100%. The last thing I want to do when I’m feeling musically-inspired or creative is to juggle connections to record different parts.
I’m in the last category of the OP—multiple synths at once—although I only want as much gear as I can learn well and use.
I admire people who can blast out this amazing music with only one or two Elektron boxes, but that isn’t what comes naturally to me. I like having access to multiple synths that I know well, and using them together as my collective “voice.” I can actually work faster that way and get sonic results I like better, because every instrument is doing what it does best. It’s like correctly casting the character actors in an old movie—there’s no point trying to force Sidney Greenstreet to play the part that Peter Lorre is perfect for.
I can’t keep all the synths I like connected, it’s a small room—but most of it is ready to go, and the leftovers are one shelf away.
In recent years I went through a lot of experimenting and did end up with more stuff than I needed or could afford, which doesn’t feel good. I’m now gradually selling it off and that will be a relief when the rig is slimmer.
4 Likes
1 at a time here 
1 Like
This. Except for live shows I prefer 2, max 3 machines.
3 Likes
Here’s the EZbot YouTube video I had in mind… it’s a recording of a live stream so pretty long. But I think Matt (EZBot) has a considered and thoughtful approach to making music so he’s always worth a listen IMO.
https://www.youtube.com/live/GUusjErOMR4?si=GYqaqX1yXGl1DI9W
He also revisits the same theme here:
https://www.youtube.com/live/C-G_pl75poM?si=fjvvaF2F_qPEL_du
2 Likes
Same here. I love my Digitone but I don’t feel any joy in trying to cram a full-sounding song into 4 tracks. I love the drum sounds it makes, but I’ll always sample bits off to free some space, leaving only the parts I prefer to mutate live in the box.
Regarding the general question, I was given some great advice early on, and once I had 3 sound-making devices, the fourth thing I bought was a patch bay (and lots of cables), which simplifies signal routing quite a bit.
3 Likes
On my desk I have my primary pieces, the Digitakt, Digitone and Syntakt, along with my “secondary” pieces, a Circuit Mono Station and a MicroMonsta 2. Plus a Keystep for playing parts in realtime.
I will typically use one, two, or at most three of the above (plus Keystep) depending on what kind of inspiration strikes.
I’ve had this same setup and approach for a LONG time now.
YMMV
it really depends on what I am trying to do as well as how much space I have if playing live. I also like the simplicity of using just one synth like the Virus to make beats or Rytm and if playing at club with limited room, simplicity solves space issues. Usually 1-2 pieces of gear are adequate.
For writing I almost always prefer to work on a single box, I find it way easier to focus and most of the time that will be in a portable setting, not “working” but “playing”. Sometimes depending on the gear I will hook a couple of things up, eg Aira minis or other single function grooveboxes.
Then when I got something that I’m happy with I move onto something else, until I am ready to finish the track. Finishing involves taking it into my setup, and usually sampling the parts or recording them.
But then there is the other way of working which I enjoy, and that involves syncing up loads of gear all with their own patterns or multi part jams, and trying stuff out together which never was intended to go together during creation, or mixing stuff from different machines in a loosely DJ inspired way (I’m not a DJ)
Currently I am trying to refine my setup to be efficient at this, and 2x OT and my MC-707 are going to be very key parts of this as they will be used for mixing and effecting other gear. The idea being that my setup should allow me to work in any of the variety of ways that I enjoy.
It is a lot of work and mental overhead to configure a setup like this and I am having to come up with quite a lot of bespoke solutions for some quite mundane technicalities, it is a bit boring to go into but in a nutshell it involves gear placement, syncing considerations and patchbays, with the ultimate goal to have the whole setup as a big groovebox, with full recording and mixing, without using a DAW.
1 Like
The number of pieces don’t really matter, what does however is how many you know well and that they are readily set up to be used. At the very minimum you should have a favourites list for each of your synths and a decent muscle memory with each of your recording boxes. The best activity to get to know your gear is songwriting and more specifically finishing songs. Suddenly, you’ll know what works for you and what does not.
1 Like
I’m most productive with just one device (either MC-707, Digitakt or computer with a DAW). But no hardware is capable enough to do everything I want and DAW is not performance oriented enough, which is something I’m currently into.
So my main setup is currently 4 devices - DT+MC707+Microfreak+Neutron, but it’s a bit too much already. 3 would probably be sweet spot, with most of sequencing (and sounds) doing just one of them (either 707 or DT, depends on the type of music). Or maybe the 4th device could be effect pedal to complement MC-707 with some nicer reverbs or delays and more effect performance controls. The key is IMO in specialized devices, so option paralysis doesn’t kick in.
2 Likes
Pretty sure that this is the opposite of boring for Elektronauts 
4 Likes
I boiled my setup down to DT+DN (desktop and keys) some three years ago. And I’m still absolutely happy with what I can do whit it and how I can do it.
Sometimes, I only use on one at a time which is also a great way to get to know it deeper and train muscle memory.
Hm.
And I do have a Moog Sound Studio 3 with a GodFather 
but I normally just use either the Moogs or the Elektrons.
1 Like
As long as the circuit breaker doesn’t blow, keep plugging stuff in and go!