/blog

For some reason, I started thinking about what I'd do if I had to use a minimal setup. What instruments would I choose? What could I do without? What constitutes a minimal setup, how many devices are talking here?

From the gear I currently own, I think it's no surprise that my first choice would absolutely have to be a TD-3. You can't have acid without an acid box!

Another essential is a drum machine, but which? It would be the LM Drum purely because of the flexibility of being able to load it with samples of everything else. While it's never going to sound the same as the RD-6, RD-8 or RD-9, it's the best bang for buck. Also, there's nothing to say it has to just be drum samples — I already use it for certain vocals. With the ability to program things chromatically you can also make basic melodies/basslines with the right samples.

If I had to stop at two, it would be those.

The option of a third device would probably see me choose the Kobol Expander. It's such a versatile thing that it seems like the most logical choice as I could get the most out of it.

I'm still saving for the Pro 800; if I had to make the decision once I own that it would likely trump the Kobol due to being a polysynth.

I already use small setups with only 3 or 4 devices connected at any one time, but I have the luxury of rotating them then in and out. It was interesting to think about the choices I'd have to make with such a restriction.