I am buying a 22 channel soundcraft signature mixer that has multitrack recording so I can run all of my gear into ableton and record into individual tracks at once (pretty awesome analog mixer). For $800 I think its a steal. I currently have a small 8 channel behringer mixer that I can swap gear out for whatever I want to use at the moment. What mixer do you use? What mixer do you suggest? Also, what kind of features are good for modular set ups.
Honestly, I would like to all of my gear to be one big happy family with my modular system(s). I currently have 4 volcas and a dreadbox hades, however, by the end of october I will have a roland tr8, dreadbox erebus, make noise 0coast, my 4 volcas, the dreadbox hades, korg minilogue, and one moog mother 32 (I'll start with one voice and buy more if it is worth it). so yeah, I want them all to work together with the modular system. The dreadbox units, mother 32, and the make noise all have patch points as you already probably know. Do you think that is possible?ysWhat do you think I need to interface with the gear? Any recommendations other than that? My plan is to have everything running at once on the 22 channel mixer. I know it seems like A LOT of equipment with the modular but I am taking this serious and want to go live. Obviously I wont take all the gear live but my show will always be different. So I think I understand what you are asking... I want for example one of the synths to run into the maths, right? What do you think?
I am not sure I undertand this question? can you please kind of elaborate.. sorry, I am an airhead:) its kind of late here too.
So this answers five as well... I currently have one beatstep pro - connected to the beatstep pro I have a midi solutions quadra through that has one midi in and four midi out. At the moment I have the volca beat, volca keys, and volca bass being sequenced by the beatstep pro. The volca sample is also connected to the midi through box which allows it to receive clock from the beat step pro. So even though I could sync the volcas through ttheir own inputs, I do all the clocking from this midi through box. I going to buy either one or two more midi through boxes or a bigger midi interface for all the gear to connect to my beatstep. Also, I am going to buy a second beatstep pro to control more gear as I absolutely love the machine. It is such a big powerhouse of sequencing - so motivating and insprining to use. I am sure you know this, but the beat step pro has usb connection that comes with a splitter that I use for the computer connection and to power the unit, it has clock in and out, midi in and out, 8 drum gate outputs, and two sequencer CV outs that have their own velocity, gate, and pitch outputs (I LOVE THIS MACHINE:). so the beatstep can control the eurorack system. What do you think of that setup? Any recommendations or ideas?
I know this was a long winded response to it all but I am super excited to get this going. I started djing electronic music 22 years ago, started producing in the box roughly 10 years ago and now I am taking the plunge and going to straight instruments trying to stay away from the computer. If I do use the computer I will temporarily use it to trigger samples with a novation launchpad. Also will use computer to record in ableton and post production. Needless to say this is going to be quite the journey for me as I want to release music and play it live as well.
I appreciate your help and feedback on thiis as you have taken the time to answer my questions. Thank you in advance for a response to my answers.
Last thing - I will list all of my gear so you have a better idea.. this is all of the gear that I am planning to have by the end of october
- Volca Sample, Keys, Bass, and Beats - MAYBE the FM
- Dreadbox Hades
- Dreadbox Erebus
- Soundcraft Signature 22 Multitrack Analog Mixer
- Roland TR 8
- Two Arturia Beatstep Pros
7, Make Noise 0Coast, no coast whatever - Korg Minilogue
- Moog Mother 32
- Some kind of TB303 box (Possibly the Roland TB 3 becuase its inexpensive) - If i decide tto spend some money I will get the abstrakt instruments avalon bassline for like $1k USD. I played with it and it is hands down the closest to the real thing in my opinion.
- Still need to buy speakers as I am borrowing my friends cheap $100 for the pair m audio speakers. Thinking about picking up a pair of yamaha hs5. I am in an apartment with thin walls so I want nice small speakers that I can use as reference with mixing and mastering. Most of my recording, jamming, etc will be done with headphones... I am going to get a couple pairs of headphones (Sennheiser HD series, Beyer Dynamics dt880 or 990, and possibly one other pair.
- 2015 13 inch macbook pro 8gb ram
- 3 tb g-tech thunder Hard drive
- Headphone amp (need suggestions for this one) I will need one with multiple outs as I will be doing a solo act as well as a duo with one of my buddies. I know it will kill my ears but I want to be able to jam out loud with headphones. Maybe get a subpac to feel the bass:)
- I may get an elektron octatrack for sampling as I love using samples. I hear they are the best. A bit pricey and difficult to master, but great piece of gear nonetheless.
I think that's pretty much it... I know its a ton of spending on my part but i have allocated the money for this and am taking it seriously. It's been a good year with work so the funds are available fortunately. I don't plan to become famous doing this, but I want to share my 20+ years of electronic music experience with the world and just see what happens.
This little modular thing will just be the beginning after I put together all of the other gear. I am going to buy this one row then eventually start expanding it over the next few years, eventually building a big rack to integrate with my system. I am also planning to start a meet up group where I live for those that want to join and meet to jam out on their modulars.
Wow, I just wrote an essay. Hopefully you or someone else takes the time to read and give advice and feedback.
Thanks!!:)