Hi,
Up until early this year, I was doing quite abit of experimenting with ableton, reason et cetera. I packed it in because of the extreme frustration and tediousness (Is that a word?) of moving windows, clicking here and there and the whole shabang. Now I want a hardware setup.
I don't know much about the hardware aspect yet though ive a fair idea. I just need clarification on some things. I know that I will need a synth, monitors, drum machine et cetera. What else do I need? A delay unit, reverb??
Basically, im not really sure yet what kind of sound im after. At the moment I just want to experiment.
Ive listened to some samples from the Nord X2 and liked the sound. How does something like the Nord compare to the virus?
Will I be able to do the bass, melody and synthy pad sounds with just one of these synths?
Also, Where can I go to get some decent reviews on this stuff? I want to get user opinions though just as much. (Can't always trust them reviews!)
For mixing down, what do you think? Software, Hardware. Id be willing to go software with this due to a preconcieved notion in my head that equalizers and mixing desks cost a bomb. What are my options here...I would much prefer to go hardware.
Looking forward to reponses,
Cheers.
Going to start building a hardware studio.
-
credit_agro
- mnml newbie
- Posts: 65
- Joined: Wed Nov 29, 2006 3:28 pm
- Location: Ireland
-
MarcAshken
- mnml mmbr
- Posts: 400
- Joined: Sat May 14, 2005 3:37 pm
virus is the ultimate, i have a nord lead 2 and a virus c and the virus shits all over the nord. Drum machine wise i'd recommend a machinedrum, i bought one a month or so back and its easily my favourite piece of kit, so user friendly and the sounds it produces are fat, www.machinedrum.com. Check sound on sounds website for reviews, i think its at www.sospubs.com, might be .co.uk though. dont get a external fx unit, its just hassle, but if u must i'd recommend the lexicon mpx1, got everything u could ever need on there. I'd also look into getting a desk and patchbay too, so that ur totallly versatile in your routing options. You think software is a ballache, wait till u get goin with the hard lol. Good luck man
Marc
Marc
OK, you'll need:
- synths. Not only one probably, as each synth has its own sound, you'll quickly want different ones.
- a sampler
- various vintage pieces of gear
- a mixing desk
- monitors!
- a computer (sequencing+recording)
- some FX boxes
- patches (audio and MIDI)
- racks and stands
- a truckload of wires
- big money
- ...
Hint: don't buy everything at once. Learn to know the hardware. It's a long process. Don't believe the hype.
Good luck!
- synths. Not only one probably, as each synth has its own sound, you'll quickly want different ones.
- a sampler
- various vintage pieces of gear
- a mixing desk
- monitors!
- a computer (sequencing+recording)
- some FX boxes
- patches (audio and MIDI)
- racks and stands
- a truckload of wires
- big money
- ...
Hint: don't buy everything at once. Learn to know the hardware. It's a long process. Don't believe the hype.
Good luck!
get ready to spend some money...its fun!
check out the retroverb or mono machine (elecktron)
http://www.vintagesynth.com/ this works for looking at reviews of lots of hardware...
check out the retroverb or mono machine (elecktron)
http://www.vintagesynth.com/ this works for looking at reviews of lots of hardware...
-
credit_agro
- mnml newbie
- Posts: 65
- Joined: Wed Nov 29, 2006 3:28 pm
- Location: Ireland
Just going to write down my initial thoughts here based on the replies.
Im still in the dark on some stuff here.
1. Ok, so...Virus or Nord as main synth (Just one synth would
have to do starting off). Will look into this and keep an eye on ebay!
2. An elektron machine drum.
3. FX unit (what generally do you get with these? Is this
option better than seperate delay, distortion units etc.?
MarcAshken: Why not get hardware FX? Do you do your FX on a PC?)
4. Whats a patchbay and why would I need one?
5. Im not sure about a sampler for now. When I was using
the PC before I always preferred to record my own midi and
program my own drums. May look into it again in the future
but for now its no longer a thought.
6. Monitors - Have to look into reviews.
7. Computer or hardware sequencer? How much is a good hardware
sequencer?
8. Big question here. If I have for example 18 tracks
recorded for a tune and I want to sequence, would I not need
a sequencer with tons of knobs or how do you do this?
And then, if I want to mix down, equalise and stuff with hardware, what do I record the tracks onto
to route through a mixing desk?
And finally, how will I manage automation?
Cheers.
Im still in the dark on some stuff here.
1. Ok, so...Virus or Nord as main synth (Just one synth would
have to do starting off). Will look into this and keep an eye on ebay!
2. An elektron machine drum.
3. FX unit (what generally do you get with these? Is this
option better than seperate delay, distortion units etc.?
MarcAshken: Why not get hardware FX? Do you do your FX on a PC?)
4. Whats a patchbay and why would I need one?
5. Im not sure about a sampler for now. When I was using
the PC before I always preferred to record my own midi and
program my own drums. May look into it again in the future
but for now its no longer a thought.
6. Monitors - Have to look into reviews.
7. Computer or hardware sequencer? How much is a good hardware
sequencer?
8. Big question here. If I have for example 18 tracks
recorded for a tune and I want to sequence, would I not need
a sequencer with tons of knobs or how do you do this?
And then, if I want to mix down, equalise and stuff with hardware, what do I record the tracks onto
to route through a mixing desk?
And finally, how will I manage automation?
Cheers.