pam's new workout secondhand, or the cheaper and smaller Sitka Gravity + the expander.
Regarding granular. I don't get why so many sell their Braids, and cheapish. Might get another one. Btw, it's the only one I got, but from what I heard and read, and the workflow of other granular modules, and the price of Arbhar that is the only one I find tempting, my guess is that another Braids will be better for me.
About not selling modules before it's to late. I got a few of those, + some of them are buggy, partly broken or got other issues, (just like us who got into this crazy hobby). But remembering the three module challenge that I think DivKid introduced years ago, I thought why not do something similar with some of these? Record the mess and then maybe filter a bit and slap some reverb on it? Limitations are usually really good for creativity. If only big pharma could make filter and reverb pills.
My next PC will be made for and run on Linux because F@Øx!!! Windows and Mac for reasons.
Would love to know what you’d be running on Linux, Reaper? Bitwig?
@@DUNGEONMUSICTHEATRE I do everything music outside the PC. Record it on two 4ms wav Recorders. One for beats and one for the rest. If I want to upload something the easiest way is to get one of my friends to do it for me, but I haven't done that yet, only transferred some stuff to friends/colleagues directly from the cards, to their mac or pc for collaborative projects.
I did a video ages ago, on Linux mint, for a track some of my friends made, but I can't remember what I used, only that I uploaded the video to TH-cam.
I had a macbook pro once, but gave it to a friend. Sitting with a sad Windows machine now that must be replaced, but I'm so sick of Windows as there are no benefits to use it over mac, except that I'm very used to the workflow, and mac is to expensive.
Silly to say I know, as I'm euroracking, but modules are more fun than these machines. Mint is very similar to Windows and user friendly, excellent support on div fora etc, except when you want to do things it can't do.
: D
Man, you are burning cash
I sold all the gear mentioned in this video so it stings a little less but yeah…
Except the dam laptop
@@DUNGEONMUSICTHEATREGood decision. Don’t think you’ ll get a lot for it now…😊
Stop buying stuff. Nobody needs 10.000 hp of Eurorack and stacks and stacks of outboard gear. All the buying is a compulsion and we all know it.
Never clicked with anything on this list own a mf have had basically all the mpcs and sold all them but I really really clicked with the te ko2 133 that’s the best sampler workflow ever
I want a Microfreak without the keys. Would buy that in an instant, bought the keyed version and never used it much. Sold it a few months later.
lol I mostly use my microfreak as a controller; it's perfect; it can control CV instruments and has a generative arp (sound is cool enough but I don't use it live)
they're easily converted to a module if you have access to a 3D printer (to print the housing) The model is on thingiverse and is reverseable if you save the parts.
@magnetik5348 wow, might look into this thanks!
@@johngannon the kb is connected by a ribbon cable so converting is trivial. You also lose the action buttons (on top of the keys) after removing the keyboard fyi.
The microfreak has midi input. Why didn't you use it with a midi keyboard?
yeah, Apple is the ultimate post-capitalist baron - I moved back to PC, just spec it properly, no probs
Thanks for the feedback! So what audio I/O is working for you on PC for multitracking? Ableton working out okay for you on PC? Maybe I need to give it a go on my gaming PC 😂 Just got burned awhile back on PC instability but maybe it’s worth it
@@DUNGEONMUSICTHEATRE I'm using a very ancient MOTU 828Mk2 with firewire! computer has tons of RAM and really good CPU though. usually recording 4 stereo 24bit 48KHz, so not pushing it...
never had a crash or even a glitch
The 2 Pamelas workout absolutely doesnt belong here imho. The Screen Upgrade alone worth the money. The new workout was imposible to read. The pro workout also can so much more. Also microfreack I can‘t get at all. Beside minifreack the greatest arturia product imo.
I respect that. Thanks for the feedback
With the apple thing what I dod was quit apple. Entirely. Haven't had one of their products of any kind in like half a decade. The whole one is better than the other thing is just rubbish. The best one is the one you're used to useing and are skilled with. Get used to something else because if you stop bying tech with pictures of fruit on it you'll have a four figure sume more money in your bank at yhe end of the year with zero impact on your productivity. Actually your productivity might even go up as all your rechargeable devices will actually hold a charge and be repairable if necessary.
Can’t argue with your reasoning. Thanks
0:18
Tell that to Ebay sellers.
👍
Ill never buy an apple macbook again. I use them for my work, they are awesome, but just wayyyy too expensive for what you get. My utra powerfull windows gaming/music production rig was cheaper than the latest mbp and that includes a gtx4090... Let that sink in. Yeah I dont include the display in that price, because I already had a widescreen curved display. A desktop pc is upgradable, add some memory later? no problem.. I dont pay apple prices 300 euro for 16g extra. I get 32g for 100 euro. Stop believing the apple hype. Windows is fine for music production. If anything its technically better than osx, it works on such a range of hardware, osx only works on apple hardware.
Appreciate the insight! Great perspective!
I don't go anywhere near apple products and it shows.
Microfreak SUCKS lol. biggest hype synth in recent years. Like you said, thin sounds. Sounds plasticy AF. Unintuitive browser and preset saving, just an all around bleh synth. Its FUN to play, but thats about it.
almost all modular modules these days are garbage, so throw them on the pile too haha
I mean they have that Pokémon card vibe so yeah… 🧐
speak for yourself. I've never made a gear purchase mistake and can't imagine making one.
🤣
New Mac mini are an awesome deal
Don’t … tempt me… any further…….
I'm new to the electronic music thing. I've literally just unboxed my midi controller and didn't even have time to like it before I started to think I need a better keyboard. I've spent countless hours researching and browsing keyboard upgrades only to discover that really there is nothing wrong with my midi controller, it's still the best bang for buck in my price range. And the brand is one of the few where you don't need the packaged software to make it work and it does integrate with my daw perfectly. And then there is the endless synth hype where really, all synths are pretty much the same. Some oscillators, an LFO or two and a bunch of onboard effects. Synths by their nature can create nearly any sound so one over the other....I don't get the arguments really. It's all just a bit more polyphonic, here, a few voices give or take there, a chassis and whether or not you like it. I use a VST and while I'm enjoying that I don't see the point of yet another piece of hardware.
Hands down if I had to do a video on software vs hardware, software wins no question. But hardware has a small window of space that it's really good for, tactility, inspiration, cool factor. With endless ability to also post process, what sounds better than what anyway? Right? But hardware tends to be more fun to make videos with for me personally and my channel mostly deals with hardware so it's not that hardware is better than anything, it's not. It's just more interesting to me and I like making videos on hardware. Thanks for stopping by though! :)
Appreciate you may permanently have been put off Windows ;p However I think with the release of Windows Midi Services early in 2025, Windows is finally taking music production seriously. Interesting video about it here..th-cam.com/video/-pe29zIVUCA/w-d-xo.htmlsi=ZsDpteFbDM_lTG6c
I think the most frustrating part was dealing with audio drivers. Pops and clocks, lack of real thunderbolt support, and certain software I’m keen on (logic and pro tools) that tend to be more stable on Mac. But I will def check this out and thanks for ur heads up on Windows MIDI service!
Bad Gear channel is more parody than reality. I think you just scratched the surface. I have bought eurorack modules based on YT reviews - BIG mistake. Intellijel Steppy... looking at you. I think guitar pedals are very similar. Too much influencer pedaling to the point you can't trust anything.
AFA Apple goes... I had a Mac Pro v2 which I was able to upgrade the CPU, GPU, SSD's, RAM. There were even firmware hacks to upgrade to latest Mac OSX! Lasted 15 years. Would buy a new generation Mac Pro if they ever come out with one, again.
I like my steppy : (
@@jonaseggen2230 Ugh... I meant SHIFTY, not Steppy. LOL. Shifty is 100% worthless. Not even a good shift register.
@@BlackMan614 Oh yea, now I'm with you
: )
My strategy:
1. Get a good MPE instrument, like a cheap electric guitar + MIDI Guitar 3, and a MIDI breath sensor.
2. Buy the best bundles from black friday sales. (You can get pretty much everything from IK Multimedia and Arturia for under 500 and there are many other such examples) If you have all of IKM and Arturia software there's little more you need outside supreme fidelity like SWAM, Diva, Serum, Pianoteq, top-grade drums and orchestral. I got IK Multimedia Studio MAX that has everything they have for 150. It's absolutely mind blowing crazy good deal. People are seriously sleeping on this. Just Amplitube + TONEX alone are more than worth the price.
3. Buy Reaper DAW for something like 60 bucks.
4. Buy a good synth like Pigments, Diva, etc.
I already have more opportunities to explore musical creativity than I have time to live.
But I guess some people aren't as limited by money. It's just diminishing returns kick in pretty early on and if you are more hardware based, the clutter really drags me down.
p.s. All Apple devices above their minimum offerings are complete fucking scam. The memory and hard drive space have insane margins.
looks like you have ten times more equipment than the bulk of people
Not proud of it honestly. Most acquired as a working pro, tho now retired.
It's a bit ironic to do a video with the lesson "be careful about buying gear you don't need" while surrounded by the most gear I've literally ever seen in a single room. I recommend turning your advice inward, before emboldening yourself to advise other people. Why on earth would you buy that much gear?? It's an addiction. Sending love, hope you can find some peace.
Appreciate the feedback. 1 - you gotta start somewhere. 2. the gear you see (mostly) I’m perfectly happy with, gets used a lot, and is a source of serious inspiration. So I’m at peace. I just have a handful a regrets. This video ain’t advice directed at you. It was always me first and then you can choose to learn from my mistakes. Thanks for playing! ☺️
MPC? Hard to find you credible.
Appreciate the feedback but you gotta elaborate.
sounds like you are rich af and just buy every new toy
not rich af, but I should make it more clear and I have added new notes to my bio. I'm a retired professional audio direct/producer/composer in film/tv/games. So couple decades of pro audio work, you tend to accumulate gear. But I could see the misunderstanding.
Or, get yourself an all-hardware recording system, with no DAW.
Hmm what do u recommend??