Just when everyone was fedup with and moaning about the endlessness of the A4 like / dislike thread… And here’s another one discussing the merits and pitfalls of owning one
Seriously though, I’m astonished at how many times some people have bought, sold and re-bought the same thing. That’s madness! Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result… Absolute madness!
There’s also a wider conversation to be had about making music and sparking creativity vs gear buying / collecting / selling. I get that financial issues force sales sometimes, or that some gear swapping can help refresh creativity etc… But this thread has several stark reminders that for many people who use these forums, buying and selling equipment is actually their hobby or obsession, not making music.
There’s plenty of synth enthusiasts who have never finished a track despite knowing a lot about synthesis and most likely having thousands worth of gear.
I don’t know you, and apologies if I’m way wide of the mark – but it’s a point worth making in general…
I feel that people often get into a cycle of buying and selling equipment because they’re seeking something that will make them sound better… And essentially the shine wares off each new piece of equipment when they realise their talent still has the same limits.
However, in your case, I very much hope that you found ways to play the A4 as your potential buyer did?
that’s pretty much how i always use it. for sound design, it’s deep but not immediate. it’s more enjoyable to pull it off the shelf, plug in, and bust out some simple techno stuff with presets, then tweak. as a groove box, it’s a powerful package. in time, it would be nice to integrate it with other hardware and explore poly capabilities, but it just doesn’t fill that niche for me even though it could.
yeah, but I bet you enjoyed playing it and created other things because of it. I realised some devices are just for fun of playing them. I often create chord progressions on my MODX then translate them into tracks using other synths
I don’t know that I ever “created other things”, but I certainly enjoyed playing it, and that is my point. A “track” is just one thing one can do with an instrument. I would guess that the number of guitars just played by people dwarfs the number used in production. (And in turn is dwarfed by the number not played at all, but that’s the nature of mass-produced objects.)
Took me a good 2 or 3 years to feel seller’s remorse with the A4 and get another one, but that was largely due to circumstances changing and simultaneously starting to explore eurorack. The A4 is arguably a far better instrument now than it was back then. Scale per track was an absolute game-changer for me.
The only other instrument I’ve bought a second time is a Pro 2. Likewise no remorse on initially selling it but felt it strongly 5 years later. Seller’s remorse within a week of letting a Prophet 6 go, but that was mostly due to absolutely hating the System 8 I replaced it with.
not an A4 but I had an AK and I sold it with no regrets, I just prefer simpler and more instantly rewarding synths. The one thing I regret selling is the OT
That’s exactly the point I wanted to make with that story! “It ain’t about the weight, it’s about the performance…”
I’m into music making for 25 years now and I started with just a radio and a cassette recorder back then. The thing I learned is that the most important part of making music and getting better is time - time to practice, time to try out, time to learn, time to get creative, time to relax. This applies to any possible musical instrument, be it a desktop synth or a cello. Gear alone won’t get you anywhere.
BUT - buying and selling gear is not only a matter of GAS and trying to compensate for a lack of talent in my eyes! It’s also a part of creativity! It’s also about exploring new paths and possibilities, about development. Part of this process is also to leave behind the tools and things you didn’t like, so what’s wrong with the idea of selling an instrument you feel you don’t need right now, just for being able to afford buying a new one? Not everyone has the financial means to accumulate musical instruments without selling something else.
I think we should keep this in mind when people get bashed here for selling and buying…
I find my A4 often sits underused when Im jamming and this makes me think whether I need it or not. But then, around once a week, I take the A4 away from the normal music making area and just sit with it and some headphones and sound design. I love it for that reason. I take it away and within 1 hour have made 3-5 different patches im happy with that get used in the jams later on.
A4 mki was my first synth and I don’t think I will ever sell it (probably should look to buy a new scene for it, its fading away).
Awesome! Funny the cycles things go in – I just ordered some cassettes last night, to feed my 4 track And I’ve participated in experimental FM radio recently too!
100% this. Preach! It isn’t always a popular point of view around here amidst the GAS mist though…
I very much agree – see here…
I’m actually a strong advocate for culling things that don’t work for you. But it’s important to understand why you’re buying / selling – especially with talk about these cycles of constantly buying and selling the same pieces of equipment, which could suggest an unrealised problem of some kind.
I’m not bashing anyone – I really don’t think that implication is necessary – just trying to have an open conversation about people’s motivations, habits, passions etc!
Absolute madness!
