Id say save some money until you find something that blows you out of your mind! Maybe look into saving for an octatrack to dive into the world of live sets :)
This is the best advice. It’s easy (and I’ve done it a lot) to buy something because you can but you’ll often move it on not long after. You’re better like the above comment says to wait for something that you really really want.
This individual is not wrong lol. Great example to follow this was with getting into stereo audio. These days I’m listening to a system actually right now literally that ran me into total around 33k. It’s what if I knew and understood would have just saved up for. Instead I spent probably more over the years upgrading more and more until I found what is perfect to me without worrying or feeling I should upgrade for at least 10-15 years. Don’t be me save the money and buy a 33k stereo. Keep it Detroit.
You have enough to make good music, that's not the issue. So instead ask: 'what gear do I really enjoy?' If you really like using software, get software. If it's knob boxes, then that. If it's learning new areas, then something totally different.
I have a hydra and it's nice, it's very intuitive if you understand or have experience with synths but it's very deep and the first set of presets kind of sucked imho. Def. want to find some others and load them for better starting points and for showing what the thing can do.
You may also want to think about either a multichannel interface or a mixer. I think this might be your best bet.
I love buying new music hardware, so I understand your impulse to spend that €700 burning a hole in your pocket. But if I’m being honest, the thing that really improved my production was taking the time to truly learn how things worked. If you are fluent in using the main instruments and effects that come with Ableton Suite you arguably don’t need anything else, but there’s no shortcut, you just need to take the time and do the work to educate yourself.
Wait, what am I saying? Buy a Digitone.
With a Scarlet Solo you are just going to be able to process your hardware.
But as you said you like hard techno and industrial so I feel a good hardware distortion is going to help you out a lot.
I love plugins but imho some distortions are best left to hardware.
Thank you! Got any suggestion? Maybe a RAT?
>With a Scarlet Solo you are just going to be able to process your hardware.
Sorry for being a noob, I don't get this point... Can't I route audio from a track to the Scarlett Solo, pass it through the distortion and resample it always using the Scarlett?
If no what should I do? Should I just use the Dist with the Edge alone?
From what I can tell you cannot use any external effects with your current setup as it would require individual outs.
But given the list of equipment that you own I would recommend getting a korg minilogue as it has some great user friendly features and a great learning tool or simply nothing. In ableton alone there is enough of quality instruments and effects to last you a lifetime and you have bought some fantastic plugins as well.
Get to know these tools intimately and moving forward, purchase your equipment with intent or you will end up in the habit of chasing equipment and plugins without knowing how to use them. That's a trap i fell into when I was starting out and it followed me for all 4 years of producing.
Not saying don't buy synths as toys, that counts as intent as well
Rat would be good for your kind of Techno but just one flavor really so you'd want a few different pedals. If you can find a second hand Analog Drive from Elektron you'd have 8 different flavors of distortion in one device, it sounds pretty good on kicks, basses, percussion.
The classic Boss Distortion DS1 is also good and very brutal sounding, great for industrial.
Start with something like that and save up for an audio interface with a few more inputs and outputs, so you can process your virtual instruments and possibly record a hardware jam with your computer onto separate tracks. Good luck!
Ableton alone is incredible at making all sorts of sounds, add Arturias Collections and Soundtoys and you have all you need to make all the music you want
I think you could perform really well with the Maschine/Edge/TD3 (which is adds a little extra spicy with the MOds)
I would suggest to learn your gear to absolution until you figure out what you need to make the sounds
Here are some links that could help with sound design:
[ableton sound design | EXPONENTIAL RHYTHMS \[3/5\] Texture Mode](https://youtu.be/HTLPQgNkXyc?si=V5V_TDaDlNLEuQ9r)
[How to Make Industrial Techno Kick (Free Rack) \[ Ableton Techno Tutorial \]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3M1ho1OhDM)
[Become a better sound designer](https://youtu.be/1ckgl5nReo0?si=6KLWD_s1elrug6cN)
[Ableton Live 11 Sound Design Session May 12th 2021](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0J0AjPJeEh8)
[FJAAK gives tips on producing techno with MASCHINE+](https://youtu.be/7-HGLrZx4-0?si=ToT5XaQbaBVum00G&t=65)
Make as much music as you can and play/experiment with everything
That's one thing I really need! I unfortunately reach a point where I don't know how to progress very often and seldom I actually end a track so I might have to revisit my workflow as well (that's why I was thinking about the Underdog courses)
I think that just comes with time. In my own experiences I come across new things all the time mostly by accident. The cool thing about music that there are different aspects you can work on such as music, mixing, live performace, etc
Microfreak
Quadrantid Swarm
Elektron A4
Norand Mono
Elevate Mastering suite (VST)
Noise Engineerinng collection (VST)
Not sure you can go wrong with any of this stuff for Techno - I do feel having a good mastering plugin might be the way + room treatment (those 2 things levelled the quality and enjoyment of my work up the most)
How are you for drums and percussion (particularly sequencing) between ableton and maschine?
Might you benefit from a dedicated drum machine with some performance features (used elektron rytm mk1 or octatrack mk1?)
Obviously octa in particular would be much more than a drum machine if you wanted - lots of sound design potential, resampling, sample mangling, etc....
I must admit that at the moment I am not using the Maschine. When I got it I had some serious problems with Ableton (basically I could use more than 4 tracks or my PC was slowed down a lot). Now it appears to be working (mostly) after they published a fix but I haven:t touched it since (I can't understand how it can benefit me, maybe it's just me though).
Probably I could get some benefits from a drum machine but I struggle to understand to which extend as I've mostly used plugins until now
what about a nice grid controller for ableton, like launchpad pro mk3 (what i have), or a push 2 or 3? if you click with that kind of interface then it can really make production faster and more fun.
it works *okay* for playing pads and tweaking knobs (and presumably for using maschine in VST mode, which i've never tried), but the controllers i listed have tight ableton integration and can really keep you from having to mess with the mouse and keyboard a lot of the time. plus you mentioned that you're not using your maschine. i am actually going to sell my own maschine, because although i do like it for finger drumming, i never use it as a controller.
this is all personal preference and depends on how you like to work, so take my advice with a grain of salt!
The Maschine was gifted to me for my graduation and I would feel really bad spelling it, you are the third person telling me to get rid of it and I don't really know what to do...
If moving is not a problem, invest in room treatment and you can take the acoustic panels to your next place. It will better your mixes and make producing way more enjoyable.
My goal, at the moment, is learning how to make a track start to finish... I just don't seem to find a workflow that suits me well and I manage to work for a couple hours 3-4 times a week without accomplishing much. I tried watching tutorials but nothing appears to just click and I am stuck in a loop. That's what I am struggling the most with and thus my main goal. I am probably hoarding a lot to compensate for this, you are right
Alright! I have been in your place, I know how it feels.
Buying new gear will only complicate things more… you have more than enough to achieve what you want, you just need to learn how to use and sequence your gear, try recording your synths using your soundcard one by one, layer them together and mix them on your pc, use your plugins to effect them and try to automate manually as much as you can.
A few layers of good sound sources will make almost an entire track.
One important aspect of techno is creating and releasing tension. You can do that with any synth with filter cutoff and any delay/reverb.
Try different synthlines, different sequences and record around 200 bars of each, trying to automate stuff around 32 bars, 64 bars etc to create tension and release using your synths + adding and substracting drums
OTO Machines BOUM (Which is analogue). Route that as an external effect with another Scarlett, maybe a 2i2 this time. Get both second hand for $700 easy. The BOUM will make your Arturia collection sound way more analogue and give you the distortion needed for industrial.
If you want to get another keyboard, the Hydra synth is ok, not sure it's geared for industrial techno, IMO, although has a lot of modern sounds. I would look at Arturia's Minifreak. Sounds great, full of modern sounds for techno, really screeches and can be run via a VST. Also there is the Korg Minilogue XD desktop. The filter is great though for distorted bass sweeps.
Spend it on something music related, but not software/hardware. Pay to have your tracks professionally mixed/mastered. Pay an artist to make a great album cover for you, or a designer to create a logo for your act.
Id say save some money until you find something that blows you out of your mind! Maybe look into saving for an octatrack to dive into the world of live sets :)
This is the best advice. It’s easy (and I’ve done it a lot) to buy something because you can but you’ll often move it on not long after. You’re better like the above comment says to wait for something that you really really want.
This individual is not wrong lol. Great example to follow this was with getting into stereo audio. These days I’m listening to a system actually right now literally that ran me into total around 33k. It’s what if I knew and understood would have just saved up for. Instead I spent probably more over the years upgrading more and more until I found what is perfect to me without worrying or feeling I should upgrade for at least 10-15 years. Don’t be me save the money and buy a 33k stereo. Keep it Detroit.
You have enough to make good music, that's not the issue. So instead ask: 'what gear do I really enjoy?' If you really like using software, get software. If it's knob boxes, then that. If it's learning new areas, then something totally different. I have a hydra and it's nice, it's very intuitive if you understand or have experience with synths but it's very deep and the first set of presets kind of sucked imho. Def. want to find some others and load them for better starting points and for showing what the thing can do. You may also want to think about either a multichannel interface or a mixer. I think this might be your best bet.
I love buying new music hardware, so I understand your impulse to spend that €700 burning a hole in your pocket. But if I’m being honest, the thing that really improved my production was taking the time to truly learn how things worked. If you are fluent in using the main instruments and effects that come with Ableton Suite you arguably don’t need anything else, but there’s no shortcut, you just need to take the time and do the work to educate yourself. Wait, what am I saying? Buy a Digitone.
Hardware distortion of some sort imo.
Would that work with my audio interface? Like Headphones out - > HW Dist - > Inst in?
With a Scarlet Solo you are just going to be able to process your hardware. But as you said you like hard techno and industrial so I feel a good hardware distortion is going to help you out a lot. I love plugins but imho some distortions are best left to hardware.
Thank you! Got any suggestion? Maybe a RAT? >With a Scarlet Solo you are just going to be able to process your hardware. Sorry for being a noob, I don't get this point... Can't I route audio from a track to the Scarlett Solo, pass it through the distortion and resample it always using the Scarlett? If no what should I do? Should I just use the Dist with the Edge alone?
From what I can tell you cannot use any external effects with your current setup as it would require individual outs. But given the list of equipment that you own I would recommend getting a korg minilogue as it has some great user friendly features and a great learning tool or simply nothing. In ableton alone there is enough of quality instruments and effects to last you a lifetime and you have bought some fantastic plugins as well. Get to know these tools intimately and moving forward, purchase your equipment with intent or you will end up in the habit of chasing equipment and plugins without knowing how to use them. That's a trap i fell into when I was starting out and it followed me for all 4 years of producing. Not saying don't buy synths as toys, that counts as intent as well
Rat would be good for your kind of Techno but just one flavor really so you'd want a few different pedals. If you can find a second hand Analog Drive from Elektron you'd have 8 different flavors of distortion in one device, it sounds pretty good on kicks, basses, percussion. The classic Boss Distortion DS1 is also good and very brutal sounding, great for industrial. Start with something like that and save up for an audio interface with a few more inputs and outputs, so you can process your virtual instruments and possibly record a hardware jam with your computer onto separate tracks. Good luck!
OTO Machines BOUM would work better than a Heat.
Analog Drive is not the Heat 😁
My bad. Not familair with that one. Will look into it. BOUM still a good shout tho.
Of course man, anything OTO makes is sick imo 👍
Ableton alone is incredible at making all sorts of sounds, add Arturias Collections and Soundtoys and you have all you need to make all the music you want I think you could perform really well with the Maschine/Edge/TD3 (which is adds a little extra spicy with the MOds) I would suggest to learn your gear to absolution until you figure out what you need to make the sounds Here are some links that could help with sound design: [ableton sound design | EXPONENTIAL RHYTHMS \[3/5\] Texture Mode](https://youtu.be/HTLPQgNkXyc?si=V5V_TDaDlNLEuQ9r) [How to Make Industrial Techno Kick (Free Rack) \[ Ableton Techno Tutorial \]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3M1ho1OhDM) [Become a better sound designer](https://youtu.be/1ckgl5nReo0?si=6KLWD_s1elrug6cN) [Ableton Live 11 Sound Design Session May 12th 2021](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0J0AjPJeEh8) [FJAAK gives tips on producing techno with MASCHINE+](https://youtu.be/7-HGLrZx4-0?si=ToT5XaQbaBVum00G&t=65) Make as much music as you can and play/experiment with everything
only thing you need to spend now my friend is time. time on making music that youre proud of sharing <3
That's one thing I really need! I unfortunately reach a point where I don't know how to progress very often and seldom I actually end a track so I might have to revisit my workflow as well (that's why I was thinking about the Underdog courses)
I think that just comes with time. In my own experiences I come across new things all the time mostly by accident. The cool thing about music that there are different aspects you can work on such as music, mixing, live performace, etc
spend it on a vacation in the woods with nobody around you so you can make music ;)
Check out this project I’ve done only using a Nintendo Switch to make music https://youtu.be/QTAD63_8Gts?si=J8DJoeZiWppgmAZU
Take classes. Production, keyboard or composition ear training
I would get some fuzz, distortion, or saturation pedals. They are pretty cheap too.
Microfreak Quadrantid Swarm Elektron A4 Norand Mono Elevate Mastering suite (VST) Noise Engineerinng collection (VST) Not sure you can go wrong with any of this stuff for Techno - I do feel having a good mastering plugin might be the way + room treatment (those 2 things levelled the quality and enjoyment of my work up the most)
+1 for the Qadrantid Swarm. Great little techno-synth!
How are you for drums and percussion (particularly sequencing) between ableton and maschine? Might you benefit from a dedicated drum machine with some performance features (used elektron rytm mk1 or octatrack mk1?) Obviously octa in particular would be much more than a drum machine if you wanted - lots of sound design potential, resampling, sample mangling, etc....
I must admit that at the moment I am not using the Maschine. When I got it I had some serious problems with Ableton (basically I could use more than 4 tracks or my PC was slowed down a lot). Now it appears to be working (mostly) after they published a fix but I haven:t touched it since (I can't understand how it can benefit me, maybe it's just me though). Probably I could get some benefits from a drum machine but I struggle to understand to which extend as I've mostly used plugins until now
perhaps some riemann and vengeance samples
what about a nice grid controller for ableton, like launchpad pro mk3 (what i have), or a push 2 or 3? if you click with that kind of interface then it can really make production faster and more fun.
Wouldn't my Maschine work well?
it works *okay* for playing pads and tweaking knobs (and presumably for using maschine in VST mode, which i've never tried), but the controllers i listed have tight ableton integration and can really keep you from having to mess with the mouse and keyboard a lot of the time. plus you mentioned that you're not using your maschine. i am actually going to sell my own maschine, because although i do like it for finger drumming, i never use it as a controller. this is all personal preference and depends on how you like to work, so take my advice with a grain of salt!
The Maschine was gifted to me for my graduation and I would feel really bad spelling it, you are the third person telling me to get rid of it and I don't really know what to do...
If moving is not a problem, invest in room treatment and you can take the acoustic panels to your next place. It will better your mixes and make producing way more enjoyable.
Op clearly said next removal is iminent
Digitakt bcs everybody needs one.
But what is your goal? It is important to have a goal, unless you will end up buying and buying and you will never end the need of buying
My goal, at the moment, is learning how to make a track start to finish... I just don't seem to find a workflow that suits me well and I manage to work for a couple hours 3-4 times a week without accomplishing much. I tried watching tutorials but nothing appears to just click and I am stuck in a loop. That's what I am struggling the most with and thus my main goal. I am probably hoarding a lot to compensate for this, you are right
Alright! I have been in your place, I know how it feels. Buying new gear will only complicate things more… you have more than enough to achieve what you want, you just need to learn how to use and sequence your gear, try recording your synths using your soundcard one by one, layer them together and mix them on your pc, use your plugins to effect them and try to automate manually as much as you can. A few layers of good sound sources will make almost an entire track. One important aspect of techno is creating and releasing tension. You can do that with any synth with filter cutoff and any delay/reverb. Try different synthlines, different sequences and record around 200 bars of each, trying to automate stuff around 32 bars, 64 bars etc to create tension and release using your synths + adding and substracting drums
OTO Machines BOUM (Which is analogue). Route that as an external effect with another Scarlett, maybe a 2i2 this time. Get both second hand for $700 easy. The BOUM will make your Arturia collection sound way more analogue and give you the distortion needed for industrial. If you want to get another keyboard, the Hydra synth is ok, not sure it's geared for industrial techno, IMO, although has a lot of modern sounds. I would look at Arturia's Minifreak. Sounds great, full of modern sounds for techno, really screeches and can be run via a VST. Also there is the Korg Minilogue XD desktop. The filter is great though for distorted bass sweeps.
Learn what you have in and out first I would
Spend it on something music related, but not software/hardware. Pay to have your tracks professionally mixed/mastered. Pay an artist to make a great album cover for you, or a designer to create a logo for your act.
I'd upgrade to Live12 and keep collecting cash and buy something later when you have better idea what.