A couple of lessons I learned over the last few years: 1) You don't need a ton of voices, two melodic voices plus a drum synth is often plenty 2)Get a looper! Seriously, they'll let you layer everything you want, especially useful in a small setup. Don't worry about quantization too much, it's not always necessary and your timing shouldn't be that bad 3)Don't cheap out. The only things I find myself taking out of my setup is the cheap stuff. Think about what you want for a while and get the best tool you can afford to do it. Sometimes it's useful to get something cheap to be able to learn what you need, but it'll cost you in the long run. 4)When you're playing somewhere (live/jamming with friends), try to have your setup pre-wired as much as possible (both audio and power). This safes you a lot of setup time and frustration. A case/pedalboard is practical for that purpose. Question for the next video: how about a small digital mixer, like the K-mix? that way you have a mixer and audio-interface (and control surface) in a single box, saving both space and money :).
Great advice, but i offer that #1 is very subjective to style. I can blow out 8+ voices all the time. But i do more synthesized orchestral type music. Its also dependant on how much layering you are doing and if you need to perform it live or not. I can resample like crazy, but at the end of the day I still need something with heavy polyphony to perform on live. You can have a dozen monosynths but when ya gotta play a synth like a wurlitzer... You need more than one or two voices. I would kill for a matrixbrute with 8 voices, for example.
looper right?! that was what I already had in mind for future setup. actually (kindda new at these synth world and jams) my goal was to use daw&remote for layering/looping but that also is possible and handy hardware I guess. But how do you change chords or parts at the same time, do you have any tips for that and also looper recommenditions? Cheers!
:-) brought back memories from the 80s when we were fighting sync with 25 synths via midi in livesetups where 64 mixerinputs were not enough..... i am old!!!
yes ;-) suitcases full of cables, 3 Roland A-880 and a waldorf midibay on an Atari ST1040FM with Dr.Ts and Steinberg24/Cubase 1.0 with my first Harddisk a 20 MB! Disk for 900 USD...
For stereo mixing + small setup, I can also recommend the Maker Hart loop mixer, an affordable 5 ch. stereo mixer with extra recording and headphone output.
"...And that's also something again you can't do with the Circuit..." The Circuit is awesome, but this fact has glared me in the face the whole time. The Digitakt is that much better. Excellent songs, Bo!
Love it! I recently ordered the last piece of my personal DAWless set up and I can’t wait for it to come in! An Elektron Model:Cycles sequencing an Arturia Microbrute and an Akai MPX8 running samples
Hey Bo Beats! I just found you on Spotify from the comment you pinned and i really like your music a lot! Your videos have helped me a lot throughout my synth journey over the last year or so too! So thanks and keep on keepin on :)
Thanks for excellent help and advice. Your channel along with a couple of others. Have made it possible for me to understand and set up my first hardware set up. Bought the Korg Volca Sample and wasn’t what I expected. I upgraded to the circuit tracks but feel I don’t have good control over the sound. Realised I want a stand alone synth. So have just ordered the Micro Freak. Going to use my tracks for sequencing. Looking forward to making digital dub reggae and ambient techno. Just don’t enjoy using DAW’s and only found out a year ago how much hardware has come down in price. I’ve dreamed since my early teens about making electronic music. Now in my late forties I’m able to make dreams come true. If it wasn’t for RUclips I would have had little knowledge and not be able to get started. I owe so much to RUclips tutorials. One day I will achieve my goals and fuse all my instruments and styles of music.
I find I'm oscillating between pure hardware and hardware/daw setups. Both have advantages and disadvantages, but what I'm gravitating toward is a DAW setup that artificially replicates some of the limitations of pure hardware. The potential problem with DAW setups is that there are too many possibilities. Depending on your computer, you can run multiple soft synths, huge racks of effects and almost limitless midi tracks which more often than not stifles creativity, at least for me. So I'm watching your video series and thinking "what are the limitations of Bo's setups that actually contribute to his creativity and workflow" and then figuring out how to impose some of those limits on my DAW/hardware setup. One thing I'm trying to do is limit myself to 8 channels in Ableton Live, so that I never have to switch pages on the Push 2. Another is to route all my hardware synths (Analogue 4, Mother 32 and Minibrute 2s) through audio channels in Ableton, which only allows me 2 or 3 channels for soft synths and drum tracks. The way that you're routing the signal from one synth through one effect makes me think I should try limiting myself to only insert effects, and not share effects on send channels. That could be interesting, and would make live performances simpler. Thanks for your super helpful videos, and for the inspiration.
I know these are older, but this series is exactly what I am looking for. A Guitarist looking to explore some electronic composition. Curious….anything newer to consider since this came out?
I've been playing around with alot of the behringer stuff. I'm a guitarist mainly but it's nice to have some weird ambient stuff going on in the background. Like Beck's record Sea Change.
Hey Andy, a bit late but here's another guitarist opinion. I recently got a volca drum then a volca bass. Very good to learn but you need to hook them up to a mixer and add fx. I'll be adding a circuit tracks or digitakt to control and mix them or just to have an all in one tool for composing, learning, e tc. Good to be portable but also to be use as a "brain" if I feel like expanding my set up. A DAW with free vst's is a good option but to be able to go dawless is fantastic for brainstorming and more. Have you purchased anything yet?
Nice video. I don’t have nearly as much gear as you but I do have a simple circuit setup. I use my iPad as synth 2 as there are so many great synth apps. I do something a little different that you might want to try of mention in your setup videos. I run my reface cp midi in into the circuit and then the mid out back to the reface. I can then play the reface and record the sequence with the circuit. It’s a great way to play the keys but utilize the simple but awesome circuit sequencer. It works even when I use a midi splitter on the circuit midi out to control tempo on my boss rc202 or sp404. The most important aspect is that no matter what only one instrument(besides the circuit itself of course)can be set as channel one. Even if you just use the clock all other devices must be set to another channel. The only real downside is that the circuit quantizes every thing you play but it doesn’t bother me.
Super clear video - very glad to have found you! I'm especially keen to hear about how you're going to go about doing the recording. I'm really keen to stay as computer-less as possible and have been doing a bit of research into the best and not totally budget crushing way of doing this without compromising audio quality! Lots of chat about zooms/tascams/audio interfaces into a computer (I guess eventually it has to get in there somewhere...) but intrigued to hear your opinion. Eagerly awaiting the next upload!
Thanks ao much for posting this, Bo! I am just started to think about building my first setup and this is really helpful! And thanks for the connection walkthroughs!
Fantastic video! Both set ups are great, one is def more beginner and the other a little more advanced but both are approachable! Thanks for all you do! Second jam was my favorite, was the a sax sample?
Hi Bo. I was wondering if you could help. I'm trying to do a daw less setup using a deluge, volca drum and a circuit. I have them all hooked up and working together but the bassline from the circuit isn't sidechaining with the drums from the volca so the mix sounds really muddy. Can you think of any way of making them sidechain. I was thinking maybe using the deluge to sidechain them but wasn't sure how.
I know that this is older at this point but I know for me that I like having several sub mixers available to me when jamming out with hardware - it gives me easy group muting for things but I will admit that it’s a price many would not want to pay for but it is great if you can do it
interesting configurations....that micro granny makes some kewl noises. I really like the elektron gear but need to save up for a while to get one...not sure which although you have given me ideas on the digitakt. All the best to you.
I find this strange as I can't get away from the computer, I love it. I've always used computers to make music since C64... Amiga. These days it's computer + softsynth + hardware... 8 channels.
I really can't stand it, I just hate using DAWs. I've gone to great lengths to avoid them haha, probably should have gone with the type of setup in this video instead of going the eurorack route right off the bat, and I might end up selling my eurorack gear and running separate machines with a mixer. But either way, I try to just never use DAWs at all. I work online all day and I hate messing around tweaking effects or selecting sounds with a mouse, need to twiddle knobs and de-screen for my own sanity!
I don't really like to control knobs with CC, it's often much convinient to use the ones on the synth/sampler/gear and you have the interface that's designed just for it! anyway just my opinion, I see how it can be really handy to use Midi that way
Frank Rodriguez yeah with a BS2 it makes sense ! Now with m'y eurorack I modulate with CV, but when I had just hardware self contained stuff I never automated stuff
Great vid! So if I had 3 bits of gear with sequencers eg crave, mother, rd6. Would you use a beatstep or another central sequencer? Or just use the individual ones?
Great video! But isn't there too much redundancy in setup nr. 1? Sending the Circuit, that already has its own master filter, through an external filter. And the Volca Keys, that has its own delay, through essentially an external delay. No doubt it sounds nice, but seems like a waste, especially if one was on a strict budget and/or spacial constraint.
I agree with you there Marc. The reason why I wanted the filter was to actually get a more gritty tone out of the Circuit, which sounds Hi-Fi, but for most people it is not necessary.
Have you ever tried a setup that includes both a Circuit and a Keystep? I thought I had it figured out, but when I tried to connect to a laptop to record it all, the Circuit freaked out - I think because it's being fed overlapping clock from Keystep (midi) and the DAW (USB).
this is a very educative video, thank you so much, just watching your channel for one day i have learned so much, you have become my online tutor! what do you think of using an akai mpc live as my brain sequencer (mostly using samples since i feel is its strongest purpose) with an analog four by elektron as my main synth for textures and melodies using a midi keyboard in order to be able to play chords from the analog four?
Im in a position where im kinda tired of watching reviews of gear i dont have the geographical ability to try out myself. Im looking for a dawless setup and have a deluge and digitakt. Its a great setup but the type of orchestral synthwave i do hits thei limits far before i'm done. I need help, lol. Im going to get a digitone, digitone keys, and analog heat to round out the main set and provide a keyboard i can use, but id really like a few subtractive synths that will play well with what i have and not sound too disparate. Something with decent polyphony. What do you suggest? Peak? Deepmind? Dave smith stuff?
Hi Bo. I have one question. I have such a problem. I use ableton as the main sequencer. Midi comes out of the computer via eMagic AMT 8 and my audio interface is Focusrite saffire 56 liqid. When I use drum machines with computer notes and vst u no lx the problem arises. The ableton sequencer sends notes at the same time to midi out and vst mini in. I know that ableton has a delay on every track and it is easy to compensate for this problem, however, when I send a midi from a machine via midi in to ableton a cruel drama begins. Everything is spreading out in time, not to mention that I also use drum pads from alesis d5 and then I can not hit the beginning or the proper tajming. How to deal with this topic .... Regards
So what are the 5 basic components thay make this type of setup? And what is this type of setup referred to a synthesizer ? (Sorry I'm a curious millenial)
So I'm wanting to get into this. Is the Digitakt an audio interface that will multi-track out to a DAW? Or.. Can you output each instrument into a mixer that is hooked into a DAW? I am a complete noob and trying to figure out things and what I need to start. I want to be able to multitrack record each individual sound in the sequence if possible for effects to master final song.
I made a sound demo with some opinions on it. I might do a full review but its not a priority. I think its very good. But also a lot of other synths to choose from that does similar things
Dumb question.. but how do you control different notes on a synth with the novation circuit? Are the notes sequenced on the synths themselves or can you trigger both the steps and the note frequencies of your synths with something like a novation circuit?
Circuit can sequence the external synth. Also check todays video about the new Circuit Tracks. I show this! Coming later today so subscribe so you dont miss it :-)
I am fascinated by the music you make, but what I cannot figure out is how much is "live" and how much is pre-programmed (by you, or by the synth/sequence makers. How much of the composing is happening "off screen"?
OK, then I have at least understood some of the tech (I am a real tech-nerd). Would you say that you are using the synths as more as "composer tools" rather than what we traditionally think of as "Instruments"?
Another great video Bo! I like the concept of using a collection of hardware together to produce something unique. Currently I am using Logic Pro X as the sequencer for all of the hardware as that has seemed easiest for me to get the sound. I have a Beat Step Pro and a MonoMachine but just didn't feel the same level of MIDI flexibility using either to control the other instruments. Just curious on your view of using a DAW for sequencing vs. a dedicated sequencer? Thanks!
Hi, can you advise me please. I have purchased a Arturia Microfreak & Novation Circuit....for the life of me i dont know how and what i need to be able to hear them...ie speaker, mixer or interface .....can you help pls?
Hi Bo, I am new to music producing and i want to but a hardware synth but i am on a low budget. I am not sure whether i should get a beat box like the circuit or a Aturia Microbrute. Which one do you think is good for a new music producer?
Hey bro when you connect you hardware synths to guitar pedals .... do you just connect them directly or have some sort of gain staging device in between ? I'd like to connect some pedals to a microbrute. Nice Video .... some good ideas here.
You don't have control over resonance with the big knob. It also adds character to the sound of the Circuit since the filter is analog. Other than that not much.
What's the good small mixer for volcas that has a stereo for volca sample, or I don't really need stereo? Space is of essence so the smaller the better.
Hi Bo, great video, thanks for making it! Quick question: I currently own a Roland Tr-8 and would like to build a hardware setup with it. I’m currently choosing between the Minilogue and Minilogue XD for my first synth, but I’d like to know if these would serve adequately as the brain to this setup with the drum machine I have now, or if you suggest looking for a different synth (something like the digitone). Anyone reading this is welcome to answer btw. Cheers!
So I have a question. I’m thinking about buying a drumbrute impact. I would like to use it as my desktop drum pad as well as a stand alone drum machine. I was wondering if the sequencer and pads work well in a daw? I was also wondering if you can set the clock to external mid slave but then use the impact to control a drum kit in your daw. I manage to do this with circuit but it’s not perfect because I the sequencer doesn’t show each note individually on the circuit. Basically I like to make a sequence on my minilogue and set my circuit as the slave while controlling daw drum sounds. If that’s possible with the impact then I’m sold.
hmmm, I dare not say since I have not used it in this configuration. My gut tells me it should be doable, but as with all things "sync" and "midi" there can always be problems
Really useful, practical video, thank you once again Bo. I've two weeks off work next week and now I KNOW the garden isn't going to get done ! Now, where did I put that MIDI cable.....
@@BoBeats wow, was definitely not expecting a reply so quickly. You're awesome Bo. And you're absolutely right. Thanks for doing what you do, I love your channel.
It is Circuit Nr 1. The first I got. He is named Paul. Circuit Nr 2 is named Barry. There is no relation to Paul and Barry in the UK. I just randomly picked the names :-)
Hello Bo, I`m wanna to build a new setup. And I was thinking about Korg sample and Moog sub37. Do you think it will work together with audio interface if i want to record tracks, or does it need something extra? Thank you
I have a circuit and i want to buy a yamaha reface dx. Does anyone know if it is possible to record the reface into the circuit through the midi connection?
A couple of lessons I learned over the last few years:
1) You don't need a ton of voices, two melodic voices plus a drum synth is often plenty
2)Get a looper! Seriously, they'll let you layer everything you want, especially useful in a small setup. Don't worry about quantization too much, it's not always necessary and your timing shouldn't be that bad
3)Don't cheap out. The only things I find myself taking out of my setup is the cheap stuff. Think about what you want for a while and get the best tool you can afford to do it. Sometimes it's useful to get something cheap to be able to learn what you need, but it'll cost you in the long run.
4)When you're playing somewhere (live/jamming with friends), try to have your setup pre-wired as much as possible (both audio and power). This safes you a lot of setup time and frustration. A case/pedalboard is practical for that purpose.
Question for the next video: how about a small digital mixer, like the K-mix? that way you have a mixer and audio-interface (and control surface) in a single box, saving both space and money :).
Solid advice right here!
Great advice, but i offer that #1 is very subjective to style. I can blow out 8+ voices all the time. But i do more synthesized orchestral type music. Its also dependant on how much layering you are doing and if you need to perform it live or not. I can resample like crazy, but at the end of the day I still need something with heavy polyphony to perform on live. You can have a dozen monosynths but when ya gotta play a synth like a wurlitzer... You need more than one or two voices. I would kill for a matrixbrute with 8 voices, for example.
looper right?! that was what I already had in mind for future setup. actually (kindda new at these synth world and jams) my goal was to use daw&remote for layering/looping but that also is possible and handy hardware I guess. But how do you change chords or parts at the same time, do you have any tips for that and also looper recommenditions? Cheers!
:-) brought back memories from the 80s when we were fighting sync with 25 synths via midi in livesetups where 64 mixerinputs were not enough..... i am old!!!
hehe, the good 'ol days!
yes ;-) suitcases full of cables, 3 Roland A-880 and a waldorf midibay on an Atari ST1040FM with Dr.Ts and Steinberg24/Cubase 1.0 with my first Harddisk a 20 MB! Disk for 900 USD...
I come back to this video every so often. The Elektron and the SE-02 sound great together
For stereo mixing + small setup, I can also recommend the Maker Hart loop mixer, an affordable 5 ch. stereo mixer with extra recording and headphone output.
Ugggh Bo...that dark lo-fi beat is BEGGING for some dope lyrics. ILL. Great video as well! Happy to see the Reverb promo!
"...And that's also something again you can't do with the Circuit..." The Circuit is awesome, but this fact has glared me in the face the whole time. The Digitakt is that much better. Excellent songs, Bo!
Love it! I recently ordered the last piece of my personal DAWless set up and I can’t wait for it to come in!
An Elektron Model:Cycles sequencing an Arturia Microbrute and an Akai MPX8 running samples
How did it turn? Was it good?
@@jaydeepalmer it was a lot of fun!
@@benjaminbrand3714 nice!
I had heard that sequencing the mpx8 was a bit of a chore, but I'm glad it worked out well for you 😊
Hey Bo Beats! I just found you on Spotify from the comment you pinned and i really like your music a lot! Your videos have helped me a lot throughout my synth journey over the last year or so too! So thanks and keep on keepin on :)
Thanks for excellent help and advice. Your channel along with a couple of others. Have made it possible for me to understand and set up my first hardware set up. Bought the Korg Volca Sample and wasn’t what I expected. I upgraded to the circuit tracks but feel I don’t have good control over the sound. Realised I want a stand alone synth. So have just ordered the Micro Freak. Going to use my tracks for sequencing. Looking forward to making digital dub reggae and ambient techno. Just don’t enjoy using DAW’s and only found out a year ago how much hardware has come down in price. I’ve dreamed since my early teens about making electronic music. Now in my late forties I’m able to make dreams come true. If it wasn’t for RUclips I would have had little knowledge and not be able to get started. I owe so much to RUclips tutorials. One day I will achieve my goals and fuse all my instruments and styles of music.
I find I'm oscillating between pure hardware and hardware/daw setups. Both have advantages and disadvantages, but what I'm gravitating toward is a DAW setup that artificially replicates some of the limitations of pure hardware. The potential problem with DAW setups is that there are too many possibilities. Depending on your computer, you can run multiple soft synths, huge racks of effects and almost limitless midi tracks which more often than not stifles creativity, at least for me. So I'm watching your video series and thinking "what are the limitations of Bo's setups that actually contribute to his creativity and workflow" and then figuring out how to impose some of those limits on my DAW/hardware setup. One thing I'm trying to do is limit myself to 8 channels in Ableton Live, so that I never have to switch pages on the Push 2. Another is to route all my hardware synths (Analogue 4, Mother 32 and Minibrute 2s) through audio channels in Ableton, which only allows me 2 or 3 channels for soft synths and drum tracks. The way that you're routing the signal from one synth through one effect makes me think I should try limiting myself to only insert effects, and not share effects on send channels. That could be interesting, and would make live performances simpler. Thanks for your super helpful videos, and for the inspiration.
Heh oscillating.
Cool - liked the first set-up. Would like to see the Circuit Mono Station included in one of your examples.
i really like that beat almost like a REZZ into / verse
I know these are older, but this series is exactly what I am looking for. A Guitarist looking to explore some electronic composition. Curious….anything newer to consider since this came out?
I've been playing around with alot of the behringer stuff. I'm a guitarist mainly but it's nice to have some weird ambient stuff going on in the background.
Like Beck's record Sea Change.
Hey Andy, a bit late but here's another guitarist opinion. I recently got a volca drum then a volca bass. Very good to learn but you need to hook them up to a mixer and add fx. I'll be adding a circuit tracks or digitakt to control and mix them or just to have an all in one tool for composing, learning, e tc. Good to be portable but also to be use as a "brain" if I feel like expanding my set up. A DAW with free vst's is a good option but to be able to go dawless is fantastic for brainstorming and more.
Have you purchased anything yet?
one of the best videos on this subject on youtube, thanks Bo !
These videos are pure GOLD!!! keep em coming...
Damn that first set up is sooo good.
Synths, samplers, sequencers, cables, audio in-out, etc. I feel helpless. This series made it clear to me. Thanks for uploading. Please do more!!!
Nice video. I don’t have nearly as much gear as you but I do have a simple circuit setup. I use my iPad as synth 2 as there are so many great synth apps. I do something a little different that you might want to try of mention in your setup videos. I run my reface cp midi in into the circuit and then the mid out back to the reface. I can then play the reface and record the sequence with the circuit. It’s a great way to play the keys but utilize the simple but awesome circuit sequencer. It works even when I use a midi splitter on the circuit midi out to control tempo on my boss rc202 or sp404. The most important aspect is that no matter what only one instrument(besides the circuit itself of course)can be set as channel one. Even if you just use the clock all other devices must be set to another channel. The only real downside is that the circuit quantizes every thing you play but it doesn’t bother me.
Fun demos! Something here for every budget.
Very nice videos Bo! Really looking forward for part 3.
Lots of great ideas, Bo. I totally forgot the minijam mixer had an SD card slot.
Great video Bo and very informative. Looking forward to getting my hands on the stems for your remix 😊
Cheers Dave!!
These are great instructional videos and thank you Bo. I love the BoSpeak : "vidjeos" is my new fave word :)
Super clear video - very glad to have found you! I'm especially keen to hear about how you're going to go about doing the recording. I'm really keen to stay as computer-less as possible and have been doing a bit of research into the best and not totally budget crushing way of doing this without compromising audio quality! Lots of chat about zooms/tascams/audio interfaces into a computer (I guess eventually it has to get in there somewhere...) but intrigued to hear your opinion. Eagerly awaiting the next upload!
Nice vid mate. Good suggestions for the setup from novice to more experienced user.
your demos were great!
I can recommend the ZED60-10FX mixer from Allen & Heath. Very good, many options and comes with built in effects too.
Thanks ao much for posting this, Bo! I am just started to think about building my first setup and this is really helpful! And thanks for the connection walkthroughs!
Fantastic video! Both set ups are great, one is def more beginner and the other a little more advanced but both are approachable! Thanks for all you do! Second jam was my favorite, was the a sax sample?
Yeah! Sax sample
Circuit is nice. Saw one at Sam Ash last weekend ,thought of you when I saw it. Thinking of changing my beat step for it.
This is great music! 4:52
Fantastic video.. and motivating... another great video series.. very informative
Thanks 2 match mr.BOBeats for yours explain for hom studio really i want hom studio digital i hope to you good new year. Mohamed
This Bob guy doesn't eat anything. 0 stars
what can you use breakout cables for? any headphone jack? sorry im a newb. and thank you!
walldorf rocket is a great synth for chords
Sick tones main!
Dude that SE-02 patch @11:58 is so delicious and I love you for it. Sounds like a goddamn sax 🎷 🤘🏿
i hate to correct you on this and disappoint: it sounds like a sax because it is a sax sample on the Digitakt. The bassline is from the se-02.
@@BoBeats Oh thank you lol. Love your work bro!
So much invaluable information... thank you!
Here's gear I recommend for a synth setup & your studio. This is almost exclusively gear I have used in my studio and know to work. (All links are affiliate links)
MIXERS (all of these can record multiple channels at once)
Bluebox Mixer
EU: thmn.to/thoprod/504944?offid=1&affid=623
US: imp.i114863.net/b4ELm
Soundcraft MTK 22
EU: thmn.to/thoprod/359305?offid=1&affid=623
US: imp.i114863.net/6a2GG
Soundcraft MTK 12
EU: thmn.to/thoprod/359304?offid=1&affid=623
US: imp.i114863.net/35b7d
Tascam Model 12
EU: thmn.to/thoprod/483453?offid=1&affid=623 (affordable!)
US: imp.i114863.net/Vro4E
Presonus 16 channel
EU: thmn.to/thoprod/423722?offid=1&affid=623
US: imp.i114863.net/RxJRb
Presonus 32SC (the one I use)
EU: thmn.to/thoprod/462793?offid=1&affid=623
US: imp.i114863.net/vLe2j
MIDI THRU BOXES (midi splitters)
EU: thmn.to/thoprod/220156?offid=1&affid=623
US: imp.i114863.net/LvenY
iConnectivity MioXL (there's a smaller one too!)
EU: thmn.to/thoprod/476770?offid=1&affid=623
US: imp.i114863.net/xxAy1
GOOD FX
Zoia
EU: thmn.to/thoprod/463334?offid=1&affid=623
US: imp.i114863.net/5b6MAL
Blackhole
EU: thmn.to/thoprod/503207?offid=1&affid=623
US: imp.i114863.net/jExYb
Tricerachorus
EU: thmn.to/thoprod/529760?offid=1&affid=623
US: imp.i114863.net/MXJDDK
PATCHBAY:
EU: thmn.to/thoprod/118484?offid=1&affid=623
US: imp.i114863.net/XxbLLg
SEQUENCERS (makes no sounds themselves)
Novation SL Mk3 // 8 track keyboard/sequencer/controller:
EU: thmn.to/thoprod/450573?offid=1&affid=623
US:imp.i114863.net/QqZ79
Arturia Keystep Pro // 4 track sequencer/controller:
EU: thmn.to/thoprod/483153?offid=1&affid=623
US: imp.i114863.net/M4G7Y
SYNTH & SAMPLERS WITH SEQUENCER
Roland MC101 // portable 4 track synth
EU: thmn.to/thoprod/473345?offid=1&affid=623
US:imp.i114863.net/74Lq5
Roland MC707 // 8 track synth and sampler
EU: thmn.to/thoprod/473348?offid=1&affid=623
US: imp.i114863.net/rvkmd
Novation Circuit Tracks // 4 track Sequencer & Synth
EU: thmn.to/thoprod/512775?offid=1&affid=623
US: imp.i114863.net/0kgRJ
Elektron Digitakt // 8 track sampler, 8 track sequencer
EU: thmn.to/thoprod/409950?offid=1&affid=623
US:imp.i114863.net/yDJYB
Elektron Digitone // 4 track FM synth + 4 track sequencer
EU: thmn.to/thoprod/431568?offid=1&affid=623
US: imp.i114863.net/4kOXL
NI Maschine+ // standalone sequencer/sampler
EU: thmn.to/thoprod/501389?offid=1&affid=623
US:imp.i114863.net/m69Yy
GOOD STARTER SYNTHS
Original Minilogue
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US: imp.i114863.net/2PbZM
Korg Minilogue XD
EU: thmn.to/thoprod/465932?offid=1&affid=623
US: imp.i114863.net/Rxg72
Cobalt8
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Argon8
EU: thmn.to/thoprod/473936?offid=1&affid=623
US: imp.i114863.net/0bKWL
Microfreak
EU: thmn.to/thoprod/457192?offid=1&affid=623
US: imp.i114863.net/ZknZK
Dreadbox Typhon
EU: thmn.to/thoprod/496419?offid=1&affid=623
US: imp.i114863.net/GPva6
Korg NuTekt NTS1
EU: thmn.to/thoprod/473592?offid=1&affid=623
US: imp.i114863.net/2OR10
Reface CS
EU: thmn.to/thoprod/368212?offid=1&affid=623
US: imp.i114863.net/PLJLR
HydraSynth
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US: imp.i114863.net/5b6MZ2
DRUM MACHINES
Roland TR8S (very versatile!)
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US: imp.i114863.net/PLJoR
TR6S (tiny!)
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US: imp.i114863.net/QBzL6
Analog Rytm MK2 (pricey but amazing!)
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US: imp.i114863.net/WjW7O
Pulsar-23 (a bit overkill for a beginner)
EU: thmn.to/thoprod/504302?offid=1&affid=623
US: bit.ly/pulsar23
Drumbrute Impact
EU: thmn.to/thoprod/444377?offid=1&affid=623
US: imp.i114863.net/LJod3
Do i need a sequenser if i buy Monologue and volca beats? I have a mackie 1220 mixer and a motu 8pre. But will not use my macbook no longer.
So, You not need a pc for make all work?
Terrific video-thanks! Can't wait to see the recording one (next in series-right?)
Yes the next is about recording. It’ll probably be out in september
Terrific-that will be so helpful!
Hi Bo. I was wondering if you could help. I'm trying to do a daw less setup using a deluge, volca drum and a circuit.
I have them all hooked up and working together but the bassline from the circuit isn't sidechaining with the drums from the volca so the mix sounds really muddy. Can you think of any way of making them sidechain. I was thinking maybe using the deluge to sidechain them but wasn't sure how.
Killer beat the first one
I know that this is older at this point but I know for me that I like having several sub mixers available to me when jamming out with hardware - it gives me easy group muting for things but I will admit that it’s a price many would not want to pay for but it is great if you can do it
interesting configurations....that micro granny makes some kewl noises. I really like the elektron gear but need to save up for a while to get one...not sure which although you have given me ideas on the digitakt. All the best to you.
I find this strange as I can't get away from the computer, I love it. I've always used computers to make music since C64... Amiga. These days it's computer + softsynth + hardware... 8 channels.
BTW, by 'this' I mean my inability to leave computer behind!
I really can't stand it, I just hate using DAWs. I've gone to great lengths to avoid them haha, probably should have gone with the type of setup in this video instead of going the eurorack route right off the bat, and I might end up selling my eurorack gear and running separate machines with a mixer.
But either way, I try to just never use DAWs at all. I work online all day and I hate messing around tweaking effects or selecting sounds with a mouse, need to twiddle knobs and de-screen for my own sanity!
I don't really like to control knobs with CC, it's often much convinient to use the ones on the synth/sampler/gear and you have the interface that's designed just for it! anyway just my opinion, I see how it can be really handy to use Midi that way
but automation! I have the BS2 and you can't automate the knobs.
Frank Rodriguez yeah with a BS2 it makes sense ! Now with m'y eurorack I modulate with CV, but when I had just hardware self contained stuff I never automated stuff
Amazing set up! Thank you so much man!
Great vid! So if I had 3 bits of gear with sequencers eg crave, mother, rd6. Would you use a beatstep or another central sequencer? Or just use the individual ones?
The jam with the cheap stuff sounds better to me ;)
Nice One! Liking the *music* in this one! Oh Yeah, I want those STEMS to remix, Bo! 🤗😁👊
Great video! But isn't there too much redundancy in setup nr. 1? Sending the Circuit, that already has its own master filter, through an external filter. And the Volca Keys, that has its own delay, through essentially an external delay. No doubt it sounds nice, but seems like a waste, especially if one was on a strict budget and/or spacial constraint.
I agree with you there Marc. The reason why I wanted the filter was to actually get a more gritty tone out of the Circuit, which sounds Hi-Fi, but for most people it is not necessary.
In your introduction it looks like the cover to a moon shaped pool by Radiohead in the background
Have you ever tried a setup that includes both a Circuit and a Keystep? I thought I had it figured out, but when I tried to connect to a laptop to record it all, the Circuit freaked out - I think because it's being fed overlapping clock from Keystep (midi) and the DAW (USB).
only we need got some mony now... good video to learn
Please could you explain what I could use the microkorg for
I heard that you need to use mini jack mono? is there any difference? How do you know which cable to use?
this is a very educative video, thank you so much, just watching your channel for one day i have learned so much, you have become my online tutor! what do you think of using an akai mpc live as my brain sequencer (mostly using samples since i feel is its strongest purpose) with an analog four by elektron as my main synth for textures and melodies using a midi keyboard in order to be able to play chords from the analog four?
WHO is the Producer of the Hub ?
Im in a position where im kinda tired of watching reviews of gear i dont have the geographical ability to try out myself. Im looking for a dawless setup and have a deluge and digitakt. Its a great setup but the type of orchestral synthwave i do hits thei limits far before i'm done. I need help, lol. Im going to get a digitone, digitone keys, and analog heat to round out the main set and provide a keyboard i can use, but id really like a few subtractive synths that will play well with what i have and not sound too disparate. Something with decent polyphony. What do you suggest? Peak? Deepmind? Dave smith stuff?
I'm curious what the advantage of the separate filter box is over the filter built in to the circuit?
Hi Bo. I have one question. I have such a problem. I use ableton as the main sequencer. Midi comes out of the computer via eMagic AMT 8 and my audio interface is Focusrite saffire 56 liqid. When I use drum machines with computer notes and vst u no lx the problem arises. The ableton sequencer sends notes at the same time to midi out and vst mini in. I know that ableton has a delay on every track and it is easy to compensate for this problem, however, when I send a midi from a machine via midi in to ableton a cruel drama begins. Everything is spreading out in time, not to mention that I also use drum pads from alesis d5 and then I can not hit the beginning or the proper tajming. How to deal with this topic .... Regards
So what are the 5 basic components thay make this type of setup? And what is this type of setup referred to a synthesizer ? (Sorry I'm a curious millenial)
could i conect an electric piano to those devices to us the piano as a synthesizer?
So I'm wanting to get into this. Is the Digitakt an audio interface that will multi-track out to a DAW? Or..
Can you output each instrument into a mixer that is hooked into a DAW?
I am a complete noob and trying to figure out things and what I need to start. I want to be able to multitrack record each individual sound in the sequence if possible for effects to master final song.
Hi Bo, what do you think about the Roland SE-02? You haven`t made any reviews on that one or am I mistaken?
I made a sound demo with some opinions on it. I might do a full review but its not a priority. I think its very good. But also a lot of other synths to choose from that does similar things
Dumb question.. but how do you control different notes on a synth with the novation circuit? Are the notes sequenced on the synths themselves or can you trigger both the steps and the note frequencies of your synths with something like a novation circuit?
Circuit can sequence the external synth. Also check todays video about the new Circuit Tracks. I show this! Coming later today so subscribe so you dont miss it :-)
I am fascinated by the music you make, but what I cannot figure out is how much is "live" and how much is pre-programmed (by you, or by the synth/sequence makers. How much of the composing is happening "off screen"?
It depends a lot on what I want to do. But for the most part i produce music and do not play live. So mostly its all sequenced
OK, then I have at least understood some of the tech (I am a real tech-nerd).
Would you say that you are using the synths as more as "composer tools" rather than what we traditionally think of as "Instruments"?
Another great video Bo! I like the concept of using a collection of hardware together to produce something unique. Currently I am using Logic Pro X as the sequencer for all of the hardware as that has seemed easiest for me to get the sound. I have a Beat Step Pro and a MonoMachine but just didn't feel the same level of MIDI flexibility using either to control the other instruments. Just curious on your view of using a DAW for sequencing vs. a dedicated sequencer?
Thanks!
I believe that a daw is superior in almost every way except for one: the fun factor!
@@BoBeats Good answer.
what do you think of Toraiz Squid in compare to Electran
Hi, can you advise me please. I have purchased a Arturia Microfreak & Novation Circuit....for the life of me i dont know how and what i need to be able to hear them...ie speaker, mixer or interface .....can you help pls?
Lst one sounds great
Hi Bo, I am new to music producing and i want to but a hardware synth but i am on a low budget. I am not sure whether i should get a beat box like the circuit or a Aturia Microbrute. Which one do you think is good for a new music producer?
Circuit for sure! Also check Electribe 2. And part 1 of this series for some more ideas
How much does it today?
The patch block minijams are discontinued, Is there other good alternative mixers?
Hey bro when you connect you hardware synths to guitar pedals .... do you just connect them directly or have some sort of gain staging device in between ? I'd like to connect some pedals to a microbrute.
Nice Video .... some good ideas here.
Hey! I usually just go synth into pedal into say a mixer or computer where I can add gain if need be
Oh okay ...... Seems pretty straightforward ..... Thanks.
What's the advantage of using an external filter on the Circuit as opposed to the big knob on the top right?
You don't have control over resonance with the big knob. It also adds character to the sound of the Circuit since the filter is analog. Other than that not much.
11:46 the best sound
What's the good small mixer for volcas that has a stereo for volca sample, or I don't really need stereo? Space is of essence so the smaller the better.
Hi Bo, great video, thanks for making it! Quick question: I currently own a Roland Tr-8 and would like to build a hardware setup with it. I’m currently choosing between the Minilogue and Minilogue XD for my first synth, but I’d like to know if these would serve adequately as the brain to this setup with the drum machine I have now, or if you suggest looking for a different synth (something like the digitone).
Anyone reading this is welcome to answer btw.
Cheers!
Do u have a setup with a Arturia key beat step pro ? And one with an electron cycle ?
Release that track Bo!
Bo would you buy a Roland jd-xi or a microkorg?
Looking good. Did you get some sun? Thanks for the video on non computer setups :)
Oh yes, I got a lot of sun! :) crazy summer
Have you released that dark lofi beat anywhere?
So I have a question. I’m thinking about buying a drumbrute impact. I would like to use it as my desktop drum pad as well as a stand alone drum machine. I was wondering if the sequencer and pads work well in a daw? I was also wondering if you can set the clock to external mid slave but then use the impact to control a drum kit in your daw. I manage to do this with circuit but it’s not perfect because I the sequencer doesn’t show each note individually on the circuit. Basically I like to make a sequence on my minilogue and set my circuit as the slave while controlling daw drum sounds. If that’s possible with the impact then I’m sold.
hmmm, I dare not say since I have not used it in this configuration. My gut tells me it should be doable, but as with all things "sync" and "midi" there can always be problems
BO where can I get this TouchOSC layout??
U know Bo- youre a genious ;-)
hah, heard it here first boys!!
Really useful, practical video, thank you once again Bo. I've two weeks off work next week and now I KNOW the garden isn't going to get done ! Now, where did I put that MIDI cable.....
I love your chanel!
Why don't you recommend a stylophone for a newbie? They are super fun, cheap, and somewhat easy to learn... just wondering.
Because they generally lack connectivity options
@@BoBeats wow, was definitely not expecting a reply so quickly. You're awesome Bo. And you're absolutely right. Thanks for doing what you do, I love your channel.
What does 1 Paul mean on the circuit
It is Circuit Nr 1. The first I got. He is named Paul. Circuit Nr 2 is named Barry. There is no relation to Paul and Barry in the UK. I just randomly picked the names :-)
thanks for helping! this is the vid i need. can i use the ableton push 2 as a brain?
push 2 is not stand alone so it wouldnt work for a hardware synth setup, but you can definitely use ableton live as the 'brain' for a setup
@@BoBeats okay thank you!
Hello Bo, I`m wanna to build a new setup. And I was thinking about Korg sample and Moog sub37. Do you think it will work together with audio interface if i want to record tracks, or does it need something extra? Thank you
Korg Volca sample or Electribe Sample? An Electribe + Sub 37 could work. A Volca Sample + Sub 37 seems super mismatched!
@@BoBeats Yes, I meant korg volca sample. I`m absolute beginner with it...:) Thank you
Great video! How can i sync my sub 37 to my mpc btw? The arp wont sync properly. Should i update the firmware?
Thanks! I don't remember this exactly but I have some vague memory of there being a sync setting for the arp in the menus. Try and see about that
BoBeats yeah i pressed sync... Ill check the forums,thanks.
Dope setups! Would love to remix the teaser track :-)
are midi mergers functional?
Hows that Se-02? sounds niceee
I have a circuit and i want to buy a yamaha reface dx. Does anyone know if it is possible to record the reface into the circuit through the midi connection?