Cure for GAS?

[Back Down the Path]

Jon Ingram

pleasedon'ttellmymom.

Best laugh I’ve had in months. 15 grand well spent.

The cure for GAS is accepting that acquiring things to try them out a while and then selling them when you get tired of them or realize you don’t use them is part of this thing we do. Most people had almost no access to trying out these modules before buying prior to COVID, and now almost no one does (here in this hell hole anyway).

Anyone who can maintain a small system for a long period of time deserves some type of award (or to be thrown in jail for potential futurecrimes, either is appropriate).

[StrangeAttraction]

I came up with a rule for myself: I wait one month before buying any new gear of significant value.
If I still want to buy it after a month and I can afford it, I'm allowed to get it.

This usually weeds out the gear that is pure over-hyped GAS vs gear that's deeply appealing to me :-)

Try it: Give yourself a permission to buy something after a month. Usually, you'll find that you're not really interested in <insert any new shiny toy here>.

[LunaticSound]

I came up with a rule for myself: I wait one month before buying any new gear of significant value.
If I still want to buy it after a month and I can afford it, I'm allowed to get it.

This usually weeds out the gear that is pure over-hyped GAS vs gear that's deeply appealing to me :-)

Try it: Give yourself a permission to buy something after a month. Usually, you'll find that you're not really interested in <insert any new shiny toy here>.

I have like a list of at least 10 modules that I would probably buy immediately, if I had the money, and that pertains since easily a year... So I am not sure if this works for me

[StrangeAttraction]

hehe too true! You just work down the list... ;-)

I have like a list of at least 10 modules that I would probably buy immediately, if I had the money, and that pertains since easily a year... So I am not sure if this works for me

[Daisuk]

I came up with a rule for myself: I wait one month before buying any new gear of significant value.
If I still want to buy it after a month and I can afford it, I'm allowed to get it.

This usually weeds out the gear that is pure over-hyped GAS vs gear that's deeply appealing to me :-)

Try it: Give yourself a permission to buy something after a month. Usually, you'll find that you're not really interested in <insert any new shiny toy here>.

I do this too, but I use one week instead of a month. I reckon a month works better! Haha.

[Kubase]

Not read the whole thread but for me, reading manuals and digging in. Particularly for big and/or complex modules. Really rinse them. The only deal breaker for me is pure sound - if I just don’t like it it goes and invariably gets replaced but that’s not happened for a long time.

Example for me. I got a Nerdseq with the midi expander, and suddenly wanted a Minilogue or Hydrasynth to sequence from it. Almost bought one of them. But I always have my DAW on for FX and have Omnisphere and Diva on it, so I dug into my midi routing and the manuals for those synths. Turns out Diva has key off issues but Omni works like a dream. So that’s my poly now and I saved some money.

[tokidoki]

Child psychology applied to wigglers… you’re onto something.

Check the Kurt Russel advice...

[ipnoteca]

once i learned that everything, specially recently, in eurorack is overhyped, i found the cure for my gas.

it took me quite few years to learn this, and lot of money wasted. once you learn you will not forget.

i now buy only what i really need to get the sound i am after.

now i find myself buy like 1 or 2 modules a year.

also one module bought, one module sold.

[dooj88]

after a certain point, the hassle of learning a new module outweighs the desire to disrupt the flow you've established within the system. sometimes you just want to sit and get an idea out without referring to manual or whatever. that's of course after you've found everything you need, so god help the wigglers just getting started. insane amounts of complex options out there.

[tdallas]

Ok. The author of these lines has reached his limits with MI Beads this week... no joke. It is going back 99.9% unused to the reseller - but not because of the fantastic module itself. I have realized that the only reason why I bought it was the hype ... there was 0% reflection involved about how it might be useful in my rack. This is completely stupid IMHO and also blocking a module which might be more beneficial for other wigglers. I mean ... look at the Beads thread.

Furthermore I have realized that the joy of creating music was completely replaced with a growing need for searching and buying gear! This might sound a little bit stupid coming from a wiggler with only one of those funny dancing guys but this has to stop!

I had the most fun at the beginning in 2018 with just a small bunch of modules. And what is even the point of "spare modules" ("Oh look! There is another filter behind the socks!"). So maybe this unexpected higher state of consciousness in the face of the holy grail of granular processing is a cure for my GAS and the chance to really learn the existing gear ...

[MindMachine]

I do use the things I have though ... but it’s become a habit, every time just before I go to bed, I start searching for new shiny modules

Stay off of the Internet music sites for six months (you can do it). Then you are amazed at what is new instead of keeping up with the Joneses.

[Kosmikos]

I came up with a rule for myself: I wait one month before buying any new gear of significant value.
If I still want to buy it after a month and I can afford it, I'm allowed to get it.

That sounds like a good idea in principle, however with the short supplies and high demands that’s a sure way to not buy anything at all. Which might be what curing GAS is all about, just saying.

In my case the worst case of GAS has indeed been with impulse buying followed by the sunk-cost fallacy. I think that’s how I somehow slid into Eurorack obsession. The pandemic didn’t help for sure.

For example impulse buying Chainsaw because it was a little 4 HP and sounded great, then realising that I still haven’t solved my chord sequencing problems to feed its 3 CVs. So ended up with Arpitecht+Triad 16HP. That was 20HP taken off my case for an original 4HP spend plan... (I’m unrepentant though, they are great fun... sorry shouldn’t say that here, just don’t do it ).

I think most impulse buying can be dealt with by sleeping over it. Maybe a bit longer if the module is not in high demand. Typing this I realise I have probably a very severe case of GAS.

Maybe we can borrow some ideas from AA. What if we were posting here the number of days without buying any module. That would definitely help other people holding their GAS in check. We need someone with a worthy enough anniversary to start to inspire the group (it’s only been two days for me )

[tdallas]

For example impulse buying Chainsaw because it was a little 4 HP and sounded great, then realising that I still haven’t solved my chord sequencing problems to feed its 3 CVs. So ended up with Arpitecht+Triad 16HP. That was 20HP taken off my case for an original 4HP spend plan...

Haha! That is what happened to me when the chainsaw was available again. But at least I canceled the order of Arpitecht+Triad in time after reading a bit more about it and came to the conclusion that it is not necessary ... but that is exactly the rabbit hole on my side. Always on the search for the next "inspiring" module and ignoring that there is already enough gear sitting in the racks patiently waiting to be used!

Regarding the AA idea -> day 1 ;-)

[ersatzplanet]

The only cure for GAS is poverty.

[Paranormal Patroler]

Mindfulness is the only true cure for GAS.

Being true to yourself, including being lenient when you feel the urge to buy something. Don't berate yourself if it happens. And understanding that we are a consuming species, with urges that are nay impossible to always keep at bay. Especially these days of unrelenting consumerism. Remove some of the sirens if you feel they're urging you onwards a bad habit. MW, MG, other two letter places, YT, IG, FB. Take a step back from when you want to buy, to give yourself some space from that part of yourself that's whispering promises. There is absolutely NO offer that cannot be found again. There is no module that will fill the case. There is no piece that is really missing. Also, keep in mind that the urge is real, you're not alone, we all struggle with it, I've struggled with it for years, but the urgency itself is fake. Spend time to really check how you feel and what story you tell yourself before you buy, while you make a purchase, after, and after you have the module. Figure your habits out and why you act the way you do sometimes, especially if it's not consistent with other parts of who you are.

Start where you are
Use what you have
Do what you can

I give myself distance before I buy. Weeks, days, maybe a month. Sometimes that doesn't work but I try to be in contact with myself. Making music usually helps realize that I don't care for anything extra. Fantasizing about music does not. I have realized how much my brain enjoys troublesolving, hence I spent an inordinate amount on MG, fixing problems; more than I spent with actual case designs I've made on MG. I've changed since.

Really, try to be truly mindful about what your mind goes through when you want to buy things and talk with yourself in an honest and understanding fashion.

I can't stress this enough. Mindfulness i s the solution. I know it might sound mundane, or boring, or unfun, but for some people things can turn ugly and bereft of creativity. Consumerism can lead to doldrums and owning too much can be a problem for your creativity. Hope the above helps, it is coming from a very honest place.

[drowld]

Nice post Paranormal Patroler.
Giving time is good.
I'm having way less GAS when i'm staying away from Muff or any other place where people talk gear all day.
Some pay need to stay away from this forum to help their GAS. We are all different i'm part of thoses who need to quit totally at least for the time being

[mg05]

... There is no module that will fill the case ...

This is the key mantra!

[electricfence]

Mindfulness is the only true cure for GAS.

Isn’t Mindfulness an Easter egg mode on Beads?

[Paranormal Patroler]

Mindfulness is the only true cure for GAS.

Isn’t Mindfulness an Easter egg mode on Beads?

It's actually an easter egg on each of our brains.

[StrangeAttraction]

Mindfulness is really the answer!
Finding space between the impulse (those amazing demos, FOMO, shiny new toy appeal) and the response and conditioning.
Also, assessing if the modules you bought in the past on an impulse have given you the use and satisfaction that you thought they would.
We're all human after all so thread gently on yourselves (reminder to self) :-)
I've been on a hunt for my first poly for about 3-4 weeks now. I've been close to pulling the trigger a few times (Novation Peak was so hyped by several reviewers that I got very close to buying it - so glad I didn't because I realized I'm looking for something either much cheaper if digital or similarly priced but analog). Got about a week or two before I'm "officially" allowed to buy something.
The downside is that in the meantime, new modules came out in euro (Metropolix being one), so now I'm thinking whether I should really buy that poly after all...lol. Going to sit on the decision for a while...

Mindfulness is the only true cure for GAS.

Isn’t Mindfulness an Easter egg mode on Beads?

It's actually an easter egg on each of our brains.

[Eurocat]

Instead of buying gear now I spend my money on crypto. I’m hoping at some point this will give me enough money to buy any module or since that I want

[Scories]

When you realised that most of my favourite albums have been made with a minimal setup, it might helped you to understand that creativity does not depend on gear. With some imagination, you can always find a way to create the type of music you want to make with hat you already have (and it's more satisfying). In any way, G.A.S. is no healthy behaviour.