On-the-go music making device

[antic604]

I'm considering getting a portable hardware device to make (hobbyist level) music on the go, i.e. while commuting, on vacations, on the couch / in bed, etc. Currently I have a laptop, few DAWs and lots of plugins, but I rarely have the time - 2h commute, 10h job, 3 kids - to deal with all that complexity and to make it worse I tend to fiddle endlessly with stuff, because I have so many options... As a result, I'm able to maybe finish one track in a quarter or 6 months, if I'm lucky; most often 1 per year.

I long to the 16-bit Amiga days, where I had limited number of tracks / voices, only the simplest of FX available and very small library of sounds. I could knock out a track in 2-3 sittings, because I was not able to make it more complex or tweak the parameters endlessly.

So, I'm looking to buy something simpler, with limitations but still fun & ideally portable(ish). I've set my eyes on:

- iPad Pro (+Cubase most likely) - but I'm afraid it will quickly get very complex again with all the cheap and growing fast library of instruments & FX

- Akai Live - seems like the limitations are just about right, but every video I saw focused on it being a machine for "beats", i.e. hiphop-styled music and I do trance / electronic; there are just 2 synths (I don't count the Rhodes one) and no proper synthesis outside of those

- Synthstrom Deluge - appears to be the right choice with seemingly pretty deep synthesis options, but vast majority (if not all) videos & demos I saw were not convincing me that its engine can pull off proper trance sounds (it all sounds soft, kinda squishy and plasticky )

Any thoughts on that subject? Other recommendations?

Thanks in advance!

[Mushy Mushy]

It doesn't get better than a Surface Pro. People will recommend an iPad but it's night and day between that and a Surface with regards to studio. I recently finished a track with well over 100 tracks, dozens of instruments, hundreds of FX whilst drinking coffee in a famous coffee chain. It's the best thing I've bought for the studio since forever really.

EDIT: But I see you want simple. Considered an Electribe?

[mgw38]

Those are very different things, not sure if there is a good way to compare them. With an iPad you can do many thing’s beyond music which, depending on what your work is, could be a benefit in general. Not sure if you would take a hardware synth on your commute with you, an iPad you probably would. The latest Cubasis version is very good (also works on an iPhone, btw) and not too complex (all things considered).

[Mushy Mushy]

Not sure if you would take a hardware synth on your commute with you, an iPad you probably would.

This is a good point. I bought an Electribe to use out but always felt like a d!ck using it in public so never really did. With an iPad/Surface, etc. people just assume you're doing buzinez or bookfacing.

[vurt]

Not sure if you would take a hardware synth on your commute with you, an iPad you probably would.

This is a good point. I bought an Electribe to use out but always felt like a d!ck using it in public so never really did. With an iPad/Surface, etc. people just assume you're doing buzinez or bookfacing.

i used to get my board weevil and a battery amp out on buses years ago
when the younger folk started listening to dance music on their phones a lot. it was more audio warefare than entertainment

[recursive one]

proper trance sounds

Do you know this guy?
https://themaniac1.bandcamp.com/

For what I know he is making all his stuff on an android phone with Caustic app.
https://singlecellsoftware.com/caustic

[Tj Shredder]

I would consider even an iPad mini + a sensel morph as LinnStrument clone. Hard to beat in terms of transportability (and price)

[mgw38]

I bought an Electribe to use out but always felt like a d!ck using it in public so never really did. With an iPad/Surface, etc. people just assume you're doing buzinez or bookfacing.

That and the annoying extra security checks you get at the airport. People understand an iPad, they generally do not understand a device that looks a lot like a bomb out of a bad action movie.

[Mushy Mushy]

I bought an Electribe to use out but always felt like a d!ck using it in public so never really did. With an iPad/Surface, etc. people just assume you're doing buzinez or bookfacing.

That and the annoying extra security checks you get at the airport. People understand an iPad, they generally do not understand a device that looks a lot like a bomb out of a bad action movie.

I have to explain my Launchpad and soundcard every time. It's well annoying.

Could be worse though:

[antic604]

It doesn't get better than a Surface Pro

I have SP4 and I really wanted to like it, but most DAWs and Plugins don't really work well enough with touch screen (they were not designed for it) and it all really looses its charm when you need to pull out a keyboard - at that point might as well use a 'proper' laptop And yes, other than relatively low CPU power it doesn't do much for limiting options and streamlining the workflow

Considered an Electribe?

No, I wasn't considering Electribe. I thought they're not being made anymore I'll have a look - thanks!

[vurt]

I bought an Electribe to use out but always felt like a d!ck using it in public so never really did. With an iPad/Surface, etc. people just assume you're doing buzinez or bookfacing.

That and the annoying extra security checks you get at the airport. People understand an iPad, they generally do not understand a device that looks a lot like a bomb out of a bad action movie.

I have to explain my Launchpad and soundcard every time. It's well annoying.

Could be worse though:

why i do not travel.

[vurt]

with this beard, all them wires is instant headshot

[antic604]

proper trance sounds

Do you know this guy?
https://themaniac1.bandcamp.com/

For what I know he is making all his stuff on an android phone with Caustic app.
https://singlecellsoftware.com/caustic

Yeah, I was aware of him (and his setup) long before he got known. From Psynews.org, actually

[vurt]

im looking at the empress effects zoia.
its basically a digital modular in a pedal.

[BertKoor]