what should my next piece of gear be?!

Basically in the last 2 months been starting my hardware studio.Ive gotten an sh-101(you can get CV/DIN to midi converters right?) a 707 a dx-7 and a 4 track tape recorder combined with my Jc-120 a boss delay pedal and eqer and some shitty guitar playing i can do some pretty cool jams maybe record something super simple,however this setup is only good for jamming I cant make tracks.I know i need a sequencer and a mixer by I just have no idea about what would be right.

Reccomend me some options keeping in mind my budget is modest and i like older stuff.thanks:)

Considering you're spending a reasonable amount on the synths, you should probably ditch the tape recorder and use reel to reel, a wider range of tape speeds gives you more flexibility with recording, and you can get nice analog warmth by slowing down the tape slightly.

Either way, I found a reel to reel recorder with an 8 track analog mixing deck for $250, you could probably find even better. Just sit and look on craigslist every day for a month or so.

In terms of a sequencer, it would definitely be good to get a hardware sequencer just to learn how to use it all, but if you want to keep initial costs down you can just use a computer as your sequencer and do everything else with the hardware.

Thanks for a detailed and interesting reply tamas ,Im pretty keen not to include a computer in the set-up atleast not for now, and I can actually obtain a reel to reel recorder from my school(where i got the DX-7 the 4 track and a VCR player from haha).

An MPC might be a nice addition. The 5000's OS is finally up to standard. Or you can get a 1000/2500 with JJOS and be set. Not sure if that's you're thing, but I can't think of a more flexible hardware sequencer.

4 track portatstudios usually have pitch control too no?

normal, half, double speed and a fine pitch control nob

i'd get rid of the tape 4 track and get a digital hard disk/memory card one with MIDI so you can use it as your master clock source and sync all your gear to that. for sequencing there are not that many hardware options these days - you have the Yamaha QY series (I've got two QY sequencers and love them), then stuff like Grooveboxes that are synths in their own right but also make good hardware sequencers. if i were to buy a new sequencer and had quite a lot of cash, i'd go for the Doepfer MAQ 16/3 analogue style one - very versatile with full MIDI. unfortunately it's £500 odd.

it sounds to me like you have everything you need to make tracks. is there something i'm missing?

  maus said:

it sounds to me like you have everything you need to make tracks. is there something i'm missing?

I agree.

Sync the SH-101 with the TR-707 - there's your bass and drums. Play the guitar or the DX-7 over it. Apply delay when needed. This can all be done on the 4-track. You're all set for now for some good analog lo-fi goodness.

Get an Alesis MMT-8, they are badass sequencers that can be had for nothing. I've paid under $50 shipped for both of mine. Then pick up a shit lo-fi sampler like an Akai S950 or a Yamaha TX16W, and you're set. Most of Aphex's early early stuff was done with nothing more than a 101, Dx100, a crap Casio sampler and an Atari for sequencing. Listen to GAK and Polygon Window, you'll see what I mean.

Talent.

maybe a lexicon mx200?

  pera said:

maybe a lexicon mx200?

Good call, those can be had for cheap. Or if you like that lo-fi gritty goodness kinda reverb, Alesis Quadraverbs can be had for next to nothing, and sound like nothing else.

  vasio said:

Talent.

cant stress this enough

i dont give a shit about your gear, the importance is whether your music is good or bad

go on craigslist or ebay and look for old upright pianos and organs. people often will just either give those away or sell for $100 -200 because they are moving. lots of sound to be had from a piano with all the mechanical stuff in there and it's damn piano anyway.

buy a omega 8, lynx aurora, ssl console and various GML eqs.

fuck that talent thing, its' obvious, the guy wants a new piece of gear though. i say a multitrack recorder and ditch the computer

  mrx said:

buy a omega 8, lynx aurora, ssl console and various GML eqs.

Ugh, I hate SSL boards. They are perfect for pop music, but they color sound too brightly for my tastes. I like my music to have a warm feel, like I'm being wrapped in a sonic blanket. Neve and Trident desks are where its at.

Yeah I use me Neve and my Trident more often than my SSL

  analogue wings said:

Yeah I use me Neve and my Trident more often than my SSL

Heh, yeah, I don't actually own any of those mixers, but the studio I work out of does. Just finished building the mastering suite too. http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?...iendID=75547477

I'd get an sp sampler, and some more cheap effect pedals:

Ibanez Delay/Phaser can be had for easily 40 USD each on ebay

A compressor maybe?

If you have a computer, I'd get a good computer audio card, and maybe a midi interface so you can just sync all of your stuff into your computer, and record practically limitless layers/number of songs. And use with stuff generated in pirated DAWs.

thanks for the replys im probably looking at a getting a mmt-2 it seemed perfect and pretty simple.

and i understand the point of talent but really i think a sequencer is something pretty critical.

  mrx said:

buy a omega 8, lynx aurora, ssl console and various GML eqs.

recently a friend and i hauled off a bunch of gear to a remote location, all jams were done on a 110% shit behringer mixer running on batteries with faders that would crackle and cut out all over the place. i was surprised to find that, not only did i not hate this, i thought it was cool. we rolled with it and it became part of the aesthetic... i need to get those jams off my MD.

but, seriously, how can you ever justify buying a $50k+ console?? i couldn't.

  hahathhat said:

  mrx said:

buy a omega 8, lynx aurora, ssl console and various GML eqs.

 

recently a friend and i hauled off a bunch of gear to a remote location, all jams were done on a 110% shit behringer mixer running on batteries with faders that would crackle and cut out all over the place. i was surprised to find that, not only did i not hate this, i thought it was cool. we rolled with it and it became part of the aesthetic... i need to get those jams off my MD.

 

but, seriously, how can you ever justify buying a $50k+ console?? i couldn't.

People who actually make $ off music can probably justify those purchases.

I couldn't either. :stuart:

I hear those analog mixing desks are REAL forgiving tho!!!!