Where to go from here...the musings of a madman?

[JereFuzz]

More choices, less happiness
Paralysis by analysis
Shop 'till you drop
The chase is better than the catch
Keeping up with the Joneses

[odontophobia]

You can get a pretty bitchin' recording setup for 1800

That's 8 months of rent for me, who needs 3bd anyways.

That's 1 month of rent for me, who needs a shitty 2 bedroom share anyways?
ny sucks

That's barely over 1/2 of one month's rent for me. SF bay sucks.

Jesus Christ. You guys need to move to the South.

$475 utilities included
Only till August though, then it's time to get fucked with real world rent again.

What Command Prompt said is totally accurate. Cost of living is just so different.

Definitely some nice places where, if you got in at the right time, maybe own your house or whatever, then you've got money going a little further than your neighbor or whatever but still -- relative.

JWAR.

I'm gonna PM you about something otherwise different in case you choose recording gear option.

[01010111]

Stop worrying about the gear.

Stop buying it. Stop selling it. Just *have* it.

Then make music.

No excuses.

No bullshit.

Just make music for a few minutes a day, whether you want to or not.

Only reason you haven't is you haven't wanted to enough.

It's all about actually doing it, not finding reasons not to.

This is such a fucking good post.

I think this approach combined with some artificial restrictions only using a pt-jr, or like B.O.B. said not using a pedalboard would be handy?

A lot of the stuff I've bought this year's been purchased on the grounds of being fun. I haven't plugged my pedalboard in once, I've just been grabbing pedals I want, or whichever synths I like, and running with it.

[actual]

Doesn't having to set up and connect your gear everytime, kinda kill the creative spark? I know it would for me, like I'd have an idea and then probably just go fuck it half the time, cause by the time I'd have evrything wired up, the cadence, rhythm or whatever of the idea, would most likely be gone forever. Sheer laziness would also be a major contender.

[01010111]

It kindof encourages you to keep it simple? I've recorded more in the last month than I have in the last three years doing that. Nothing's super complex, but I've always preferred a minimalist approach when it comes to my music.

[jrfox92]

If you don't seem to be super motivated about making music, and I know you've been kinda listless about what to do with your life/hobbies going forward, have you ever considered getting into recording/studio work (like, creating and opening a studio)?

Also, B.O.B., I wish I had the money/space for a nice big tool box + all the wrenches/sockets/screwdrivers in the world.
My dad was like that about carving and wood turning tools, now we have several rolls of various chisels that are probably worth a few thousand. That's not even considering all the other woodworking (not to mention the recently added electronics shop) shit we've got.

[rfurtkamp]

The other reason I suggested stopping the buy/sell cycle - you get invested in *that* instead of making music too.

"I'll make music once I strip down" is just as crippling as "I'll make music once I have the great guitar of the gods!"

Bill:
Ted, while I agree that, in time, our band will be most triumphant. The truth is, Wyld Stallyns will never be a super band until we have Eddie Van Halen on guitar.

Ted:
Yes, Bill. But, I do not believe we will get Eddie Van Halen until we have a triumphant video.

Bill:
Ted, it's pointless to have a triumphant video before we even have decent instruments.

Ted:
Well, how can we have decent instruments when we don't really even know how to play?

Bill:
That is why we NEED Eddie Van Halen!

Ted:
And THAT is why we need a triumphant video.

[hotknife]

Most triumphant post.

[DRodriguez]

So more on topic, what I generally find works well for me, is write with minimal tools, and then build up from my tools.

So I have my pedal section of my room, and a bunch of virtual synths. But when I write, it's usually a guitar run clean, and one drive pedal, and one fuzz. And for synths, I'll have a piano loaded, and a sine wave based synth. Once I have a foundation, I'll start switching things up and adding pedals. Changing synth sounds. I might even get rid of the original guitar entirely, but the foundation built up from is there.

Maybe make a micro board for composing, get a recording rig, and then use the masses for the final polish

[amnesiac305]

Acoustic guitar/bass or just plugging straight into the amp

[Jero]

Jwar sells half his gear.
Jwar gets family member(s) to watch kids.
Jwar and Jwar-wife pick an amazing vacation spot.
Jwar and Jwar-wife vacation like bosses: drink, relax, bang--the whole 9, bitches.
Jwar comes back refreshed.
Jwar feels better about life.
Jwar makes music with a simpler outlook on his gear.

Stop worrying about the gear.
Stop buying it. Stop selling it. Just *have* it.
Then make music.
No excuses.
No bullshit.
Just make music for a few minutes a day, whether you want to or not.
Only reason you haven't is you haven't wanted to enough.
It's all about actually doing it, not finding reasons not to.

The other reason I suggested stopping the buy/sell cycle - you get invested in *that* instead of making music too.
"I'll make music once I strip down" is just as crippling as "I'll make music once I have the great guitar of the gods!"

Bill:
Ted, while I agree that, in time, our band will be most triumphant. The truth is, Wyld Stallyns will never be a super band until we have Eddie Van Halen on guitar.
Ted:
Yes, Bill. But, I do not believe we will get Eddie Van Halen until we have a triumphant video.
Bill:
Ted, it's pointless to have a triumphant video before we even have decent instruments.
Ted:
Well, how can we have decent instruments when we don't really even know how to play?
Bill:
That is why we NEED Eddie Van Halen!
Ted:
And THAT is why we need a triumphant video.

Much wisdom here

[Jwar]

I like you guys.
hahaha

I was semi hoping someone else would be like "yea I've totally been in the same boat".

The pedal buying isn't really a concern as in I'm hurting anyone in my life with it. It's just an OCD thing.

I think I'm going to tear everything down, get a nice rug, and jam with a few things at a time. See how that goes and move to a different approach if need be. To record all I need is monitors and some decent recording software. I'd love Pro Tools, dat price though. I have a Mac Mini, and interface and everything else. I'm assuming that's all I need currently.

[01010111]

That sounds like a good approach: shifting the focus from building something perfect, to making music.

[Dark Barn]

For recording I prefer headphones. For mixing though I like monitors.

[popvulture]

I think I'm going to tear everything down, get a nice rug, and jam with a few things at a time.

It really is nice. Some of the most fun I've had recently has been playing with one or two pedals.