DAWless Synth Studio Setup with Squarp Pyramid

Just a quick spin around the studio touching on the basics of my setup with Squarp Pyramid and the Roland MX-1 mixers. I should have had a shower today (and yesterday for that matter) but that's the way she goes. Not a lot of pertinent information, just bullshitting around the studio in a way that hopefully gets a little info across for somebody

[@pco2004]

Great video. I learned so much from watching and reading all the comments. Mega thanks for such an inspirational video; not an exercise in vanity at all!!! Also dig your music; you got a natural feel w everything you play!

[@N-trepid1]

Love it when you break down your studio set-up. The Pyramid was one of the best investments I've made (thanks to your review). I could see you have a Roland (green) corner in your studio, but could not figure out completely how you configured your mixers/drum machines. Thanks for the "here is the deal" session. Keep making music!!

[@RepublicAllegiance]

James Hall i thought it was a square?

[@TimothyDempsey]

Thank you for doing this, I have been wondering how you sync it all up ever since I discovered your music. Can't believe I am only discovering your channel and these longer vids now, compared to the shorter Facebook posts.

[@youtubenatan]

Man, this setup is bananas. I can't even lie, I am very jealous right now. I have the gray electribe 2, a jd xi, and a akai xr 20 and I am making some really nice stuff. If I had all of this, I don't think that I would be able to leave that room.

[@m10538]

You've GOT to develop the cool bit at 6:15! That was so nasty! Interesting studio tour. Looks complex, and expensive!

[@sirvidia]

the boy likes Roland!

[@mpmi7588]

I'd never leave this studio

[@kierenmoore3236]

Great tour, Cheers!

[@datphatax]

Absolutely beautiful

[@WarrenPostma]

It's like the reason rack has been born into meatspace. I salute you sir. Noice.

[@AndyTanguay]

Man, what a playhouse!

[@misteremagic]

Great stuff ! And thanks again for introducing me into Squarps world :)

[@michaelbenoit9240]

Awesome studio and setup! I was just thinking instead of reviving reel to reel tapes (analog & digital

[@Finiteintelligence]

Great setup.

[@troypol343]

I just got a pyramid. It offers so much BUT it is a bit complicated because there is a lot of shift functions due to a sparse panel. I have used an Alesis MMT-8 for years. Yes, it is limited but it is so simple to build complete songs with it. Basically, it has a part mode (patterns) and song mode. In song mode, you chain your parts together in the order you want and that is where you can mute/unmute tracks. There are up to 100 parts and up to 100 songs. The Pyramid is so confusing for me since I have been using the MMT-8's simplicity of building a song for 28 years. On the Pyramid, it appears that in Sequence mode you can chain parts together to create a song but this is not like the song mode on the MMT-8. On the pyramid, you have 32 sequences and you can chain those sequences together to create 1 song. Then you have to save that and create a completely new sequence (and(tracks) for a new song and save that one before you can do another. Correct me if I am wrong. On the MMT-8 I can have up to 100 songs in one instance and can save all those songs together as a MIDI dump. Usually, I have up to 10 songs because of a lack of memory. I see it is going to take some time and patience to learn the Pyramid to make complete songs which is what I want out of it. I am hopeful my efforts will eventually pay off. I absolutely love the MMT-8 but I really wish it had more memory, more tracks, and onboard storage like the Pyramid.

[@masterspace]

Which keyboard stands are you using for the MX1's and in general for the "narrow" equipment ?

[@IsraelFerrerCamacho]

MR. Tuna! I have to say that I am very much in awe with your videos. Music and teachings. Thanks! I have a deluge and a tr8s and I was wondering what stand are you using for the tr8s or the mx1 with multiple tiers. I would like to get one myself to stack them next to the keyboards like you !

[@shadowhenge7118]

This is proof roland needs to make a larger mx-16 with straight up 16 analog stereo ins.

[@BigFknRobots]

definitely... there's a real shortage of "live electronic performance mixers" There's tons of band / singer-songwriter mixers or DJ mixers... but for this, the requirements are different! I want lotsa stereo channels, bussing, midi triggered ducking ("sidechaining"), filter+EQ per channel, creative multi fx, rhythmic fx, hardware FX loops and some "mastering" compression. Built well Maybe a crossfader And with a comprehensive audio interface implementation

[@thebasicmaterialsproject1892]

Awesome

[@qv7774]

I have a MX-1, System 8, FA-08, MC707, TR8S, TB-3, System 1 and various iPad synths with a presonus revelator io24, and also a zoom H6 I don’t have enough real estate for everything, and I honestly feel lost… I want a Dawless setup with an option to use a daw, without moving any cables… Any thoughts, from anyone, are welcome

[@stephenstalter2481]

Where are you going to place the Moog One?

[@jason3000tt]

Hi, this was awesome....can you help me build a starter home setup...?

[@thom-alphaxiii-5106]

Mx1, used to love it, sold ‘cause limited when you can’t use the usb outside of the roland sphere. You daisy chained 3.......waow.....i really wished for long time that roland unlock the aira ports or make a mk2 with more analog ports....too bad, the concept was awesome. Don’t have space or money for 3, i moved to a behringher xr18, but i miss the fx step sequencer....was such a good idea

[@MRTUNA]

Yeah I totally understand the shortcomings of the MX-1. but at least as I've been able to appreciate, those short comings make for some deadly cheap 2nd hand options in the market. I got my 2nd and 3rd MX1s at a great used price and they work pretty good for the live sequencing functions that I love about them so much

[@GNeuman]

Nice

[@EchoKraft]

This was great too !!!

[@BREAKITline]

hi ! great setup ! what are the merge and split midi boxes your using? can u give a model? thanks a lot ! keep it up!!

[@squishmusic]

this ^ there arent many 'new' products 4 this AFAIAA (thats AsFarAsIAmAware) :D

[@sebasdion5000]

Hi are you usine aira link??? Its not sending midi to My sequencer?

[@HorrorCue]

Can you use your DAW as a master clock for the squarp/synths? I also like to use midi tracks in logic to draw patterns...can I have a squarp setup like this while also having midi connected to logic to control each synth if I wanted to jump from jamming to recording/arranging in logic?

[@MRTUNA]

Matt Sweeney yeah it can definitely work that way

[@heh3446]

Hey man.. quick question for you.. out or curiosity what Midi through boxes do you use? Thanks! Btw, love your tunes, keep it up!

[@moogish]

Are you using any professional power conditioners like furman or are you just all over the place? I use to own A Furman PL-Pro DMC with 9 outlets & 1 USB. I realized later it wasn't going to be enough which opted me out of Furman & went with Monster 1200 with 12 outlets & 2 USB. Now I'm requiring a 2nd lol. I'm actually collecting too many instruments & pedals with 9v & 12v power supply. these are the most annoying.

[@quadaxial]

Mr Tuna, this may seem like a boring question, but an important one: what is your approach to powering all your gear? I have a similarly large hardware setup and I've recently experienced issues with some of my vintage analog gear that I suspect is due to poor power conditioning. Do you use power conditioners? Do you use sequencers to power up/down your gear? Any advice or illumination is appreciated!

[@machiwoomiapoo]

I am very impressed with the way you make your music on the pyramid device. Using the MX ones like that is a great idea as well. I love using it but I always have a limited number of synthesizers I can put in it at the same time. But for me that's always a good thing cuz I don't get too thick of a mix. You know what I mean? Keep up the great videos. Sam.

[@SkywalkFPV]

Notice my man has every bit of kit but nothing from Akai has made it to his cave, one would expect to see one of those MPC live boxes around there.. But nope, go figure..

[@RoomAtTheTopStudio]

Hey Mr Tuna. I am thinking of getting either the Boss RC505 or the Squarp Pyramid over the next few days. From what I've seen here though the Squarp Pyramid may be better for me as I can tweak the sound of my synth after I have sequenced it, something I can't do if I just loop the audio. My question is how many synths can I connect to the Squarp before I need a separate MIDI through box?

[@hokumtribe1136]

you can daisy chain your synths, you would have a bit of latency the more you chain them hough. As it has 2 midi outputs, you can kinda spread the workload. I think it also depends what kind of gear you're triggering, I've heard that Elektron gear needs a Turbo midi box to speed up the exchange of information. Rc505 is a loop pedal, while Pyramid is a midi sequencer. So you store your patterns and arrangements in it and automations if you need to, but you can change it all at any time because its not audio

[@RoomAtTheTopStudio]

@@hokumtribe1136 I ended up getting the RC505 to loop my Prologue performance. It's only audio but it does the necessary job for the time being. MIDI is rubbish on it so I have to set the bpm and then beat match to my other equipment. I'll probably get a Squarp Pyramid in the new year then hook up my synths and use the RC505 for looping sax and guitar

[@hokumtribe1136]

@@RoomAtTheTopStudio yeah i think they could complement each other

[@MRTUNA]

505 is really neat but Squarp is the way to do it! I only use my looper for guitar/vocal stuff

[@Dougie-]

That's a lot of green :) How do you track your songs? Do you sum everything on the MXs or do you multitrack to Logic?

[@samuellimasilva5695]

Probably a noob question but I just got the squarp and was wondering how come you can move smoothly from synth to synth and start recording without having to go to the squarp and choose a new midi channel everytime.

[@MRTUNA]

Samuel Lima Silva so long as they are on different, separate midi channels (and multi-track recording on the Squarp is turned on) it can de-mix the tracks by midi channel. It works great

[@samuellimasilva5695]

@@MRTUNA gonna try it out thanks!

[@spooky_zoo]

MR TUNA Music This answers the 2nd part of my earlier question. :) Always read the comments kids! Haha

[@pco2004]

MR TUNA Music wow that’s pretty sick

[@deaddancers1]

How does the din sync input on the squarp work with the 808? And is your 808 retro fitted for midi? Been really curious how squarp can work with my 808 and 909.

[@bose5160]

$25,000 vs $60 Reaper license. The flashing lights tho...

[@MRTUNA]

Lights and knobs! And keys I really like keys.

[@thomashoenselaars3796]

So your squarp gets midi IN to receive midi from each individual synth (via midi merge boxes), and the squarp sends midi OUT to send to each individual synth (via midi thru boxes)? Would this same idea be doable with an MPC Live? Thanks !

[@MRTUNA]

that's pretty much exactly it-- I've got the squarp hooked up to send a lot of USB midi as well. Ive never had much experience with the live, but I'm 90% sure you can make that work!

[@MichaalHell]

If you use Live as the center and have keyboard hooked up to that, then yes. A good thing with live is that it has two midi outs, so you can hook a lot of synth to it if you want. I have a Digitone hooked up to one of the outlets and a Machinedrum and Nord Drum 2 to their other outlet. It’s a nice set up in that I have not only keyboard input but also very nice MPC pads for drum input.

[@lloydvallentine2]

Great setup! Can you chain different type of tr8 patterns on the pyramid and have them play different chained patterns while operating other gear as this is my main conundrum before purchasing the pyramid sequencer?

[@MRTUNA]

I actually dont think you can do that------- if the TR-8 can accept midi pattern changes then yes (but for some reason I think that is a sad omission on the board), but if it cant--- you would make all your patterns on the pyramid and play them into the TR-8 and switch them back and forth from the pyramidi patterns. at the very least the pyramid can do much much more complex sequencing than the TR-8 can so you can get rolling and syncopated hi-hats, or some cool polyrhythms going

[@bigdaddy4302]

do you set the pattern length on the pyramid, seems like different instruments you play have different pattern length

[@MRTUNA]

yeah you can set the pattern length for each individual midi track before hand or change it up pretty easy while its playing live

[@bigdaddy4302]

MR TUNA Music thank you.. i really wanna do what you are doing with all this squarp pyramid. i gotta get me one

[@pco2004]

MR TUNA Music how to u set the squarp to change pattern lengths in live mode. It seems it can tell when you stopped playing and it auto ends the loop length per synth. I can’t find that in the manual

[@pco2004]

Never mind I see u answered this below.

[@V4D2]

yep... i learned some stuff, thanks ;) i don’t mind your showing off..hehe 2nd time this week, that i bump into a video of yours. 1st time looking for Roland MX-1 usage....and now ..looking for Squarp. i think i might have found the central device i have been looking for, for so long. You also got a Sub 37 that i have been trying not to buy..hehe.. i am a multi instrumentalist , playing mostly MIDI instruments, now. i come from the more traditional classical approach...only having discovered the sequencing and synthesis scene real value, very recently. the Sub37 will be my 1st hardware synth. 1. would u point me on another direction..or is that a great option ? (experimenting, and bass licks) 2. i didn’t quite get how u had the Squarp record and loop 2 phrases with different lengths in a row. right at the start, when u throw in the 1st lead.. thanks for the video. ;)

[@matts7975]

How come you got this figured out with like 50 pieces of equipment, but I can’t make 4 work like this?

[@MRTUNA]

I did go criminally insane trying to get this all to work. When I first started it was adding one piece at a time before I really figured out the specifics of the machine. it was a slow process and one that FULL of studio-breaking moments, but eventually eventually eventually I got it all sorted. There are a lot of concessions that I have to make to get it all working together but it was worth it!

[@matts7975]

Screw it, I bought an M-audio 4x4 interface and 5 midi cables. All I want to do is use my Electribe 2 like you are using the Squarp. Hooking my Blofeld, JDXI, and Minilogue xd into it. I wanted to leave a computer out of the setup but it seems I’ll need one to program the interface it seems. Not really sure how to do that since the online manual makes that part so vague. I literally broke out in hives last night trying to figure out if I could actually pull this off before spending money. I guess I’ll be walking in blind and setting myself up for another episode of madness. It’s funny I’ve spent more time shuffling synths and ripping my hair out than making music.

[@RMeisterMusic]

I agree with Matt S. All I have are two boutique modules and a TR8S. Is the key to the whole operation the Squarp Pyramid? Maybe I'm missing a brain (or my own!)

[@matts7975]

Robert Meister, I dropped the midi interface, because guess what, I had to program it with a computer-and have a computer hooked up to it while running. I ended up getting a Deluge and got everything to work pretty easily compared to before. I can record parts into the Deluge’s sequencer with one synth, have the Deluge then play that part while I add another track into the Deluge with a different synth, etc. i needed a MIDI Solutions Quadra Thru as well to make it all work. But no computers or confusing software anymore. I record everything into a Tascam DP-008ex and use a Yamaha MG10xu for mixing. Lots of cables, but I’m pretty happy with it.

[@squishmusic]

@@matts7975 i guess u ditched the electribe 4 the deluge. I have an ES2 but its not yet the brain so not sure how well it would work 4 that. Gr8 as a 16-trk one-shot sampler tho :D

[@bigdaddy4302]

midi out from synths, to midi in on squarp via midi thru boxes, and set up midi channels ?

[@MRTUNA]

Big Daddy exactly

[@hushboogie404]

@@MRTUNA what midi throu box are you using to transmit midi from several items into the pyramid?

[@pco2004]

hejohannes I think he’s using midi solutions merge and thru boxes. M8 and T8 I think they’re called.

[@audiblevoid]

I need one of these sequencers. I have found my Octatrack to be frustrating at best. The squarp is the one I need. By using those hubs for midi connectivity, you are able to connect many synths into the sequencer correct? Great vid Mr Tuna.

[@mariopetrelli7444]

Hello mr tuna, how can you do quantize and arpeggios into the same equipment? and how do you organize each equipment in each mixer?

[@bonesawISready13]

Mr. Tuna, this video was very helpful but opened up for many more questions that I have about trying to get started up myself. I've got the synths and drum machines I want for now, I just don't know where to go next. I've scoured the internet for basic intros to this sort of thing, but its often assumed the learner knows a bit about the subject. What I'm learning from this video is that the squarp might be the solution to my problem. I need something that will be able to take in different parts of the song as I build them and be able to replay them on top of new sounds. The squarp seems to do that just fine? I just didnt understand how its smart enough to know when the sample should start and end as you added new pieces. Could you shed some light on my problem?

[@bonesawISready13]

Just watched your live jamming with squarp vid and it helped a little.

[@youvsyou945]

Hi, I'm curious about your sound system. Is your phone/video recorder just live recording on your videos from your sound system live in the room? You didn't go over the sound system(monitors/subs and how the mix is sent to them)....The reason I'm asking(and your awesome create a patch on the OB-6 video) is because your vids sounds really great. Thanks!

[@MRTUNA]

purpleibby it’s just from the USB outs on the MX1 into my computer, then I sync the audio and video together after

[@paulsharp5473]

Hi thanks for the tour. Do you set up fixed loop lengths? And do you record the midi from your synths on different tracks with each track a different midi channel. Thanks

[@MRTUNA]

Yes I set up fixed loop lengths. you can have it to do an auto-length by starting and stopping the recorder but i prefer to know what im going in for so it can all be fluid and as smooth as possible

[@edmc2]

😎

[@MichaalHell]

Inspiring to see. It baffles me that no other company has attempted to do a mix-1 with proper inputs. The mx-1 is so close to being a homerun. It’s jut those stupid aira usb inputs....

[@MRTUNA]

unless you've got aira gear, then they are pretty handy

[@MichaalHell]

Well yeah, fair enough! 😄

[@DC-jj3pl]

what is the main issue you find with the Roland boutique synths with he pyramid?

[@TheExgymnast]

GAS + vanity = fun

[@MRTUNA]

BellyWasher painful painful vanity

[@christophercatone5973]

After all that routing you still only get a stereo mix down. Have you used the Mx-1in mixer mode? I think you can aggregate the tr-8 and your Mx-1s in Logic for individual outputs

[@MRTUNA]

I choose to use stereo mix-down. It's no problem for me to individually track each synth into Logic using the MX-1s running into my computer as an aggregate device. I don't have to change anything I just select what tracks I want to record. (I have 48 tracks available to pick from). I use stereo master out because it is a real live jam that way and lets me have fun with the MX-1 master effects

[@christophercatone5973]

MR TUNA Music that’s awesome man. Have you tried using one keyboard controller going MIDI in into your Squarp for controlling everything else? It is pretty cool that you can walk around to all the synths and play them though but shit that’s a lot of midi cables 😂

[@mikelchinnery9662]

@@christophercatone5973 I'm guessing he mostly does that, this is so he can record cc automation from every instrument if he does choose to play any of them manually. All in all looks like the squarp is a bit of a home run

[@generaltso510]

hey mr tuna, I'm a big fan, thanks for this video! I've modeled my setup after your's and recently purchased the squarp pyramid along with the m8 and t8. i've set up the midi connections how you've outlined in this video. However, I still can't figure out how to create multiple channels on the squarp pyramid. as of right now, when i loop a phrase from one of my synths, the squarp sends the midi signal out to all the synths and plays it simultaneously on them. any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. thanks!

[@MRTUNA]

generaltso510 you need to set each midi channel on each synth specific to the channel you want the Squarp to send to them , ie: synth 1 on track 1 (midi channel 1 on Squarp, midi channel 1 on synth 1) then synth 2 on track 2 with midi set to track 2! Does that solve any issues? The Squarp must also be set to “multitrack mode bank a”

[@generaltso510]

@@MRTUNA sorry for the late reply, i was out of town. i still can't get it to not trigger both my synths when i start playing notes in live looping mode. for the m8, are you plugging the synth midi outs into the in ports on the m8 and then for the squarp, is that going into the midi out on the m8 which goes into the squarp midi in? I'm also not sure how to get the squarp to recognize which channel is which from the midi solutions. are you manually entering that midi track 1 on your squarp is whatever synth it is or is the squarp recognizing it? thanks!

[@generaltso510]

also anytime i hit assign on a track, i'm getting a message on the squarp that says 'not assigned.'

[@rivermonsoon7009]

I've bee looking for doing this as well as I love hardware everything. So now that you play it live where does the audio go when you want to record to the laptop? And then what do you mix with?

[@MRTUNA]

rivermonsoon I mix everything with the Roland MX1 mixers that send all the tracks via USB to my computer- but also lets me jam live like this

[@pco2004]

MR TUNA Music does this setup limit you to just a stereo recording (2 channels) of your live performance or you go mx1 out to daw in 1 for 1 for each channel/synth?

[@RandomProductionszsz]

Interesting watch as I am looking at the pyramid myself. I have a question: I see the squarp neatlessly looping all your midi output when you're playing the juno. How does it know when the end of the loop arrives? Is the squarp already pre-set to loop after 4 bars? Thanks for the upload!

[@MRTUNA]

RandomProductionszsz pretty much exactly. You can determine the individual bars of each track, or there is a “live looper” function (that I don’t use) that you can enable and hit record again once you’re at the end of your take. I have the Pyramid set to 4 bars by default but you could have any track at any bar length, ie: track 1 has 4 bars, track 2 (midi channel 2) has 8 bars.... maybe track 3 has 16 bars and maybe track 4 is 1 3/4 bars. You can get some cool polymetrics going that way

[@RandomProductionszsz]

Wow that's great to hear! I think the only thing I miss on the pyramid would be some kind of "Song mode" where you can record the repetitions of different patterns and eventually edit after. Anyway I still wanna get one. It's the definite upgrade for an rm1x user!

[@MRTUNA]

RandomProductionszsz there is a song mode as well! It works like you are suggesting..... I have never used it before though!

[@MRTUNA]

RandomProductionszsz (I always flip through my sequences manually)

[@RandomProductionszsz]

I do the same on my rm1x as well. Often I don't get it done right though when recording. Then I end up re-performing my composition over and over because of some pattern playing too long or pressing a false button to an extent where I am tired of the song and wanna leave it alone for 2 weeks ;)

[@CalebCromb]

I’d love to hear a drum machine through the squarep arpeggiator

[@kaitsu9608]

Euclidean arp is actually very cool with drums

[@CalebCromb]

@@kaitsu9608 does that mean you'll make a video demonstrating it? pretty please ;)

[@kaitsu9608]

@@CalebCromb sorry, i would if i had it still! there is good examples around here though! basically set up 1 track per 1 percussive element to euclidean mode, as it either only plays mono note or chord note, and lay for example 4 to the floor kick going and start fiddling.... youll get lost real quick!

[@spybloodjr]

Is nobody gonna talk about these out of control samples???

[@whitevinyljunkie]

What about the korg e2?

[@kaitsu9608]

Im a little worried that one day you climb in the attic to find all that gear buried under the pillows. I mean, they are secured, right?

[@MRTUNA]

Kaitsu ...mostly :0

[@offworldnetwork]

Hey Mr.T ... no TR8 S ????

[@kaitsu9608]

It wasnt out in 2018 im pretty sure

[@InVisionsynthmindscape]

But why 3 Roland mixers?

[@austinanthony4016]

He explains it's for FX/AUX routing and digi I/O. It's also always nice to have a pre-fx and Post-fx on separate channels then blend them. You can really fine tune your effected source that way.

[@InVisionsynthmindscape]

@@austinanthony4016 It will be that these mixers do not like me and I find them only ugly, and because someone buys even 3 for me remains a mystery. With the same money, you can buy yourself a higher quality digital mixer with motorized faders and easier routing possibilities with well-done on-board effects. Then clearly everyone does what he wants.

[@GNeuman]

The 808 seems strangely out of place..

[@Johnmb23]

Why do you have so many mx1’s?

[@MRTUNA]

for so many synths!

[@theacan565]

Hey Man.....u really need some.....HARDWARE!!!

[@MIKExMASSACREx]

Ok but why do you have so many drum machines? Seems pretty wasteful if you ask me .

[@MRTUNA]

I have 2 TR-8 which I use like a 707 and a 909 (or however I choose in combination) I also have an original 808 which covers those bases again, but that's all I've got. The other ones are my MX-1 mixers. There's an MC-707 ive got on loan from Roland right now, but even then I dont think it's excess.

[@MIKExMASSACREx]

MR TUNA Music oh your right my bad didn’t realize those were mx1s at first I’m like why he got a bunch of tr8s?!?!

[@MRTUNA]

@@MIKExMASSACREx Im a huge Roland nerd so I wouldn't put it past me to have 3 TR-8s either.... but it's almost time I graduate to a big boy mixer and be a little more serious about the music I'm making than just having a lot of fun with my jams.

[@MIKExMASSACREx]

MR TUNA Music yea that’s crazy you have all those mx1s and no stand alone mixer haha

[@RickDrift]

Your Not A Real Producer Till You Have 8 Rolands In The Same Setup.

[@photosbyms]

What would you use to add a non-midi acoustic/analog device, like a Rhodes, to a looped jam?

[@austinanthony4016]

Audio-in on a looping sampler.

[@AmbientDrums]

The echoplex by Gibson is still a good way to loop audio