--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's not about what the equipment does…" description: "\"It's not about what the equipment does, it's about what you can do through that equipment. That's where the soul is.\" — Richie Hawtin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d0/richie-hawtin-39599_can-do_it-s-not-about-what-the-equipment-does-i_1812913.jpg" --- # It's not about what the equipment does, it's about what… ![“It's not about what the equipment does, it's about what you can do through that equipment. That's where the soul is.” quote by Richie Hawtin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d0/richie-hawtin-39599_can-do_it-s-not-about-what-the-equipment-does-i_1812913.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d0/richie-hawtin-39599_can-do_it-s-not-about-what-the-equipment-does-i_1812913.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d0/richie-hawtin-39599_can-do_it-s-not-about-what-the-equipment-does-i_1812913.jpg) > “It's not about what the equipment does, it's about what you can do through that equipment. That's where the soul is.” [Richie Hawtin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-hawtin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The value of technology lies in the artist’s skill, not the gear itself. **In simple terms:** Tools are only as good as the user. Key Takeaway Focus on mastering your craft. Themes technology creativity skill Mood motivational reflective Type artistic inspirational When to use this quote - music production - live performance - visual art - design Key Concepts human‑computer interaction innovation Questions to Reflect On - How do you keep creativity alive with new tools? - What skills matter more than equipment? A Different Perspective Overreliance on tech can reduce originality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Can do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Does Equipment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/does-equipment-2130622/) [Equipment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equipment/) [Equipment Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equipment-does-2130621/) [Equipment Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equipment-soul-2130620/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) ## Related quotes > [Your equipment DOES NOT affect the quality of your image. The less time and effort you spend worrying about your equipment the more time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-rockwell/your-equipment-does-not-affect-the-quality-of-your-image-the-less/) [Ken Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-rockwell/) > [You don't always need the absolute latest gear. Find your piece(s) of equipment and let time evolve your ideas with that setup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-hawtin/you-don-t-always-need-the-absolute-latest-gear-find-your-piece-s-of/) [Richie Hawtin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-hawtin/) > [The amount of things you can do with a kettlebell is unsurpassed by any other training equipment - dumbbells, resistance machines, free weights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/the-amount-of-things-you-can-do-with-a-kettlebell-is-unsurpassed-by/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [ \[Math is\] not at all like science. There's no experiment I can do with test tubes and equipment and whatnot that will tell me… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lockhart/math-is-not-at-all-like-science-there-s-no-experiment-i-can-do-with/) [Paul Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lockhart/) > [Great causes cannot be served by intellectual equipment alone, they call for spiritual effort of soul-force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/great-causes-cannot-be-served-by-intellectual-equipment-alone-they/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Often, equipment can as easily function as a security blanket for musicians unwilling or unable to risk anything personal in the studio. Whether one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-landau/often-equipment-can-as-easily-function-as-a-security-blanket-for/) [Jon Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-landau/) > [White Zombie was a bunch of kids with the worst equipment playing in a basement. But that is what is so great about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-zombie/white-zombie-was-a-bunch-of-kids-with-the-worst-equipment-playing-in/) [Rob Zombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-zombie/) > [One of the most significant facts about humanity may finally be that we all begin with the natural equipment to a live a thousand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-geertz/one-of-the-most-significant-facts-about-humanity-may-finally-be-that/) [Clifford Geertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-geertz/) > [If you go out on the Appalachian Trail, you have to bring so much more equipment - a tent, sleeping bag - but if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/if-you-go-out-on-the-appalachian-trail-you-have-to-bring-so-much-more/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [I have been in relatively high-risk businesses all of my adult life. Few of the others, however, had the possibility of direct gains in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-armstrong/i-have-been-in-relatively-high-risk-businesses-all-of-my-adult-life/) [Neil Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-armstrong/) > [The coffers are full of money and equipment for the Ferguson Police and the Missouri National Guard to put down a potential uprising, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/the-coffers-are-full-of-money-and-equipment-for-the-ferguson-police/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [(Japanese Government believes that if you have a big laboratory with all the latest equipment and good funding it will automatically lead to creativity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akio-morita/japanese-government-believes-that-if-you-have-a-big-laboratory-with/) [Akio Morita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akio-morita/) > [As for the forces, electromagnetism and gravity we experience in everyday life. But the weak and strong forces are beyond our ordinary experience. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-witten/as-for-the-forces-electromagnetism-and-gravity-we-experience-in/) [Edward Witten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-witten/) > ['Brace the Wave' is an acoustic-electric record recorded with electricity on analog-digital and digitally-analog equipment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-barlow/brace-the-wave-is-an-acoustic-electric-record-recorded-with/) [Lou Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-barlow/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) ## More by Richie Hawtin > [Allowing the computer to do one thing is only boring if you don't use the time that the computer saves you to do something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-hawtin/allowing-the-computer-to-do-one-thing-is-only-boring-if-you-don-t-use/) [Richie Hawtin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-hawtin/) > [Sound unique and commit... the human has to transcend technology and that's what people will hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-hawtin/sound-unique-and-commit-the-human-has-to-transcend-technology-and/) [Richie Hawtin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-hawtin/) > [Chord progression is progression of emotions; storytelling - taking one person from one mood to the next. We are doing the same thing within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-hawtin/chord-progression-is-progression-of-emotions-storytelling-taking-one/) [Richie Hawtin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-hawtin/) > [Bringing a direct connection between ENTER. and MINUS, Maceo Plex delivers his CONJURE TWO EP that represents both the stripped down sound of MINUS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-hawtin/bringing-a-direct-connection-between-enter-and-minus-maceo-plex/) [Richie Hawtin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-hawtin/) > [Its been nearly 1.5 years since the last PLUS 8 record, but it seemed fitting that this record in particular, made by a skinny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-hawtin/its-been-nearly-1-5-years-since-the-last-plus-8-record-but-it-seemed/) [Richie Hawtin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-hawtin/) > [Independence has been key to the success and sustained growth of electronic music over the past 25 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-hawtin/independence-has-been-key-to-the-success-and-sustained-growth-of/) [Richie Hawtin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-hawtin/) > [You don't always need the absolute latest gear. Find your piece(s) of equipment and let time evolve your ideas with that setup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-hawtin/you-don-t-always-need-the-absolute-latest-gear-find-your-piece-s-of/) [Richie Hawtin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-hawtin/) > [Once you find your own sound, you find the strength and courage to stay true to that. Keep going even in moments when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-hawtin/once-you-find-your-own-sound-you-find-the-strength-and-courage-to/) [Richie Hawtin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-hawtin/) > [A set is created to make dance the crowd not for listening at home. A electronic set should only be heard in the party…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-hawtin/a-set-is-created-to-make-dance-the-crowd-not-for-listening-at-home-a/) [Richie Hawtin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-hawtin/) > [Electronic music is innately tied to the technology used to create it - as the tools evolve, so will the art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-hawtin/electronic-music-is-innately-tied-to-the-technology-used-to-create-it/) [Richie Hawtin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-hawtin/) [Explore all 11 Richie Hawtin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-hawtin/) ## More Can do quotes > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [If I had a million dollars, I just wouldn't just completely set back. I'd have to get out there and show my face to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muddy-waters/if-i-had-a-million-dollars-i-just-wouldn-t-just-completely-set-back-i/) [Muddy Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muddy-waters/) > [Anybody can be Prince Charming one day a year, with the dinner and the flowers and all that. But you know what impresses me?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-howard/anybody-can-be-prince-charming-one-day-a-year-with-the-dinner-and-the/) [Ryan Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-howard/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [The amount of things you can do with a kettlebell is unsurpassed by any other training equipment - dumbbells, resistance machines, free weights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/the-amount-of-things-you-can-do-with-a-kettlebell-is-unsurpassed-by/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [It's nice when you've done enough movies that you can do your own anthology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/it-s-nice-when-you-ve-done-enough-movies-that-you-can-do-your-own/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [If people don't have their own vision, all they can do is 'sign-up' for someone else's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/if-people-don-t-have-their-own-vision-all-they-can-do-is-sign-up-for/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [The one thing that flies in the face of all human history and experience, is that the government can do a superior job than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/the-one-thing-that-flies-in-the-face-of-all-human-history-and/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [...what I can do is offer myself, wholehearted and present, to walk with the people I love through the fear and the mess. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/what-i-can-do-is-offer-myself-wholehearted-and-present-to-walk-with/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [A professional is a man who can do his job when he doesn't feel like it. An amateur is a man who can't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agate/a-professional-is-a-man-who-can-do-his-job-when-he-doesn-t-feel-like/) [James Agate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agate/) > [The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, as it pleases him, for he can do all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-lord-gives-and-the-lord-takes-away-as-it-pleases-him-for-he-can/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [I'm not an educated man. I only know what I'm told, and I'm not told that much; I have no frame of reference for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-m-not-an-educated-man-i-only-know-what-i-m-told-and-i-m-not-told/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) [Browse all 5,673 Can do quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's not about what the equipment does, it's about what you can do through that equipment. 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