It is common seeing huge non portable setups when people referring to an ideal live performance setup, but what would be your take for the smallest possible one to deliver an hour performance?
This isnāt the smallest possible but itās my small portable setup. I have a ju-06a running into a digitone and then into an empress zoia and then a digitakt. I can fit all of the cables and devices in a small backpack.
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Does this also come down to how much live production you want to do and how much the audience can appreciate?
If you broke it into levels you could have
I. Plug an audio player into to PA and hit play start to finish
II. Live mix between pre produced tracks, so you need somewhat of a DJ A-B dual set of audio players
III. Intervene live with FX and loop points
IV. Intervene live with synth parameters
V. Intervene live with sequencing of some or all tracks
VI. III & IV & V all at once
VII. Freestyle live composition with base ingredients prepared
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One Elektron would be enough for me.
I would hesitate between AR or OT. Depending on the sound i would like to produce.
Often, i played with OT and Virus, when i was stil playing live.
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octatrack would be my favorite.
Syntakt solo would be fun but I miss samples for that extra dimension, personally. itād be killer for some a no messin Tuss style acid set tho. or some gabber 
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Havenāt tried this but I could probably pull it off on AR, OT and Quandrantid Swarm. OT used as sample source, midi seq, mixer & fx.
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Iāve done a few sets with Digitakt paired with one or two small synths (Model D, Volca FM). Add an effect pedal or two and you have more than enough for a full hour long live set if you plan accordingly.
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Syntakt and Moog Sirin.
EHX Platform.
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I saw someone do a live set with just a gameboy, and it was really good. Hilarious that behind them people were lugging their racks of gear but gameboy was by far the most interesting set of the night
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A groovebox.
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octatrack
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If I prepared everything in the DAW: Octatrack.
I would probably enjoy OT + BB the most. OT would be enough though.
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[Korg Contact Mic] -> [TimeFactor Left In] -> [TF Right In] -> [Space]
With the TF in Tape Delay mode, click the contact mic to begin oscillations and noodle on the TF knobs.
Sounds like cetaceans getting it on.
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MPC + DN or A4 or ST
MPC + Bass synth (Minitaur, SE02, DB01, AS1)
M:S + A4 or DN or ST + KP3 or Multi fx pedal
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Depends on the genre for the live set.
But really, OT can do everything. So that.
But if it was specifically a techno thing, TR8-S and a synth, maybe.
(My choice is based on what I own)
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For an elemental, gritty compact combo, itād be Erica Synths LXR-02, DB-01 and Zen Delay. All built like tanks and the chunky knobs (plus sliders on the LXR) are a delight to mess with.
If I wanted more refined / premeditated sounds (albeit with the option to go bonkers territory), Iād take my Analog Rytm Mk2 (or Analog Four) and Octatrack instead.
Both packages fit into a day pack or large laptop bag. Importantly, the items in either package have inter-changeable power supplies so I only need to bring a single spare Elektron or Erica one, depending on the combo.
I realise I am very privileged to have the above options. Good luck in your quest for optimised portability!
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This is coming from someone outside the electronic music milieu, but having more āpreparedā material kind of degrades the whole idea of a āliveā set.
Digitakt or Syntakt
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So a band ālearningā all the songs before the show degrades the idea of āliveā ?
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One guitar pick, to play my soul.
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