--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think the whole obsession with old gear…" description: "\"I think the whole obsession with old gear is completely overblown. You don't need old-fashioned gear to make a great-sounding record. You don't even ne..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79a/tony-visconti-14627_analog_i-think-the-whole-obsession-with-old-gea_909318.jpg" --- # I think the whole obsession with old gear is completely… ![“I think the whole obsession with old gear is completely overblown. You don't need old-fashioned gear to make a great-sounding record. You don't even need [analog] tape.” quote by Tony Visconti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79a/tony-visconti-14627_analog_i-think-the-whole-obsession-with-old-gea_909318.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79a/tony-visconti-14627_analog_i-think-the-whole-obsession-with-old-gea_909318.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79a/tony-visconti-14627_analog_i-think-the-whole-obsession-with-old-gea_909318.jpg) > “I think the whole obsession with old gear is completely overblown. You don't need old-fashioned gear to make a great-sounding record. You don't even need \[analog\] tape.” [Tony Visconti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-visconti/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Modern recording technology renders vintage equipment unnecessary for high-quality sound production. **In simple terms:** You can make great records without old gear. Key Takeaway Use tools that fit your creative goals. Themes technology music production innovation Mood practical curious Type technical advisory When to use this quote - home studios - budget recordings - professional studios Key Concepts digital audio analog vs digital creative process Questions to Reflect On - What benefits do you find in analog gear? - Can digital tools fully replicate vintage warmth? A Different Perspective Some artists value vintage sound character. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Analog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/analog/) [Analog Tape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/analog-tape-570050/) [Gears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gears/) [Need Analog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-analog-1317097/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Obsession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsession/) [Old fashioned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-fashioned/) [Old Gear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-gear-1317095/) [Records](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/records/) [Sounding Record](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sounding-record-1317096/) [Tape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tape/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) ## Related quotes > [I'm a very tactile learner, so I need analog index cards, moving them all about, trying out various sequences for the book's architecture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-mohr/i-m-a-very-tactile-learner-so-i-need-analog-index-cards-moving-them/) [Joshua Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-mohr/) > [When you're recording to analog tape, it captures performance and you can't necessarily manipulate that in different ways. It is what it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/when-you-re-recording-to-analog-tape-it-captures-performance-and-you/) [Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/) > [No one has any faith in the tape anymore - everyone just relies on computers and considers the hardrive to be the safest option,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/no-one-has-any-faith-in-the-tape-anymore-everyone-just-relies-on/) [Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/) > [I don't have any computers in my studio, it's all analog tape. All analog tape, all old equipment, I mean my mics are like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-younge/i-don-t-have-any-computers-in-my-studio-it-s-all-analog-tape-all/) [Adrian Younge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-younge/) > [There is just a major difference between the sound of analog tape and digital tape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-w-shepherd/there-is-just-a-major-difference-between-the-sound-of-analog-tape-and/) [Kenny W Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-w-shepherd/) > [I like to work with a combination of analog and Pro Tools. I love the sound of analog tape, but there's so many things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bush/i-like-to-work-with-a-combination-of-analog-and-pro-tools-i-love-the/) [Kate Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bush/) > [You can sit down with Reason or Ableton and literally in a couple of hours make a very good-sounding record. But then a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/you-can-sit-down-with-reason-or-ableton-and-literally-in-a-couple-of/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [A vocal producer is very important, and it's a very important component of an overall successful and good-sounding record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mason-jr/a-vocal-producer-is-very-important-and-it-s-a-very-important/) [Harvey Mason, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mason-jr/) > [Everyone uses noise as a crutch sometimes - I've totally done it. But when you make a good-sounding record there's nothing there but you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ty-segall/everyone-uses-noise-as-a-crutch-sometimes-i-ve-totally-done-it-but/) [Ty Segall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ty-segall/) > [I started getting back into buying old analog gear while we were recording. Lots of old drum machines and synths. It wasn't a conscious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gore/i-started-getting-back-into-buying-old-analog-gear-while-we-were/) [Martin Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-gore/) > [You don't necessarily need expensive gear or giant budgets to reach an audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-visconti/you-don-t-necessarily-need-expensive-gear-or-giant-budgets-to-reach/) [Tony Visconti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-visconti/) > [I work with digital audio, which is like sculpting, a form of chiseling down metal or wood. And I take audio and move it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-hecker/i-work-with-digital-audio-which-is-like-sculpting-a-form-of-chiseling/) [Tim Hecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-hecker/) > [I think any new technology that helps connect and create social cohesion is great. But at the end of the day, you and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-guber/i-think-any-new-technology-that-helps-connect-and-create-social/) [Peter Guber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-guber/) > ['Muppets' is incredibly analog, 'Alice' is very digital.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bobin/muppets-is-incredibly-analog-alice-is-very-digital/) [James Bobin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bobin/) > [There are historical analogs, which are not exact, of course, but are close enough to be worrisome. This is a whiff of early Nazi…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-historical-analogs-which-are-not-exact-of-course-but-are/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## More by Tony Visconti > [Our last jam session was this past Christmas. Dad played his harmonica, mom sang in English and Italian, and I played guitar. I'm so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-visconti/our-last-jam-session-was-this-past-christmas-dad-played-his-harmonica/) [Tony Visconti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-visconti/) > [Some people do rely too much on technology. Look, technology is wonderful and I love it. When I was in the UK and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-visconti/some-people-do-rely-too-much-on-technology-look-technology-is/) [Tony Visconti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-visconti/) > [I love Logic Audio and have been using it for years. All my track outputs used to come up on my old board in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-visconti/i-love-logic-audio-and-have-been-using-it-for-years-all-my-track/) [Tony Visconti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-visconti/) > [My dad's sense of humor was direct and sometimes surreal - his quick wit is well known amongst our family and friends. He raised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-visconti/my-dad-s-sense-of-humor-was-direct-and-sometimes-surreal-his-quick/) [Tony Visconti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-visconti/) > [Today's recording techniques would have been regarded as science fiction forty years ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-visconti/today-s-recording-techniques-would-have-been-regarded-as-science/) [Tony Visconti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-visconti/) > [Towards the end of the seventies pop was gaining the momentum and respectability was very high with groups like Yes and Queen who were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-visconti/towards-the-end-of-the-seventies-pop-was-gaining-the-momentum-and/) [Tony Visconti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-visconti/) > [In the last 17 years of his working life, my father was finally rewarded with having landed a great job as first, a maintenance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-visconti/in-the-last-17-years-of-his-working-life-my-father-was-finally/) [Tony Visconti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-visconti/) > [Computers have virtually replaced tape recorders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-visconti/computers-have-virtually-replaced-tape-recorders/) [Tony Visconti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-visconti/) > [I make records with an open mind, I always have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-visconti/i-make-records-with-an-open-mind-i-always-have/) [Tony Visconti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-visconti/) > [I grew up to the sound of live music in our Brooklyn household.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-visconti/i-grew-up-to-the-sound-of-live-music-in-our-brooklyn-household/) [Tony Visconti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-visconti/) > [Rock and Roll has certainly tried to take its toll on me. I'd rather not talk about my past excesses here, although some hardcore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-visconti/rock-and-roll-has-certainly-tried-to-take-its-toll-on-me-i-d-rather/) [Tony Visconti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-visconti/) > [Oh, it was so hard to leave Paris, just about my favorite city in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-visconti/oh-it-was-so-hard-to-leave-paris-just-about-my-favorite-city-in-the/) [Tony Visconti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-visconti/) > [My father had a brilliant scholastic record in high school and was awarded a college scholarship. Unfortunately he had to turn it down so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-visconti/my-father-had-a-brilliant-scholastic-record-in-high-school-and-was/) [Tony Visconti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-visconti/) > [I could never have a better teacher in those days than my father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-visconti/i-could-never-have-a-better-teacher-in-those-days-than-my-father/) [Tony Visconti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-visconti/) > [I keep reviewing my feelings about the supernatural.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-visconti/i-keep-reviewing-my-feelings-about-the-supernatural/) [Tony Visconti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-visconti/) [Explore all 46 Tony Visconti quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-visconti/) ## More Analog quotes > [There are historical analogs, which are not exact, of course, but are close enough to be worrisome. This is a whiff of early Nazi…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-historical-analogs-which-are-not-exact-of-course-but-are/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > ['Muppets' is incredibly analog, 'Alice' is very digital.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bobin/muppets-is-incredibly-analog-alice-is-very-digital/) [James Bobin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bobin/) > [I think any new technology that helps connect and create social cohesion is great. But at the end of the day, you and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-guber/i-think-any-new-technology-that-helps-connect-and-create-social/) [Peter Guber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-guber/) > [I work with digital audio, which is like sculpting, a form of chiseling down metal or wood. And I take audio and move it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-hecker/i-work-with-digital-audio-which-is-like-sculpting-a-form-of-chiseling/) [Tim Hecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-hecker/) > [“But analog photography peaked in 2000.2”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-brynjolfsson/but-analog-photography-peaked-in-2000-2/) [Erik Brynjolfsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-brynjolfsson/) > [You can't live in the digital and die in the analog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-cavanagh/you-can-t-live-in-the-digital-and-die-in-the-analog/) [Dean Cavanagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-cavanagh/) > [I started getting back into buying old analog gear while we were recording. Lots of old drum machines and synths. It wasn't a conscious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gore/i-started-getting-back-into-buying-old-analog-gear-while-we-were/) [Martin Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-gore/) > [“Apart from live performance, vinyl analog recordings were Georgiou’s favorite way to enjoy music. Rich, warm, and so eerily present—that was the enduring appeal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mack/apart-from-live-performance-vinyl-analog-recordings-were-georgiou-s/) [David Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mack/) > [I'm a very tactile learner, so I need analog index cards, moving them all about, trying out various sequences for the book's architecture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-mohr/i-m-a-very-tactile-learner-so-i-need-analog-index-cards-moving-them/) [Joshua Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-mohr/) > [Oddly enough, Black Panther's almost like an analog to Tarzan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stelfreeze/oddly-enough-black-panther-s-almost-like-an-analog-to-tarzan/) [Brian Stelfreeze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stelfreeze/) > [As so much music is listened to via MP3 download, many will never experience the joy of analog playback, and for them, I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/as-so-much-music-is-listened-to-via-mp3-download-many-will-never/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [But the rhythm of the mix tape is the rhythm of romance, the analog hum of a physical connection between two sloppy, human bodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/but-the-rhythm-of-the-mix-tape-is-the-rhythm-of-romance-the-analog/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) > [I'm not on any social media. I'm a bit analog when it comes to the Internet and technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-samuel/i-m-not-on-any-social-media-i-m-a-bit-analog-when-it-comes-to-the/) [Benedict Samuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-samuel/) > [I like to work with a combination of analog and Pro Tools. I love the sound of analog tape, but there's so many things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bush/i-like-to-work-with-a-combination-of-analog-and-pro-tools-i-love-the/) [Kate Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bush/) > [What we want to be is something completely new. There is no physical analog for what Amazon.com is becoming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bezos/what-we-want-to-be-is-something-completely-new-there-is-no-physical/) [Jeff Bezos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bezos/) [Browse all 117 Analog quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/analog/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think the whole obsession with old gear is completely overblown. You don't need old-fashioned gear to make a great-sounding record. 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