Stuff

 It isn't until you see it all piled in one place that the magnitude of all your "stuff" becomes evident. I have come to the conclusion that humans have more in common with pack rats than chimps.

    Recently I took down my home studio and packed everything in boxes and moved them to our new house. Like any move, this one has some home improvement projects besides my studio so for the time being it's all stacked in the space. It will have to be moved into the garage when I start construction after some other chores around the house are done.

    One thing I realized is that I have two of almost everything, kind of an audio Noah's Ark. One of the things about using vintage equipment is that it's a bit more prone to failure so having a spare on hand is prudent. This is an old habit from when I was doing more projects and couldn't afford downtime. My system used to be more complex, with more processing done outside the computer so this is less of an issue now. The fact is, with some updating, I could dispense with almost all of the outboard equipment I use, but I still like to twist knobs, something that makes me keenly aware that the most vintage thing in my studio is me.

The First Mic

    For the record I have six guitars of various types, which is actually a low number compared to others. Guitar collecting is a occupational hazard, along with microphones, an even worse fetish. With extensive therapy I have curbed the guitar hoarding urge, but microphones...that's been a steeper climb. "Mics" were invented in the late 1800s along with the telephone and all the other technological marvels of that age. While they all function more or less the same there is a plethora of forms and I consider them functional works of art. Basically, the more sensitive they are, the more expensive and aficionados can appreciate subtle differences, not unlike the differences between fine wines. At any rate, I have 28, including a few pricey models, which is more than enough for my needs. 

"Stuff"

    It's one thing to collect things for their own sake, like souvenir spoons for instance, and I've never been acquisitional in that sense. The psychology of collectors is a curious thing to me, the need to surround oneself with a multitude of a particular thing seems like a way to fill a void, and somewhat obsessive. I do get it, though. Given the means I can't say I'd ever have enough mics.

    It's a truism that the quality of a workman's tools reflect the quality of his work. The way I look at it, the room full of "stuff" are the tools of my trade, just like hammers and saws are to master carpenters. Everything I have is for the purpose of making the best recordings I can, and when it's all put together it's my "workshop", where I do my best to be a craftsman worthy of my implements. And the most important thing is that tools are meant to be used, not just arranged for display.

So for now all my stuff is sitting quietly waiting to be put back to use, hopefully very soon.

Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA

Singer/Songwriter Rick Millward lived and worked on the West Coast until moving to Nashville in 2000. He was part of the Music City songwriter community, collaborating with other artists and producing over 30 projects in his boutique studio, including two EMMY nominated soundtracks. Now in Southern Oregon, Rick has discovered a vibrant local music scene centered around the many tasting rooms. 

His records: "Limited Edition", "Home for Good", and “Loveland” are available on Spotify and other streaming platforms. His new recordings, "Astronomy" will be released later this year.

LOVELAND ON SPOTIFY