How do you Build a Synth Setup that ACTUALLY works for making music?! // Summer of Synths

[@JamesonNathanJones]

Thanks for having me, Bo!

[@BoBeats]

A pleasure!!

[@timothyharrison]

I knew it was you when I saw the PE thumbnail. I’m a little traumatized it’s not your desert island synth. With time I will heal.

[@JamesonNathanJones]

@@timothyharrison It's moving right up the list :)

[@alainszyller615]

Thanks for your input, I was happily surprized that you didn't especially recommend any "central control" by an Elektron, an Akai MPC or a Pad Step or Key Step Pro ... Sorry, but I need to ask this stupid question: It seems you are talking about Audio PatchBay, what about MIDI patchbay ? Those are 2 very different things Examples Behringer Ultrapatch Pro PX3000 48-point 1/4 inch TRS Balanced Patchbay $90 MRCC MIDI Router Control Center $440

[@ingolf7411]

Nice to meet you here 👍

[@dannykmack]

@JamesonNathanJones is by far my favorite channel that I've found in 2023. :)

[@SlightlyNasty]

Great points. The "keeping things flexible" is a big one that took me a while to figure out - I got so obsessed with the whole idea of setting up a ready-to-go studio where everything was only a power switch away from being played that I inadvertently locked all my gear up in one big, unfocussed DAW-centric working setup that just wasn't fun or approachable at all. It felt too much like a "work" space. I ended up clearing some space and putting an empty desk by the window which is solely there to assemble temporary setups, and making sure that any bit of gear could be disconnected and moved in a minute or so.

[@jloiben12]

The thing that took me longest to get right was getting midi where it needs to go. Which is why I am eternally grateful that the Conductive Labs MRCC exists. A patch bay for midi that is so idiot proof that even I can use it

[@synthphilosophy]

One of my favorite creators inviting one of my other favorite creators. Boy today is a good day. ❤ This gives me a better feeling about my inability of routing everything I have permanently because of 1) space and 2) budget. Makes me realize that's ok and I shouldn't always be moving stuff around and instead get creative with what is connected at that moment. Thank you.

[@brianlespoir6287]

I like @JamesonNathanJones video's, he owns some of the same Sequential synths as I do, but his video's are also different. I do not always need to know things about synths and production, sometimes listening to someone talking about music in a different direction is what I like to reboot my mind while making music.

[@JamesonNathanJones]

Much appreciated!

[@MistyMusicStudio]

Heeey JNJ episode! Nice!! I have a really similar setup, probably a little inspired by Jameson by this point lol. I think this vid does a really good job reinforcing that “getting musical results” has more to do with the artist than the particular gear they use 😁

[@londreslush]

thanks for uploading this kind of content Bo , allways interesting to hear any other artist's way of working / process ..

[@NGC0Music]

I just want to make sure you know how cool you are for bringing other content makers to your channel. This video inspired me to rewire my whole bedroom studio (nothing I don’t already do on a periodic basis)

[@fivewattworld]

Love these! Great idea Bo.

[@JakeBooth1]

So good, Keeping the core idea upfront means it needs to be great and makes building it up easier , some great comments and ideas. Thanks!

[@indigosnow_]

Definitely got a lot out of this. Thanks Bo and Jameson

[@JamesonNathanJones]

Thanks for watching!

[@Tonepusher]

Right on time! I was thinking of how I could make my synths setup more efficient, unique and actually usable and this video pops up :) thank you! 🤘

[@Reg-Edit]

Learning the stuff you have 🙌 my fav phrase ❤

[@cravensean]

I'm in the process of turning my studio into something functional so this is really useful. The concept of stations linked by a patch bay makes so much sense, To be fair, I say that because you've codified a principle I've acted on instinctively. The trick is figuring out what actually needs to be in place all the time, some of the time, or every once in a while. Again, this approach to analysis is genuinely useful. Thank you so much.

[@JamesonNathanJones]

Thanks for watching, and glad it was helpful :)

[@tj10777]

I have a Tascam Model 24 and a UA Apollo for my interface. I only record one instrument at a time and I have enough inputs on the mixer that everything is plug in. I have the Sub output(L&R) on the Model 24 run into the two inputs on the Apollo. The Output of the Apollo then runs back into the Model 24. Whenever I need to record an instrument or synth, I remove it from the main mix on the Model 24 and send it to the Sub Mix and out to the Apollo. I can still monitor the sound through the UA Console going back to the mixer, so I don't have to monitor through Ableton. This has been working great for me for a year now. My next thing to do is get rid of my drum machine and only use Ableton. I find I am way more productive if I just use addictive drums to get started and just work from there. If I start messing around with the drum machine, I never get anything done.

[@raysubject]

That Evolver patch at 4:30 is absolutely fantastic .. Evolver is one of best synths ever made.. definitely best synth from Dave Smith…

[@7digger3]

Thank you both!

[@ellagreen9056]

Really great video, Bo, thanks! Your questions were spot on. This is a key topic.

[@crtzmo]

yeah! loved this. lots to absorb, thank you. really inspiring music bits -- wow.

[@PanopticMotion]

An amazing collaboration, much gratitude!

[@schnabilo]

Got the exact same Interface/Patchbay setup :-) Use it to quickly connect different gear without losing too much time getting started. In my opinion the patchbay is one of the most underrated pieces of equipment - very useful even in small studios.

[@EricRaymondSF]

Great video! Nicely done.

[@dorteva]

Once I get that Polyend Tracker Mini my setup is good to go indefinitely 😊

[@BoBeats]

Ohhh brave words!! :-)

[@LillySchwartz]

Interesting! I actually don‘t have all my stuff connected on purpose as well. No pedal board either. The part where I choose which setup to use already determines which vibe I‘m going for and I like to be as flexible as possible with that. I‘m just very unlikely to pull apart an existing wired setup at 4 AM just because I would like to noodle on a specific synth on the sofa instead of at the desk. And that‘s something that definitely happens a lot in my workflow 😅

[@madbesisalreadytaken]

Cool and inspiring video thanks both of you 👌

[@Gainn]

Up till I got a Squarp Hapax, everything was a bit of a mess with multiple sequencers going. Now it's just one controller, one sequencer and everything plays nicely. Polyend Play subs in when I'm going somewhere I can't take a lot of gear.

[@astro_poly]

For me it was going big (and i did, ended up with a flightcase u need to carry with 2 like those you see on stage with Bicep) with all elektrons, big mixer, effects you name it but all replaced by laptop and just 2 elektrons a moog and dreadbox finally actually creating songs I & people like 🤣 and a flightcase I can carry on my own but damn.. what a journey. You get lost in the rabbithole quickly. Have a 5 level rack now filled with synths that I don't use on stage and prophet X, jomox xbase 999 and deepmind 12 for example. If I look back at it now all the extra synths weren't needed BUT don't regret a split second of it. Looks insane now 😆 no need to buy a single sample pack & finally enjoying the creation again

[@BlackMan614]

I agree with him on a patch bay as the hub. I just wish they made them like they used to. I have this balanced Furman that has these individual modules you have to pull out to change the routing and those modules fail and are not constructed so as to repair them.

[@daanbaas2962]

Nice combo video guys 👍

[@enossifiedossified3145]

It's funny...35 years ago, a setup like this was commonplace. There were no DAWs, digital recording was just becoming affordable (ADATs) and MIDI had made interconnecting gear trivial compared to CV. I used analog tape until 2005, then digital multitracks until 2011 when I finally moved to a DAW after 25 years of not using a computer for music. Many people getting into music today never worked in that kind of environment and are following a path that's the reverse of mine...from the DAW and softsynths into using nothing but hardware except for sequencing and audio recording (and for some diehards, all the way back to tape). Add in the fascination with CV instead of MIDI for interconnections and a lot of useful knowledge seems to have been lost.

[@TreyBruceable]

Perfect timing 🎉

[@massimocesareAnnaloro]

PRO 3! I think the same

[@klinkske]

I d love to hear about that magical patchbay routing opening up that freedom, workflow or what was the word 😊

[@schnidelwutz333]

Can someone give me a tip on how to create this kind of pad at 5:02? Sounds lovely! As always a great video, thank both of you for your work❤

[@jasonmcgo]

Yes please. That’s quite nice and really useful

[@kirkanos771]

Let's blame Loopop again. xD

[@per-axelstenstrom1886]

Thank's for an inspireing video Bo! When I'm creating my music I'm using the synths I have for the moment and during the last years it can be everything från a C-15 from NonLinearLabs, the ASM Hydrasynth Delux to my old Roland Fantom G7. I'm using Audacity and do my mixing in my favourite armchair and publish the result on diferent platforms under the "artistname" Stonestream, which is Swenglish for Stenström (my lastname😁). With love from Lund in Sweden and Stonestream!

[@vasya_trubkin]

thank you Bo for making videos like this❤

[@RoeJogan]

Cirklon is the first step to having a setup that actually works

[@Heathcliff_hensel]

lol No!

[@macaronafterparty]

What desk was being used?

[@strangnet]

Better voice than Venus Theory? 😉 Great video!

[@DrJ3RK8]

Less whining too! :D Love JNJ's channel. Can't stand to watch VT.

[@Heathcliff_hensel]

"I dOnT nEeD a dAw, mY gRoOvEbOx hAs pAtTeRn cHaiNIng"!!!!!!!!

[@wrenchposting9097]

Ah the Pro-3...synthpunk approved!

[@DankePlace]

no what John does is tell everyone how bad a Pro is for a year then he goes and buys one when he can afford a 2nd hand one. He also berates both content creators here, so who cares about what John thinks/does/approves?

[@wrenchposting9097]

@@DankePlace somebody wants to be the new fugazi

[@DankePlace]

@@wrenchposting9097 what?

[@EclipseAtDusk]

I need a patch bay

[@zzkjbry]

Wow sweet to see a Ada8200 in your set up xD

[@JamesonNathanJones]

If it works, it works :)

[@briandavidgregory]

Damn it must be nice to have money

[@endorphinsmusic]

great video

[@mrz80]

Hehe... when you said "KZbin's best voice" I thought "Oh cool, you got Cameron from Venus Theory!" :D :D

[@BoBeats]

A close second for sure! Maybe we need a Voice-Off between the two?!

[@countyfair74]

@@BoBeats Tim Shoebridge should be in that competition.

[@bodhibeats8257]

“Probably loopop.” 😂😂😂

[@voodoohex72]

how could this guy NOT think he sounds like billy bob thorton. 100%! Kinda looks like him a bit too.

[@levethix]

"Probably Loopop" LOL

[@ToyKeeper]

How to actually finish songs, in a nutshell: Use less gear but dive deeper into it. Work in a more linear fashion. Learn to use a DAW with an arranger. Learn more music theory. And generally just put a lot of time into music -- practicing, exploring, learning, and building your skills. Also, it doesn't hurt to have a Pro 3 because it's fantastic. :P

[@youtubevideos415]

Best voice? I was expecting Venus Theory. And then we got that other guy.

[@zeeshantar1q]

SEQUENTIAL PRO 3EEAHH!!

[@fakshen1973]

Space is always the one thing that you can't change very much. Most people are limited on space. You may not even be able to devote an entire room or even an entire desk to your hobby. I say hobby, because if you're making money as income, then that's another discussion. I would say that your limits on space should be the primary concern when the notion of outboard gear is thought about. Pulling gear off of a shelf, plugging it in, booting it, etc is a creative buzzkill. So stacking gear in a closet or on a shelf is typically a bad thing.

[@alainszyller615]

Sorry, but I need to ask this stupid question: It seems you are talking about Audio PatchBay, what about MIDI patchbay ? Those are 2 very different things Examples Behringer Ultrapatch Pro PX3000 48-point 1/4 inch TRS Balanced Patchbay $90 MRCC MIDI Router Control Center $440

[@giantsparkplug3462]

loopop... hilarious!

[@zap7759]

Surely woodgrain anallog with the least amount of voices imaginable is the way. Its so organic... 🧐

[@dan-h2g]

Get with the synthpunk and make some beats

[@nagchumpalot]

Good video.. For me once my mixer channels are full I’m done.. less is more.. No more than 4 synths and a drum machine is perfect for the way I work.. Learn your stuff don’t buy into every product.. it will only make things more complicated.

[@SuperRbert]

Fin spaljé

[@drcustomblades2984]

How do you afford all of those synths?? I hate being poor

[@kptamc]

I always appreciate everything you do Bo but this was the wrong person to ask because they help feed the G.A.S.

[@BoBeats]

we all feed the gas, and you know you love it ;)

[@kptamc]

@@BoBeats I don't mind watching other people get infected and struggle with it but I keep hard limits on the equipment. Any combination of synths+drum machines that equal four. I do recognize when people are feeding it.

[@JamesonNathanJones]

I do feed the gras. I find it best to do this in the springtime when the ground is most fertile, or in the fall time when the ground is taking in nutrients for a long, sleepy winter time.

[@Totozme]

Ok and how not to spend 200k in a set up and still making analog synth music ?

[@SandyHelly]

Wtf is "making music"? You are not just buying synths?

[@edjefferson9175]

Clicked for a BoBeat video. Not this guy.

[@BoBeats]

I will be back tomorrow with a brand new Bo only vid

[@promethiousb1489]

easy,,apart from the ergonomics....placement etc..