Why do I Have Three Computers, Three Audio Interfaces, and a Hard Drive Full of Software?

The Pursuit of Better and Best is Expensive

I was cleaning up my guitar area and doing some computer maintenance and started thinking about all the recording-related “stuff” I’ve accumulated. Why do I have three computers, three audio interfaces, two pairs of headphones, and seemingly every DAW and amp sim known to man? With the exception of the computers (I inherited two and purchased one prior to building a studio), I have them because I made purchases without really thinking about what I needed.

I bought my Universal Audio Apollo because I saw it on the desks of every YouTuber I was following, and I wanted a “better” audio interface than the Focusrite 2i2 I was using. After two years of trying to make it work. I put it neatly back in its box and put it on a shelf, it created so much friction for me that any amount of “better” it might have produced was simply not worth the cost of time, energy and money (man, those UA plugins are expensive!). I bought my Audient ID4 to replace the Apollo I wasn’t using (my Focusrite went to a friend), but it wasn’t as user-friendly as I’d hoped, so I replaced it with a Focusrite 4i4. It’s been on my desk ever since.

When I reviewed the applications folder on my computer, I had six DAWs installed (only six because I recently uninstalled two). Why? Because I was searching for the best DAW (just like I was searching for a “better” interface). As for the amp sims installed on my computer? A literal who’s who of every amp sim on the market-all to find the best Fender Tweed, Vox, and Marshall sound I could find. Which, if I were really honest with myself, could be summed up as a clean sound, an edge-of-break-up sound, and an overdriven sound. All is possible with any of the amp sims, but probably achievable with a single-amp plugin that includes pre- and post-effects, like the Neural DSP Imperial Tone King or Soldano SLO-100 X. One or two plugins and done. No endless tone surfing or choice overwhelm. And the kicker? I already knew this. It’s the same philosophy behind my practice rig-a clean amp and pedals.

Sometimes the pursuit of better or best is the enemy of good enough. My current computer is good enough; my Focusrite 4i4 is good enough; my Audio-Technica ATH-M20x headphones are good enough, and if I had to do this all over again, here’s what I’d do. Assuming a clean slate, I’d buy an Apple computer, a Focusrite interface, Logic Pro and a mid-tier set of headphones. Based on my experience, if I wanted to upgrade this, I’d add the Neural DSP Tone King Imperial MKII and the Soldano SLO-100 X amp sims, along with a good set of monitors like the Kali Audio LP-6 V2. With either setup, I could make good music, and maybe more importantly, I could do so with less friction and wasted resources.