Live/Studio setup suggestions

Rics · 2014-07-15T09:39:57.000Z

Hi guys, recently i’ve sold all my software licenses (VST instruments and effects) to switch into an almost complete hardware setup.

Currently i kept NI Maschine (using as drums sequencer & sending master clock), Numerology Pro 3 (to use with eventual future Modular stuff) and Ableton Live 9 (to record and arrange tracks).

My actual hardware devices are Monomachine mk2 (owning since a few weeks and i love it), Microbrute, AN200 and a selfbuilt SammichSID (mainly for studio purpose, can’t be really tweaked live without some midi controller stuff).

I successfully managed to have Maschine sending clock to Monomachine and AN200 with Monomachine sending notes to Microbrute.

My goal is to have a computerless live setup, using computer only in studio.

I’m watching for Octatrack, Analog4 or AnalogRytm, but i don’t know which one of these would fit better into my current hardware setup.
I tought also about an Access Virus, i’ve seen a nice used deal…

The AN200 suffer a bit of sync problems, then to going deep into synthesis you’ve to use an old WinXP only yamaha editor and it’s a PITA to work with.
Microbrute, despite sounds great is fairly limited and i’ve to route through a midiverb to get a bit of space from it.

On a first stage i tought about the Octatrack as Maschine replacement for live jam, but then i’ve seen also the Rytm videos and hey, that machine features new improvements that are really interesting, but i don’t know if it can act as live hub controlling other machines.
As AN200 replacement i tought about the Analog4 or Virus TI2. The first seems to sound superb, have the renowed Elektron sequencer but only 4 tracks, instead, the Virus TI lacks sequencer but can give an infinite sonic palette with multiple parts, more than the Analog 4.

Making a recap, actually i’ve to make a choice, between two points:

Start immediatly for a computerless live setup buying an Octatrack (or another “hub” capable device).
Continue, for the moment, with an hybrid system having Maschine with laptop as central hub, and improve synthesis side replacing AN200/Microbrute with a Virus TI or a Rytm or Analog4.

What you think about it? Any suggestion, experiences, point of views?

Sorry for the long post.

Rics

SB-SIX · 2014-07-15T10:01:05.000Z

I think the OT is the best choice to start with, although you could start sequencing other gear with the monomachine too.

The AR cannot function as a hub. With the OT you’d have sampling covered and midi sequencing. You can use the OT as x0x drumcomputer quite nicely.
OT and monomachine is already a very powerful combination.

If you’d like to add more, get something with a shitload of knobs. The virus has knobs, but something like a nord rack (2, 3, 4, a1) has a more dedicated interface. In a live situation, every second counts, and having to menu-dive is not an option. The nord also has 4 part multitimbrality, meaning you can play/sequence 4 polyphonic midi channels from the OT. But I think it is wise to keep it as small as possible in a live rig, reducing the chance of problems with connecting and playing the devices

bluewolfse7en · 2014-07-15T10:12:11.000Z

What SB-Six says

Rics · 2014-07-15T10:40:54.000Z

Thank you for the reply and inputs SB-SIX.
Yes, probably using samples i can start from Octatrack and later, to improve, i could add other gear like A4, AR, Virus TI or something else.
It’s also right your live point of view, the less, the more.

About the knobs i’m thinking also about Encoders vs Pots, you know, with mutitimbrality one thing is to use Knobs that don’t remember position for each part, another thing is an encoder always ready, so a choice could be betweeen A4 and NL3.
I hate my AN200 shared knobs for filter and amp envelopes, i have always to use shift and rememember original position to don’t get drastic sound changes, also when switching between patches.

SB-SIX · 2014-07-15T11:22:56.000Z

Hmm, good point. I like the “accidents” that happen with the pots of my NL4 in a live act but I can imagine it’s not what you want. The nl3 has the better interface, but the A4 has the built-in FX. When FX are an important part of your patch, you most likely would like to save it with that patch.

jeffe · 2014-07-15T18:02:45.000Z

If keeping maschine, I would go all computer. Forget trying to sync hardware. It might not be the hardware’s fault.

If you do want to go hardware and you like the maschine, get an mpc (old one - hardware - not the 5000). there has never been a better midi sequencer. and you get basic sampling (or very powerful sampling if you go jjos).

I would not worry about the computer editor for the an200 (hassle) and either commit to learning it deeply, or pass it and the brute on and go for something immediate and huge like a virus, nord, or moog, or even anlog 4 - though I hesitate to say all of that when you’ve already got a monomachine. Maybe keep the brute and the mono - that sounds plenty sufficient.

Either way - its all up to you. Maybe think less about integrating the whole system 100% together and just use the components separately a little looser and use your own judgement to make it sound good. Even one keyboard for live sounds + an entire computer setup is pretty nice.

Rics · 2014-07-16T12:20:28.000Z

Hi Jeffe,
well, till i had Maschine sending clock to the Monomachine no hiccups or latencies were happened.
Honestly i stressed the Maschine-> Monomachine-> AN200-> Minibrute “only” for a couple of hours and i didn’t had problems.
The only thing was about the AN200 that seemed not receiving the restart trig. At stop and restart, Maschine and the MM restarted from seq step 1, AN200 ignored and restarted from the last step where it stopped (eg: step 9).
Dunno, maybe i’ve to check some midi settings on it…

About the AN200 editor, well, i’ve a mac laptop, so i’ve to start a virtual machine with win xp loaded, then start the yamaha XG editor (an200 editor is only available for this discontinued daw) and switch my Motu828 from OSX os to the virtual XP os. You can understand that’s a PITA.
I know well the AN200, it could be a nice synth if only all the “hidden” parameters, available only through the editor, could be easily accessible.

A nice setup could be OT+MM+Virus TI/A4

The Virus TI could be really useful in studio matched with Maschine and the other Elektrons, OT & MM.

Patience and savings. I’ll “only” need time to learn deeply both MM and OT