Whats your device idea machine. Something simple that no mater what you sit down and play around with it and it keeps coming up with ideas that seem to work well with you. How do you use it and do you use it all the time? Cheers.
I think the quickest is the one you know the best, from A to Z, and can operate without too much thinking, the one that let you catch and translate your ideas as they come, because you have practiced a lot, started from scratch pretty often, but also experimented new paths, saving labelled patches as quicker starting points in slots you know how to reach quickly.
You might want to check other discussions that already suggested some ideas…
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will do. Thanks
I’d say it’s about a workflow that works for you, everyone’s different. Pretty much everything that comes to market is capable of making good sounds pretty easily. photographers say the best camera is the one you have with you. Aside from that do you do anything ITB? I use XO linked to my massive drum library, big fan of playbox from NI with user samples loaded, scaler for chord ideas (available on ios too) and kontakt/omnisphere for sounds. Sample and sequence from my MPC3 to make finger drumming style kits with chords etc to play
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I find that a nice sandwich always gets the old clock ticking!
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It’s not a “sexy” answer, but sitting down at a piano always does the trick for me. I’m not amazing at it, but after playing for 20+ years it’s definitely the easiest instrument for me to noodle on. I like that I can close my eyes and know exactly where my hands are, so it’s nice to just zone out.
So like the other answers, just whatever you’re most comfortable with honestly!
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One of the most instant and fun machines for me is still the Volca Keys. Can come up with a great lively, dirty rhythmic loop in seconds. And so much fun to tweak it. Honestly haven’t come across anything as immediate.
But yeah piano for actually writing ideas 100%
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Thanks for these useful insights. I think you’e realized my issue. I have a lot of gear and vsts. A lot. But i dont really feel connected to any. Just see them as tools. But not on a deeper level. So when i need to just relax and create i often have a problem choosing what to use. And i hate formulaic workflows. Drums/bass melody. Anything repetitive, I have a poor attention span that after a few days i lose interest so the ideas have to be done and dusted quickly before that bird has flown if you know what i mean.
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IMO that’s the real issue … you might need the one instrument, which you know so well that you just listen to yourself and you get what you feel.
This takes practicing … even if it’s as simple as two spoons used for a nice rhythmic feeling.
Try to find your musical companion and practice … and be patient …
There is nothing wrong about it … but again … tool … practicing … success.
Find the level you really need. Modern electronic instruments have so much to give, but we don’t need all of it from the beginning. Dive deep but take the time it takes to understand.
A structured workflow can help … don’t hate it … develop your own thing.
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Drumset.
I’ve been playing for 30 years.
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Cheers. So its best to focus on one piece of gear for a long period and forget the rest? Even if you feel like using them.
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I stand by my previous words.
Take one piece of gear and try to do everything with it, focus on it.
Produce something for one of the ongoing Mission Briefs
And/or produce the most forward-looking experimental stuff or even pure noise there:
I don’t think buying another fancy thing will solve your problem.
But if all you really want is to spend money for the Black Friday period, you wight want to check this:
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Maybe your onto something. I have always worked best with limitations. Just write some music with one piece of gear. See what happens. Then slowly add other stuff. I have a collectors personality. This aint going to be easy.
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Or the other way around.
For any give project, give each piece of gear/plugin a very specific role within the track and stick to it until you have a finished idea. Then move on. Listen back after a few days/weeks.
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We all have been there.
And keep coming back to this state.
My own way is to stick to one instrument at a time.
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I feel guilt and remorse for having so much gear. I wish i could reset. I was so productive with just Cakewalk and a Casio. It sort of got out of control.
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This will be a mantra. Cheers.
To focus on the one instrument you love most … yes … ignoring the others … no … just stay focussed.
Using something on the side from time to time should not cause any harm.
I suspect that even the great composers of the past didn’t play every instrument of an orchestra. They often worked on their main instrument to create their compositions …
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Digitak 2.
Fast, reliable, interesting, can come up with good results after a bit of jamming.
Using it every day since i bought it.
Full recommendation if you like work with samples
Same thing with Digitone 2, if you are into fm.
Both amazing machines.
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I know.
We got a group for people in such trouble.
Join me at No New Gear 2026 when the thread is on.
There are quite some people joining each year:
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