cramped transport, looking to teach, what should i take?

[space6oy]

ok, have chatted w/ sqweebking about it a bit, had decided against it but then after talking w/ one of the friends i've been plotting this for, am back at trying...

going on a vacation w/ a group of friends in two weeks. we'll pretty much spend it snowboarding and partying. two guys i'm pals w/ who're in on this are both into techno stuff, but neither has any experience messing w/ making it. one of the two's a very talented musician, but only plays guitar & drums. other guy's just a listener, but also a very talented/experienced designer. anyway, i had this instant thought of taking some gear w/ me so we can f**k around w/ it, show them the ropes to programming a drum machine & a sequenced synth & messing w/ sounds. the two big complications though are cramped car space (at least 8 of us going, probably gonna have to take 3 cars just to fit people & luggage & boards...) plus let's face it... for the vast majority of the time we're off the slopes we'll be wasted.

so now that one of the two guys is all for my bringing stuff & getting him started, which i'm totally pumped about, i've gotta figure out what the h**l to take.

first torn decision was whether to take big guns (ie 808 & 909) or stick w/ the smallest gear possible... know i'm taking my macbook (regardless) & my zero8 mixer so i can run things straight to ableton, either speakers or maybe a little practice amp & cables.

so... if you were in this scenario, what setup would you take?

right now i'm thinking two drum machines, sampler w/ drums etc. loaded, at least one mono, one poly, a vocoder (landed a microkorg for those two, other poly's are just too big) & probably some effects. is that enough? or what is that missing? 3 people messing w/ this, won't be surprised at all if others are instantly interested... but it's not like i'm gonna haul my whole studio...

any thoughts, bring 'em on.

[Richard Gear]

Bring an effect that will set an overall mood, like a nasty spring reverb.

[space6oy]

far as effects my retroverb's one i'm definitely debating. may just go for bringing my RE-201 instead though... was first thinking deluxe memory boy for delay, analog plus midi sync, but still nothing tops old tape delays... also probably bringing a philtre just because it's the tiniest simplest filter out there. could bring KP3 since it's a multi...

edit: ineko would be a great multi too, & probably simpler... though obviously the KP3 lighted touchpad is amusing as h**l...

[tekkentool]

Well if you're trying to get them interested the Kp3 is possibly the most interesting-to-noobs effect you can find. and it doesn't hurt that it's dead simple too. The microkorg is a no brainer based on size and the "Hey this vocoder thing is cool, EXTERMINATE, EXTERMINATE" factor. I suppose a small analogue mono would then be all you need.

also screw the drum machines, just use Ableton's drum rack, it'll be more intuitive to them anyway.

[space6oy]

re: drum rack, no it wouldn't at all, especially w/ multiple people messing w/ gear at once, hands-on knobs & buttons would be way better...

currently thinking 808 & 909 (unless i decide it's better to take smaller drum machines...), ESX w/ drum samples etc., microkorg for poly & vocoder, probably SH-101 for an analog mono, orb to sequence it (that way we can play keys to come up w/ riffs then program), maybe revo too since it's simpler than the 777 & easy to program especially if learning the orb too, plus live editing... i so wish the CS-01 had midi or CV control...

edit: probably gonna take a fuzz factory & LPB-1 for distortion/boost... maybe slicer since it turns damn near anything into an amusing pattern... kind of debating taking a rack w/ some other gear too, maybe repeater & a guitar (or a bass...)

see i so wish i could take shitloads of gear & not be troubled by the transport space & worrying about setting everything up & tearing it down... not to mention spilled drinks... probably gonna have to lay down the law that no one brings what they're sipping near the setup...

[I12]

no way would i take top vintage gear

stuff like your esx and other easily replaceable stuff

a bunch of slammed boarders spilling sh1t into your gear will

make it less fun than you imagine

[cartesia]

I'd say take the esx, a synth (small as possible, with keyboard preferably), effects.. and perhaps even a microphone

[Cumulus]

Try this approach:

Pretend you don't know what any of this stuff does.

Arrange your gear in order from smallest to largest.

Take the 5 smallest pieces.

Now, analyze it as a set-up.

If it's too redundant (Like 4 drum machines and only one synth), subsitute the largest redundant piece for the smallest non-redundant one. For example, swap the 909 for the Kaossilator (or whatever you have that is small).

Since these guys are noobs, it won't matter much what you bring. They will probably enjoy any of it immensely.

[TrondC]

I'd leave the rolands at home for sure..

how about.. You stay in charge with your ESX, then one guy gets the KP3 (which is a no-brainer for sure), a microkorg too and you should be able to rock it out on a budget

cool idea tho, I'd love to do something like that some day

[sqweebking]

Yea I agree with taking small and inexpensive gear for now. If your friends are interested enough why not have them over your house sometime for a proper jam session where you dont have to worry about hauling vintage gear around?


Edit: One night with an MC-303 was enough to inspire me to jump into this scene and those things are hardly intuitive..

[space6oy]

one's a designer w/ little free time, the other lives 3 hours away.

i'm not afraid of risking expensive gear on this. it's less risk than taking it to a show in a bar. probably just going to roll w/ what i think is easiest to learn. appreciate all your suggestions though.

[THEODICY]

Leave everything at home and just enjoy your damn vacation. I bet you will not even get any quality time out of gear if you do bring any. You'll come back refreshed and recharged for more studio time in the long run if you just enjoy the time off.

[atomfahrzeug]

SH101, 909, Microkorg... possibly esx and kp3 as well. Small, easy-to-learn analog mono, small va poly w/vocoder, medium size drum machine. The 808 is cooler, but a bit more fragile in my opinion. Plus, the 909, microkorg, and 101 can all interface together w/ midi and analog trigger out. Perfect solution. Even better, the 909 can be played pad-style, which noobs LOVE, and is awesome for working out drum tracks in jam sessions.

[space6oy]

still debating whether or not i'm gonna deal w/ this at all, but i seriously would so love to...
was a smart move if i do say so myself moving gear from my studio room to another room to see exactly what it'd be like transporting & setting up & tearing down. decided tonight to cut the second drum machine. still debating cutting more. doesn't help how i keep listening to music & thinking, "s**t, i should be taking this to do that..."

anyway, here's a shitty iphone pic of the rig. 505's out, 909 & ESX will cover drums. hate cutting the 201 but may just for its size. also sort of debating the 101 & microkorg... was originally thinking i should be covering all bases but now am more thinking simplicity. bummer the x0xb0x doesn't happen to be the same to program as the revo/orb. also might just drop the 3 fx i haven't cut yet, even if they're all very fun additions...

[Stab Frenzy]

I love that you can consider that a minimal setup for easy transportation.