Electro, gothic, noise, darkwave from the Side-Line
Like the title says, what hardware is most useful to you for everything you work on. And no the computer doesn't count.
For me right now I can't live without these units.
Akai S6000,
E-mu MP-7,
Sony MXP-390 mixer,
Chroma Polaris,
Kawai K3,
Casio VZ-1,
patchbays (3), yes I would be screwed without them!
This is my current studio setup until I find a permanent residence. I also have a rack of outboard processors.
every purchase was planned and i intentionally limit what i can have until i feel i've truly plumbed the depths of what i already own
Allen & Heath ZED14 its my mixer and 2 channel audio interface.
Future Retro XS, patch panel Tom Oberheim SEM, Waldorf Microwave XT. each are essential and there is zero overlap for the most part with the exception of very simple typical mono-synth sounds but even then.. depending on the sound.. i'll have a preference... regardless the XS controls the SEM so is always used when analog sounds are being utilized
eventide - eclipse .. my digital work horse. i use it for processing signal before it is recorded and after.. and i use it for every possible use.. comp, eq, verb, delay, chorus, pre-amp, amp sim, distortion and everything in between
StudioLogic VMK 176+ .. controller keyboard.. excellent keybed and action.. its tough and feels great to play... i really like the after touch but it isn't polyphonic and you can't change what cc the after touch uses.. which would be nice for controlling the filters on my analogs since the XS only recognizes cc from 1 (other than velocity) which is typically modhweel
soillodge
offlineTech Moderator
I don't have any really special recording gear. I can do pretty much anything with software now. I do have to say my Noise Swash is invaluable. It put just the right spin on everything when i use it. The Monotribe and Noiseswash together make the most interesting, chaotic, and original sounds I have ever heard. Really have been able to speed up my production process with those two pieces. Everything I have been doing lately has been with the DSI Mopho & the swash.tribe mixup.
`michael
i love all my kids.
I'm finding more love for my Art PRO MPA II lately. Today I tried something I haven't done before which is using it to process the percussion submix for one of my tracks in production.
This MPA has had it's stock tubes changed out for dirty old tubes I scavenged from an old military intercom system out of an old barracks scheduled for demolition. One channel is an 12AT7 and the other a 12AU7. Both channels are patched in series with my JBL/Urei Model 7110s set for limiting at roughly +4 dB and the whole thing run from the Sony MXP-390 group inserts. The MPA channels are running with Gain on 3 and Output level at +6 with the Plate Voltage switches on Hi. It sounds really good! I can adjust the Gain for more drive and the 7110s limit the result allowing me to totally drive the hell out of the tubes if I want.
With low to moderate drive I get a mix that blends all the various percussion tracks together in such a manner that it no longer sounds like individual samples and loops juxtaposed against each other. It is thick and cohesive with some good grit. Adding drive makes it grittier but more mushy.
Turning the Plate Voltage switches to Lo tends to also make some mush and also compresses the dynamics significantly giving a strong Lo-Fi vibe. This sounds pretty nice if I bypass the 7110s and boost the treble on the mixer, otherwise it is too compressed and furry for me.
For fun I began to un-mute more tracks, the bass, noise FX, synths, etc. etc. and was pretty pleased with how most of the entire mix sounded through this setup. I could get used to this sound!
can you can't live without gear you had for about a month?
i started a rather small modular, 4 modules, malekko oscillator and borg 2 filter/LPG, makenoise maths and moddemix (VCA, Ringmod, AM, Sideband...), powered by tiptop uzeus i think i chose wisely, each module can perform at least two functions, and sometimes even more (especially the maths), each day i find new uses for them, like i have limitless possibilities with a definite set of jacks.
borg 2 sounds dirty and wicked as a filter, and makes impossibly big kicks in LPG mode
on the other hand, i am thinking about selling my virus b and kp3, don't need, or use them that much anymore
my sampler battery (esi32, mirage, es-2) stays where it is though.
And definitely the most overlooked but completely indispensable hardware ever has just arrived in my mail today. Two packages of 17 inch balanced patch cables for my patch bays. Yes I am free at last! Now I can make these ideas in my head translate to the hardware!
TB-303
OTO Biscuit
Arturia Origin
Tube-Tech MEC 1a
Tube-Tech SMC-2B
Millenia STT1
Millenia NSEQ2
and TC VoicePro
to name the most used in our setup
vx cheerleader 69
offlineMember
zoom H4N
boss RC-50
e-bow
monotron
EHX memory man
@vx cheerleader 69, e-bow? no shit? I admit I don't know anything besides Don't Fear the Reaper where it is used to good effect but would love to hear some other good examples of it's usage. Which tracks of yours do you use it in?
BTW I *really* freaking, LOVE your sound! Seriously raunchy but well written goodness!!!! And you use Toms in your beats! Fucking lovely through and through!
Oh yeah, another lame post from me (caLL The PC nazIs Quick). The Art PRO MPA II is getting a review soon (damn thing rocks like fuck). I'll put it on my site as soon as I get done the new HP9 track.
vx cheerleader 69
offlineMember
@ Hollowman : I didn't know an e-bow was used on "don't fear the reaper". Actually I use mine only with my ambient/psych/ritual project Cheerleader 69, combined with my rc-50 looper, to create layered soundscapes mostly influenced by the works of Robert Fripp or Richard Pinhas (Heldon). They don't use a e-bow, but it's the only way for me to obtain that kind of crystaline infinite feedback. I don't think there are any studio tracks of mine around there in which you can hear it, but here's some live stuff in which most of the background drones result from my e-bowed guitar :
| [+] Embed the video | Get the Video Player |
| [+] Embed the video | Get the Video Player |
As you can hear, this is very different music from my usual Punish Yourself output. When I write/record PY tracks, I almost don' use any hardware. I'm trying to change that, I'm getting sick of virtuality, but old habits die hard...
@ vx cheerleader 69
Full-screen this and watch from 3:00 to 3:35 or so. Don't watch Buck but the guitarist all the way on the left side. I've seen them use the ebow live everytime they did this song without intentionally wrecking it for fun.
| [+] Embed the video | Get the Video Player |
I like how you employed it in your material too. Really quite mesmerizing and ethereal. At times it sounds almost like a flute or other woodwind. Neato!
Regarding virtuality I understand. Been trying to get off the needle myself lately. The new track I am working on now began in the PC went to the hardware and now due to some technical issues I have to take it back to the PC in order to get it done without further delays. Grrrr! I used to do this all the time back in the 90s I'll get re-acclimated once I can get the studio setup properly. My current living situation is temporary so I'm working with half the gear I am used to now.
vx cheerleader 69
offlineMember
Nice version by BöC ! I'm not familiar with their latest live stuff, I have to admit it. I'm a huge fan since my childhood but lost a lot of interest at some point... Anyway, I'm quite excited about seeing them live for the first time (@ Hellfest in June). I was pretty sure on the "old" versions there was no e-bow involved, but now I have serious doubts about it, ha ha (on the opposite, the most used (and overused) exemple of e-bow use is Bowie's "Heroes"... But there's no e-bow on it at all ! Just Rober Fripp controling his guitar feedback by moving towards and backwards his amp)
@vx cheerleader 69 I've been seeing BOC live for the past few years at the Virginia Beach summer boardwalk series and they are really rockin' for old dudes. You will likely enjoy their show quite alot. They have most of the old line-up back in play and when they jam on Cities Aflame with Rock and Roll or Godzilla it is something of serious magnitude to experience. They are all world class musicians and it is humbling and really impressive to hear them jam out.
I took my stepson and a bunch of his jaded little teenager friends a few summers ago and their 15 minute Godzilla jam blew these kids away hard core. They are still raving about it!
I was happy because they actually did The Last Days of May which is my all time fav from them. I thought I would die without ever hearing that track live lol!
Yeah the amp-feedback-dance works pretty good too. The very 1st band I was in and my 1st experience with music, involved a guitar, 10 pedals and a Roland JC-30 amp. I couldn't play the guitar worth a damn but what I got from the feedback and the pedals was insane. Fripp was doing that sort of thing long before me but I didn't know better at the time and felt the inspiration from thinking I was being unique LOL!!!
Yeah another unnecessary posting but I mentioned it so here it is.
| [+] Embed the video | Get the Video Player |
Honestly, I can die now since I finally got to hear this live.
You must log in to post.
