Topic: Synths & Hardware

Hey all, inspired by the article on Tom Holkenborg on this here site, I'm wondering if there are any other synth nerds in our community?

If so... What's your current set up? What's next for your collection? What kind of sound do you like making?

I've got a small rig at the moment- Elektron Digitakt, Volca Bass, Volca Keys, Oberheim OB-12- and am saving up for an Analog Four MkII.

I've no idea how to define what sound I like making- it depends what mood I'm in, but it ranges from bleepy ambient to deep house to awful noise.

Let me know what stuff you're into!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=J3SLAYjF9VA

Can you do this?

I lived with a French guy for a few years who had a brilliant set up. Loved listen to him jam on it.

I used to faff around a little bit with music production when I was at school but I never had any hardware, just a MIDI keyboard and I used to play into Reason or Ableton.

To be honest I always regret not learning how to play the piano because I was really into the production side but I never really had the musical talent to take it any further.

I like to think (!) I have pretty good taste in this genre but I haven't got it in me to try and make music myself, I'll leave it to others haha

I'm a big Boards of Canada fan, I'd absolutely love to see them live. I don't think they've done a show for 20 years now.

@kyleforrester87 That Byetone tune is pretty cool- hadn't heard it before. It's not a million miles away from the stuff I make (not saying I'm as good, though) and it sounds like it was made from a load of modular synths. And Boards of Canada- absolutely amazing. Tomorrow's Harvest on 12" is where it's at!

@get2sammyb I think a lot of people would argue you don't need to learn to play an instrument to make electronic music. I'd argue that you need some knowledge of theory but it shouldn't stop people creating. You should get back into it if you can; I had a few years off and realised there was a massive hole in my life. Now I'm slowly building up a collection again.

@Mergatro1d

https://m.youtube.com/watch?t=145s&v=lPii-u9ilRM

Not sure if you know Proem but you might get a kick out of this. Another of my absolute favourites. Would be good to hear anything you've made if you have any online.

I like this:

@Wesker that's..something else :')

@kyleforrester87 That Proem stuff's great. Again, new to me but I really like what I've just listened to.

I've got a couple of tracks on Soundcloud, not that I'm overly happy with either. They were both recorded as live jams direct into my laptop so sound a bit ropey, but caveats aside feel free to take a listen. I'm hoping to put more up soon as I've progressed a lot with my new gear since then.

@Wesker Cool. Not my kind of thing but each to their own. The world would be a dull place if we all liked the same things! Do you make music as well??

@Mergatro1d ive got reason 9, a superpowered laptop, mic, monitor cans and the only synth I use is an mc303. Im extremely adept having made 150+ tunes. Only recently bought the official reason stuff license. Made a remix of Loving it loving it loving it. Will set up a soundcloud but keep getting side tracked.

@themcnoisy Yes, set up a Soundcloud and share some tracks! Love the MC303- my brother had one years ago and it was first groovebox I ever played.

@themcnoisy which monitor cans do you use? I've got a decent pair of Genelec monitors but need some good headphones for when the little ones are asleep.

@Mergatro1d Nice! You should make some music for video games.

Are you a fan of Disasterpeace (Fez & Hyper Light Drifter)?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jzIZym4MrUo

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=t5z3by6asWQ

@Mergatro1d Sennheiser 280s. I did my homework before buying them. Easily worth the money. Whats weird now using them is the invisible sound clarity like the smallest breath or resonance of say a hihat on a drum, you end up editing more on stuff no one would ever hear anyway. Will try to post some stuff in the next week, if only I didnt game.

Ive recently done a ff7 remix, its almost done but I need some help with the end results.

Great topic!
I'm just about to upgrade to Reason 10....
I also use an MPC 1000 and a bunch of old synths like Yamaha cs1x, a couple of different grooveboxes (including the 303) and a nasty old Korg analog that likes to slip out of tune after an hour or so!
I'm currently setting up a new studio space and really need some good monitor speakers, and probably a new mixer but that's about it (....sure it is, sure...)
Haven't done anything for a while, moved into new flat in August, but only been here for about 3 weeks in October - in fact I only got back from a 5 week tour on Sunday, so after all the Xmas/new year UK gigs are finished I'm looking forward to some studio shenanigans in January.

@CountFunkula78 what stuff do you play mate? Or more apt is whats your band name?

@CountFunkula78 yeah sure, just some monitors and a new mixer and the collection will be complete. I know that feeling, it lasts all of 2 minutes 😄

@themcnoisy those cans look just what I need. Feel a Christmas present to myself coming on.

@themcnoisy
I play guitar as my main instrument, but I know my way around most noise-making devices (except flute, don't know what it is but I've never managed to get a sound out of one, despite many attempts I've never got the hang of the embouchre)
I don't currently have a band as such, I play a lot of wedding/function/corporate type gigs with one main band called Nexus, and dep for a couple of others. I DJ under the name Count Funkula (funk, soul, light hip hop when I can get away with it), and occasionally do solo gigs on baritone acoustic/vocals under my real name. I'm not like 'famous' or anything!
My electronic music making is really an escape from all that stuff and although I took it seriously back in the 90s, these days it mostly provides a musical release and source of creativity away from my 'day job', so I don't really try to monetise, promote or organise it too much. Having said that, I'm really into vaporwave at the moment... The whole dubstep movement left me a bit cold (can't work out how you're supposed to dance to it...), but I also love DnB, Acid Techno and anything with hard or nasty bass.

@Mergatro1d
Tell me about it! Notice I said the mixer and monitors are things I 'really need'...better not to get into the stuff that just 'looks fun' or just vaguely want!

@Mergatro1d finally had the chance to listen to yoir tracks. Boss tunes mate, make my tracks sound like pop music in comparison!