We are the music makers - producers?

13inch macbook pro (limited to 2x thunderbolt 4 ports, but £1000 cheaper), or 14 inch (more ports though still have to use adapters, more powerful etc and only just released)?

I might be missing something here, but isn't this basically amounting to paying £1000 mainly for an additional thunderbolt port?

When you say you want to have the option of running 2 mics at once, is that 2 mics in total? Your current interface takes care of that and takes up 1 of 2 thunderbolt ports.

Granted, I'm running my stuff through an M1 Air, so I may be biased on the "don't go bigger than you need to" argument.

But with my setup I can still have my audio interface (2 audio inputs) running alongside 2 synths that can be sending 12 or 14 (can't remember which at this point) tracks over USB simultaneously between them. That's with only 2 ports (but using adapters of course).

I guess where you are with it is the same as me – I'm just scared of dropping the cash and discovering I could have gone with a more futureproof and longterm economic purchase. I'm probably worrying about nothing and the fact that I can buy the cheaper one more or less straight away should be the only answer i need.

To compound that, the M2 was announced (but not released) when I picked mine up. Wasn't a fan of the non-tapered chassis of the M2 air so figured I'd go with the M1. This was upgrading from a 2014 11 inch Air, so the jump from that to M1 was going blow away any further gains from M1 -> M2.

Probably best to just outline your must haves (and wants) and ensure they're covered. Naturally everyone's needs are different. But my M1 Air happily deals with a good few instances of Diva running simultaneously so I'm not overly concerned about it becoming obsolete anytime soon.

With my setup using 2 adapters I've got the following all running simultaneously:

Adapter 1:

• HDMI output to monitor
  
• Audio interface
  
• External speakers over USB
  
• Power in
  
  

Adapter 2:

• 2 x external synths providing audio over USB
  
• MIDI controller
  
• 1 spare USB slot
  
  

So even with 'only' 3, you should be fine really (even with 4, you're still going to be relying on adapters anyway I assume).

I definitely get the apprehension about committing yourself to something you're going to be relying on for 5+ years, but I'm still pretty happy with mine (albeit only a year or so in!). As long as it meets all your immediate needs and any ones you expect to be adding in the near future you're all good IMO.

That's super helpful, thanks!

the trepidation is partly as I'd only really sorted out my peripherals setup to allow for acting on inspiration at a moments notice. massive first world problems but I finally had it figured out, and now the whole adapters thing is irking me more than it should. I've also just moved house and have no idea where music stuff is going to live yet, so I was going to have to find new answers anyway!

To be fair having everything setup to go at a moment's notice is pretty damn important! Here are a few pics of my current setup (veclro-ing the adapters to the side of my monitor riser helped a lot!).

All that I need to do is pop my Mac on the stand (the desktop PC on the right is basically video games only at this point), plug the two adapters in and pretty much everything is ready to go. Guitar plugged into the interface so ready to go with that. Got a multi-fx pedal under the desk if I want to use that over GuitarRig (which has a cable feeding up just behind the right hand speaker there so can use that instead). 2 main synths stored under the monitor that I can easily take out and plug into the USB adapter next to them.

Also, for any FL Studio users. Check out IL Remote, it's an iOS/Android app you can install on your device and control it from there to limit the amount of mouse/keyboard use. I know Ableton has a load of hardware devices that are designed for this but FL is a bit limited in that regard. Hence the tablet stored under the computer keyboard.

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Wonderful!

https://youtu.be/PDO-LY39S88

Check the final performance by Jerome Noetinger!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4gjpZ5TRyFSTJHXKfHsnP16/tectonics-glasgow-2023

Two toddlers, work and getting ready to move out of the country hasn't left me much time to do anything but I've had a little window to knock something out.

No mastering, straight out of ableton.

https://on.soundcloud.com/rVoXk

Anyone making music on a Chromebook? Just looking to take a line-out from a mixing desk and record some ideas.

Assuming I'll just need a basic USB audio interface?

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I kinda did this in the end, finally got around to working on a couple of the tracks yesterday. Took the BJ loop out then just worked on the rhythm track until it sounded as good as it did with it in. If that makes sense? Didn't take long!

Just need to make the rest of it not sound shit now. 🤣🤯

6yo reproducing Got 5 on it.

https://youtu.be/Kem169teMSg

😱🤯

I’m after some advice please.

My girlfriend has just got into mixing using a friends setup and is hooked, she also has ideas of remixes she’d like to make and add into the dj mixes.
The problem is that we’re about to head off cycle touring for the next year or so. I’d love this to be part of her life as we tour.

What would be a great way to do this on the road? Via a laptop or iPad? Any small and light hardware considered.

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Ha that would be perfect. I’ve been on one of his rides, highly recommended

I think what’s most amazing about this is that proper music software now just fucking works to the point that a kid can learn how to use it.

The hours I’ve wasted fettling drivers and temperamental plugins…

I have a question that is probably best thrown at the inhabitants of this thread rather than the Bands one:

My band uses a sampler pedal to play sound files that are intros. This pedal is no longer supported so we can't change any of the files for switching up the set, plus the guitarist doesn't want to be in charge of that any more. I'd like to take this opportunity to find something that can not only play the intro sound files, but also trigger some backing track type stuff for vocal layers.

Does the Alesis SamplePad 4 do that? Or is there something around that price point that does? Bonus points for me getting to hit it with something rather than clicking a button.

Perkons solo jam. Gets a bit Spastik towards the end 😝

https://youtu.be/84cnUqifESA?si=eBIxrjXR59wEVPgR

Anyone have any recommendations for sequencing in the rack, weighted towards Techno. I'm thinking about the Metropolix, downsides are it's size and cost. @Regal any thoughts?

Another query, I have 4 VCA channels free (split over 2 x MI Veils 2020) plus a fair few free LFO's to use (Doepfer A-145-4, free running and Xaoc Devices Batumi Quad LFO paired with their Samara Utility Waveform Processor. Batumi is clocked and I kinda like it running in the divide mode)

I've got two oscillators/voices, the Noise Engineering Loquelic Iteritas, and the ALM Busy Circuits MCO. These are both currently being sequenced with a mix of the Torso T1 and MIDI to CV sequences running on the Blackbox.

What could I do with the spare VCA channels/LFO's?

complex LFO's?

The Samara together with the Batumi can create fairly complex LFO's particularly if you self patch the Batumi

I've never done sequencing in eurorack that's any more complex than the Intellijel Steppy 1U (which is gate triggers only). I've always used an external sequencer going into a midi>cv converter (Intellijel Midi 1U). Mainly that is the Digitone. I just find it quicker / easier and more powerful. Not to mention cheaper. The Metropolix on its own is almost as much as a Digitone and it's really a very basic sequencer in comparison. You have to really want to keep everything in the rack, or strongly prefer the interface of the Metropolix. It does seem like it has a particular workflow that can be nice for sort of knocking something into shape, rather than starting by knowing exactly what you wanted.

There's the Erica Black Sequencer - https://www.ericasynths.lv/shop/eurorack-modules/by-series/black-series/black-sequencer/ - which might be a slightly cheaper option in a similar vein.

Apart from that, dunno, buy my Cirklon? 😂

therein lies the beauty of modular, modulate everything, complex LFO's for everything!

Mate you make excellent points I have to admit. I've already got the Torso T1 and the 1010 Music Blackbox on the desk and both are fine for sequencing, I just fancy something really immediate in the rack that's playable live.

I'll take a look at the Black Sequencer though. My production partner Paul just got his Cirklon through and he's now got that dilemma of keeping it or flipping it!