Audiobus: Use your music apps together.
What is Audiobus? — Audiobus is an award-winning music app for iPhone and iPad which lets you use your other music apps together. Chain effects on your favourite synth, run the output of apps or Audio Units into an app like GarageBand or Loopy, or select a different audio interface output for each app. Route MIDI between apps — drive a synth from a MIDI sequencer, or add an arpeggiator to your MIDI keyboard — or sync with your external MIDI gear. And control your entire setup from a MIDI controller.
Download on the App StoreAudiobus is the app that makes the rest of your setup better.
Price on old used hardware/synthesizers?
Saw an advert online that a guy what’s to buy an used Korg Triton Extreme 61.
One of my synth was just that type, and, perhaps it’s time to make some more room for the rest of my old synthesizers.
So, I answered the advert, and was surprised that he was willing to buy it for 800 euro/dollar…
As I can see nowadays there’s an renaissance to buy/use the old stuff from the 70-80’s, and the prices chock me!
Yamaha DX1 - $80000
Roland Jupiter 8 - $35000
Roland 303/808/909 cost around 2000-3500 bucks each
Even Roland D-50 that was really cheap earlier can cost 500-800 dollars now…
Is there any other explanation that prices have been rising dramatically lately?
Or, is it too many people out there with too much money to spend?
It reminds me of last years auction on the 1955 Mercedes 300 SLR - a guy bought this car for 135 million dollars! The most expensive car in history…
Lastly, which old HW synth would be that last one you will selling in some sort crisis?
Comments
I can’t speak specifically to those particular synths but I will say that the price of 99% of all products, services, etc.. is up across the board. I literally get sticker shock at goodwill or thrift stores these days, lol. It’s just ridiculous.
Obviously condition, availability, demand, and other factors are involved.
I also think that the rise of virtual synths on desktop, laptop, or iOS/android device over the last 20 years has directly boosted the hardware ecosystem. People can try out virtual Synthesis, learn it, at a relatively low cost, at least compared to hardware, which has allowed synthesis to gain a much wider audience then ever before. It’s no longer an exclusive club for those that had the space and money. Anyone can acces the world of Synthesizers for free. I would have never been interested in synthesizers if it wasn’t for virtual ones. Now I’d love a few pieces of hardware.
I think the combination of these factors, and probably others, has contributed to a rise in cost. I’ll admit though $80,000 even $35,000 is a ridiculous amount for anything except a car, or a low cost house. lol.
I think there are many musical instruments that continue to rise in price over time once they are no longer in production.
It can be driven by many things, including being seen in the hands of famous musicians, the number available on the market becoming lower, publicity around people wanting to buy them, etc. I’m sure it’s not one single thing that drives price increases over time.
There are lots of synth collectors that almost use them as investments and a lot of those other synth collectors can afford to pay the price, so the price goes up. That’s not the only reason why but that’s definitely a part of it. It’s a bummer though. I remember when you could by a Juno 60 for like $200-$300.
I used to dream of having vintage synths, now I’m happy with the modern hardware I have. There is upkeep that I’m not interested in having to do to own vintage gear. If I find a great deal and I can afford it, I will probably buy it, but overall I’m good using the gear I have or soft synths.
Vintage gear itself has become “cool”, so supply in demand…
Yeah a Juno 60 or 106 is all I need when it comes to hardware. Maybe a Behringer copy one day.
And I don't understand the charm of a collection of vintage synths or guitars..... what is the use to build your own gear museum. You have to use (or abuse) that stuff.
Probably partially bragging rights. And GAS. Same as us buying app after app. We just can’t resale it lol
I had the Deepmind from B for a while and it’s a pretty good synth. I would recommend it.
I agree with this. I’m fine with what little modern hardware I have and I’m much more of an In the Box kinda guy anyway. That workflow is just much more productive for me. I do like having some hardware laying around to jam with occasionally. The new Uno Synth Pro looks great and that + a Minifreak would be a killer 2 synth combo and much cheaper than 1 vintage synth with no modern conveniences
Yeah, good point…
But, what’s strike me is that the two most sold synthesizers in history (Korg M1 & Roland D-50) has rised in price dramatically last few years…
By the way - heard an interview with Benny Andersson a while ago (played keyboard in ABBA), he mentioned that his Yamaha CS-80 was his most valued possession in life - almost impossible to find for sale nowadays…
Roland D-50’s are rising in price? Hmm. Might be time for me to sell.
Not only that but the Roland Boutique remake has also gone up quite a bit. Wish I’d kept mine a while longer lol
It's not just synthesizers. It's old CRT televisions. VCRs. VHS. Old retro computers. Tape decks. Many hardware-based devices from the 1970s-1980s have gone up in value in the past say 10 years. The higher the original quality, the greater the price gains. I think it's because there are a lot less of them, and the generation who grew up digital is interested in hardware and the generation who grew up analog has a warm feeling about it. Not me. I hate moving heavy gear. I hate leaky capacitors. I hate entropy itself. Software doesn't go bad on the shelf. Hardware can & does.
Horror VHS in particular is a bust these days. Anything vintage tape is also pretty much a no go for me now. Occasionally you’ll get lucky but it’s mostly unaffordable now.
Where's the best place to sell? I have a box of unique horror VHS from a festival I used to run. Not commercial but even better, indy filmmakers early work. [EDITED TO ADD: Going to try & sell locally at an event this weekend and on Facebook or Ebay. All the likely places]
During the pandemic guitar and pedal prices went through the roof as people had more time for hobbies and things to do at home. People got really serious about their interests. This definitely bled over to the synth world too.
There is an increasingly thin line between these two worlds these days, and you can get anything on Reverb if you’re willing to pay. Many people are, so the prices keep going up. Probably half of new guitar pedals run from $250-500 USD, a totally absurd idea 10 years ago.
And I totally agree, the mindset is very similar to app collectors. As noted, you can re-sell hardware, which is great, but also an excuse.
The more lucrative market has at least driven innovation for sure. I think it’s great that at least our expensive hardware (and app) purchases are in pursuit of music and creativity rather than some of the other expensive crap people buy
When I left China, all the stuff I took with me fit into 2 suitcases, 1 large, 1 small. I threw away, gave away or sold a massive amount of stuff and sent a few boxes back to my mum's place. I love living with so few objects, and in a simple and small space, it's very liberating. In fact, when I leave Thailand, I will likely get rid of a fair chunk of the stuff I currently have, I'd like to not have that 2nd case. The iPad is a major part of what makes this setup possible. There's loads I hate about our new digital lives, but this aspect of having so much stuff that gives me so much pleasure all tucked away inside this tiny device is quite incredible! Last thing I would want to do would be to rack up massive amounts of old hardware, I have absolutely zero interest in that. I didn't even take my 2 Roli Seaboard Blocks with me, despite how small and light they are, and I don't miss them.
Oh my word brother, you are talking my language. I have a genetic propensity to collect & preserve. Longtime housemate died this year and I have been downsizing this past 6 months to vacate the house and there is SO MUCH STUFF it overwhelms me at times into the fetal position. No lie. Not sure how I am going to pull this off, but I feel like it is my responsibility as a citizen of the planet to find a useful home for two decades of two collector's shit and not just foist it off on some charity store, or at least recycle it. Anyway I need the money to pay the bills and I am continually amazed at the value of my old collections if I can unleash them. For the rest of my life I will be downsizing ... until I get to that mythical land of the single suitcase. But I love my big monitors and having every tool at hand I could possibly need for a job.
I’ve never gotten big into the selling/trading scene but niche/specific thrift stores, marketplace, and eBay would be your best bets. If all else fails, there are a couple of subreddits for this also.
I don’t blame you at all. My wife and I moved into a tiny house for this very reason. Gave away or sold everything except what we absolutely needed or wanted. My iPad was already my main hub for all things creative but even more so now. iPad, midi controller, headphones, and an SSD and I can do just about anything I could possibly conceive. And tech has come so far that iOS synths are nearly on par with desktop sound wise in a lot of ways.
It feels nice not being overly reliant on material things and only surrounding yourself with what’s important. You’re a couple steps further than us haha but I’m glad you’re happy, that sounds amazing
I’m curious though 1) are you using any midi controller? And 2) what’s next after Thailand? Sounds so interesting. (Feel free to PM if you don’t wanna take up space on the thread lol)
Unpopular opinion - all Behringer analog clones will be worth at least 5x their current price in 15 years .. cause at that time their originals will be definitely dead (components degradation and inability to found replacement parts)
Reverb has really been the main driver of prices along with the pandemic.
The good thing is that for every expensive lusted after item, there is usually something equally cool for far less that people don’t know about.
If you got some Roland patchcard/memorycard to the D-50, it can be worth up to $100 each…
When I bought my D-50 used (mint) for ten years ago, I’ve gotten six card with it, and paid only $280 for the whole shebangs…
Oof sorry to hear that my friend. Hope all works out, I’m sure that’s a load on your mind. FWIW I’m sure we’ll all be ready and willing to watch and contribute to whatever you end up doing, and I’ll happily like/share, whatever I can do to help.
Wish I could give better advice but you know way more about content creation than I lol
The downside to having one suitcase is there's not a lot of stuff to sell off when the cashflow stops. I could live off the fat of the land for another few years if I didn't have to vacate. There is a well-respected theory regarding artists (incl. musicians) and day jobs, which is once you go without a net your art can flourish. I believe there is some truth to it. Forces one to get resourceful and hustle. Concentrates your focus like not much else can. Good luck.
Haha, I'd imagine there is some truth to that yes, though I'd imagine it also depends on the person. I kind of miss the routine and security of just having a day job with fixed hours that I could totally forget about when I finished work. Not sure really whether I'm built for freelancing 😂
I recently sold my Korg Electribe ESX-1 (the red metal sampler with the vacuum tubes). Apparently that specific instrument is now a hot commodity in the live techno scene, so I could sell it for more than it cost me originally.
I'm mostly happy that someone is now using it to its full potential, as it was just gathering dust in my storage
My gut feeling is that the buyers today paying a lot more for used hardware is people growing up without hardware, and, they have since the 90’s only used computerbased instruments…
Nothing beats the real deal!
But, it’s heavy, it getting broken, and it demand much space…
Bram, what was your first bought hardware?
The first one I bought myself was a Roland MC-303 (on launch day) which I still own and will never sell if I can help it.
The OG Groovebox, granddaddy of all grooveboxes today
I’m a fanboy for all things grooveboxes but the Electribes in particular are among my all time favorites. Do you use mostly iOS for that now?