What would it take for you to drop your PC/Mac for music making?

[UncleAge]

First things first... The music happens in my head first. My pc (mac) doesn't make the music, I do.

My computer and the software used on it are an addition to my music making process. I have played traditional instruments since 1974 when I got my first guitar. I will always play some type of instrument outside of what's in the computer as long as I am physically able to do so. In addition, I'd much rather do the sequencing and recording with my imac than with a dedicated piece of hardware. So its a little difficult to answer your question since my pc isn't an impediment to my music making. There's nothing to drop really.

[BERFAB]

The computer based DAW is just a cost-effective version of a million dollar studio. Or what USED to be a million dollar studio. When I was a kid growing up in the '60's and '70's, I could only dream about being able to capture my ideas onto a fixed medium for later editing or cataloging.

Just like UncleAge and others have said, I consider myself a musician to the core. Leave me on a desert island and sooner or later I will fashion some kind of instrument to play.

I do understand that the computer is considered to be an actual instrument by younger musicians, and so perhaps that is the basis of the OP's question. While I understand why this is, I don't personally agree with that philosophy. For me, the computer is a musician's TOOL, not an instrument.

To answer the literal question, I suppose I could get by with just a Motif, although the guts of it are still rooted in computer tech, so I see it really as a distinction without a difference.

YMMV of course.

Cheers
-B

[SuitcaseOfLizards]

I tried once - came into a pile of cash and dumped my PC for a Fantom and a Motif ES.

The Fantom sequencer sucked, sample load times were eternal, and while I had all the sounds in the world the loss of signal chain flexibility was too much to take.

After six months I sold the lot and went back to a DAW and VST, hooked up with Tracktion and never looked back.

Give me T7 and all my VST on dedicated hardware.. and I'd not buy it.

[klavierr]

A high income.

[klavierr]

A high income.

Non-jokingly, Nothing, really. I'm too young and too poor to have had the opportunity to play with hardware yet. Id love to get my hands on a cheap poly analog like the DSI x4 but that's still on the wish list until I can live in my own place which will justify me buying more physical gear.

I do understand that the computer is considered to be an actual instrument by younger musicians, and so perhaps that is the basis of the OP's question. While I understand why this is, I don't personally agree with that philosophy. For me, the computer is a musician's TOOL, not an instrument.

Ah, and here we get interesting. I agree 100% with the "computer is an instrument" thing. If a computer is able to generate sound, and I can manipulate the computer to get a sound or sequence of sounds I desire, then the computer is an instrument. Well, more like a DAW is.

I can totally see how you don't think that since I'm guessing you have used physical gear before. I haven't, so while physical gear would be great I don't feel any sort of thing "missing" or a disconnect (I dont know if you do or not, oops) while using a DAW.

...I guess I feel this "loss" when playing any digital piano or piano multisample.

[xNiMiNx]

I do understand that the computer is considered to be an actual instrument by younger musicians, and so perhaps that is the basis of the OP's question. While I understand why this is, I don't personally agree with that philosophy. For me, the computer is a musician's TOOL, not an instrument.

Isnt a guitar a guitarists tool?

in·stru·ment noun: a tool or implement, especially one for delicate or scientific work.

Synonyms: See tool.

Im no spring chicken, play instruments, have hardware, and use computers.

I dont see myself ever ditching computers to move to something like an ipad or tablet. I do see myself moving away from computers completely if the future holds cloud-based OS's.

[goldenanalog]

Just curious. I used to be a dedicated Reason user and equally dedicated Orion user but in 2014 I suddenly had enough. Too many options, too massively menued DAWs, too many VSTis and RE (though I've never owned THAT much compared to standard KVR member's arsenal). Too much mouse clicking and too little hands on control. Too much unfinished configuration of PC and time spend to set up my control keyboard to each and every synth. Too much glaring at photo realistic guis imprisoned behind a screen testifying that the synths are 2D miniatures with no tactile surface at all and that adding a controller doesn't really change the essence of that. And the GAS of course. Having more synths than finished tunes doesn't have a particular motivational effect on my creativity, on the contrary.

So I grapped a Roland MC909 and made it the hearth of my otherwise humble hardware studio. As far as using software goes, I only use Auria Pro on iPad for recording and mixing. iPad synths and stuff are sometimes used for ideas, which is converted to my hardware synths, and other times for some sound generation in Auria or exported as samples to the MC909. So far I am quite satisfied. No PC shit at all like reinstalling loads of third party stuff, hazzles with dongles, endless options and whats not.

I really feel........free

Of course this only concerns my needs, but what about you? What would it take in the development of e.g. hardware workstations or tablet for you to drop the PC and the massively clustered DAWs?

Cheers

Excellent post, IncarnateX

Great question! OK:

I think that it's all about compartmentalization.

Computers:

I love the vast amount of power that I wield using a DAW like Samplitude w/plug-ins, virtual instruments, etc. - the plan always being to have the tools used focus purely on serving a musical purpose - period! I don't worry that my computer & associated sonic hardware isn't sota (state-of-the-art) - most modern computers, etc. can do one helluva lot with the likes of a current-edition DAW soft.

Now: Where a computer will blow a typical hardware keyboard instrument out of the water, is in it's ability to play back gianormous sample libraries in incredibly realistic ways - and in it's ability to run very complex synthesizer software that doesn't have a counterpart in hardware.

Hardware: you give an excellent example - you basically focus on a few tasks without distraction, IncarnateX - sometimes, that is indeed the best way to get stuff done.

#1 Axiom: Learn thy gear, know thy gear, use thy gear.
#2 Axiom: Avoid confusion & distraction - the best way to do that is to simplify as much as you possibly can - which often means getting rid of what you don't use.

Not so easy to do in a large-scale production, but one of the secrets in life is that often even a large production started life as a simple idea - a hook, verse, etc.

You really don't need much to capture a simple idea - a small digital recorder that you can sing/talk ideas into often works great!

The *huge* advantage of working with hardware: WYSIWYG - it's that. Right there. You put your hands on it, and make it do what it's designed to do. It is a physical object. It has built-in limitations that you work with - which is a good thing - forcing you to 'create' solutions at times. It's easy to get a little weird about it, but who can ultimately argue with 'the physical'?

I have an old Roland VS-2480 that I still really like - sure: a multi-core-based DAW with plug-ins & high-end audio hardware is capable of producing superior sonic results, but: there's something kind of special that goes with using the 2480 to put together a smaller multi-track song - it's funner, for one thing -

[masterhiggins]

Room. I just have a 10x12 office that serves as a studio, a study, a bass practice room, and a workdesk for repairing antique typewriters. For hardware synths/groove boxes I just have an Elektron analog rytm. Just don't have enough desk/floor space. The convenience of just expanding and collapsing a virtual gear rig is just too awesome to deny.

And more money, of course.

[Hink]

I do understand that the computer is considered to be an actual instrument by younger musicians, and so perhaps that is the basis of the OP's question. While I understand why this is, I don't personally agree with that philosophy. For me, the computer is a musician's TOOL, not an instrument.

Isnt a guitar a guitarists tool?

in·stru·ment noun: a tool or implement, especially one for delicate or scientific work.

Synonyms: See tool.

Im no spring chicken, play instruments, have hardware, and use computers.

I dont see myself ever ditching computers to move to something like an ipad or tablet. I do see myself moving away from computers completely if the future holds cloud-based OS's.

I know you're talking to BERFAB but I totally understand what you're saying and I agree 100%...I also totally disagree As luck would have it I went to school for 4 years to be a machinist/tool and die maker so I really understand tools (I also live in Lowell Mass and have a whole other understanding of tools), I have been playing guitar since 1971 and while tools and guitars have both become extensions of my body no tool is an extension of my heart and soul like a guitar is. I know there are many who are artists with tools, but I am an artist with my guitar...my tools are utilitarian...just my 2 cents

[IncarnateX]

Hi again
Thanks for the contributions so far. Have a question for you.

How do you feel about alternative and dedicated VST hosts such as

Seelake audiostation:

http://www.seelake.com/en/as-overview.html

or Rhizome:

http://www.musicradar.com/news/tech/rhi ... box-238962

Anyone who has shifted to these from PC pr could be tempted to?

[fedexnman]

I had a 4track minidisk and a drummachine long ago when I was 21. Now I'm 40 so hell2theNo .... Laptops, desktops , tablet , phablet , smartphone DAWs over that anyday .

[johnrule]

I do understand that the computer is considered to be an actual instrument by younger musicians

lol Like a calculator makes me a mathematician.

The OP seems to be frustrated by modern technology, which is surprising to me. I thought the current generation was foaming at the mouth for modern tech (like VR) and had proclaimed that touch devices replaced the laptop and even musical instruments? Um...okay.

If the OPs question could be paraphrased as "would hardware replace the convenience of instantaneously recalling all plugins and softsynths to their specific state for each arrangement in a matter of seconds?", then my answer is no (not for me anyway).

There was another thread recently about making hardware sound as "thin" as software (or something to that effect). It was sarcastic, I get it, but I don't get the point of the thread. Was it a bit of snobbery? A similar thread could be created that would argue the opposite by (sarcastically) saying "help me make my software as inconvenient, time consuming, and expensive as my hardware used to be. I have far too much time on my hands recalling my songs in seconds rather than configuring patch cables and dialing in knobs for hours, losing the creative moment. And the money I've saved is just too overwhelming!". It's just silly.

If hardware floats your boat, and makes you feel like a master of the universe, go for it. If the very small learning curve is too much for you, admit defeat and move on. If you're a snob about software, you should be reminded that some of the greatest artists and musicians that ever lived used the tools of their time, and even fashioned their own, so don't use excuses. I prefer saving time and saving a tremendous amount of money for other things not related to technology, and the power and control of recording and mastering my music on one machine is irreplaceable imo. In the end, blind tests cannot tell the difference anyway, so I'm sticking with my DAW (for now ).

[bronxsound]

nothing. i stick to puter based setup. these days the physical side of the hardware act as a dongle for the software inside the unit.

[IncarnateX]

There was another thread recently about making hardware sound as "thin" as software (or something to that effect). It was sarcastic, I get it, but I don't get the point of the thread. Was it a bit of snobbery?

No mate, that thread was also mine and a parody of this thread:

http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=369052

Sometimes we do such kind of things at KVR just for fun of it.

Otherwise thanks for your contribution (present thread is serious - really).

[Jace-BeOS]

I'd love to be able to do it without a traditional computer's annoyances (though some of that is inherent in OS updates and iPad is not immune), but my iPad Pro doesn't provide the kind of brute power needed for the number and type (physical modeling) of synths & long effects chains I like to use, nor for stacking of many tracks together.

Also, while touch interfaces are great for quick experiments, expressive playing with unique synths like FingerFiddle, and starting new projects in more simplistic tools, the ability to do fine editing of the audio isn't effective without a pointing device, keyboard shortcuts, and a larger screen. We can do a lot of things with touch interfaces, but speedy surgical precision editing isn't one of those things.

Edit:
Audio editing aside, I'm not a performer. I require sequencer tech for my music, so I can't just use a device as a multitrack recorder. Even if I could play things well enough, I don't have the money for all outboard gear and I find routing of plugin chains FAR easier and more flexible than hardware routing. I already have outboard gear that I like but hate the routing. I have two digital routing devices and an analog-to-ADAT device for old gear that lacks digital (I can't stand analog noise; I love intentional noise but not electrical and EMI). Even with expensive digital routing devices, hardware signal routing is a pain in my ass!