As musicians and producers, we love our gear. It’s part of who we are - the microphones we trust, the plugins we swear by, the compressors that glue our mixes together.
Each piece has a story, and some of them have been with us for years, reliably being utilized in almost every project. Over time though, we evolve, our sound evolves, our needs evolve. Our workflow changes as we get new ideas, as we see other people getting cool tones, and as we start preferring some pieces over others by the process of natural selection. And slowly, without us really noticing, some of that gear stops pulling its weight. This goes mostly the same for physical gear and for plugins as well.
That’s why it’s worth making a habit of revisiting your gear list at least once a year - not just to chase new toys, but to make sure your setup still reflects who you are today and what you need the most for a smooth workflow.
1. Take Stock of What You Actually Have
Start with a simple exercise: write down everything you own.
Yes, everything - microphones, preamps, compressors, interfaces, monitors, cables, headphones, outboard gear, software instruments, plugins, even sample libraries. This will take a moment the first time, but it’s well worth it. When you see your entire studio ecosystem written out, it can be surprisingly revealing. We tend to forget how much we’ve accumulated, especially in the age of instant plugin purchases and “limited-time” bundles.
Once you’re looking at the list, think about when is the last time you used each piece of gear (or plugin). If you can’t remember, that’s already telling you something. A mic that’s been in its case for six months might not be the best fit for your current projects, or maybe it just needs a new role in your setup. A cool new plugin you got but never really used - maybe it’s simply taking up space in your setup. Less plugins means a more streamlined and stable system that’s easier to keep up to date.
This is the starting point: total visibility. Once you know what you have, you can start asking the real questions.
2. The Stolen Gear Test
This one’s a tough but honest check, and it works every time.
If this piece of gear got stolen today, and you were reimbursed by insurance, would you buy the same thing again? If your answer is no, that tells you all you need to know. Maybe that mic sounded great on paper but doesn’t really fit your projects anymore. Maybe that analog compressor looks gorgeous in the rack but hasn’t been switched on since you discovered your favorite plugin version and preferred speed and recall ability over that slight analog flavor. Or maybe that monitor controller that once felt essential is now just gathering dust because your interface does the same job.
We all hang onto gear for emotional reasons - nostalgia, brand loyalty, or the classic “maybe I’ll need it one day.” Also, gear is cool, and it’s nice to have. But meanwhile, those unused tools are holding onto real value.
So, here’s the mindset shift: instead of letting unused gear collect dust, let it fuel your next creative step. Sell it. Trade it. Pass it on to someone who’ll actually use it. Then take that cash and get something that you really need right now.
3. Build a Wishlist That Reflects Where You’re Going
Everyone has a wishlist - whether it’s a dream mic, a new preamp, or that one plugin you’ve demoed for a month and would like to finally get. But not all wishlists are created equal. Instead of just filling it with “gear I’d love to have someday,” think about gear that solves a real problem or inspires creativity right now.
Ask yourself:
● What’s missing in my signal chain?
● What slows me down when I’m recording or mixing?
● What’s something I’ve rented or borrowed more than once?
Those answers will reveal what belongs on your wishlist. If you approach it this way, selling a piece of unused gear isn’t about downsizing - it’s about refining. You’re shaping your setup to match who you are as a creator today, not who you were when you first bought that piece of gear.
And often, the money you make from selling unused items will cover a good chunk of something new - so you’re not spending the full amount for the new piece, just reallocating your resources to where they’ll make the most difference. Buying used gear will decrease the costs even further.
The things you really need usually are a lot less exciting than the things you want. Maybe instead of a flashy compressor, you really need a good system for headphone monitoring across the studio, it might even be new cables, new coffee maker or acoustic treatment. It could also be a few nice vocal mics to suit every voice you can encounter. Building and updating a wishlist is an excellent way to keep track of everything, without having to remember everything.
4. The Exception: Musical Instruments
Of course, there are exceptions - and musical instruments are usually one of them. A guitar, a synth, or even a drum set might not get regular use, but they can suddenly become vital when the right project or collaborator comes along. Unlike most studio gear, instruments have personality - and sometimes you just need to wait for the right moment to rediscover it.
Also, good instruments rarely lose their value. A great guitar or quality acoustic instrument can and often does appreciate over time.
So, while it’s smart to be ruthless about the gear you don’t use, don’t feel guilty about holding onto instruments that still inspire you, even if they’re not part of your daily workflow.
5. Keep the Cycle Going
The trick is to make this an ongoing process. Once a year - maybe at the start of a new season, after finishing a big project, or around New Year when you’re naturally in reflection mode - take a day to review your studio setup.
Take a moment to think about:
● What’s earning its place in my workflow?
● What’s just sitting there?
● What would make my creative life easier, faster, or more inspiring right now?
● What’s broken and needs to be replaced?
You’ll be amazed how much clarity this brings. Your gear list should be alive - evolving as your skills, taste, and workflow evolve. When you keep it lean and intentional, every piece you own becomes something you want to use, not just something you have. And the beauty of this process is that you can often make meaningful upgrades without spending a whole lot extra. You’re just trading the old for the new, the unused for the inspiring and keeping your studio fresh and up to date in the process.
6. Your Studio, Evolving With You
Gear should serve you, not the other way around. A yearly check-in keeps your studio efficient, creative, and inspiring. It helps you stay connected to your tools and avoid being weighed down by clutter or indecision. So open that drawer, dust off that mic case, and start asking the hard questions.
You might find that some of the gear you’ve outgrown can pave the way to something that will push your sound even further. At the end of the day, our setups should evolve just like our music does.