Ableton Live to DAWLESS - What I Bought, Sold and Kept!

[@matejzajacik8496]

Beautiful presentation with the paper "hardware" pieces, what an idea! Very interesting to listen to all this. Thank you!

[@whirrings]

Thank you, really appreciate the kind words, glad you enjoyed it! 🙏

[@bobsalazar6762]

Your presentation values are amazing. This is so cool and accesable for other home music tinkerers.

[@christernuutinen]

Thank You for the really interesting and helpful video about your experience with different instruments. GearTube tends to be rather geared (!) towards new instruments, and your retrospective and very down to earth approach was refreshing indeed!

[@whirrings]

Hi Christer, great to hear that you liked the video, thank you for your feedback, very appreciated! 🙏

[@CartoonCityKid]

This was great and isn't talked about much! It's not always GAS! It's about trying things out and learning that some gear doesn't click how you thought would, or how some gear unexpectedly clicks!

[@analog_jono]

Great video, very inspiring to hear your journey with music gear. Also good to hear that you sell gear you don't use/gel with to avoid GAS. Just a quick correction at 14:36 where you talk about the Microfreak filter. It does have an analogue filter, but its just shared across all four voices in paraphonic mode i.e. if you press one key whilst holding another and there is a filter envelope it will retrigger it. The Minifreak solves this by having a filter for each of the voices if you need true polyphony.

[@whirrings]

Thanks for watching, do you have a MiniFreak, if so how do you like it? 🙌🎶

[@axelcodr]

Brutally honest and valuable video! Thanks for sharing!

[@rayderrich]

A lovely journey so far. We all arrive at our music making in different ways, and your story was very nice to listen to and watch, so thank you.

[@whirrings]

Thank you Richard, great you enjoyed my video, thanks for taking the time! 👍

[@wendelynmusic]

I love the Microfreak also! first synths I bought was the model cycles and the microfreak. Cycles is long gone but I still have the Microfreak and still love it.

[@remyvegamedia]

That was really enjoyable to watch. Really made me look at my journey with less annoyance over my buying/selling and realize it's been valuable to learn what method I enjoy most for making music. I started 21 years ago on Pro Tools using samples, a MicroKORG, and Boss DR-5 drum machine. I used Logic Pro for about 7 years then added a Prophet 08, keyboard workstation, and used an SP404SX for effects. I don't think I ever really enjoyed producing within the DAWs I used. In 2022 I started trying hardware then got Ableton with a Push 2 and that was a big inspiration, but ultimately it ended up just being mostly time spent with trackpad/qwerty keyboard all over again. As much as I prefer Ableton over any other DAW, I still prefer writing music, doing sound design, experimenting, etc. with hardware. I've come to really enjoy the MPC I just recently got. It's similar to a DAW (technically it is a DAW) but it's much more hands on and that does a lot for me. Anyway, I'm looking forward to checking out more of your videos and music!

[@whirrings]

Thank you Remy for watching and sharing your own story. It's great to hear you enjoyed the video and it was helpful to you! 🙌🎶

[@Boehmrunner1]

I really enjoyed hearing your journey thus far! It is indeed a never-ending one, isn’t it? I love Arturia’s products. The mini freak is indeed an amazing piece of kit and so portable!

[@erikpiehl1764]

Thanks for sharing your experiences, I really enjoyed hearing about your journey. Need to listen to your music next😊

[@whirrings]

Thanks so much for watching! 🙏

[@Marcelrocha884]

Thanks for sharing your quest! Very useful!

[@whirrings]

Hi Marcel, thanks for watching glad you found it useful! 👍

[@TheUnperson]

Very enjoyable video! And I totally agree that it's very difficult to pinpoint exactly why a piece of gear resonates with you.

[@BillNewsinger]

Really interesting to see. Love the work that you’ve been doing with the modular that I’ve heard on Bandcamp and Substack. There’s a lot to be said for not having lots of gizmos. I’ve been overwhelmed at times over the years and eventually stopped altogether. I’ve picked things up again very recently and have found myself going with the iPad and the Iconnectivity interface so I can hook it up to my computer and bitwig etc. It’s been such a different experience - also so much cheaper to add plugins and synths. And I love touch screen instruments like Samplr and Borderlands. Look forward to seeing what you conjure from your modular setup.

[@whirrings]

Hi Bill, thanks for that feedback, I really appreciate it. I've never explored the iPad/iOS music world there's definitely some very interesting software, good luck with it all. I too become easily overwhelmed if I don't keep things very simple, limitations work well for me! More modular work coming soon! 🙏

[@Nexon44444]

Hey, great idea with presenting the synths you sold on cardboard

[@CCNutritionist]

Great presentation. Really enjoyed it. I am mostly guitar based with vsts in GarageBand and I'm going to try a couple of small hardware pieces to learn synths. I find the synth vsts to just be too much information. I want to get Hands-On. Looking at the Donner b1 because I love that 303 sound and the Roland S-1. Those and a midi controller and I'm looking forward to the new year!

[@whirrings]

Thanks for watching and good luck with it all! 👍🎶

[@MattPerrin]

Really valuable listening to how you discovered your own personal flow. Most KZbin music production videos are just promoting the new hot thing. It was a hard mental pivot for me to actually commit to selling my unused gear, but it's become easier as I've developed my own flow and realized that it's okay to let things go that get in the way of it.

[@whirrings]

Thanks Matt, really appreciate you taking the time to comment and it's great my video resonated with you. I agree that if you're not using something it does get in the way, better to recycle and keep it lean, there are so many different and exciting things out there to try! 🙌

[@omnichannel6842]

appreciate the video! my journey is kinda the inverse of yours - i've been dawless for 20 years and am now looking to get a DAW! or hybrid setup. good luck and i look forward to seeing where you go from here :)

[@whirrings]

Hi and thanks for tuning in! It's so interesting just how many different routes there are through all this! 👍

[@CorbenEdward]

Cool video! We all go through and still are going through this journey and it's different for everybody, nice trip! That Soma DVINA looks awesome and I am thinking of making one for myself. I currently have 2 Morin Khuurs, one is a nice acoustic Mongolian one that is about 30 years old and sounds incredible. The other is a practice model that I got off Ali Express and put a contact pickup on to for using effects. They both play great and sound amazing. Thank's for sharing!

[@roscoeswraps2510]

Thank you for sharing your experience! I really enjoyed watching this. Definitely useful and pleasant to watch

[@whirrings]

Thanks very much, I'm glad it was useful to you! 👍

[@marcadonna_beats]

Beautiful Video of your journey 🙂 I am at the same point, to come „out of the box“ and was buying my first hardware synth. Now I am looking for a good sampler with good sequencer and will try out the smpltrek by sonicware 🙂

[@whirrings]

Thanks of tuning in and good luck with your own journey! 🙌🎶

[@PeaceDub]

Always nice to have some gear u connect with. I recommend trying different gear at synth stores or friends gear to get a feeling of it. 💜

[@nsiivola]

Really interesting journey. I actually expected you to talk about the Tascam mixer we see behind you as well :)

[@whirrings]

Hi thanks for watching. Yes, I stuck to the sound making gear for this one but I think a video about the Tascam Model 12 is definitely overdue... 👍🎶

[@rolymiller]

Really creative way to take us on your journey, lots of work but it kept me watching to see the next steps. It makes me think it’s time to sell some of my gear

[@whirrings]

Thanks for tuning in Roly glad you enjoyed it! 🙌

[@brunodadivore9606]

Hello and thanks for having shared. I liked to watch cause had a similar journey in 4 years starting from a classical piano and picking style guitar 50 years background. And now after having sold a lot I kept a Elektron Samples, a Roland MC101, a UnoSynthProX and a Korg OpSix. But also two pianos and a dozen of guitars. This last OpSix machine is really a good combinaison of a melodic gear and sound design ones, very clear and simple to use, sort of modular approach in the variety of what you can create and very musical. Among gear I bought and resold and that I enjoyed, let me mention the Yamaha MODX, the Korg Kross2, Elektron Digitakt and Model Cycles. What I have learned so far is: I cannot replace the pleasure to play a "real" instrument and I bought a bass and spent two years of private courses to understand and play.

[@whirrings]

Hi Bruno, thanks for tuning in and for sharing your own journey and thoughts, much appreciated! The Korg Opsix definitely looks like an interesting piece of gear, love to try one of those! 🙏

[@moving_particles]

nicely put together video and cool to hear your take. It would be interesting to see how your process now works with Ableton in more depth, and to know about the tascam sat behind you. thanks for this.

[@whirrings]

Hi, thanks for the feedback, very much appreciated. I've had a few people ask about the Model 12 and how I use it in my process so I will do a video on it in the near future. Is there anything in particular that you want to know, are you thinking of getting a Model 12 or just interested in hybrid setups? 👍

[@Marco-ek8wu]

Been on a similar journey myself with a 20 year break. I’ve now got a push 3 (controller), Mac mini running live suite 12 and a Akai APC40mk2. This for me is the perfect balance between hardware and software. Also got omnisphere, diva and dune 3 with plenty of presets for those lush analogue sounds. I did have a more recent cheeky buy - Akai MPC Live 1. Gave it a new skin, knobs and a ssd drive. Also got Jura and Mini D on the sale. It’s kind of my couch machine, sampler and sound module to compliment Ableton Live. So far, just had my first track signing with a label due out next month and plenty more on the way. Workflow and sounds are so important. I also recommend a decent pair of headphones, mine are beyerdymanic DT990 pro x. Not cheap but money well spent.

[@whirrings]

Hi Marco, thanks for watching and sharing your own story, much appreciated! Good luck with your release. 🙌🎶 I use DT990s too! 🎧😎

[@aasheehy]

What a great overview of your journey-thanks for sharing!

[@whirrings]

Hi and thank you so much for watching! 🙏

[@Fischergarten]

This Video is produced so well!

[@whirrings]

Thanks, I really appreciate that, glad you liked it! 🙌

[@rflyn5864]

This was a really interesting watch! And great production! I've used none of these pieces of gear before, but it was cool to hear your experience with them. Makes me want to make my own video doing the same with all the gear I've owned up to this point. Especially since I've been in a bit of a phase of impulse buying some new things and trying to sell off some old gear I haven't touched in a long time. One of my oldest synths is the OP-1 and I used the absolute heck out of it and thought it was the perfect thing for me. Years have passed now and I haven't touched it in so long and rarely feel the urge to pick it up other than out of guilt that it collects dust. I've definitely grown out of it, but it's one that I don't think I could ever sell because it really got me into hardware in the first place.

[@whirrings]

Hi there, thank for sharing your experiences! 🙏 I'd love to have some time with the OP-1, looks really interesting and probably frustrating in equal parts! You should definitely make that video! 🙌🎶

[@rflyn5864]

@@whirrings You've nailed it. It can do a lot of cool stuff, but it wants you to be creative. And if I do, someday, I'll be sure to shout you out!

[@meangene408]

As someone who started off "dawless" in the 90s I moved from that to partial DAW then to fully computer based. Due to space it was easier to work from a laptop and still be creative. I now run a hardware set up sequenced from the DAW with fx and mixing done in Abe and it will never change. It's 100% easier to sequence and mix on a DAW....100%. It's more rewarding to create sounds with hardware. Don't do things the hard way just to prove a point, folks. You are setting yourself back years trying to get comfortable with an environment that probably will never be compatible with your workflow.

[@whirrings]

Hi, thanks for watching and sharing your own journey. I think what works for each person is different and there is no one right way. Personally, I like to use modular and hardware sequencers more than DAWs for some work but not all.... I'm glad you've found a way that works for you! 🙌🎶

[@meangene408]

@@whirrings My comment wasn't aimed at yourself and It's wasn't meant as a critsism. There seems to be a real trend just now that "Dawless" jamming is some type of mystical skill akin to djing with vinyl. Both just take a bit more work to master and are achievable but, like you have shown, hardware producing takes a long time to perfect and generally costs 10x more. As an ambient producer myself I understand why you would want the spontaneity of your set up.

[@whirrings]

@@meangene408 I didn't take your comment as a criticism I was just pointing out that different things work for different people, some people hate using computers so aren't doing things "the hard way", not for them anyway! All the best! 🙏

[@RoyaleFougard]

Thanks for sharing your experience. ❤Very enlightening ⭐️

[@JonathanBrain1]

Sounds very similar to my own musical journey! Thanks for sharing :)

[@Metamerist625]

I like yor approach of recycling things and keeping it simple. I have a bit more gear than you do but only stuff that serves a purpose, like yourself I recently sold off everything I was no longer using or had moved on from. I have the Minifreak (the next synth up from the Microfreak) because it is such a good all-round synth and gives you huge bang for your buck. Otherwise just a few Volcas a sampler and Ableton.

[@whirrings]

The MiniFreak looks great, especially now you've got all those granular engines! 🚀 Thanks for watching! 👍

[@iloveACID]

I spent years on cubase went lawless dawless and have more fun. Trying to make a balance and use both. I don't miss the window crashes installs ect and mouse clicking. Thanks for vid was great 👍 😊 😊

[@whirrings]

Cool, thanks for watching! 😎🎶

[@unknownmusicman]

I am fortunate that I never went through a phase of buying expensive gear only to resell it. It's always made more sense to me to get versatile MIDI controllers that I can use with either hardware or software. At least that way if I get a new plugin I can simply map a controller, and to me it's a great compromise between making music on a computer and using hardware. A couple of good controllers with knobs and faders paired up with VCV Rack and you've got basically a eurorack setup without spending thousands of dollars. It makes a whole lot of sense.

[@whirrings]

Hi, thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts. It's all personal preference really isn't it, whatever works best for you. I have MIDI controllers and sometimes they work well but for me using VCV Rack and MIDI controllers is not the same experience as physically patching up a modular, although it definitely is cheaper! 👍🎶

[@LucasShmucas]

I love this. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. It's very helpful as I'm on a similar journey Cheers!

[@whirrings]

Hi, thanks for taking the time, I'm glad it was helpful to you! 🙌

[@michaelbynum8217]

I'll look forward to the Modular Journey video... cause it's about the same feeling... I like XYZ about this sequencer, but then I traded it for PQR which combines the functionality of EFG and has a reduced hp. Now, I'm looking for VWX effect/voice/utility/whatever because it fits in my system... but I can't save it, it's setup for a while, recorded, and never to return again... and for some reason you'll probably love the whole process (yes, I'm projecting). Good luck!

[@whirrings]

Hi, thanks for your comment! The modular isn't the same kind of journey for me as I'm not in a position financially to do that. I've been lent the case I have by a friend who was not currently using these modules in his setup. While there may be an option to swap out a few modules here and there depending upon what is currently available, this is what I have - which is interesting in itself! I won't be going down a modular purchase and design rabbit hole just yet! Over the journey I took with the dawless gear I learnt to work with more transitory setups using my guitar and loopers etc. so I don't mind that anymore. I've already made an album with the modular: soundbymark.bandcamp.com/album/modular-one All the best! 🙏

[@willesplin]

I also really like the MicroFreak. I liked it even more after spending eight months or so playing around with VCV Rack and other virtual modular and better learning how synthesis works, including modulation, and what different types of waveforms/engines can do (including the plait models that are in the MicroFreak), and now I like it even more. I find it has a lot broader variety of sounds it can produce and interesting you can do with it that don't necessarily come up in the popular internet discourse about it even though pretty much everyone agrees it's a great synth for the price (except for those who hate the capacitive touch keyboard).

[@whirrings]

Hi thanks for stopping by! 🙏 Yes it really is such a remarkable little synth. I'll be doing a few more "Patch From Scratch" videos I think to explore the possibilities further! 🙌

[@stephenroldan5107]

@@willesplin kb is the best part. Trust me

[@willesplin]

@@stephenroldan5107 For sure. I love it.

[@a.c.2211]

What digital oscs do u recommend spending time in?

[@gutterne7145]

Very informative and well presented! Maybe elaborate a bit on the Model 12 behind you?

[@whirrings]

Thank you! 🙏 Yes, I think that's a good idea for a future video, the Model 12 is a great mixer, do you have one or are you just interested in it? 👍

[@machinemademan]

i built a synth and got a dfam then decided on mpc one( such low latency compared to a daw and has midi/8x cv out!) to run it all after returning an rd8 i also have a model 12 which it interfaces with to expand the outs yes its still a screen but its more like curling up with a book than sitting at a daw yoiu can hook usb hubs to it and connect all your midi with bidirectional usb if you want and it acts like an external drive so you dont have to do anything fancy to transfer stems (it even can save your mpc session as an ableton live set to export for mixing)

[@weddingvowsmanifesto3536]

your journey's pretty interesting! thanks!

[@nomad1517]

I legit thought those cut outs were the real thing. 😂

[@hardboiled2000]

Same

[@HanjoSynth]

Very cool breakdown! Subbed

[@ebiii5686]

May I suggest you consider the Perkons hd-01, I own both it and Soma. You run into the same non-save issues with the Soma (analog, sounds good). Perkons is easy save, way more versatile(digital, sounds good), and improv/performance interactive as well.

[@whirrings]

Hi, thanks for your input. The Perkins looks like a great piece of gear, love to spend some time with one! 🎶😎

[@anothercouture]

Hi, a really interesting story, and i made a few of the same choices. One question i do have is about resale and where you found the best place to sell your gear? My journey has left me with a few bits of kit that are just gathering dust as i didn't quite gell with them

[@whirrings]

Hi there, I tend to just use Reverb and eBay. I often get better prices on eBay! Thanks for watching! 👍🎶

[@stephenroldan5107]

Some old school beats. YEAH!

[@simonhornmusic]

Thanks for the video! great insights 😀 I know you make ambient music but what would you recommend for a drum machine apart from the Elektron devices? I make downtempo and funk , thanks 🙏

[@whirrings]

Hi Simon, thanks for the feedback, much appreciated, glad you like the video! 🙌 TBH it depends what your requirements are, how you want to use it etc? I'd recommend the Elektron drum boxes, particularly the Model:Samples/Cycles to anyone as they are so cheap and fun for what you get. Otherwise perhaps a solid all round drum machine would be the Roland TR-8S. I haven't used one myself but would like to, heard positive things about them, looks very capable and playable, has separate outputs and all the drum sounds you could want! As I say though I haven't used one. The only other "drum machines" I have experience with are the Soma Pulsar-23 and the 1010music Black Box which is a sample player but can be set up for drum loops, both of which are very particular and I wouldn't recommend them as a first drum machine. 😎

[@remka2000]

Very interesting video, thank you. I think trackers are for people who are very analytical (as opposed to maybe a bit more spontaneous - you certainly can be both). It's a lot like programming, not too much space for happy accidents for example. Elektron sequencers are very much like trackers I think, p-locks and such, very vertical, deep but need quite a bit of strategizing before actually fully using them. But much more forgiving than a tracker. Really depends on who you are, the music you do, your technical level, your geekiness level, money etc. I know I would never go modular for example.

[@whirrings]

Hi, thanks for the feedback 👍 It's hard to pin down isn't it. I liked the Elektron sequencers a lot but not the tracker, for me it was more about the interface I think, too many numbers on the tracker! 👾🙏

[@besenkopf77]

Good video. Thanks for sharing.

[@Schemez-16vhiphopbeatz]

I was using lots of random bits of gear with a multitrack but I'm just using the mpc now iv still got all my other gear but not really used any of it since I got the mpc

[@machinemademan]

also i highly recommend the empress zoia it doesnt get enough publicity its a full modular synth in a guitar fx pedal i got one used for around 350 US

[@whirrings]

Hi, thanks for your comment! 🙌 I've been close to getting a Zoia a couple of times, but I felt I'd get frustrated by the small screen and lots of options combo, very powerful though! 👍

[@machinemademan]

@@whirrings yes i thought the same thing but with 1400 already made patches online its pretty easy to find a template to start off in any direction or ignore that aspect altogether

[@domingoleija3436]

We have similar taste in sound gear buddy. Modal cycles has sensitive buttons for human touch and I wasn't thrilled with other elektron but Roland JD-XI has a magic feature that I've never seen anyone demo but someday this KING DADDI,👑🎼🧠WILL DEMONSTRATE.

[@meneerjansen00]

In the end you kept the cheapest one? Good to know! Looking forward to the video of your modular synth. :)

[@whirrings]

Yes the MicroFreak was one of the cheaper things I tried although the Model:Samples and Field Kits are about the same price. I've found very little correlation between price and usefulness! There will definitely be some videos with the modular soon even though it is in a constant state of change! I've written quite a lot about it on my Substack whirrings.substack.com/s/studio-notes Thanks for tuning in! 😎

[@HelicopterRidesForCommunists]

DAWs have a high value proposition and are a great place to start - in my opinion - for music production because they offer virtualizations of hardware devices for a fraction of the cost. Eventually though, most of us want a more immediate, more straightforward, more tactile instrumental way to create than what mouse/keyboard/midi controller tend to offer. Obviously something like the Push gets you there and others can as well.

[@whirrings]

Hi, thanks for your comment. Yes, I've often wondered how I'd get on with a Push, particularly the standalone one. 😎

[@HelicopterRidesForCommunists]

@@whirrings Hi, thanks for the video! I find it to be almost essential with my Elektron gear bc they have so many individual tracks. With the Push I can set up midi tracks and then select one or more and instantly play them, record clips, automate, trigger new scenes, etc etc.

[@whirrings]

@@HelicopterRidesForCommunists Cool! 👍

[@Drinkyoghurt]

I recently bought a Korg SQ64 sequencer because it also does CV sequencing, but I noticed that if I want to be productive I have to use Ableton. Ableton is just super quick for sequencing stuff and has a ton of options. I'm still using hardware, but I let the computer do all the work. I'll probably end up selling the SQ64 because I can't see myself ever doing anything other than just messing around on it. It's a very capable device, just not really made for me.

[@whirrings]

Hi, thanks for stopping by! 😎 It's such a personal thing isn't it, what works for you! 👍

[@trueluscao]

mirror web cam goes hard

[@_c_y_p_3]

The Novation Ultranova was my first synth , having cut my teeth on that access virus B vst, and Massive, I was not impressed but I was not disappointed. The Ultranova still suits me. If I had the funds we COULD spend about a house or two on synths but “we” are actually just me myself and I and none of got shit for cash….

[@MrG0re]

You dont have to record the Polyend in multitrack as you can easily export all the tracks as seperate files within the system. Neat trick if you want to create your songs and then master them in another software.

[@whirrings]

Hi there, yes the exporting stems functionality was one of the features that originally attracted me to the Polyend Tracker, unfortunately at the time I had it, the firmware was still very buggy and the export didn't really work! Ultimately though I just didn't get on with the tracker interface as much as I had expected. Thanks for tuning in! 👍

[@Heathcliff_hensel]

I like the hybrid approach like i use a Beatstep Pro to control synths and drum machines inside Logic Pro. Its the best of both worlds for me.

[@whirrings]

Yes, that's a great way to go using MIDI controllers, the Beatstep Pro is a nice piece of gear. I do sometimes use a Launch Control to add Ableton Live effects to live hardware recordings which is quite handy! Thanks for stopping by! 🙌

[@Luap-ls3ix]

I looked away for a second then the 2s appeared and I was like, “does this man have the biggest hands on the plan……oh” 😂😂😂😂

[@whirrings]

😂🎶🙌

[@nsbd90now]

Ha ha! I'm just a hobbyist, but also went from Ableton to the MiniBrute2S as a first step into modular and getting away from the computer.

[@hthring]

excelent presentation and delivery

[@whirrings]

Hi there, thanks for that, I really appreciate the feedback, glad you enjoyed it! 🙌

[@atlassynced]

Thank you for sharing

[@whirrings]

Thanks for tuning in, really appreciate it! 🙌

[@jayc9184]

The Polyend is a midi beast. did you use the midi on your modular?

[@whirrings]

It's great you like the Polyend Tracker. I did not have a modular setup when I owned the Tracker. I have tried triggering the modular with midi but I prefer to use modular sequencers like Marbles... 👍🎶

[@raenoldparkin]

I use Koala Sampler in my phone. So underated. I can run it on my smart phone and my tablet simultaneously and it literally cost me $10. I rip samples from my Kontakt library and load them into Koala and sequence them. All my files are saved to Dropbox for east recall from anywhere. And it has midi mapping, so I run one koala with a Korg NanoPad2 and the other with my Arturia MiniLab2.

[@whirrings]

Hi, thanks for stopping by! 👍 iOS music setups seem pretty popular probably because, as you say, they are cheap and people already have phones and tablets. So many solutions. Great you're making it work. 🙌

[@brainspoke]

love this presentation... :)

[@whirrings]

Thank you for watching... 🙌

[@willmc6728]

neat stuff

[@domingoleija3436]

Cobalt 8 is my keeper plus first Korg electribes+last blue red tribe but my WORkflow is modo. Music in el MOMENTO and zero rehearsal necessary after 25 years of search for no latency live and studio.

[@whirrings]

Excellent, sounds like a lot of fun! 😎

[@andrebrown4677]

Great video, will you replace recording into Ableton for the Tascam instead..?

[@whirrings]

Hi, thanks for tuning in 🙏 I've not got round to using the Model 12 as a multi-track recorder much yet, although it was one of the reasons I bought it! I often add live processing in Ableton sometimes just eq/limiters but sometimes chorus/reverb/delay which I control with the Launch Control. I think if I had more hardware effects I'd probably try using just the Model 12. 🙌

[@thomaserwin190]

@@whirrings Just out of curiosity - what are you using as an interface to do the recording into Ableton? I would assume it is the Model 12?

[@whirrings]

@@thomaserwin190 Hi, yes I use the Model 12 as my main audio interface, it works really well for me! 👍

[@KurtLorenz]

❤❤❤

[@conduit-seoir]

Really curious what books you have back there (or any others you would recommend for that matter)?

[@whirrings]

Ah yes, these are some of the more "academic" books I’ve collected over the years! ;) Maybe a good idea for a future video to go through some of the books I have found useful :) 1. “In The Field: The Art of Field Recording” Angus Carlyle and Cathy Lane. A great collection of interviews with field recordists. 2. “Sound By Artists” 1990 Hard to get now but a get book that attempts to present an overview of sound art as a practice. 3. “Conversations” Steve Reich has chats with other famous musicians. 4. “History of Musical Instruments” Curt Sachs 1940 A comprehensive history of musical instruments, this book ranges from prehistoric times to the 20th century. Very much of it’s time! They are all very good books in their own ways but I’d probably only recommend 1. - if you are interested in field recording!

[@conduit-seoir]

@@whirrings Thanks!

[@G4Nazarener]

Interesting journey. I would be afraid to get lost in the universe of modular.

[@whirrings]

Thanks for tuning in! I too am afraid of modular, I'm only willing to go there because I have expert help! 😆🎶

[@G4Nazarener]

@@whirrings I was a little surprised because money was often an issue on your journey and than you went modular without testing a semi modular synth before. I think you got there very quickly .

[@whirrings]

Hi, as I said in the video, I could only try modular because a good friend of mine built the system for me for FREE - it's just on loan! I wouldn't have been able to go down that path otherwise. And I have tried semi-modular - the first thing I bought (in the video) was the Arturia MiniBrute 2S which is a semi-modular synth, the Field Kits are also semi-modular! All the best! 🙏

[@G4Nazarener]

@@whirrings Sorry , i missed that point . You are right about the semi modular synths.

[@nomad1517]

I think even if you aren't dawless 100%. Having hardware can make you a better producer. I think everyone should have at least one thing.

[@whirrings]

Hi thanks for stopping by! I suppose the more things you learn then the broader your experience becomes. The lines between DAW and DAWless are so blurred these days, you could argue that with a range of MIDI controllers you could build endless bespoke hardware interfaces for your DAW! And a lot of hardware is just like a DAW in a box! Each to their own, but I do like to try out cool hardware! 😆

[@vanibron]

What is the purpose of the velcro tape on the left side of the Microfreak?

[@whirrings]

I use the velcro to attach a power pack to the MicroFreak to make for a very compact mobile patch development system! 🙌 instagram.com/p/CNZmfnThBsq/

[@vanibron]

@@whirrings I’m actually doing the same 😀 Just wanted to make sure it is what I think it is. I managed to find even smaller power bank for this purpose.

[@grandinesmusic213]

Love your story telling and your calmness. Subscribed! Can't wait to see what's next for you.

[@whirrings]

Hi there, thanks for the kind words and subscribing - I really appreciate you taking the time to comment. Glad you enjoyed the video! 🙏

[@ferrellms]

Isn't is the case that to produce music easily and with quality that a DAW will always win - Ableton and Pigments can be configured to do all of this quicker and more cheaply and with more possibilities than hardware? But fiddling with hardware can be fun, of course.

[@whirrings]

Hi Mike thanks for watching and commenting 👍 Yes of course you are right in that you can do a lot with software - and with MIDI controllers you can even design your own hardware interface to all that power much cheaper! But I'd argue that there is just something inherently different about using some music hardware - limited in very specific ways, by design, with bespoke interfaces and materials that I think is very hard to replicate in a DAW. Each to their own I suppose! 🙌🎶

[@bentropy]

give us a guide of your modular system?

[@whirrings]

Hello and thanks for tuning in! I'll still reconfiguring the modular a lot but there will definitely be some videos soon. I've written quite a lot about it on my Substack whirrings.substack.com/s/studio-notes 🙌

[@hurricane6014]

Do you use the Model 12 much?

[@whirrings]

Hi, yes I do, it's a great mixer/audio interface I use it most days. Are you looking to get one? 👍

[@hurricane6014]

@@whirrings I’ve had mine for a while but haven’t completely set it up yet do to studio revamp. So, how do you use it? Straight up or into DAW?

[@whirrings]

I use it to multitrack everything straight into Ableton, from just a single mike to full setups including FX returns using the 10 tracks, it's very handy! Best of luck with it all! 👍

[@toslinked]

hahahha! "And I now have a modular system" congratulations to breaking out of the pattern-music.

[@whirrings]

Yep, it's only on loan but I like it! Marbles is main sequencer! Thanks for stopping by! 🙌

[@whatilearnttoday5295]

What you're probably really looking for is a tape machine (even a digital one). All this stuff looks to be grid based (sequencers). It's the grid itself which is lifeless and static. Playing an entire tune in realtime even if it seems like it's a loop is how good albums were made.

[@whirrings]

Did you watch the video? 🤔

[@James-Deep]

You, friend, might need a Sire V3 bass guitar.

[@whirrings]

I’d like a bass, probably wouldn’t be quite as specific about the model though! 🤔