Help me pick hardware

Graffix · Post by **Graffix** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 3:56 am

I'm not sure what I need to make dubstep/juke/electronic remixes & DJ. This isn't anything I'm taking on the road more or less just a living room setup. I plan on working with Live, FL Studio and Reason (open to more suggestions) the last thing I've worked with was cooleditpro

. Now I know people are going to say it honestly doesn't rely as much on equipment as it does on the user and I completely agree, I just want a simpler hands on approach to a lot of what I'm going to be doing (I don't want to be adjusting knobs and trigger real time via software). As of right now I just picked up the latest (to date) Macbook Pro. And before I get flamed I've done a lot of reviewing reading up and I'm still up in the air with what I need. I've looked at everything from: faders, mixers, midi controllers, pad controllers, synthesizers etc.. And just don't know what I'll use and what I'll be looking to unload on craigslist in a month. Any thoughts suggestions, budget is $1000 - $1500 on hardware with some play.

chewie · Post by **chewie** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 4:24 am

If you've just got a MBP get logic homie, especially if your moving over to a new daw. Ableton's also real good but not as stable in my experience. I use both but ableton more for intial "sketching". No realtime rendering which can be a pain in the ass for things like the Virus TI.
As for hardware I reckon you should keep the synth work in the box with something like massive at the start, so you can get your head around sound design before you go shelling out on hardware.
But if you do want some neat hardware for workflow look at NI Machine and the Virus TI snow ( you could probably find a 2nd hand one on ebay)
Trust me both of those are dope.

soosh21 · Post by **soosh21** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 4:29 am

Any daw will do. Live is great as is logic. For a more hands on approach i would suggest looking into NI maschine, its a great sampler and can also host 3rd part vsts. I The Korg KP3 is amazing.....you can make great sounds out of anything, handy for live situations as well and for dj'n.

soosh21 · Post by **soosh21** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 4:33 am

for $1500 you will easily be able to afford a brand new NI maschine, korg kp3, and still have 700-800 left over to buy some tasty plugs and/pr hardware synth. You will probably need some sort of midi keyboard to play soft synths or you can pick up a nice second hand anaologue synth - i have the mircokorg/alesis micron , you can get them on craigslist for around $200-300. The NI maschine can also be used as a midi controller and theres good templates for lots of programs- ie live/massive/ etc etc.

Graffix · Post by **Graffix** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 5:08 am

Thanks for all the replies, I had been looking at the KP3 and Maschine think I'll consider them a for sure. I had been considering the Akai MPD32, Akai APC40 & Korg nanoKEY and was looking at a synthesizer but am leaning towards the recommendations now that I've searched more VS threads between the Maschine & Akai's. What's a good used rate for a Maschine? Also do I need to look into faders/mixers if live dj'ing?

Graffix · Post by **Graffix** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 6:05 am

Is the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol X1 worth considering. Also Microkorg vs Korg Kaossilator? I'm sure these are way 2 different pieces of equipment but would I be better suited with the Kaossilator & the new NanoKeyboard when it's released?

soosh21 · Post by **soosh21** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 6:19 am

microkorg and kaossilator are completely different. If your getting a nano keyboard and are buying some soft synths you wont need the microkorg. The kaossilator is great and i would highly recommend, its fun to play as well. If your going to use abelton live, you cant really go wrong with akai apc 40. If your planning on buying ni maschine you wont need an akai mpd32, as the maschine doubles up as a midi controller.

With your budget i highly recommend the kp3, maschine, apc 40 and a cheap usb midi keyboard....and a soft synth such as massive etc. Or have a look on craiglist and find yourself a hardware synth bargain....that should free up some money as you wont need to get soft synths, and nanokeyboard.

soosh21 · Post by **soosh21** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 6:23 am

fwiw your probably spending way too much money initially...i would buy one or two things and get used to them before you buy everything. everything ive described has a learning curve and you may be put off making music if you buy everything at once. Having said that i buy new gear all the time and cant really help it....so all is good! I hope you already have a decent soundcard as this will be your most important purchase to allow you to play all these things!

nowaysj · Post by **nowaysj** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 7:48 am

This is madness. That was in all caps, too lazy to press the button.

Do what you want to do, then when you can't do something, try to find a way to do it with what you have. If that doesn't work, figure out what does do what you want, try to figure out who does it best for your needs.

I'm not trying to be insensitive to your extreme GAS or legitimate needs, just take it step by step.

If you don't know what you need, you don't need anything.

Graffix wrote:I'm not sure what I need to make dubstep/juke/electronic remixes & DJ.

This seems to be the case.

benjam · Post by **benjam** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 10:27 am

This ^
If youve got a mac you should have garageband. Just mess about making drum loops and some simple synth lines. Check out you tube tutorials and follow them. I understand what you mean though because every spare bit of cash I have I want to spend on production toys. But honestly if your not sure what you want you dont need anything. If your gonna buy a load of shit regardless though think about getting a pair of decent monitors ( couple of hundred GBP ) and maybe a small midi keyboard (another hundred). But check out the studio pics thread theyres people with just a lappy and headphones making properly amazing music. It aint what you got ...

Airr · Post by **Airr** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 11:01 am

Graffix wrote:Thanks for all the replies, I had been looking at the KP3 and Maschine think I'll consider them a for sure. I had been considering the Akai MPD32, Akai APC40 & Korg nanoKEY and was looking at a synthesizer but am leaning towards the recommendations now that I've searched more VS threads between the Maschine & Akai's. What's a good used rate for a Maschine? Also do I need to look into faders/mixers if live dj'ing?

Don't get the nanoKEY, the keys are laptop spacebars turned 90° :/ with that budget you should invest in a good midi keyboard

Graffix · Post by **Graffix** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 2:21 pm

Again I really apppreciate all the posts and I'm not looking to start a studio a week from now but I would like to have a more hands on approach with this. I think to start with I'm going to pick up the KP3 & Maschine (if I get the Maschine this will take the place of the APC40 correct?). I had looked at a few external sound cards but dont have them in front of me (I'm on my phone) but am open to any and all suggestions.

darkartois · Post by **darkartois** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 2:36 pm

I say the same thing in every hardware thread. I <3 <3 my little phatty and mopho KB. I highly recommend both

Graffix · Post by **Graffix** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 2:58 pm

sorry double post

bassinine · Post by **bassinine** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 5:18 pm

i agree with the Access Virus Ti Snow and a midi controller.

I bought my TI Snow about 3 weeks ago - it's like god, but real.

Ldizzy · Post by **Ldizzy** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 6:16 pm

im sorry to be the one to do this but, why is it exactly that u want hardware over soft? u need to have a precise answer for that...

sounds like u need full on hands on experience...

if u want to go completely out of the box its gonna take years, thousands, and a lot of practice to get the same results than what ud get itb as a novice..

id DEF start on software nowadays.. and spend that money on :

- your favourite daw
- a GOOD midi controler
- a pair of monitors
- a couple of legit vsts
- another GOOD (different) midi controller.

amen.

nowaysj · Post by **nowaysj** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 8:01 pm

^ Hybrid, but software has to be the base unless you are rich ass.

Graffix · Post by **Graffix** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 9:12 pm

Yeah looking to go hands on and budgeted this in. I do HVAC for a living so not rich and work hard for the money I bring in and this is what I want to spend it on. I appreciate all replies but I didn't title the thread hardware vs software, I'm open to suggestions but from what I've already read and working with full software in the past I wanted to go more hands on. Not necessarily clutter myself as far as learning too many controllers but to make life somewhat easier in the long run especially if working in real time.

nowaysj · Post by **nowaysj** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 9:40 pm

Okay, mc909 then. Synth, sampler, sequencer, fx. All in one. $300. Can't beat that.

Graffix · Post by **Graffix** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 10:12 pm

After all reviewing I'm going with the Korg KP3, the NI Maschine, some monitors and going soft with Massive (for now). Still up in the air with a good external soundcard though? Also didn't mean to come off as a dick I appreciate all the time everyone took to drop a post and especially those who wanted to save me money

great forum can't wait to post up some reviews and music (in time).

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