I've been refining a small setup intended for live performance. Always centered on the Synthstrom Deluge, which can store arbitrary amounts of samples + synth engine, has amazing sequencing, and can record audio. Then I add 1 or 2 synths, usually a mono synth like the Moog minitaur, and/or the small cobalt5s. Finally, the exterior synths I feed into the stereo inputs of Zoia, which provides super flexible effects. The Zoia outputs I feed back into the Deluge. Its a complete songwriting/performance rig with no laptop or mixer, takes about 2/3 at most of the space you are showing here.
I've been looking at the Deluge for sometime, especially the one with the oled upgrade. Definitely something I'll look into for sure! Thanks for sharing! :)
I've been using M+ same way (before every other boomboxes) as it "can do it all", incl sequencing and recording hardware, but lately using Push2+Live as a boombox.
@@DUNGEONMUSICTHEATRE You might like the Deluge. Its really nice that it has an excellent battery, you can write songs on the couch. My only gripe is that it can't record separate stems, otherwise its almost perfect.
Excellent study - thanks for sharing. The set-up looks ideal even down to the cabals, I know lots of cables distracts me. So I am about to rebuild my set-up to include Perkons (will insert some effects using the I/O), Push 3, Digitakt 2, Zen Delay and OTO BAM. I will use Push 3 as controller (not standalone) and have the MacBook sitting away not even been seen!. Will only dive into Live when needed. Want to spend most of my time, experimenting with sound and having the ability to swap out the DT2 and or the Perskons for alternate hardware). Record and sample (don't have an audio interface and the Push 3 does + ADAT). The Push 3 becomes my suitcase to store and arrange my recordings and samples. I truely want to learn the perform the Perkons and that is a masterpiece! So it will be; 1. Push 3 as a controller - Ableton Live (MacBook Pro not to be seen!) 2. Perkons (swappable with LRX/Syntakt) 3. DT2 (swappable with whatever I want to add) 4. Hardware effects rack/section (again allowing for additions/swap-ability) currently Zen Delay/OTO BAM/AH+FX (this is too bulky) so might just keep the Zen Delay and add Erica Synths Night Verb and remove the rest. 5. Lastly a small midi controller (faders/knobs) to map to the Push 3 macros and internal effects for live performance. My space is minimal so need to keep everything minimal including cabling and power supplies.
With the pedals, have you looked at something like the DF40 or 24 desktop patch bays? There is also the boredbrain patchulator desktop patch bay. Im considering one of the DF pieces because they look simple and straightforward. Pedals are my issue right now because I need to reduce to fit the rig. I might try the fx in the daws but I dont know the impact on latency by going that route. I currently have Logic but am considering giving bitwig a shot since it has all those modular integration abilities.
Great video. Heard what you said about not being sure how to route pedals yet. Give the Erica Synths Matrix Mixer a look. I use it with an FCB 1010 foot controller to route signal paths around my analog/hybrid studio. Great for standalone use; but of course, you could control it with a MIDI automation lane within your DAW with a simple MIDI DIN connection to your interface
I've recently had to disassemble my studio to accommodate a lovely new desk, and didn't realize what a rat's nest of overcomplicated wirings and quick-fix solutions I'd accumulated over the last couple of years. I've also gone back and forth on whether or not I prefer to use my laptop with Reason, or a Polyend Tracker for compositions and creativity. I feel like I've bounced off more elaborate setups, and something like this seems like a really excellent way to actually deep dive into each piece of hardware without being overwhelmed. Excited to hear more about how this small system evolves!
Ableton is the heart of my DAW-less setup! :) Monitor off, Push2 is a boombox with Ultra power (pun intended). Playing H/W synths, Polybrute is main keyboard and a "controller", even Maschine+ is a synth (= VST + dedicated hardware). Inspiring vid! Older/dedicated computer is the best. EXACTLY!. In my case, newer Ultra audio production only, no email, no iMessage, no YT (other work computer for rest incl. browsing and YT binging, it's audio just goes an input to main TwinX/PreSonus ADAT combo). With a Hidden-DAW minimalist setup there is no time to start live jam live jamn' recording instead of transferring groovebox(s) project(s) to DAW and loose them forever :)
@@DUNGEONMUSICTHEATRE TRUE! I was waiting for too long for Push3 Standalone (incl. suffering thru Force experience and trying any other standalone box :) Overtime with sharp learning curve on any other standalone, I just find Push2 a breeze, almost. It only took to turn off Ableton screen to use it w/o keyboard and mouse :) I'm programmer, coding 24x7 on a work computer. On which sometimes ran Live or played standalone/iphone/dawless setup to to go nuts just working. Work security pushed to finally have a separate computer for music making, so stars aligned. I was also thinking of a Mac like you have small setup anywhere.... but realized in my life I'm really bolted to office chair in my .... music studio :)
@@DUNGEONMUSICTHEATRE BTW, have you switched to Ventura? (if you have M1 mac in studio). Any issues with Arturia or UAD? I'm religiously staying at Monterey, maybe no need to.
My home studio is setup for a lot of exploratory/experimental stuff, it's a primary objective for me to go in and enjoy trying new things, with a handful of instruments that are just, uh, instruments and get practiced on. The key thing that made my entire studio just _work_ was that I got a couple of DF Audio Minibays -- they're just patchbays, but the desktop format and eurorack patch cabling made it really convenient. I still sort of resist a DAW for my own purposes, but finishing songs is just a secondary concern to having fun, which really changes my priorities around that -- my day job requires me to stare at computer screens most of the day, so I like to get away from that as much as possible with my creative pursuits.
Yeah for sure! It’s a dangerous distraction to add a laptop to any hardware rig because of the attention it gets. It’s been good so far as long as it stays as is with minimal updates.
@@DUNGEONMUSICTHEATRE Totally. I have a laptop in the studio for backups of patches and samples, Zoom with my piano teacher, and light final editing in Audacity but actually recording I do on a Tascam portastudio for precisely this reason. I find the creative energy I sapped trying to get my head around DAW flows wasn't worth the flexibility, and in some ways oldschool multitracking limitations are fodder for creative approaches.
Thanks to your videos, I bit the bullet and got a Thermae and Warped Vinyl. Not quite ready to go with their looper pedals. Not a loopy guy. I must have missed something... how are you sequencing the Pulsar? From the laptop?
How are you liking the Warped Vinyl? PULSAR's midi is pretty great. I'm using the Ableton clock to drive the Kick on the PULSAR and then midi for the BASS on the PULSAR. Actually it's the 1U Steppy from my Eurorack Skiff that's doing most of the sequencing. I did eventually record all the elements into Ableton as a "loop/sample" pack so I've got something to reference after I take the patch down. So as long as I don't let Ableton dominate the workflow, and just use it as a fancy recorder/clock source, it's been great so far.
@@DUNGEONMUSICTHEATRE I've been on the fence with the Pulsar. It sounds great... but it's expensive and no one seems to use the sequencer, which I think is the reason to buy a drum machine. I just got the WV... like the Thermae, it will take some time getting used to it (and using it with MIDI). I found the "presets" from the manual as more guitar oriented. It puts a synth too far out of tune to be useful. I love the Thermae once I figured out the Sequence part used with an external sequencer... it comes alive!!
I agree with a lot of what you're saying. I'd go as far as to say that one should find the setup that suits their style, more than attempt to get used to a particular type that's popular. In my case as a part of my entire setup, I have three subset of it that I can use either independently or together in any combination. I've refined my hardware setup to Digitone Keys, Digitakt, Syntakt, and Waldorf M. I record when doing hardware only with a Bluebox. Then I have a fairly minimal setup with Reaper, AudioRealism Bassline and Drum Machine, VPROM2, OBX-D using Reaper and Ozone 10 for recording and mixing/mastering. Then my self-designed and built 4U modular. I generally use any of the above mostly indepently, but occasionally mix them if it makes sense, or maybe if I'm collaborating with someone. I could "get by" with any one of the three really, but I'd still want Reaper and Ozone 10 on my MBP for the final mixing. Anyway, nice video!
So if I had to choose, it would be PEAK for sure. Because while the ISE-NIN and Deckard’s Dream are tremendous instruments, PEAK is just so versatile and it pretty much does almost everything that you would expect a standalone synth to do. It’s also way more affordable (because it’s digital w/ analog filters, which is how they get the costs down) ISE-NIN and Deckards are kinda specialized and specific instruments and they excel at these specific things they are trying to be (ISE-NIN (JP-8) Deckards (CS-80) Thanks for stopping by! :)
Dope analog sound man! And my setup is dawless. I jam and record dawless, but often I'll take those files and put them in a daw to trim/chop up/loop part of the jam. No post plug-in processing though
I have no problem once I take the time to have it inside a daw to put as much post processing:) as long as it doesn’t become a distraction and get too self critical. A simple mastering chain :)
As an old gearhead I've finally gotten past collecting hardware synths and FX. I've sold off most of the outboard equipment of that nature. I did get into Eurorack, with 52 modules completely filling 20U of rack space. However, the Eurorack setup has two separate stereo audio outputs that feed the DAW audio interface, one stereo audio input and two MIDI I/O modules.
It does seem like with audio gear, now .. in my limited experience, and observing others, online .. it's like peeling an onion. In a nutshell, I just have Mutable Instruments modules, and a Bitbox Micro, and it's plenty enough of a challenge. Sometimes overcoming obstacles, is fun .. and sometimes, not so much. I was hoping, by now, .. to "be there", with making good musical routines, .. and it's not the fault, of what I've purchased .. or am I regretting what I own. It is the skill of using something, .. even something completely "outdated" .. that probably wins, most of the time, .. which is what I think I'm hearing you say, too.
Just watched it. Good stuff! Good thing computers have SSD’s :) also it’s a good case for not using computers even with SSD’s with system updates and such - a huge distraction
to decrease the distraction from the computer/daw i only use linux on my music computers. no driver searches, updates when you want and what you want not what the OS manufacturer thinks and indeed less plugins / options to get lost.
@@DUNGEONMUSICTHEATRE i use bitwig as DAW and some FXPlugins that are easily available. For sounds i mostly use hardware, because its more fun. There are plenty of plugins available, but i do not want to do plugin collecting, as this kinda defeats the purpose of the minimalistic approach.
My new favorite channel!
Too kind!!!
I've been refining a small setup intended for live performance. Always centered on the Synthstrom Deluge, which can store arbitrary amounts of samples + synth engine, has amazing sequencing, and can record audio. Then I add 1 or 2 synths, usually a mono synth like the Moog minitaur, and/or the small cobalt5s. Finally, the exterior synths I feed into the stereo inputs of Zoia, which provides super flexible effects. The Zoia outputs I feed back into the Deluge. Its a complete songwriting/performance rig with no laptop or mixer, takes about 2/3 at most of the space you are showing here.
I've been looking at the Deluge for sometime, especially the one with the oled upgrade. Definitely something I'll look into for sure! Thanks for sharing! :)
I've been using M+ same way (before every other boomboxes) as it "can do it all", incl sequencing and recording hardware, but lately using Push2+Live as a boombox.
@@DUNGEONMUSICTHEATRE You might like the Deluge. Its really nice that it has an excellent battery, you can write songs on the couch. My only gripe is that it can't record separate stems, otherwise its almost perfect.
Excellent study - thanks for sharing. The set-up looks ideal even down to the cabals, I know lots of cables distracts me.
So I am about to rebuild my set-up to include Perkons (will insert some effects using the I/O), Push 3, Digitakt 2, Zen Delay and OTO BAM.
I will use Push 3 as controller (not standalone) and have the MacBook sitting away not even been seen!. Will only dive into Live when needed. Want to spend most of my time, experimenting with sound and having the ability to swap out the DT2 and or the Perskons for alternate hardware). Record and sample (don't have an audio interface and the Push 3 does + ADAT). The Push 3 becomes my suitcase to store and arrange my recordings and samples.
I truely want to learn the perform the Perkons and that is a masterpiece!
So it will be;
1. Push 3 as a controller - Ableton Live (MacBook Pro not to be seen!)
2. Perkons (swappable with LRX/Syntakt)
3. DT2 (swappable with whatever I want to add)
4. Hardware effects rack/section (again allowing for additions/swap-ability) currently Zen Delay/OTO BAM/AH+FX (this is too bulky) so might just keep the Zen Delay and add Erica Synths Night Verb and remove the rest.
5. Lastly a small midi controller (faders/knobs) to map to the Push 3 macros and internal effects for live performance.
My space is minimal so need to keep everything minimal including cabling and power supplies.
Love hearing the passion! Thanks for sharing!!! 🙏
With the pedals, have you looked at something like the DF40 or 24 desktop patch bays? There is also the boredbrain patchulator desktop patch bay. Im considering one of the DF pieces because they look simple and straightforward. Pedals are my issue right now because I need to reduce to fit the rig. I might try the fx in the daws but I dont know the impact on latency by going that route. I currently have Logic but am considering giving bitwig a shot since it has all those modular integration abilities.
Oh man great suggestion! Of course there are pedal mixers! Lol moar gear!!! 🤪
Great video. Heard what you said about not being sure how to route pedals yet. Give the Erica Synths Matrix Mixer a look. I use it with an FCB 1010 foot controller to route signal paths around my analog/hybrid studio. Great for standalone use; but of course, you could control it with a MIDI automation lane within your DAW with a simple MIDI DIN connection to your interface
awesome! Thank you for the tip! You guys are so smart!
@@DUNGEONMUSICTHEATRE we’re all here to learn from one another! Thanks for doing what you do!
I've recently had to disassemble my studio to accommodate a lovely new desk, and didn't realize what a rat's nest of overcomplicated wirings and quick-fix solutions I'd accumulated over the last couple of years. I've also gone back and forth on whether or not I prefer to use my laptop with Reason, or a Polyend Tracker for compositions and creativity. I feel like I've bounced off more elaborate setups, and something like this seems like a really excellent way to actually deep dive into each piece of hardware without being overwhelmed. Excited to hear more about how this small system evolves!
I mean results speak for themselves. For me tinkering with these mini setups have been super rewarding. Thanks for sharing!
Ableton is the heart of my DAW-less setup! :) Monitor off, Push2 is a boombox with Ultra power (pun intended). Playing H/W synths, Polybrute is main keyboard and a "controller", even Maschine+ is a synth (= VST + dedicated hardware).
Inspiring vid! Older/dedicated computer is the best. EXACTLY!. In my case, newer Ultra audio production only, no email, no iMessage, no YT (other work computer for rest incl. browsing and YT binging, it's audio just goes an input to main TwinX/PreSonus ADAT combo).
With a Hidden-DAW minimalist setup there is no time to start live jam live jamn' recording instead of transferring groovebox(s) project(s) to DAW and loose them forever :)
That gets me thinking. Ableton should just release a "stand alone" plug and play Ableton Computer.
@@DUNGEONMUSICTHEATRE TRUE! I was waiting for too long for Push3 Standalone (incl. suffering thru Force experience and trying any other standalone box :) Overtime with sharp learning curve on any other standalone, I just find Push2 a breeze, almost. It only took to turn off Ableton screen to use it w/o keyboard and mouse :)
I'm programmer, coding 24x7 on a work computer. On which sometimes ran Live or played standalone/iphone/dawless setup to to go nuts just working. Work security pushed to finally have a separate computer for music making, so stars aligned. I was also thinking of a Mac like you have small setup anywhere.... but realized in my life I'm really bolted to office chair in my .... music studio :)
@@DUNGEONMUSICTHEATRE BTW, have you switched to Ventura? (if you have M1 mac in studio). Any issues with Arturia or UAD? I'm religiously staying at Monterey, maybe no need to.
My home studio is setup for a lot of exploratory/experimental stuff, it's a primary objective for me to go in and enjoy trying new things, with a handful of instruments that are just, uh, instruments and get practiced on. The key thing that made my entire studio just _work_ was that I got a couple of DF Audio Minibays -- they're just patchbays, but the desktop format and eurorack patch cabling made it really convenient.
I still sort of resist a DAW for my own purposes, but finishing songs is just a secondary concern to having fun, which really changes my priorities around that -- my day job requires me to stare at computer screens most of the day, so I like to get away from that as much as possible with my creative pursuits.
Yeah for sure! It’s a dangerous distraction to add a laptop to any hardware rig because of the attention it gets. It’s been good so far as long as it stays as is with minimal updates.
@@DUNGEONMUSICTHEATRE Totally. I have a laptop in the studio for backups of patches and samples, Zoom with my piano teacher, and light final editing in Audacity but actually recording I do on a Tascam portastudio for precisely this reason. I find the creative energy I sapped trying to get my head around DAW flows wasn't worth the flexibility, and in some ways oldschool multitracking limitations are fodder for creative approaches.
Thanks to your videos, I bit the bullet and got a Thermae and Warped Vinyl. Not quite ready to go with their looper pedals. Not a loopy guy. I must have missed something... how are you sequencing the Pulsar? From the laptop?
How are you liking the Warped Vinyl? PULSAR's midi is pretty great. I'm using the Ableton clock to drive the Kick on the PULSAR and then midi for the BASS on the PULSAR. Actually it's the 1U Steppy from my Eurorack Skiff that's doing most of the sequencing. I did eventually record all the elements into Ableton as a "loop/sample" pack so I've got something to reference after I take the patch down. So as long as I don't let Ableton dominate the workflow, and just use it as a fancy recorder/clock source, it's been great so far.
@@DUNGEONMUSICTHEATRE I've been on the fence with the Pulsar. It sounds great... but it's expensive and no one seems to use the sequencer, which I think is the reason to buy a drum machine.
I just got the WV... like the Thermae, it will take some time getting used to it (and using it with MIDI). I found the "presets" from the manual as more guitar oriented. It puts a synth too far out of tune to be useful. I love the Thermae once I figured out the Sequence part used with an external sequencer... it comes alive!!
I agree with a lot of what you're saying. I'd go as far as to say that one should find the setup that suits their style, more than attempt to get used to a particular type that's popular. In my case as a part of my entire setup, I have three subset of it that I can use either independently or together in any combination. I've refined my hardware setup to Digitone Keys, Digitakt, Syntakt, and Waldorf M. I record when doing hardware only with a Bluebox. Then I have a fairly minimal setup with Reaper, AudioRealism Bassline and Drum Machine, VPROM2, OBX-D using Reaper and Ozone 10 for recording and mixing/mastering. Then my self-designed and built 4U modular. I generally use any of the above mostly indepently, but occasionally mix them if it makes sense, or maybe if I'm collaborating with someone. I could "get by" with any one of the three really, but I'd still want Reaper and Ozone 10 on my MBP for the final mixing. Anyway, nice video!
Thanks for sharing! Great insights!
Side question: if you picked only one between ise-nin, deckard, and peak, which would it be? Thanks for the video!
So if I had to choose, it would be PEAK for sure. Because while the ISE-NIN and Deckard’s Dream are tremendous instruments, PEAK is just so versatile and it pretty much does almost everything that you would expect a standalone synth to do. It’s also way more affordable (because it’s digital w/ analog filters, which is how they get the costs down) ISE-NIN and Deckards are kinda specialized and specific instruments and they excel at these specific things they are trying to be (ISE-NIN (JP-8) Deckards (CS-80) Thanks for stopping by! :)
Dope analog sound man! And my setup is dawless. I jam and record dawless, but often I'll take those files and put them in a daw to trim/chop up/loop part of the jam. No post plug-in processing though
I have no problem once I take the time to have it inside a daw to put as much post processing:) as long as it doesn’t become a distraction and get too self critical. A simple mastering chain :)
As an old gearhead I've finally gotten past collecting hardware synths and FX. I've sold off most of the outboard equipment of that nature. I did get into Eurorack, with 52 modules completely filling 20U of rack space. However, the Eurorack setup has two separate stereo audio outputs that feed the DAW audio interface, one stereo audio input and two MIDI I/O modules.
Super interested in how you play with the mini-modular section in this setup. This video really inspired me, thank you!!
Awesome, thank you!
It does seem like with audio gear, now .. in my limited experience, and observing others, online .. it's like peeling an onion. In a nutshell, I just have Mutable Instruments modules, and a Bitbox Micro, and it's plenty enough of a challenge. Sometimes overcoming obstacles, is fun .. and sometimes, not so much. I was hoping, by now, .. to "be there", with making good musical routines, .. and it's not the fault, of what I've purchased .. or am I regretting what I own. It is the skill of using something, .. even something completely "outdated" .. that probably wins, most of the time, .. which is what I think I'm hearing you say, too.
Thanks Ken! Wise words!
Do you find that you like the interaction between the center channels of Maths and the functions on channels 1 age and 4?
Well I mean Maths is only limited by your imagination. Sure! Super versatile!
On theme with mylarmelodies recent video on the "20 second rule"
Just watched it. Good stuff! Good thing computers have SSD’s :) also it’s a good case for not using computers even with SSD’s with system updates and such - a huge distraction
to decrease the distraction from the computer/daw i only use linux on my music computers. no driver searches, updates when you want and what you want not what the OS manufacturer thinks and indeed less plugins / options to get lost.
oh my! linux? What kind of daws/plugins are on linux these days? :)
@@DUNGEONMUSICTHEATRE i use bitwig as DAW and some FXPlugins that are easily available. For sounds i mostly use hardware, because its more fun. There are plenty of plugins available, but i do not want to do plugin collecting, as this kinda defeats the purpose of the minimalistic approach.
When I set up my rig near the sleeping room I get some serious trouble… not worth trying…
:) hah! Right!
Most hardcore Dawless people are a bit delusional.
😂 aren’t we all a little?