@@Burbah oh yes! I'm doing that with software and tape saturation plugins in Harrison Mixbus when I start mixing. But if I wanted to keep it all hardware, a tape machine would be my first choice for additional gear.
IF you are a one man show where you're the musician and the recording engineer, I strongly suggest the Zoom SD recorders for only one reason; metering. Only the Zoom has big large level meters for each track right next to the faders. While you are practicing for your recording session it will be easy to see if your louder passages of the song are peaking or just too high. I have been using a Zoom R24 for the last 14 years as my hardware recorder. My next purchase will be the Zoom Live Trak 20 to increase my LIVE recording sessions from 8 tracks to 20. Also I use an analog mixer, 32 channel subbed down to 8 channels to input to my available 8 inputs of my Zoom recorder, using this mixer pre-recorder gives me the opportunity to add effects so I don't have to depend on the less than pro effects of the recorder. You're not going to get good effects in a mixer/recorder for the price they are charging. No hardware recorder on the market has send and returns for effects. You always want the opportunity to add the highest quality effects and nothing will age your recorder faster than using built in effects.
Very cool peice of video that you produced. I really appreciate how intentional you were with the pacing and cadence in your speech. Thanks again for sharing with me your corner of creativity and expression. These are special spaces for those of us who create.
I must have notebooks to write lyrics down, jot notes down on what things I’ve done to tracks, etc etc. Pen and paper will never stop being perfectly modern and futuristic. It’s too practical.
I also use notebooks as an index to my idea recordings. Notebook pages have a "shape" to the writing that makes it quick to flick through to find something (plus I date the pages). Even when renamed, disk files don't have that and it soon becomes a meaningless blob. Files lose the context that a notebook gives.
@@unclemick-synths I never throw them away. I’ll be stuck for lyrics or something, and I’ll stick my hand in the pile, and it’ll be one from 1993 or something, and I’ll find something I’d forgot about ages ago, and there it is. A “new” song idea, lol.
@@unclemick-synths And I grok just exactly what you mean re “files”. Computers die within 2 or 3 years, no matter how much “virus protection” I have, and I’ve looked for a song I was involved in ten years ago, and I’ll realize that the only way I still “have” it is because it’s on my YT channel, and it’s the only “copy” I’ll have of it.
My productivity and enjoyment have skyrocketed since i ditched the daw and got a tascam model 12. I should have done it years ago.. i cannot emphasise enough how good the analogue preamps sound ! Im sticking with hardware 👍
Absolutely! I do think it's this new wave of mixer/recorders (Model 12, Livetrak and Bluebox) that were the missing piece that made ditching the DAW an easy decision for me.
Same. DAW’s perfect for recording and mixing an album, and virtual instruments can be great to demo ideas out before recording the album version. But performing live - especially with a band - I prefer not having computers on stage anymore.
Great video, thank you Such an unusual set-up, interesting and refreshing. And I love "I won't have empty mixer input staring me in the face and catalyzing that nasty gear acquisition fire that burns deep inside me" which I will be using as a mantra for my daily meditations ;)
thanks for this video man, I was trying to understand the basics for a dawless setup but I couldn't find a good video that explained all of what you said. keep up the great work man. and, +1 follower ; )
Definitely would like to know about your guitar's body shape. I just fiddle with a guitar. Recently switched from a single cut squire baritone to a schecter c-6 elite. Kind of miss the way the plain old tele body behaved.
I've been getting tired of having to update plugins on my Mac every time after a macOS update, but if you're using a DAW-based system, you probably have to do that. I prefer a DAW-less setup for sketching, composing, and/or live, and I only use my DAW for mastering.
Thank you for this! I want to do similar set up like yours. Using DAW at the moment only but want to add hardware instruments. It would be great if you could do a video on how you actually record from start to finish... Take us through your recording process... For example when you record keyboard part is it going through mixer into DAW? And I don't really understand how the midi clock works... You have a lot of cables too! 🙏 Cheers brother!
Thanks! I'm making new music now, but the process is so... chaotic, that it's difficult to document coherently. I'll definitiely give it a try in an upcoming video :) In the meantime, you can get an idea by watching my live jams ru-vid.com/group/PL2uJ7rGY6VogLFagiTSAbXqYkcEisKj9V I don't record anything to the DAW, everything is recorded to the Tascam Model 12. Most of my keyboard parts are sequenced, but I do play a few of the key melodies live. The MIDI box has 1 input and several outputs. So I send the Digitone's MIDI OUT into the box, and then MIDI cables go from the box to each of the instruments. Of course, the MIDI channels need to be setup up on each instrument to match the channel that the Digitone is sending, but once done I don't really think about it anymore. And yeah, if you plan to go down this road... it might be wise to buy a spool of cables and solder your connectors depending on the length you'll need, instead of how I did it 😅
My set up.. tascam model24, roland td27 drum kit that takes 4 channels (two overheads, snare and kick). I go bass direct into the tascam, I use a couple guitar pedals and record my guitar through those, direct into the tascam (no amp)... double up the guitar tracks, panned hard left/right, then a 3rd guitar down the middle under the mix... loving my results. stereo export, drop the file in reaper for a little compression and push the volume, and done.
I use Digitone and Syntakt on a Yamaha mg06 mixer. Roland SE02 & SH01 are connected to Digitone‘s inputs for mixing and FX. A Minifreak is connected to Syntakt‘s inputs. I can attenuate the inputs differently for each pattern and store the settings. My Midi Router is Blokas MidiHub with four In‘s and Out‘s. Both Elektrons can play each other and be played by the MiniFreak. I‘m recording on Deluge and transfer via SD-card into a MacBook.
Great tutorial brother! Love your setup. Music seems to sound better going through circuits sometimes instead of strictly in the box. There’s an organic sound that tends to be pleasing to the ears. Have you considered any of the Akai MPC X, MPC Live, or MPC One as a drum machine? It’s also a capable sequencer with time shift, humanize, and other functions to slightly make the drums play behind, before, or right on the beat. It has a DAW type recorder along with sample and stem import and export. I use the MPC One and it controls and syncs with my hardware synths. It will definitely save you space! Peace and Blessings bro!
Thanks man! I have indeed looked into the MPCs, but they've always seemed too big and bulky for my limited space. Other than that, they seem extremely capable as the center of a setup. All the best to you brother!
Would love to see how you use the Model 12. I've got a Model 16 at the core of my setup. One question: are you integrating any sends from the mixer? If so, how are you setting them up?
Hey, so I've done a whole video on how I use the Model 12 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-hY0dYQS4tsY.html The workaround I use for sends is that I send some of the channels to the sub mix, which goes into my sampler (Roland SP-404 Mk2) so I can quickly record/sample anything I want, add effects and bring it back into the mixer. Hope that helps!
Certainly the best way to l got a very bad back with using computer recording DAWs all my stuff is placed within easy reach. I stand up for keyboard playing but not more than an hour, playing guitar sat up on my bed is best for me, guitar pedals loopers and mixers monitors drum machine iPads and multi track recorders all at arms length on shelves next to me, being comfortable is important when creating music. Good luck with your music ❤❤
Thanks Paul! Absolutely, ergonomics are key for me too. If it hurts, I won't stand for it :) Especially when it comes to guitar. It's one of the reasons why I went headless for the guitar, and that will be my next video. Thanks for watching and good luck!
I still have my Korg D1600 multitracker but I prefer my MPC One as the centrepiece because it gives me a non-linear recording environment. Mostly these days I go direct to stereo and just master on the PC because I do a lot of my "mixing" before I hit Record.
@@nedogled yes, they pretty well are. The benefit for me over a computer DAW is that editing is enough hassle that I only fix problems I actually hear whereas in a DAW I find myself fixing "problems" I think I am seeing and that usually takes the life out of the music as badly as quantization.
Love the Video and knowledge and man....Do you know the famous Soccerplayer Zlatan Ibrahimovic? You should check him out if you don`t know him. You have the looks and VOICE just like him. Its amazing.
Thanks man! It never crossed my mind, but I think you're right haha... I do have some similarities with Zlatan, and we're from the same part of the world after all 😁
The only thing that keeps me using a DAW (Reaper, the only DAW with a sensible setup) are the great plugins you can use, and the capabilities they have. But aesthetically, I very much prefer good multitracks, such as the Boss BR-1600 I have. I began with a Teac 4-track cassette in 1981, and having a way to lay multiple tracks seemed really wild then. It caused a lot of good times.
That's true, there are a lot of great plugins in DAWs, but the temptation to buy new ones was always breathing down my neck when I was a full time DAW user :) I haven't heard of the Boss BR-1600 before, thanks for bringing that to my attention! I'll actually be publishing the video about my mixer/recorder tomorrow, so stay tuned for that one. It's a continuation of what the mighty Teac started all those decades ago!
I had a BR 1600 for a little while and had to sell it. Can you use it as a DAW controller at all? I know it's getting on a bit but I really like it. Otherwise I'll have to go for the Tascam model he uses in this video (I started off on a Tascam tape 4 track. So much fun)... thanks.
@@titmusspaultpaul5 Whenever I try to get into the deeper features with a DAW, it gets convoluted and confusing, and if I think I’m in the mode to do what I want to attempt, then I engage it, either nothing happens at all, or very strange things happen which destroys my project. I think it likely that via some sort of MIDI setup, what you described could be done, but I really don’t know, I’m afraid. Sorry I couldn’t help you. If you googled about, there’s every kind of instructional things out there, just a more obscure thing such as that may take some effort in order to happen upon. Maybe state it directly “Will a Boss BR-1600 work as a controller within a DAW”, and there will be something.
I have an old analogue mixer. Can i record multiple tracks out of that. Mackie onyx. It has recording out 1-4 and 5-12. Its like scart cable thing. I have Minilogue xd and digitakt. But no computer. Can i get a recorder of some sort or buy model 12 and firget bout the Onyx?
Hmm I'm guessing there must be recorders in the market like that, but I don't think they would be much cheaper than the Model 12, which provides a more streamlined experience being a mixer + recorder in one.
I used to think the same way, but my output of finished songs increased exponentially since leaving the DAW, while being a much more enjoyable prices! Still, each to their own 😁
Definitely. I think it's the infinite possibilities of the DAW that mark the key difference from recording to a mixer, which is much more straightforward in comparison, but also limited (which can sometimes be a good thing). That, and the mouse and keyboard interface which I never got along with for composing on a DAW.
1. Decide you want to spend less time in front of a screen 2. Watch hours and hours od videos about DAWless setups and gear reviews 3. Narrow down to a few polysynths and research the crap out of the 4. impulse buy a totally different poly without any research at all 5. go to 2
Haha, the G.A.S. Wormhole is real! I almost impulse bought a Novation Peak when I was thinking about polysynths, but I'm glad I held back and went for the Digitone Keys instead :)
Fostex DMT-8, a couple of ADATS and a BRC. Mackie 1604. Master to CD, 3 head Cassette deck, or Hi-Fi VCR. Sequencing with MMT-8 or a 486 computer running Cakewalk 5.0 for DOS. All synths are hardware synths. A nice mix of vintage digital and analog. I refuse to subscribe e to anything, and most modern DAWS are subscription based.
They’re not all Subscription based. Pro Tools is literally that the only one that comes to mind. Would love to hear your music, keyboard warrior! Care to share so I can tear it to pieces?
@@ghfjfghjasdfasdf You are correct. I edited my post to "most modern DAWS". Why would you want to tear my music to pieces ? I didn't say I was an expert or professional. Just that I prefer the old school hardware.
You have too much equipment! How do you do final mastering? in the DAW? How would I do that DAWLESS? I am like you, I want to stay out of a DAW, and I mean completely.
Yep! I record everything to a multitrack recorder, but then I mix and master in a DAW. I suppose you could just record the stereo out and then send it to someone for mastering, or use a mastering tool like CloudBounce affiliate.cloudbounce.com/idevaffiliate/idevaffiliate.php?id=4338 In that case you can skip the DAW
I play music, I am a musician, I have practiced for decades on my instruments to become highly skilled. I do not play a computer, my music is real, human and humane. I don't use computers to make music, edit music, or "fix" music, make everything timed, correct pitches or timing errors. I don't use computers at all. I don't even multi-track anymore, the compete song is performed live and in one take, recorded wet and no post processing is done. I begin my song and push record on a hardware recorder and when I am done performing I push stop. The song recording is finished. BUT..... :) This year I will begin to use a computer, I will be adding a MAC with Logic to master my stereo recording so I don't have to push levels so high during the recording process.
@@ericsteffen6042 Funny :) I live what I have termed "The Pure Lifestyle". You simply make good choices every minute of every day. The wise and moral decisions that are non-destructive. With these decisions you will find happiness following you every day.
HELLO DuDe ... ... LOVE YOUR Video as its a very similar story to mine and now after 5 years going Dawless ive finished my studio ... With ONE , Exeption .... finding the RIGHT Mixer .... Ive been useing my old DJM 750 From my djing days connecting to a YAMAHA MG166cx mixer Which i LOVE ...... But its now starting to dye as i bought it 2nd hand 6 years ago and now is about 15 years old , the trouble is i cant seem to find a mixer that has the Yamahas Warmth and Smooth sound ,, i bought a ZOOM L-12 and after 3 days Sold it as it was COLD , With NO Personality im about to watch your vid on the Tascam Modal 12 as i love the sound of my Tascam Dr-05 Can you relate to this Sinario SiR ..
Hey man! Love your channel :) Just had a listen to a couple of your acid delicacies and I'm really enjoying them! Have you put together a release on Bandcamp maybe? Regarding the mixer, I'm trying to drive and saturate everything on the instrument side, so the preamps on my Model 12 are not a big factor in recording... plus I add a lot of saturation during mixing :D Hope it works for your too!
Excellent choice! Rytm seems to be the endgame for drum machines, it just takes up a bit more space than I can afford right now :D The Microcosm seems like an effect that crosses over into being an instrument... I'm debating between getting that or the Strymon Nightsky.
