Hi everyone, I have a little thought experiment that I’d like you to partake in. I’m always GASing over new gear, and I end up thinking a lot about what I would start with, now that I have almost completed my studio setup, and I end up choosing something completely different from what I have right now.
The question is as follows: If you were starting from absolutely nothing, what setup would you buy, with 1000€ (or equivalent) max ?
Obviously there are a little rules to keep it fun :
You have to justify the price of each item you chose (with a link to or just the name of the store if you can)
Use the prices from were you currently live.
No used gear. (because otherwise it would be too easy)
If you go with a daw setup you have to include the price of the software and computer you choose.
Same with an Ipad setup.
If you could add a description of what (or how) you would make music with it would be perfect.
Cables and listening gear are omitted for convenience, otherwise it gets too complex.
as octatrack is to pricey, digitone + micromonsta
(2 tracks percussion, 2 mono synths, 1 polysynth should be enough for techno, house, synthwave, etc.)
(i left out obvious things like cables, monitors and headphones)
It lacks sampling and a recorder, but anyway, that would be my set for 1k euros.
I used to have a Volca Sample in the beginning, when budget was thin. Gave me huge bang for the buck with a Moog MF Drive, Strymon BlueSky and a modded Monotron Delay. Well under 1k too, but I guess you could make some budget cuts on the effects and get another synth.
Nowadays I’m mostly looking for a completely portable setup. So that’s what my choices are based on. Also my quest for a portable multitrack looping device is a huge factor in this setup.
AKAI MPK Miniplay (122€) : Very portable controller and good for a variety of drum and general midi sound. It’s not high quality but does the job well enough, and sounds are a bit editable (attack/release/filter/reverb/chorus/Eq).
1010music Blackbox (629€) : For sampling and recording mostly. I was hesitating with the Digitakt but the blackbox seems more convenient for a portable setup). Also it has a usb host port so i can connect the Miniplay for control. I’d swap it, if anyone releases a portable multitrack looper/fx though, like the RC-505 in a smaller format.
AKG K-240 (49€) : Not the best headphone but I have it and it sounds good enough to me.
Belkin Star (18€) : To merge or split signal between multiple sources/output. Always handy.
Reverbalizer (60€) : Intriguing multieffect that I’d like to try on the Miniplay
Portable battery (30€) : To power the blackbox and reverbalizer via USB port.
Ripcord (15€ didn’t find the exact price with VAT) : For plugging the reverbalizer to the battery
Total : 923€ Which leaves some money for cables if needed and maybe a monotron delay for the fun.
I probably could replace almost everything with a Synthstrom Deluge (800€) a really cheap guitar (80€ on thomann) and a Zoom G1xfour for (99€) for the guitar Which would leave 20€ for headphones and cable.
This but spare some weed money for a different kind of weed, variety is nice. And quality headphones because quality monitors is too pricey for that budget anyway, I guess.
I don’t actually own any of these, and if I was doing this for real I’d probably go with an iPad and apps, or just a load of Volcas or POs, but just to mix things up a bit, and with 10 cent to spare, you get drums, two synths, a mic, mixing, recording and monitoring. Taxes, shipping and cables included. For my convenience, I went with Thomann for everything. You could probably save a bit with some shopping around.