Most compact and versatile live-setup?

[sepiakeys]

One for the gigging musicians: What hardware do you think gives you maximum power and flexibility with minimal size and weight?

At the moment I am using a Nord Electro 3 (for rhodes, piano, organ) plus a 4U-Rack with: Novation Bass-Station (for analog bass and lead), Novation A-Station (for pads, leads and arpeggios), E-MU Vintage Keys Plus (for mellotrons and poly-synth-stuff) plus a rack-mixer. The midi-master-controller is a Roland A-70, the rest are cables and some effect pedals.

(Yes, a Mac Book is more portable, but I am not into Logic, Mainstage and VST's...)

[tim gueguen]

Obviously it's going to depend on what you're playing. A techno guy likely isn't going to find much use for an Electro, and a rock band keyboardist likely doesn't want an Electribe.

[Phollop Willing PA]

Pretty sure this has been discussed before but my 'guerrilla' set up consists of a Roland MC505, Korg Prophecy and a Moog Theremin.

No mixer, just as is sent to the sound man.

[Mush]

I have 4 different live setups depending on what I'll be playing.

Experimental and ambient:
1. Netbook running MaxMSP and 2 controllers monome128 and synderphonics manta.
2. Nord Modular G2 with custom built controller and Akai MPC500 + Fender Jaguar and a Shure SM58.

Electronic dance stuff and IDM:
3. Akai MPC500, KP3, MicroModular (adding a Shruti-1 to this one in a few days)
4. Elektron Machinedrum UW, Monomachine, Acidlab M1AM1 and Acidlab Bassline II

[cartesia]

I'm going to try this one out:

ER-1, MBase01, Tetra, Mixer, a couple effect pedals

[Hair]

For electronic music, I think my two tiny dream setups would be:

A: MPC1000 for MIDI sequencing and samples and lots of tiny standalones like Tetr4, Blofeld, Slim Phatty, Nord Micro Modular, MFB 503 and maybe a SynthLite II (probably redundant), SammichSID, x0xb0x, KP3, Alesis AirFX - the mixer would probably be the biggest thing haha

B: the Three Elektron boxes with all the upgrades, KP3, AirFX, maybe a few of the above standalones to sequence from the Monomachine (technically I could still sequence most of the mentioned synth ones, uh ohh..)

In both cases I'd also probably rock a strap-on midi controller of some sort (keys or guitar)

For now though, my super compact live setup is just a Boss SP-505 and a Korg EM-1 into a littler Behringer mixer feeding a miniKP into a cheapo direct box. Thinking of modding a 3630 (I hear you can replace some ICs etc to make them not suck) and throwing that on the output. With some lucky deals, right now I think I've only put like ~$400 total into it ($75 EM-1 on craigslist? Yes please).

I mean, in a lot of ways that rig is pretty unfulfilling, but at the same time it's something that I can easily afford and keep wired up. Guitar pedalboard case + packing foam = not having to stress about setting anything up when I'm at a party or something. Mush's MPC 500 + Nord Micro etc is mighty fine though.


For traditional keyboard stuff, it seems like the Korg PS60 is actually really sweet (if you don't mind not having hammer-action) - good sounds, affordable, lightweight, ridiculously quick and intuitive interface, deep software editor for crafting whatever sounds you need that aren't already in there. Not a board you'd go to to be creative in the studio, but it seems like just the ticket for recreating things live without the hassle of setting up a ton of gear.

[BlackGnosis]

A laptop and a mini i/o box....

[rhino]

Roll up piano and a kazoo

[th0mas]

I used to play with an MPC1000, blofeld module, MFB503, and midi controller.

Changed to a laptop - the MPC1000 is great and solid performer but I love the versatility I get by using VSTs in live. Now i'm looking at it being laptop, MIDI controller, mopho keyboard.

[StepLogik]

although i don't play live anymore, i could never get comfortable using a laptop in a live show. seems too risky unless your software installation is rock-solid (that is, a laptop just for performance with only the bare essentials installed).

also, with all the "laptop DJ's" flooding the EDM scene it seems just a bit wankerish if you don't have plenty of outboard gear to set you apart from everyone else (not to mention, of course, music that doesn't suck lol).

[Mr. Sound Boy King]

I do improvised electronic music. My current set-up is small & quite versatile.

Nord Micromodular --> KP3 inputs
Mic --> KP3 mic input
KP3 outputs --> Machinedrum UW mk2 --> house

Still got room for something in the Micromodular inputs. Thinking on what, still.

[space6oy]

most stripped down setup i've ever used for a show was 808, 909, 777, revo & a couple pedals & a mixer. not that versatile, just the smallest rig i've used.

plotting to get back at it playing shows eventually, not completely sure of what setup i'll start off with, but am pretty sure it will involve macbook pro running ableton, launchpad & ipad, poly evolver rack, DRM1 mkIII & ADX1, XS or 777 or possibly both... love hands-on hardware but am trying to cut down on desktop & setup & teardown...

[sequentialsoftshock]

A Pro~One.

[space6oy]

A Pro~One.

Roll up piano and a kazoo

at least his was a joke...

[modulator_esp]

my compact set-up consists of expanded nord modular, blofeld, vss-30, ipod touch, m10-mx, mini-kp, repeater & dd-20