Heavy Jupiter Core sounds like a pretty cool new genre of music.
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The internet says the core of Jupiter is fuzzy, so that informs a sonic direction.
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The problem I’ve run into with using a DN2 for this is that the op1f crashes too much, though I’m using usbc-to-b and doing both audio/midi.
I was already thinking it’s a sub-sub-genre of atmospheric black metal, this confirms it.
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that can be irritating.
just in case, teenages have released a lot of updates and fixes for the op1f recently, maybe things got better.
also, did you try another cable? (or a proper native one with A → C adapter), sometimes it is the culprit
I need to replace the furnace/AC in my condo, so I feel obligated to sell some gear. Honestly, everything besides my mastering rig feels like a luxury right now. I’m planning to let go of two of the following:
- Roland TR-1000
- MKSREC1
- Elektron Tonverk
- TE OP-XY
At this point, I’m leaning toward selling the TR-1000 and the Tonverk.
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Octatrack, digitakt 1 and Digitone 1, motor synth mkii, oxi one, Analog Heat FX.
Still a few things to go. Xone DB4, polyend play. Contemplating Analog 4 mkii and rytm mkii.
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nice, sounds like a good purge!
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Thinking of downsizing to TR1000, Digitone2 and ableton with serum/omnisphere
don’t downsize, build bigger cupboards
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I highly considered going down this route - in fact I was 99% about to do it last month as my home studio and desk is far too cluttered, especially as I am (or rather was) a minimal type in terms of aesthetics and environment.
Many years ago I found an Apogee 32 input 32 output interface on eBay for a ridiculous price which is probably the root of my problem and journey in terms of going further down the rabbit hole with regards to cabling, patchbay, (insert other crap) and worse of all a ridiculous amount of troubleshooting over the years. In a nutshell this one device put me into a costly “set everything up mentality” which I have only just completed to my satisfaction after years of slowly adding / subtracting etc however many times I was tempted to downgrade the interface, put all hardware in cupboards and select 2 or 3 devices at a time like yourself.
It was only the last few days where I reorganised everything, stopped changing DAWs, built better DAW templates, messed with MIDI routing etc that I am finally happy with it all setup at once, however I still plan to focus more heavily on a few things at a time but knowingly have the ability to insert any combo of gear with a click.
If I started again I honestly would have done things a lot simpler but it’s been fun which is what it is all about. Sometimes I think I enjoy more the setup /configuring / learning / engineering side of the audio game then the music making!
I will see how I get on productivity wise and review in the summer as I am kind of mentally in last chance saloon with regards to all this gear and my actual output. I don’t have any pressure to downgrade, more of a conscious justification in my head rather than anything else.
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Here’s my experience with patchbays: I had one in my main setup and I never used it. The second one was with my outboard rack and I maybe plugged into it twice over the last few years. Both were setup so I’d have “flexibility” around the studio, but honestly, they only served to add more shit to my setup. So, I got rid of both of them. Now I have kilos upon kilos of cables and bunch of gear to sell.
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Yeah I hear you. Mine is currently being used mainly for Sampling - i.e. selecting which hardware is going into my MPC or M8. Of course I could do it directly but the bulk of my hardware is on a Jaspers stand not close to the desk. I also have a new bit of Outboard so patching hardware into that for tracking.
However I must admit it’s only the last few weeks ive actually been doing this frequently and previously it was just unpatched with hardware normaled into the Audio I/O which was a bit pointless then.
Three thoughts here:
I think this is pretty much universal: more gear means less focus on going deep, and creative rewards are often found in those deeper moments. This has more to do with discipline than total ownership - just because you own lots of gear doesn’t mean you can’t pick one at a time and go deep.
I wouldn’t sell gear that I have a good use for unless I needed the money. Selling gear you don’t connect with emotionally though? Totally fair and will usually feel good.
Just take some time to land on the decision before selling. Case in point: I was so close to selling the Ableton Move the other week, but with this week’s updates, I’m now interested in taking it for another spin. Would I have bought it again if I had already sold it? Maybe not, but it’s nice that I can now unbox it again and explore it.
I don’t read this as shallowness - what you’re expressing is a desire to share your creative process and output with like-minded people. What gear you use matters there.
But the most important thing is whether your passion is shining though. If you’re chosing gear not because you love using them but because you assume others expect you to, you run the risk of losing part of what brought you to this creative expression in the first place.
So, focus on the gear that gives you the most joy and everything else will take care of itself.
One last thought: consider what your goals are with your creative output. Especially when putting the time to channel that on YouTube, which anyone more distanced from it will probably not realize is a lot more effort than it might seem. Only if it gets to the core of your inner passion will you be able to enjoy it long term, even when spending 40+ hours on a tutorial that few people ended up watching.
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Thanks for all the thoughtful comments, everyone!
I have now put all my gear in their boxes and stowed them away, except for the Digitone 2. Not to sell, but to stop me from spreading myself too thin by making them less accessible. One of the things I found extremely liberating about going from FL Studio to the Digitakt 1 was that it was so limited but lightning fast in comparison. Choice paralysis was non-existent and I felt incredibly clever when using LFOs and p-locks to “add” features I was missing (like fake ping-pong). I think I’ve gotten to the point that choice paralysis has crept into my hardware setup.
I talk a lot on discord with a friend about modular, and I found myself reaching for patch cables to try out ideas every now and then. With it packed away (for now) I can instead try those ideas on the Digitone 2 
I also have a few ideas I want to try on the Digitakt 2, but I don’t have to do it immediately. I think I could benefit from slowing down and forcing myself to stick to one instrument for a bit.
Octatrack is still up for sale, and I sold the Livetrak L6. The rest are just in their boxes. Time to take a deep dive into the Digitone 2.
I made a track yesterday with the DN2 after packing away my other gear
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I have nothing to add, but you were already doing some great stuff a long time ago, from time to time I relisten your Digitakt one note bass tune (Digitakt sketch #29 if I remember correctly). So yeah maybe going back to focusing on one machine is a great idea
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I’ve been subbed to your YouTube for a while… completely subjective I know, but, musically (not watching for YouTube’s sake), your Octatrack based tracks have always been my favourites and stand up most on their own.
I have a similar circular relationship with the OTmk2, but it’s unlike anything else, brilliant at its best, and doesn’t have an obvious sonic signature.
Whereas whenever I hear DN2 only music I immediately hear its sonic signature. 
Personally, I’d keep the OT. 
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Thanks a lot, man! I love the results I’m getting out of my OT, I just struggle with it every time I use it. I have tried selling it once before, but there were no buyers for two months so I kept it after all. If it doesn’t sell this time either, then it’s a sign and I’m keeping it forever. If I DO sell it, I’ll finally be one step closer to actually understanding it when I buy it again for the third time 
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