New Dawless Live rig and Channel update
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- Опубліковано 27 вер 2024
- In this video I explain what's in my new live rig and how it's connected as well as a quick channel update.
#dawlessmusic #synthesizer #livemusic #digitakt #playdifferntlymodel .4
You can listen to more of my music here on Sound Cloud:
/ gregory-smith-654279921
I'm 51 , and going thru a similar process. Used to RAP. Things got BAD, then thing got worse, and then thing got better. LIFE, right? Years ago ; after battling depression, i decided to learn how to play guitar. Learning to play. You need a Metronome.
I thought it would be cooler IF i used a Lil Drum Machine. And that;s when the Rabbits called out.
Psst. Look down the hole. We have something for you. Several , Pocket Operators ,TR8S ,Volcas 707 and Syntakt later...
I want to do a LIVE SET etc etc...
It's good to realize someone else is going thru a similar thing. Good Luck
Life is a wonderful journey. This is all new to me but I feel like a child again and will never look back! Thank you for your support and may you be blessed in your musical journey!
I just watched the first 5 minutes and knew I had to subscribe, amazing content thank you for sharing your journey ❤
Thank you! It means a lot to me.
Great stuff. In my 50s too. I played as a guitar player when younger… but now just make music at home. Like you… agree, lot of fun. Have some similar gear too. Good luck!
Thanks. I'm having fun and it is so nice to connect with like minded people. All the best!
I liked what you said and the way you answered it. From now on following you and observing your progress. I feel somewhat identified by age and the idea of the channel. I hope you do very well.
That's amazing! Thank you. I'll do my best. It may be a bumpy start. I don't plan on editing out the mistakes but rather treat each video as if it were a live show. I will also try to show my face a bit more and talk to you all along the way.
You and me both man. Also a similar age and trying to go down a similar path. Good luck with it all! ❤
So nice to find so many of you around the same age and situation. Lets just have fun doing the work and enjoy the ride.
I’ve been playing Dawless for about two years now, did a few live gigs which is nerve racking but very rewarding. Love your set up I’ve dropped you a sub look forward to hearing your jams and live performances. PS I’m 49 we are never too old 😂😊
I love to hear that. Yeah I have some major lessons to learn ahead but what could be more exciting. Thanks for the sub and comments. Like you I'm looking forward to the journey.
Thanks for your honesty man. Looking forward to seeing live sets in your studio
Thanks for the comment. That's my next video. Should be up in the next few days. I'm just fussing with mapping some midi controller settings to make things much easier. Funny how you have to figure out the hard stuff to make things easier lol.
I hear you, my dude. Wishing all the very best for the future. Also, proper gear there, quite jealous of the microcosm. Still, one must remember, thou shalt not covert thy neighbour's synth😊
I love that! The microcosm is great but you need to really play with it to get the sound you want. For me it's more of a happy accident machine.
Have a sub! I felt you at the first minutes. I know how it feels standing in front of a crowd and never really felt comfortable. Your work gets put to the test and yourself as well in kind a way. in that sense we are very similar. I never liked to be in focus. I also enjoy it way
more to just doing the musical stuff, preferably behind a huge wall of gear 😉 i always try to remember myself - who really cares if you fuck it up.
you are usually way harder on yourself than any crowd could be. Thats the difficulty of a true artist to be allost never be satisfied with your work as that thrives you to put in more effort to get better. Thats normal i think.
Dontknow your music yet. Thanks for sharing your thoughts you put into your setup 😊
Thank you so much. Please have a listen to some of the music on my UA-cam channel. I think you will find something you enjoy. I make all different styles some real chill some more beat driven but they all have a bit of a chill vibe. Starting UA-cam has been the best medicine for my soul. Better late than never.
You just described a similar thing to my situation, my mother just passed away a couple months ago and now I'm finding being creative with music therapeutic so I've finally bought an AKAI MIDI Mixer DAW controller and Arturia Keyboard to create Dub mixes, chillout and other music. I really hope everything works out for you and I'll keep watching for your updates!
Sorry to hear about you mom. It takes some time to heal but you will. It's funny that you say you got an AKAI midi mixer. My next video ( if I get it done in time) will be about a live music showcase I attended last week. My favorite artist was using the AKAI midi mixer and Ableton. He killed it and it was only his second show ever. The AKAI was his only hardware other than the computer and he had it down. I interviewed him but it was all in Japanese so I have no idea what he was saying. I have to ask my wife to translate it for me. If not for this reason alone it may take a minute to finish that video. It is going to be a good one so I want to take my time and do it justice. Thanks for following and the comment!
@@SoulSearchingGaijin Amazing, thank you so much for the inspiration, all with this cheap £70 mixer! I have been pretty creative with it and the Arturia Minilab 3 already and I've only had them for a few days. You are really inspirational. I love your chill-out style. Broken and fuzzy like Lorn but with a funky twist. Thanks so much for the reply and kind words. :)
Well, nice to meet you! I stumbled across this video on my YT home page and have beeen watching it peering across the top of my rather more modest dawless setup here in Thailand. Last YT video I watched was with my teenage children over dinner - a food blog in Osaka! We’re planning a trip in October. Enough of a coincidence to merit a subscription and a catch up of some of your performance videos...
Thats great. Let me know if you make it to Osaka. I would be more than happy to show you a few of my favorite local spots. Thanks for the sub and hope you enjoy.
what a great insight to your life and your studio. A lot of good stuff incoming I am sure, I find myself a lot in what you are saying. I wish you the best, I am sure you will find great live place in Osaka
Who knows whats to come but I'm gonna video the whole F..ing thing. Thanks for the support my friend.
Thanks for this. I'm in a similar situation, setting up a studio and live setup in limited space. Your gear is in about the same relative positions I'm planning for mine which is good to see. Your ideas for routing and planning for live redundancy were cool too. I need to finalise my submixer plans and most importantly, decide where all the pedals will live... Good luck for your shows!
Thank you for commenting! Currently I'm away from my studio visiting my Japanese in laws. I can't wait to get back home and start to work out the kinks on the new setup. I'm really excited to start making some new music with it.
You seem cool, i'm here for the ride. Subbed :)
Thank you. I hope you enjoy the journey.
Inspiring video. Thank you for sharing. Good luck settling down in Japan. I am on a similar path and fingers crossed with be based in Tokyo from next year!
That's great news. I'm very happy for you. Japan has been a blessing to me. Please reach out when you arrive. I would love to meet up and talk shop.
I'm sorry for your loss.I've decided to play live solo too this year! Having a channel and getting into video editing I can relate that it took over from music for awhile.
Thank you for your kind words. I take it as inspiration to live my best life and in doing so honor those who helped me along the way. Life is a beautiful gift if you allow it!
Great post man! Similar story in many ways but much older. Im just getting into UA-cam and about to share my first music release from 09/23 in music video form. I have no followers, and dont plan to speak much about my channel. My goal is to let my channel grow strictly base on my art. Wishing you all and in the same place all the best! 🥂😎
You have a follower now my friend. I love to hear that. Don't be afraid to add yourself to your videos. The human element is what I feel can be lacking in these type of videos. I found that people actually want to hear what you have to say and you never know who is going to find value in your words. As long as it comes from the heart you have nothing to be ashamed of. Best of luck on your journey.
@@SoulSearchingGaijin Thank you so much!!! Really appreciate your advise! With my demanding day job, I fear I may not be able to dedicate meaningful time to my channel. But I will do my best to offer meaningful content. Best of luck again in your journey and btw, love that you have the model 1.4. Can't wait to get one soon 🙂
@@e.static_studio You will love it. It has this warm sound that you can really notice, not to mention it's very performative based.
@@SoulSearchingGaijin I've been wanting to get an analog delay reverb for my various synths. After looking everywhere, I could not believe I found the Doctor A by Audiothingies. Never heard of them till yesterday and apparently its discontinued. Incredibly, Reverb had one and had to get it after see many videos yesterday about it. Can't wait! Model 1.4 is to replace my DB2. Def next 🙏😊
@@e.static_studio That's great, I find new gear to be very inspiring. I'm sure you will create some beautiful music with them.
wow we share a lot. I recently dropped out of social media (I'm not a good self promoter either) and started this UA-cam channel to post my live dawless jams as well. Nice finding you man, good luck growing your channel
Thanks so much. I'm really only into UA-cam. You can keep the rest. If I were going after money or fame it may be a different story. I just want to share what I do and find so like minded folks.
Same as , 56 tho &only now getting into it after loving electronic music all my life, still getting home studio set up it’s been 2yrs &only now getting things set up ,thanks for vid🤘 &equipment you have is the direction I am heading sort of , have you seen dirtywave m8 great for journey s&trips👍, thanks again good luck ,😊🏴
You got this man. If I can overcome my insecurities anyone can. It's never too late. I feel like life is just getting started. I'm a major gearhead but am now forcing myself to use what I have. For so many years I always said "when I get this piece of gear.....". I'm only now realizing whats behind that and for me it was just procrastination and fear of failing. Life is too short to give a F..K about what others think of me. I don"t know how it will play out but that's half the fun. Much Love!
Dig the setup. Working on something similar and will be looking to your vids for some inspiration.
Glad to hear. I wish you all the best.
Full support! Keep it up!
Much appreciated! Thank You.
Great video dude! I’m a drummer too but also been really into producing/ wanting to do a live set. Love seeing other peoples set up too. I’ve been using the digitakt/tone and Octatrack as my main pieces.
Anyways, I subscribed and look forward to checking some of your stuff out.
I think you may have the perfect setup. Those three are all you need. I really wanted to get an Octatrack. Maybe one day. Thanks for the sub and I hope you enjoy the music in the vids I have posted and will post.
Love your mix of gear, I recently downsized most of my studio, but I kept my 404mk2 and make most of my music there and with vst in ableton. Just focusing on creating is where its at
I hear you. I suffered from "GAS" many times but now have a mission and a purpose for being consistent.
Your video came on whilst i was in the KAZI Rinseing the bleach out of my greying hair as i hit 50 last year and it takes about 10 years off your age
and Couldent believe what i was hearing as i might aswell have been telling my story in that i was also raised a Drummer as my father had a short
stint as a Jazz Session Drummer ..that he sacraficsd to get married , a desision that would slowly destroy him over time , but force fed me jazz lessons
as a kid and would stand behind me with both hands locked around my 10 year old wrists whilst ,, Art Blakey ,, would be brewing up a catagory 10 ,,
Jazz Storm ,, on my Dads 1970s sound stack Anyway ... without going into Biography mode i knew from as young as i can remember
that music would be my life , i dident know what form it would be until i swapped my battered Deumkit for a pair of 1210s in 1998 when finnaly i
had a reason to REALLY Use my Ridiculously large Vinyl collection you see , ive had ,, as a doctor put it ,, Crippling ADHD since i was Born ,
and because no one understood it back in the early 80s Everyone , most af all my father , thought i was just ,, misbehaveing all the time and that i
was simply a ,, Dunce ,, and couldent figure out why i could Never get past page 3 in any book , even ones i Really wanted to read , Simply put ,my attention span was Extreemly short , and would play an Unbelieably large part in what would happen to me over the next 35 years
Tune in next time for your installment of .....,, Jaffa ( Trouble ) Jenkins
My story is the same! My father was a talented young artist who passed up a chance to be an animator for Disney so he could become an Iron Worker and support his new family. He got back into art later in life but never reached his full potential. He was the only one who fully supported my music and I am forever grateful. I almost lived his same life but was blessed with this second chance. I'm going to do my best to honor him and the opportunity life has given me. Much Love and it's never too late!
My issue is connecting everything! I like that you are using submixers. But it would be great if you did a video on just how to hook everything up and organize cables etc
To be honest I'm the worst at organizing cables. Underneath my live rig is just a mess. It looks good from the top but not very well organized. As for my mixers they are pretty straight forward. Both sub mixers have there own channels in my main mixer. My main mixer has splitter adapters that i put on the output of my 2aux sends so I can send signal to several FX chains. This gives me 4 chords to send to different places(fxs). The problem with that is I can't separate for example my aux 1 send because of the splitter adapter I have on the output. so signal goes two places wether I like it or not. Same with my Aux 2. I use my Bus B output on the main mixer the same way with a splitter adapter to send signal to a rc202 looper and also The Soma Labs cosmos. Both those come back on the main board so I have to be careful not to cause a feedback loop on those channels. Every situation is different and I have changed my setup almost monthly as I gravitate towards different ways of playing. I hope this helps. I will try and do a bit more indepth video of wiring but for now am really focused on mastering playing live. There are much better channels then me for that sort of technical stuff. Best of luck.
Thank you for going through your setup so thoroughly. I am 56 and am on a similar journey now that our kids are at university. Could you please tell me what gigbox you've got everything in? Cheers! Happily subscribed to your chan.
I am using SKB vseries 4816 ATA Equipment case. i found it on BnH photo's website and had it shipped from NYC. It cost a bit more but I still have a hard time finding things here in Japan. My wife won't help me spend money here so I have to get creative lol. The. case is a bit deeper than I was expecting so I had to be creative in making a support structure too cushion the equipment and allow me to run cables underneath. I hope this helps .
Reply
Subbed. look forward to hearing some tunes :)
Thanks. That's whats coming next. I'm done talking for a while lol.
Always cool to see other setups. Interested to know more about your routing for your effects. Using a single mixer for the fx returns is something i have not tried b4. Do you send from the big six ?
I use both aux send from the Big Six and split one send into two mono lines that gives me three FXs chains. The returns go into the SSL Six submixer each on it's own channel. That whole submixer comes up on 1 channel of the Big Six. It's nice but sucks if you want to record all your fx's individually. To do that you have to make passes. The Big Six is great but has it's limitations as a audio interface with routing.
Hey - a cool new channel to follow. I'm already inspired too. I'm over 60 and a little lost in my musical journey at the moment. Am I too old to be even remotely relevant? I dunno. Lots of gear but no direction. I'll watch you go in your direction and see how it might influence me. Cheers from Vancouver.
I don't believe we are ever too old. As long as you love something you should do it. Thanks for the comment and best of luck with your music.
What a beautiful moment in your life! I wish you success and great satisfaction in your personal creation!
I feel the same. I am very blessed to be present and focused on the moment. My life's journey led me to this point and I will do my best to enjoy every second of it. Thank you!
so nice :D
Subscribed ❤️🌈🙏🏾
Thank you!
Why the digitone for the midi clock rather than the digitakt? Seems like there is a bit of daisy chain the control of the setup? Does that get confusing or put control in places where you need it?
I use the digitone as the master then split the midi signal into two/one goes to the digtakt which then goes to the sp404 as well as sequencing the 404 from the digitakt the other side of the midi sync goes to everything else and sequences the blackbox. It's a bit excessive but in the rare chance the digitone has an issue I can still run at least half the stetup from the digitakt clock. Also I have found in the past that too many things chained together can give me clock issues. This way I have everything as close as possible to the main clock output. I found this to be the easiest most reliable setup for my situation given the gear I have. To be honest I'm still learning new ways to configure this setup everyday and it changes almost weekly lol. I hope this helps.
🐺🔥🦌
Thank you.
Nice video!
Thank You.
You have a new subscriber 👍
I love it. Thank you!
What case are you using? Link, pretty please? :) I have a similar setup and haven’t found anything that big yet. I want to mount one onto a portable miter box stand.
I am using SKB vseries 4816 ATA Equipment case. i found it on BnH photo's website and had it shipped from NYC. It cost a bit more but I still have a hard time finding things here in Japan. My wife won't help me spend money here so I have to get creative lol. The. case is a bit deeper than I was expecting so I had to be creative in making a support structure too cushion the equipment and allow me to run cables underneath. I hope this helps .
😂 Thank you!
May I ask you a question please? I know you don't like manuals, so will over-explain. On the Playdifferently, there are headphone channels A and B. If you have signal going to A or B (i.e. the red A or red B button is pressed and there is sound going into the given channel) BUT the headphone level is turned down to zero, can you hear the crackling leak of audio? It should be like a horribly crushed version of whatever is going into the channel if you have this problem. I auditioned one Model 1 but left it with the seller because of this bug that we could not overcome despite him knowing the mixer very well, and we tried for a full hour. I am considering getting one but crackling in the headphones when queueing is a no-no. I just wondered if this was Model 1 / 1.6 issue or an issue with that particular mixer.
Thank you so much.
Thanks for your studio tour too! 🙂
Thanks for the comment. I will have a look into your question as soon as I get back to my home. Right now I'm at my Japanese in laws having a one week crash course in Japanese. My head is swimming!!?????!! I really hope this problem isn't an issue on this new mixer but honestly I've only had one day with it so I have no idea yet. Talk to you soon.
@@SoulSearchingGaijin In that case, domo aligato! You might want to get the plastic face plate, as it is famous for the print rubbing off. I have to say it sounds like nothing else, and the bug is only in phones A+B, the master out was clean as crystal.
@@RandomMalfunction Hello. I finally got a chance to look into your concern about the headphone que. I am happy to say that I have no issues with either cue A or B. I am very pleased with the mixer so far. It really does have something special about it's sound. I hope this helps.
@@SoulSearchingGaijin Yes, thanks, very helpful. Someone else helpful also wrote that he has heard of this issue but his mixer doesn't have this problem. I am pleased for you, not just for the mixer, but also because I imagine you are now fluent in Japanese...😉
@@RandomMalfunction Not by a long shot.
"Lost in the Sauce."
Like that huh lol. Daw's do that to me.
Pro tip... move to twitch dj new program. Enjoy 😎
Thanks for the info. I'll have a look for sure.
out of interest why did you go with the tone as master? Lovely set up, assuming that you're planning on using the mixer- it could be fun to put one of your other drum machines on the left of the mixer it would make more sense that way? Have fun!
I'm using the digitone as the master clock because the digitakt sequences the SP404 and I didn't want any issues with other devices and midi. Honestly noy even sure if that would be a problem but it just seemed easier that way. I hear you on the drum machine thing. I will be doing a new video soon updating the rig. It has changed a bit since the last video. I learned some lessons the hard way and made some adjustments.
God luck. I’m older than you and stealing moments to make music as we have two little ones. We do what we can mate.
Nice! Happy to see new faces and hear your still in the mix and enjoying your music. That's what life is all about. We deal with the cards given us but it's how you view it and respond that matters most. Much thanks for the sub and comment!
1 no chapters to make fit-gap of content you want to share with content I am looking for (i don't have much time left for the hobby currently - now spent 15min incl. Commentary)
2 good luck in Japan
3 i'm more the kind of "low budget production" Kind of guy but
4 always searching for the perfect immediate live rig (currently digitakt, uno synth pro desktop and koala on my mobile with keystep for midi keyboard duties - sometimes assisted by hydrasynth desktop, when mixer is available or keystep pro in case i need it)
5 your rig doesnt seem to be that portable
6 again good luck and your Video is much more proffesional than mine have ever been up to now
7 i'm a guitar Player starting to make electronic music when grown old as well
8 my5cent: try to find people to jam with, it helps me to optimize/find my perfect jam rig
Thank you for the advice and well wishes. I have been meaning to look into chapters as I know not everyone here is interested in my life story. Sorry if I took too long to get to the point. I understand how valuable time is and don't want to needlessly waste anyones. My sincerest apologies!
I agree with you on every point about my live rig. Over the past few weeks I learned some valuable life lessons. When I made this video I wasn't aware of how it may effect others in a similar situation without the access to such an extensive setup. I will be making a video later today addressing this and some other issues/lessons I've learned. My main goal in putting this video out was to hold myself accountable to my words and document my process. I foolishly wasn't aware of how this may effect others. Lesson learned.
I also agree with you about a more humble setup. Some of the best music I have made was done using several Korg volca instruments and a cheap Zoom MS-70cdr Multi FX pedal and a keystep.
As for the live rig it has already been reworked and scaled down a bit. I am well aware that it is large and not as easily transportable as say a backpack with a few pieces of gear. I am however not really looking to be a touring musician but rather face a fear of performing live and as I have a very broad musical taste I wanted something that I could grow into with maximum flexibility and master over time.
As for jamming with others I will be going to an event this weekend due to the kind invite from a new subscriber/live music promoter. I will be traveling with a group of international electronic touring artist and hope to learn some valuable lessons from that.
Once again thank you for your advice and well wishes!
@@SoulSearchingGaijin no problem, I just wanted to provide some feedback. Keep on rocking! It's good stuff you do.
@@SoulSearchingGaijinlovely set up. Love it. I have similar gear - my dawless is digitakt ii, sp404, mv1, microcosm and using a Tascam model 12 which is great for recording on the fly. I do have an MPC in my studio but my dawless is in my living room. Have you considered a pedal board (either two tiered or long board with bag or case for a synths and playing live? When the octatrack comes out with 128 sequences I’d consider that to handle many of the samples, and perhaps a fader fox for performance. Sp404 is great for transitions and one shots. It’s a great device. But yeah I’m thinking of considering some new equipment including an analog heat, and maybe some brains maschine plus or an akai force. The musician peaks at 64 so you’ve got plenty of time
@@wakinglife7065 I love your take on it all and the passion for the gear. I have more than I can control at the moment and am trying to wrap my head around making templates for all the devices so each sequence doesn't confuse me about where samples are lol. I am learning so much in this process. I have always used outboard gear but not in this way. I'm have been doing a deep dive into the black box and love it. I just need to finalize a system for what will handle what and figure out where the problems may pop up and the best way to avoid them.
Cool!
Thank You!
I will also follow you from this account because I like to change my two accounts.
You're the man. Thank you!
I look forward to watching as you go. I will be interested to see how you set things up and use them. I'd like to get out of the DAW at least sometimes also.
It has been the best thing for me to be honest. I feel more like a musician than an engineer when I use hardware. It makes me write differently and is so much fun. Thanks for following.
Thank you for sharing part of your world. Excited to follow along. Stay safe. Keep jammin!
Thanks for the interest and caring!
Hi!
I'm sure you've connected with some people in the local scene. But if you're interested in coming out to an event at Tobira Records in Kasai, let me know. Always interesting artists coming through.
That sounds great! If you can send me the details and location I'll let you know if I'm free to make it. I would love to meat some new people and get a fresh perspective. Thank you so much for reaching out and thinking of me!
you having any issues with noise with that setup? I'm doing something sorta similar but with the big6 (which I can see you have) instead of the 1.4
So far no. It hasn't been an issue. I am using a furman power conditioner stip so that may be helping.
Really nice studio and set up. I am 50 and I am setting up a dawless rig too. I wanted yo ask you what is the case you are using?
I am using SKB vseries 4816 ATA Equipment case. i found it on BnH photo's website and had it shipped from NYC. It cost a bit more but I still have a hard time finding things here in Japan. My wife won't help me spend money here so I have to get creative lol. The. case is a bit deeper than I was expecting so I had to be creative in making a support structure too cushion the equipment and allow me to run cables underneath. I hope this helps .
nice presentation and thanks for sharing personal info as well. Keep enjoying what you do and love! Best greetings from Germany ✌🏼
Thank you for leaving a comment and watching. It means the world to a small channel like mine. All the best right back at you from Osaka.
Thanks for saying hey. I’ll take a look around. Stoked to see your channel grow.
Thank you. I am so shocked by my channel growth all in a few days. It has giving me so much motivation for the long road ahead.
@@SoulSearchingGaijin I hear that. And I listen to more of your music and It’s so good. thank you. much luck and many blessings. To exciting momentum! Cheers✨
Thanks for sharing a bit of personal stuff, i think its important to explain how we get where we are when putting out content that might act as guidance and/or inspiration to others.
Youve got some awesome gear in that studio space, as a musician whos always struggled with balancing commitment to creative pursuits with the necessary evil of earning money, im always curious as to how people have actually paid for and afforded their equipment.
I think most of us making music by ourselves have a hard time with these kind of things and there doesn't seem to be much content out there that addresses the financial investment side of developing a professional sounding set up.
Also im super curious how you deal with noise, be it usb noise, ground loops, static etc - it feels like the more gear i get, the more noise i introduce to the set up, if you have any tips and advice on this id be eternally grateful.
Thanks again for sharing and being open, honest, ajd vulnerable - its not easy right?!
Keep doing what you love and sharing what you care about.
Liked and subscribed.
Thanks for the comment and kind sentiment. I have always been a saver. My previous work treated me very kindly. I was at one coffee company for 28 years and lived in 4 different cities opening cafes for them. I haven't had a car since I was in my early 20's. I also don't have kids or own a house. My wife also worked for the same company as me for 14 years. She moved up quickly also and made good money. We always lived in a studio apartment very close to work and cook a lot. All that and some wise investing in Crypto early on allowed me the luxury of this gear. Believe me I worked my a.s off for it. At this stage in my life I really wanted to invest in myself. Most of this gear I have owned for years but I did add some new things since arriving in Japan.
As for noise. It's kinda funny as I only have one power conditioner and many power strips plugged into it. I use something called Acoustic Revive YTR-4. I think I just got lucky as I always battled noise in the past. I hope this helps.
@@SoulSearchingGaijin Thank you, for the reply! I never doubted that there was anything less than a lot of hard work that went into what you've achieved - your channel, your music, your studio set up and your personality are clearly all things that you've worked really hard for.
I've watched so many you tube videos in search of guidance, advice and inspiration for building a reliable and professional sounding setup and sometimes it's disheartening to discover that the sounds I like the most involve a $20k investment in gear to achieve.
Sometimes the UA-camr will look to be about 25 years old but own a setup that I couldn't dream of buying, and one tends to assume (rightly or wrongly) that there's a financial safety net helping them achieve the sound.
Right now I'm making the most of Behringer gear and constantly searching for second hand bargains, trying to save what money I can to eventually purchase some better gear. Limitations can be strengths so I try to get what I can from the gear that I've got.
Thanks for the power conditioning tip, I will soon have to rearrange my rig (moving to a smaller apartment), at which point I will be doing my best to eliminate as much noise as possible, I do have a suspicion that my current place might be a contributor to some of the noise.
Thanks again for the reply, love the channel, there's nobody doing quite what you're doing and it's good to hear about your journey - I'm sure there's a lot of us that feels a bit lost and alone with our creative endeavours sometimes, very few people seem to have material on youtube that addresses those feelings, I felt that your authenticity and openness was really helpful and supportive, whether it was intended that way or not.
Keep it coming man!
From a thankful 37 year old based in New Zealand.
@@ChirpoTunes Much love and respect. I also think that for many years I was longing for the best equipment and often used the excuse of "when I have that piece of new gear I'll be able to make great music". I am not saying at all that this is your case just sharing my life experience. The reality is I wasn't at a point in my life, wether it be confidence or discipline, that I was able to commit to putting my music out there.
I must say what you see in my studio is a new found reflection for love of self and making up for lost time. I have always made music and some of my best was done on a bunch of volca instruments from Korg. I honestly feel uncomfortable showing my gear as I know how blessed I am to have this amazing collection of instruments.
I have overcome many addictions in my life but being a gearhead is a tough one lol. In the end you can make beautiful music on almost anything as long as you put your heart in it. I wish you all the best and thank you for your kind words. The inspiration to move forward and keep this up comes from comments like yours. All the best!
One hell of a spaceship cockpit there!
I have always been a bit of a gear head lol.
Why is it that the guys with $50K worth of gear always end up making "ambient" music?
First Thank you for the comment. That is something I never gave much thought too until now. I'll do my best to answer honestly and respectfully.
I wasn't born into money and everything I now have was earned through hard work and much sacrifice. With all due respect, I have busted my A.s in the rat race for more years than I believe you have been on the planet. In that process I had to learn many life lessons that humbled me and found myself face down in the gutter many times.
When I was younger I approached music with different expectations like popularity, money, a sense of self importance. I often criticized other musicians and was jealous of the gear they had. It has only been through my many life struggles that I have come to realize that in learning to love and respect oneself you learn to feel the same for others. Everyones journey is difficult and none should be dismissed.
I feel that with most older artists, if you still can hold onto that passion and don't let the world get the best of you this happens naturally. I feel a persons music or art is a reflection of their inner state of being. As I said before after many tough times I have mellowed and now value the simpler things in life.
My intentions on sharing my music on UA-cam are not in search of validation or money but rather a way of giving back to a troubled world that is in desperate need of some grace and harmony. I also feel that after a lifetime of sacrifice I owe it to myself to pursue my truest passion and in doing so might be able to inspire some others struggling in their lives.
I wish you the best in your life's journey, and may you bless the world with your unique very special gifts.
@@SoulSearchingGaijin You seem like a sweet guy, and I don't want to discourage you, but I do think that part of what you're looking for tends to get obscured when you have access to so much gear. It's the human element that makes for truly compelling music (this is true for both the artist and the audience) and when it's done well, it provides a conduit that leads both participants to a mutual understanding beyond what would otherwise be possible. For the artist, it is cathartic to know that he is being understood, and for the audience, it is fascinating to get a raw glimpse of another person, and to find that at the deepest level, they feel many of the same things that they do. The performance is a way of communicating: the instrumentation is the language, the arrangement is a narrative, and the notes are the words. The artist, presumably, has something to say, and if he is going to be understood, then his performance has to employ all three of those things: his "words" exist in the context of the "language", and become comprehensible based on the "syntax" of the arrangement.
Ambient music doesn't do any of this.
That doesn't mean that it's wholly uncommunicative. An animal can make sounds that give us some insight into its emotional state, but those sounds lack the precise communicative ability of language. Ambient music is very similar; an audience can tell you're trying to communicate something, but precisely what it is can't be discerned.
I suspect that a man that takes up music in his 50s (especially one living abroad) has a deep desire to be understood. I suspect that there is something he feels compelled to communicate, even if he doesn't know what it is yet, and maybe he's felt like this for a long time... maybe his whole life. Before he can do that - before he even knows what he wants to say - he'll need to learn a language. That language can be simple or complex, but whatever it is, he'll need to be fluent in it. Once he is, he'll find the words he needs to explain what he needs to explain, but until he does, he's just making noises.
@@lrgstmrg I'm intrigued by your words. Do you have any music I can listen to? I would love to here your music.
@@SoulSearchingGaijin Eventually. I'm new to this too, and having gotten a similarly late start (I'm 40), am still in the process of learning all this myself. Like you, I'm fortunate enough to have an abundance of free time right now, so I'm trying to make the most of it by practicing as much as possible. Realistically, I think it'll be six months or more before I'm ready to release anything, but I get a little closer every day.
Bc the microcosm is expensive.
Hi from another Greg, also in my 50s and also experimenting with a computer-free setup for music, based around a mk1 Octatrack. It's been a bit of a journey so far and it's always interesting to see how other people solve this "problem" and how it then evolves over time. Good luck with the trip to see the in-laws and I'm looking forward to seeing how your studio and work progress. All the best from chilly New Zealand winter.
Hey Greg nice to meet you. It's a journey for sure but one I have put off for too long in life. My trip is almost done and I can say my head hurts from all the Japanese but I am getting better everyday. I'm excited to get home and start working out on the new setup.
cool video!
I didn't understand why you need a sp404 if you have a digitakt, aren't both of them serving the same purpose -- samplers? I am sorry if it's a newbie question, but my assumption was that digitakt can do everything sp404 does.
I run the outputs of the digitakt into the inputs of the sp404 and use it primarily as a live fx unit. It really excels at that. I also use the sp404 to trigger a lot of different one shot samples that I use for transitions and quick fillers. In the end it is a bit overkill but I like to have the options. Thanks for the comment.
@@SoulSearchingGaijin thanks for taking time to explain it! I am using the same Zoom pedal as you and while I really like the FX it provides, the controls aren't very comfortable, so I understand why you'd go for another FX unit. I also have a sampler that doubles as an effect processor (Korg Electribe ESX-1) which I really like, because the FX are very digital lo-fi and sound very raw and gritty =)
btw can you sync the rhythm-based fx on sp404 to incoming midi?
@@galakhtus10 yeah, the tempo in the sp will listen to midi clock which is reflected in the fxs
@@galakhtus10 I hope i'm not responding to this twice but Yeah the zoom is great but tricky to navigate. I also had a Blue metal electribe, forgot the model but I think those will be classics if not already.
Hey just randomly came across this channel.. Very keen to see your journey. I'm in a vaguely similar (albeit different position). 37.. I've been playing with studio/synths/etc for most of my life, but went down the career rabbit hole (IT), during which I continued to learn about music, but never felt like I had the mental energy to create after work. I started down the live music path after feeling like I wanted more than just DJing. The ability to react in the moment, create stories/experiences. Anyway, this year I finally worked up the courage to quit my job, and went back to university to study music. (Not so much about wanting to get a degree, more about being able to receive study payments from my government to survive). My biggest problem now is choice paralysis. I have collected a lot of junk/gear over the years, and despite being sold on the idea of 'zen' setups being the ideal, struggling to put that into practise.
I have a hard time deciding on gear myself. Since this video I have learned a few lessons the hard way and made a few changes. In the end I just use what I like the most and enjoy. It's all a big process.
Life is so short and I admire your courage to be open and honest about where you are at in life and your setup….which is pretty cool…lots of choice paralysis for me personally . I love all the gear but I’m old school and have had so many set ups and tear downs ! Best of luck!
Thanks for the comment. Like you My studio has and is in a constant state of change. Even if I just move things around to be more ergonomic, it hardly stays the same for more than a few months lol.
4 inputs are digitakt, digitone, sp404 and monosynth?
Inputs are digitone, Sp404( digitakt is plugged into the sp for performance FXs) erica synths lxr 02, erica synths bassline in stereo after hitting a delay pedal.
This setup has morphed quite a bit since that video. I have removed the microcosm and the two eric synths devices. Added in their place a 1010 music black box and fader fox uc4 midi controller, change the position of the zen delay and added a memotron modual for dedicated key sounds. Have a look at my newer performance videos using that rig and you will see the changes.
Check out ua-cam.com/video/oNbLFzbD-x0/v-deo.html titled, Things I learned the last two weeks
This has the new rig and reasons as to why it changed. The videos after that one you can see me performing on this new setup.
@@SoulSearchingGaijin
Ive got similar setup. Would the 6 channel version be a better option now youve had time to play with it for a while? Ive got an mc707 which i could use as an secondary mixer and maybe get away with only 4 channels.
Good luck btw. I live in bangkok !
@@williamwallace6508 I f you can afford it and have the room get the six channel. I love the mixer and it sounds amazing. Thanks for the sub. I just traded in my mc707 for the digitakt 2 upgrade. That was a great piece of kit. I forget if you can use the performance fxs on the external inputs but if you can that would be great. That's what I mainly use the sp404 for in my setup. You will love the mixer!
@@SoulSearchingGaijin
Haha because i was planning on getting a digitakt but now prefer the model 1!.
Yes the 707 can use as external effects processor. The other gear im planning on hooking up to the model 1 is thr sp16. That thing has the best ui and sound quality of any mixer;)
Cheers 😅
This is cool man, good for you, love it - don’t give a shit, you got balls, respect
I started with live music cause of the same overwhelming and annoying computer based paradigm
You are definitely a gear head hehe. You are indeed a meticulous dude; you got it
@@ketama047 Thanks. I love me a new piece of gear. I'm having such a good time and am so happy to find a community on youtube. It means the world to me for inspiration/motivation.
Nice one. Please continue to share your journey.
Thank you.
Super jealous of your living situation. As far as your setup goes. I'll say I was super bummed when I learned that the Zen delay doesn't allow you to dub with it. The erica synths acid box seems to be one of the best desktop analog filter effects box on the market. Look at either the Endorphins Golden master, the OTO Boum, and the Elektron Analog heat as far as desktop compressor pedals, although the G bus compressor on the Big Six is better than all the compressor effects pedals that are on the market. I feel that the two best dub delay pedals on the market are the strymon el capistan, and the Benidub BBD delay pedal, and I know I'm not alone on that opinion of both. I own the LXR 02. I've owned both the Sp404mk2 and the digitakt one. Contemplating getting a Sp404mk2 again. I had sold it to get an MPC One and that offered way more features, but the workflow was frustratingly slow imo. It suffers from trying to be everything and, as the saying goes "When you try and please everyone, you end up pleasing no one." It also has some completely broken features in the Firmware, like the audio track record feature, and the I/O expansion feature where you can connect a class compliant audio interface or USB multitrack mixer to add additional I/O works for some products, but who knows if it still will after the next update, and who knows what known working devices on the community list on MPC forums have been validated for what firmware, but nobody cares about those things. Rolling out new features is more important than fixing problems with the features listed on the most current firmware release notes. Never mind that those broken features are listed on every website, including their own, as features offered within the machine. Sorry for the rant, but anytime I bring up the MPC's bugs someone seems to come out of the woodwork to refute my claims, so I would just rather lay it all out here in one shot than get notifications from ppl leaving comments trying to say otherwise. The ipad probably has the best options on the market for samplers, and live loopers, and yes you can connect midi controllers and sequencers to ipads so you don't have to use the ipad itself as the UI, and you can midi sync it as well.
Also subbed.
Thanks for the sub and the rant. I don't mind. I do have a Golden Master on backorder for a few months now. I'm very excited about that. That will be the finishing piece in the live rig. I also looked at the Benidub. I liked it when I saw it on @OoraMusic. At the moment I'm tapped out on gear funds and am incredibly grateful for everything I own. I spent many years busting my ass not doing music to build this setup, now I find myself having an opportunity to pursue a life long dream and am just going for it. I don't even know what style of music will come out. In the end I'm only trying to be true to what's in my heart and not worry about pleasing anyone. If I can pull that off I'm sure I'll find my audience.
@@SoulSearchingGaijin it's all about if you're satisfied with how you feel about what you're making, and the progress you have made since you put your head down and made it a priority. If nobody else likes what you do it doesn't matter. How many artists of various disciplines throughout history didn't get the recognition they clearly deserved in their lifetime? Probably more than the amount that got that recognition during their lifetime, and how many artists do ppl say that were ahead of their time? None of those artists worried about what other ppl thought, or they would have been putting out contrived carbon copies of the same thing as everyone else at the time.
@@donnydarko7624 I hear you man that's exactly how I feel about it. Thanks again for the inspiration and support!
Nice rig and nice studio! Thanks for sharing and fingers crossed 🤞for your upcoming live performances in Osaka
Thanks for the comment. I'm keeping my fingers crossed also. I have a lot of work ahead but am looking forward to the process. Your music is great. I really like the chill vibe.
@@SoulSearchingGaijin Thanks!
As someone that's been in and out of music production / live jamming and moved country 3 times i feel you. enjoy your journey :)
It's a little scary but I am having a blast. Thanks for the comment.
@@SoulSearchingGaijin Thinking outside the box always is :)
Thanks for your insights.
My pleasure.
Nice Setup. Now all you need is the Perkons... !
I would love one. I have no more space and my wife would kill me lol.
@@SoulSearchingGaijin I stopped using most of my Elektron boxes after I realized the Perkons does everything the same if not better. Im running it through 1.4 as well... The greatest dawless mixer.
@@SoulSearchingGaijin after getting the 1.4, did you secretly regret not getting the 1? Somehow Im glad its only 4, but I have enough room on the desk for more fun!!!
@@RoeJogan I agree about the mixer for sure. I still love my elektron boxes. I have worked with themfor a long time and fel really comfortable with the workflow. I love the sequencer. One day when I have a bigger space I will get one if finances allow.
@@RoeJogan I would love to have more channels but I am in a bit over my head with the amount of gear I'm working with live now. I find it's pushing me to get the most out of what's in my rig. I am learning so much about the gear that I never knew and started to incorporate midi controllers which opens up a lot of doors. Anyway I having the time of my life with this setup. I couldn't say enough good things about this mixer. It is incredable.
Nice job 🎉
Much appreciated. Thanks.
Ugh. No.
What's perfect for me may not be for you that's fair. What's in your rig? I don't see any content on your channel.