No, I’m not being crass. GAS or Gear Acquisition Syndrome is real. I’ve had my bouts of it and still do. It’s really just the “shiny object syndrome” in a language that us audio nerd types understand. Whether you’ve got it or not, I have found an effective cure for GAS.
I’ve been on a bit of a synth buying kick at the moment. Coming from a more band oriented background it’s a fun area of music equip-dom to explore. I’ve been a big fan of electronic elements being incorporated into music since the days I was let loose in the university music production suites.
As I’ve put aside the “playing in a band” thing and embraced the music producer in a “studio cave” era combined with a nostalgic resurgence of all things 80s and 90s the world of synths has been opening up to me.
It started with the Korg Volca Keys and FM2. Then I roped in an Arturia MiniFreak and more recently, for my b’day I let the studio buy a Behringer Pro VS Mini. If you know nothing about synths those sentences won’t mean a lot but basically I’ve got a lot of sonic ground covered and really could deepdive those synths for a couple of albums at least.
Okay, you get the problem.
Got GAS? Take Two YouTube Videos & Go Get Creative
I spend a bit of time watching synth videos on YouTube. As you can imagine, it makes me want to buy another synth. But what I discovered is that the thing that causes the sickness is also the cure.
I started watching videos showcasing the synths I already own and immediately was inspired to write using them. Which, after all, is really why you have them …
Watching someone put something I had right next to me to work and create beautiful sounds and textures made me want to dive into my synth all over again. Really, it’s nothing unusual, it’s called inspiration.
In a culture that is commoditised and creates consumers rather than producers (not the music type), your creativity is what sets you free. Creating something is exhilarating and far more satisfying than envying another piece of gear.
The Takeaway:
Whether it’s a synth, a guitar amp, a loop pack or a plugin. If you get GAS, search up some videos for the gear you already have. Get inspired again. You’ll find you actually dig deeper and find new things about the gear you once stared longingly at. Maybe you’ll even fall in love all over again.
0 Comments