Bonus: explain your choices 
I have done just this!
Well, perhaps not “from scratch” as I’ve owned the monitors for ages.
Drumatix (808+606, what’s not to like?)
TT-606 (great sequencer)
DR-110 (classic, affordable, variation on the 606 sound I love)
Digitone (infinite depth)
Monologue (creative sequencer bc parameters and notes are independently mutable)
Octatrack MKII (infinite depth)
Analog Drive + other pedals (for grit)
27" quad iMac w/ Live 9 and some VSTs (gotta record and mix with something!)
MOTU Ultralite MK4 + 8 channel a/d (ultra low latency, plenty of inputs, excellent A/D-D/A)
Genelec 8030a (effortless to mix on)
KRK 10" SUB (boom!)
There’s not a sound I can’t make (or sample 
) and I find it ideal for the music I make.
.
And under $8k
20 Likes
Assuming I already have an iMac:
- Neumann KH310A 3000 (best monitors under 5K)
- Focusrite 18i20 500 ish (decent enough, better costs too much)
- Elektron Digitakt & Digitone 1000 (bang and sound quality for buck)
- The remaining 5500 on Eurorack. Mainly Intellijel, Make Noise and Erica Synths (Eurorack is the best way and most fun way to make your own sounds in my opinion)
1 Like
$10K AUD? Doesnt go far
MONO SYNTH
MOOG SUB 37 $1.2K (no explanation needed)
DRUMS
MOOG DFAM $.8K (for grit)
ARTURIA BSP $.2 (for control of the dfam)
ELEKTRON ARMKII $2K (for all the drum machine you need)
POLY
ACCESS VIRUS SNOW $1.2K (for supersaw)
ROLAND JV1080 $.4K (for strings and pads)
ELEKTRON A4 $1.8K (analogue chords)
KORG VOLCA FM $.2K (for fm sounds)
SAMPLER
ELEKTRON DIGITAKT $.8K (for one shots)
FX
KORG KAOSS PAD $.4K (for glitc fx)
STRYMON BIG SKY $.6K (for pads)
LEXICON MX200 $.3K (basic reverb duties)
MODULAR $1.3K (for crazy making)
CASE
BRAIDS
WARPS
FH1
ROLAND BITRAIZER
Budget blown…
2 Likes
$3000 computer with Ableton
$5500 monitors
$1000 RME
$500 midi controller
11 Likes
Digitakt (sampler and midi nerve center)
Digitone (best FM ever)
Prophet 6 Module (bi-timbral future classic)
Midiverb II (P6 1st set of outs, Bloom presets)
Lexicon PCM 81 (P6 2nd set of outs, creative multi-fx)
NOS Waldorf Microwave 2 (yes NEW- https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F152969855133 )
OTO Bam (for MW2- lushness)
Nord Lead 2 Rack (Autechre stuff)
Ensoniq DP/4 (for the NL2 separate outs)
Moog Minitaur (low end beef)
Moog DFAM, Make Noise 0-Coast and Sherman Filterbank 2 (sampling stuff)
Earthquaker Transmisser pedal (insane reverb)
Neunaber Immerse pedal (gorgeous reverb)
Greenhouse Retro Sky pedal (phased delay)
Lefty’s Sound Lab Noise Rumble (distortion fx)
mint condition Mackie 1604 (non-VLZ… above 4 pedals on sends/returns)
+best Genelecs I can afford with the remaining funds
2 Likes
$1200 Octatrack
$1000 room treatment
$1000 interface
$2500 monitors
$3000 computer
$1300 in software
give or take…
3 Likes
Stressed out just thinking about how I’d spend my imaginary budget!
Assuming we’re starting over from scratch…
Naw, I can’t do it! Fairly pleased with my rig as-is for now
6 Likes
This is a fun little activity. I make really weird ambient stuff so my choices might be a little out there… lots of pedals.
Synths:
Moog Sub 37 - £1,100
Moog expression pedal - £50
Samplers/noise makers:
Elektron Digitakt - £600
Pedals:
Strymon El Capistan - £250
Old Blood Noise Endeavours Dweller - £200
Red Panda Particle - £250
Chase Bliss Warped Vinyl - £350
Digitech Whammy - £150
EHX Superego Plus - £250
Chase Bliss Dark World Reverb - £350
Critter and Guitari Organelle - £350
Line 6 M5 - £100
PSU + pedalboard: £200
Field recorder:
Zoom H5 + Shotgun mic capsule - £300
Computer stuff:
Ableton Live - £350
Launchpad Pro - £200
Focusrite Interface - £200
KRK monitors - £250
Audio Technica Headphones - £250
3 Likes
How’s everyone gonna run these setups without cables? 
12 Likes
Oh shit. Budgets blown. Kitty empty
Studio bling will be good to admire at least 
4 Likes
Id be really interested to see what people would choose with a much tighter budget…
2 Likes
Thats already desert island tight!
1 Like
I disagree 
2 Likes
Yep, reckon we add another 10 grand at least 
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Moog One
OTmk2
Genelec monitors and a few cables with what is left over
Done. Minimal deluxe setup.
Edit: I am almost there, just need to get the Moog One and the Genelec monitors. 
5 Likes
Some sort of digital piano and a copy of Reason would be enough for me. Assuming I’d need to add the cost of a new laptop + interface + speakers, but nothing fancy. Should have plenty left over for a few cables.
1 Like
- MOTU 16A
- Yamaha NS-10s
- Roland SH-101
- Machinedrum UW MKII +
- Monomachine MKII +
- Octatrack MKII
- M.I. Clouds
- M.N. Morphagene
- 4ms Dual Delay
- Boss SE-70
- Alesis Quadrverb
- UA LA 2A compressor
2 Likes
i would get about the same live rig as i have now, but with modern sequencer instead of venerable groovebox ) so, something like this:
sequencer:
- Squarp Pyramid
mixer/recorder:
- Zoom LiveTrack L-12 (i’m happy with it)
synths:
- Blofelds (2 or 3 units)
- PreenFM2 (3 or 4 units)
- Novation Nova Laptop (yes, i am necrophile, so what? )
- Yamaha DX200 (the only one in the list that i still don’t own)
controllers / input devices:
- Novation ReMOTE Zero SL (i told you that i am necrophile)
- Novation Launchpad Pro (2 units)
- iRig Pads (2 units)
misc:
- ESI M8U eX — MIDI interface
- Axoloti Core (at least 2 units) — various supplementary tasks
that’s it.
monitors, computer, DAW/plugins are considered beyond the scopes of this list.
1 Like
yeah, if you add up how much it would cost to replace what you have - it becomes scary quickly… these things tend to build up over time.
( a good reminder perhaps for us all, to check our insurance is up to date!)
If I had to start again, I think Id largely buy the same again, perhaps some minor changes for ‘fresh’ inspiration, drop a couple of things i do not use as much as i used too , but main instruments would remain.
but for me, this is no dream proposition, more like a nightmare as Ive got a couple of things which Id find really difficult to replace (like my Eigenharp Alpha) which are not available to buy, and virtually impossible to buy secondhand - id be gutted!
3 Likes