It’s just the few extras.
The Joystick, the multiple outs, and a drive circuit that works both ways.
Plus it has a keyboard, and multi map, I wanted to integrate a keyboard into the mix without taking up too much space
First thing I did was getting rid of the laptop in my setup. Then got rid of the mixer: using my soundcard (MOTU UL Mk3) in stand alone mode was key to this.
Got rid of TR-8, Tanzmaus, Novation MiniNova, Deepmind 12, AS-1, Microfreak, Streichfett, Blofeld, Subharmonicon and DFAM. Also sold Mackie 1402VLZ, Midas Venice 160 and a MODEL1.
I then looked at fx pedals (Analog Drive, Doctor A and Specular Tempus) and decided to use my current boxes’ effects though I will not sell these 3 pedals. The reason for not using these at the moment is it seems to give my tracks more “consistency” using the on-board (DT, DN and OT) reverbs/delays overall. And the reason for not selling is I might send a Cue from OT to Doctor A and Specular Tempus to my MOTU. One day 
In the end, I have been happily using and making music with the following setup:
OT as sampler/mangler/mixer/fx box
DT as drum computer
DN for leads, pads, basses, perc, Arp…
DB-01 for lead/bass
Hydrasynth (not sure I will keep it)
FMR RNC at the end of the line to glue it all.
MIDI controller: Kenton Freak Live
As it stands, this is a lot of gear to manage at the same time. Though the logic and workflow behind Elektron boxes being very identical, the muscle memory is less of a brain wreck.
I am really pondering the sale of my Hydrasynth though. Have a Perfourmer waiting to be delivered and will see then what goes or stays.
I could really do with just DN and DB-01 as “synths” plus OT and DT.
What I have learnt so far:
- I love physical mixers (analog) for their versatility and routings but I don’t need one.
- I am keeping my fx boxes/pedals
- Getting rid of the laptop was a game changer
- I like to use on-board sequencers (Elektron and DB-01)
- I HATE cables running all over the place
- Would love to buy again a MIDAS Venice mixer but as it stands, I have only one pair (L/R) going into my MOTU
- Not sure I need an analog poly
- Not attracted by Syntakt (yet) at all
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Wow — appreciate all this detail. Thank you so much for sharing! Out of curiosity, what about pulling the laptop was game changing for you?
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My setup centers around the digitakt and digitone. I also have a zoia, prophet rev2, and Korg prologue. I do also use hainbach’s gauss iPhone app as a field recorder for sampling. For my own music i don’t want to bring the big polys to shows so I only perform with the digis and zoia. My overall philosophy is to use the polysynths through the zoia for effects and then sample into the takt. I try to get the takt to have as much of the music as possible and really mangle the samples. I use the zoia to get either crazy reverbs, Lofi tape sounds, or glitchiness on my sounds as I’m recording them in. I’ll flesh out the rest of the track using the digitone.
I also have another project where I play with a friend. He plays bass and keys. I’ll usually sample some of his bass lines plus he has a Yamaha reface cp we use sometimes. We haven’t played live yet but we’re going to run his bass live through amplitube 5 on my MacBook Pro and also run his vocals through some vst effects. I’m debating bringing the prophet or the prologue to play live as well because I don’t do as many pattern changes and live tweaking on this project’s material so I may want to play some keys on some songs.
Helped a lot with options/choices paralysis.
With the laptop, there is always a latest fw update, a driver update, samples to sort out, a podcast to download… And the YT tutorials 
In the end my attention is now more focused on using the tools at disposal.
I did notice a big change.
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So you can use that interface without a computer? Does it basically become like a mixer, or is there other functionality? I’m curious, because I’ve never used an audio interface without a computer and lately I keep my computer powered off unless I’m recording into it.
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Yes
I use some of the on-board DSP
HPF@14kHz
LPF@30Hz
Little bit of compression
Main goes into a FMR RNC to glue it all.
The only way for the moment is to record to laptop (Reaper) but I am pondering the purchase of a Zomm F3.
Why that specific model exactly? Only stereo in, and while the 32 bit resolution is aces, it’s not really needed for direct in line recording.
I have a Zoom h6 and it’s really nice to have 6 separate tracks (with the add on that converts the stereo mic port into two line ins).
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I had an H4 until now, but have been using the F3 for the past couple of weeks. Form factor, user interface, sense of ruggedness, battery life, USB data transfer - about everything is simpler, more compact and appealing for me on the F3. Also, not having to worry about gain/clipping of the recording is nice. But I had been looking for a new, simple recorder anyway and do not need any integrated microphones.
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This.
And the fact that most of what I do is jamming, I would feel more comfortable recording to one of these rather than the hdd of my old MBP
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I would most likely record to Reaper if I were to mix anything or multitrack. But honestly, as I have found a setup where at the end of the audio chain my signal is as I want to hear it, why bother multitracking to a DAW? Back to square one (for me anyway): which plug-in within the 100s, which EQ, compressor, limiter…
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Regarding the OP: In the Marvel universe, The Collector and The Grandmaster are two different people. 
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There is no optimal sized setup, the right size varies. It depends on lots of things, including the type of music you are making, your process of it, what you want to achieve in terms of sound designing and compositional, and so on. But you can cover a lot with a 4 synth & a drum synth setup.
I don’t like and don’t prefer making music ITB and I kinda make only IDM, so my ideal setup basically would be like this.
AR mk2 - drums/samples
P6 - analog poly synth
Syntakt - digital/analog multitimbral mono synth
Digitone - multitimbral FM
Nord Rack 2 - multitimbral VA
Cirklon
SSL Big Six or Six with patchbay
Empress Reverb - modern reverb
Quadraverb or Midiverb2 - vintage sounding reverb
couple of RNLA/RNC or something analog - utility/limiter/comp/boost
And there may be some optional non-essential collectibles as well.
Machinedrum - its for fun
SH01a / TR-06 / TB03 / JP-08 - classic sounds
Roland MKS-50 / Yamaha TX81Z - vintage rack synths
AFX Station
Just wanted to follow up here to thank everyone who contributed to this thread, really appreciate the recommendations shared and it feels great to see a community come to the support of a relative newcomer like myself, it means more than you know. Thanks again, and happy synthesizing!
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