Minimal Music Production Setup.

[roman.i]

It wouldn’t be for the sake of limitation but for focus, can you recommend any such tools to stick to? I think whether or not the devices that come with DAWs are up to the job is down to personal preference, the devices that come with Logic, Ableton, Biwig, Reason, and Studio One can be just as capable as their third party counterparts, I agree, the careful consideration for hardware due to cost would be exceptional when it comes to sticking with what you have.

It doesn't matter how capable the tool is if it doesn't sound right. It's very rare to see a DAW plugin that sounds as good as one that used in a professional production. I'm talking about plugins that make sounds.

[OzoneJunkie]

I think if I started over, knowing now what I know now, I'd essentially have "my" minimal setup, or closer to it, I'd say. But, there are VSTs I've bought that are NFR, and so I keep them. Installed. Not all of them, but most of them. I wouldn't buy them again, today. But at the time, they served a purpose, even if they would be replaced by synths of today.

Besides not installing certain ones I own, I've also deleted entire retail sample/sampler libraries, costing more than I want to think about.

I still struggle at times with finding the right amount of things, for me, but also recognize that that's part of my journey in music. The bigger picture, for me, is that I spend too much time thinking about things like the minimal set. I often think that it's not that the non-minimal set distracts me from writing, it's the *thinking* about the non-minimal/minimal set that distracts me. Putting my focus on such things is one of my avoidance tactics from just sitting down and making music.

I will offer one caveat. At some level it's impossible to really know what the minimal set is. Sometimes I'll review a VST or library, with the idea of deleting it, and I'll go through the process of not only listening to the sounds, but also I will try to be creative with those things. And I almost always find that I can create a new idea or melody. So how do I say that this item should be deleted? Or, kept, for that matter? On some level, you can argue either side.

[dakkra]

I was unaware of KVROSC, would you say you could be set with Bitwigs Grid on it’s own?

For KVROSC yes. For my own personal activities, no. The GRID and Bitwig as a whole are awesome, don't get me wrong, but I am more concerned with sound design than composition these days. Each of my modular tool kits serve a purpose.

• Bitwig/GRID: Monophonic leads, basses, and distortion. Hard to work with though when patches get complex and it's blanket 4x oversampling kill CPU when doing anything large or fun.
• UVI Falcon: Incredible general purpose sound design tool with audio routing that acts more like a DAW than a modular synth. Adequate synthesis and effects, with a huge advantage in sampling
• MSoundFactory/MXXX: If there's a sound, these tools can do it... with some effort... a lot of effort... and an hour or so of experimenting to get it right... I love this tool quite a bit, but it's a slog if you're looking for a quick process.
• Mutools MUX: This was my first synth, started with Mulab and then purchased the VST when I moved to Bitwig. For years I was happy with this alone. It's a great general purpose tool kit, but suffers from a problem of jack of all trades, master of none.

Of course, none of these are very fast at patch creation. For that purpose, is where complimentary VSTs come in, namely Synthmaster (I've had 2 for years, but I use One a lot more since it's release) and DuneCM (I am slowly debating purchasing Dune3. Need a wavetable synth with editing that isn't super complicated like my modulars).

I suppose the end answer is, in a pinch yes I could use any one of the tool kits individually and be more than capable of making a song. But, because of how I work and the activities I like to do, it would feel like having my hands tied. For KVROSC I do that intentionally to stretch/test my skills and practice using a limited tool set, but that's so that when I come back to my larger tool set I have more knowledge and thus more capability with them.

[pigfront]

You can't go more minimal nor use tracker + samples.

[sidesword]

I think if I started over, knowing now what I know now, I'd essentially have "my" minimal setup, or closer to it, I'd say. But, there are VSTs I've bought that are NFR, and so I keep them. Installed. Not all of them, but most of them. I wouldn't buy them again, today. But at the time, they served a purpose, even if they would be replaced by synths of today.

Besides not installing certain ones I own, I've also deleted entire retail sample/sampler libraries, costing more than I want to think about.

I still struggle at times with finding the right amount of things, for me, but also recognize that that's part of my journey in music. The bigger picture, for me, is that I spend too much time thinking about things like the minimal set. I often think that it's not that the non-minimal set distracts me from writing, it's the *thinking* about the non-minimal/minimal set that distracts me. Putting my focus on such things is one of my avoidance tactics from just sitting down and making music.

I will offer one caveat. At some level it's impossible to really know what the minimal set is. Sometimes I'll review a VST or library, with the idea of deleting it, and I'll go through the process of not only listening to the sounds, but also I will try to be creative with those things. And I almost always find that I can create a new idea or melody. So how do I say that this item should be deleted? Or, kept, for that matter? On some level, you can argue either side.

would you recommend being even more cautious when purchasing plugins? i’m trying to avoid exactly that, i don’t want to waste unnecessary cash or time on things i’ll only use once or twice after hyping myself up about it, sifting through a million samples can really kill the workflow i agree but i’m not sure i’d ever delete them, I suppose limiting yourself to the NFR plugins you have would be an interesting obstacle in itself. Any more tips on looking for a minimal setup?

[Psuper]

We 'minimalists' are a rare breed. I'm not certain if the following will be what you're looking for, but it will likely apply.

#1, keep your desktop, both in windows and physical, clean and clutter free. I only keep icons on my screen for music production, shortcuts for files I use or change often and that's it. However my entire DAW is dedicated and solely for music which I feel is absolutely necessary. If you can't dedicate one PC, boot up with a separate drive that is a dedicated OS. I have about 6 icons I use often, kept on the left bottom, the others I use occasionally on the right, and the rest go into Docs. Taskbar is clear.

#2, work in templates. Create your ideal 'minimal' base for the music you make most and get in the habit of loading it up instead of a blank or empty one.

#3, don't buy anything on impulse no matter how cheap it appears, or who thinks its amazing, or can't be passed up. This mentality applies to everything I do in life, and a prime attribute that allows me to afford what I want, within reason, and get the most enjoyment from the things I do deem worthy. Most people spend whatever they have as quick as they're able. Don't, you'll be better off by miles for your own sanity.

#4, If you have a ton of stuff and want to remove them, remove the majority by default and add back in if you feel you're missing it. I've accumulated so much since my teens (30+ years ago) both hardware and software, and my workspace has only 2 synths and 2 mics, 1 large 4k screen and the typical other stuff (studio monitors, mouse etc). Software is harder to remove than you think -- you'll look at something and go 'wait ya I'll use that! Why didn't I use that before?" and you'll still likely not use it.

For specifically 5 items, its pretty simple -- Cubase, Reason, Pianoteq comprises 90% of what I do these days, and can do a whole lot more than one would expect. Regardless, I do have other items including physical instruments and stuff for sampling, and soft synths and effects. Oddly enough, getting rid of Kontakt a few years back was the best thing I ever did to keep the 'software creep' down. I find myself looking more towards hardware anymore, midi controllers, physical items that significantly extend the functionality and ease of use out of the software I already have.

[sidesword]

I was unaware of KVROSC, would you say you could be set with Bitwigs Grid on it’s own?

For KVROSC yes. For my own personal activities, no. The GRID and Bitwig as a whole are awesome, don't get me wrong, but I am more concerned with sound design than composition these days. Each of my modular tool kits serve a purpose.

• Bitwig/GRID: Monophonic leads, basses, and distortion. Hard to work with though when patches get complex and it's blanket 4x oversampling kill CPU when doing anything large or fun.
• UVI Falcon: Incredible general purpose sound design tool with audio routing that acts more like a DAW than a modular synth. Adequate synthesis and effects, with a huge advantage in sampling
• MSoundFactory/MXXX: If there's a sound, these tools can do it... with some effort... a lot of effort... and an hour or so of experimenting to get it right... I love this tool quite a bit, but it's a slog if you're looking for a quick process.
• Mutools MUX: This was my first synth, started with Mulab and then purchased the VST when I moved to Bitwig. For years I was happy with this alone. It's a great general purpose tool kit, but suffers from a problem of jack of all trades, master of none.

Of course, none of these are very fast at patch creation. For that purpose, is where complimentary VSTs come in, namely Synthmaster (I've had 2 for years, but I use One a lot more since it's release) and DuneCM (I am slowly debating purchasing Dune3. Need a wavetable synth with editing that isn't super complicated like my modulars).

I suppose the end answer is, in a pinch yes I could use any one of the tool kits individually and be more than capable of making a song. But, because of how I work and the activities I like to do, it would feel like having my hands tied. For KVROSC I do that intentionally to stretch/test my skills and practice using a limited tool set, but that's so that when I come back to my larger tool set I have more knowledge and thus more capability with them.

I had no idea the Grid could be so intensive on the CPU it looks so well optimised to run so much within it, UVI Falcon and MSoundFactory seem like they could each reach the same result but from a different workflow, are they really that different? You’re view on using KVROSC to help expand future opportunities upon your other music is very inspiring.

[sidesword]

You can't go more minimal nor use tracker + samples.

This is interesting, what tracker do you use? have you ever used a DAW and noticed more efficiency within the tracker? Renoise seems very intuitive, have you found that you create more with samples than sound design with synths?

[sidesword]

We 'minimalists' are a rare breed. I'm not certain if the following will be what you're looking for, but it will likely apply.

#1, keep your desktop, both in windows and physical, clean and clutter free. I only keep icons on my screen for music production, shortcuts for files I use or change often and that's it. However my entire DAW is dedicated and solely for music which I feel is absolutely necessary. If you can't dedicate one PC, boot up with a separate drive that is a dedicated OS. I have about 6 icons I use often, kept on the left bottom, the others I use occasionally on the right, and the rest go into Docs. Taskbar is clear.

#2, work in templates. Create your ideal 'minimal' base for the music you make most and get in the habit of loading it up instead of a blank or empty one.

#3, don't buy anything on impulse no matter how cheap it appears, or who thinks its amazing, or can't be passed up. This mentality applies to everything I do in life, and a prime attribute that allows me to afford what I want, within reason, and get the most enjoyment from the things I do deem worthy. Most people spend whatever they have as quick as they're able. Don't, you'll be better off by miles for your own sanity.

#4, If you have a ton of stuff and want to remove them, remove the majority by default and add back in if you feel you're missing it. I've accumulated so much since my teens (30+ years ago) both hardware and software, and my workspace has only 2 synths and 2 mics, 1 large 4k screen and the typical other stuff (studio monitors, mouse etc). Software is harder to remove than you think -- you'll look at something and go 'wait ya I'll use that! Why didn't I use that before?" and you'll still likely not use it.

For specifically 5 items, its pretty simple -- Cubase, Reason, Pianoteq comprises 90% of what I do these days, and can do a whole lot more than one would expect. Regardless, I do have other items including physical instruments and stuff for sampling, and soft synths and effects. Oddly enough, getting rid of Kontakt a few years back was the best thing I ever did to keep the 'software creep' down. I find myself looking more towards hardware anymore, midi controllers, physical items that significantly extend the functionality and ease of use out of the software I already have.

I primarily keep my desktop full of folders relating to projects in progress and projects i’ve finished, my taskbar contains my DAWs and the applications folder as well as my browser.

Damn i need to start working in templates a lot more!

Buying on impulse is a huge weakness i lose to! i easily apply it to my life but the practice flys out of the window when it comes to production! any tips on how to slowly ease out of these spending habits?

I’m planning on removing a lot of my current setup and doing a complete reorganisation, how is the balance between hardware and software synths? which do you find yourself using most? would you recommend one over the other?

Thank you for this answer! it’s been very helpful!

[Passing Bye]

What DAW do you use or what is your setup? I agree, it’s the person behind the tools that makes the difference, my collection is still quite minimal compared to a lot of people and i’m trying to keep it that way.

I use Bitwig.

[OzoneJunkie]

I think if I started over, knowing now what I know now, I'd essentially have "my" minimal setup, or closer to it, I'd say. But, there are VSTs I've bought that are NFR, and so I keep them. Installed. Not all of them, but most of them. I wouldn't buy them again, today. But at the time, they served a purpose, even if they would be replaced by synths of today.

Besides not installing certain ones I own, I've also deleted entire retail sample/sampler libraries, costing more than I want to think about.

I still struggle at times with finding the right amount of things, for me, but also recognize that that's part of my journey in music. The bigger picture, for me, is that I spend too much time thinking about things like the minimal set. I often think that it's not that the non-minimal set distracts me from writing, it's the *thinking* about the non-minimal/minimal set that distracts me. Putting my focus on such things is one of my avoidance tactics from just sitting down and making music.

I will offer one caveat. At some level it's impossible to really know what the minimal set is. Sometimes I'll review a VST or library, with the idea of deleting it, and I'll go through the process of not only listening to the sounds, but also I will try to be creative with those things. And I almost always find that I can create a new idea or melody. So how do I say that this item should be deleted? Or, kept, for that matter? On some level, you can argue either side.

would you recommend being even more cautious when purchasing plugins? i’m trying to avoid exactly that, i don’t want to waste unnecessary cash or time on things i’ll only use once or twice after hyping myself up about it, sifting through a million samples can really kill the workflow i agree but i’m not sure i’d ever delete them, I suppose limiting yourself to the NFR plugins you have would be an interesting obstacle in itself. Any more tips on looking for a minimal setup?

Honestly... for me, the thing that "works" (for me), is to accept that this is all part of my journey. Personally, the money lost on stuff I bought and don't use anymore, I've come to accept as part of this journey. I don't belabor "lost" money on food, nor entertainment (videogames that I bought and only played a few hours of) and so on. And so I try to frame money for music in the same way.

I don't presume that my situation is the same as anyone else's so I can't really help as far as how you personally might avoid purchases that don't pan out, so to speak, other than, again, for me it's a matter of perspective.

Also, I like Psuper's #4:

#4, If you have a ton of stuff and want to remove them, remove the majority by default and add back in if you feel you're missing it. I've accumulated so much since my teens (30+ years ago) both hardware and software, and my workspace has only 2 synths and 2 mics, 1 large 4k screen and the typical other stuff (studio monitors, mouse etc). Software is harder to remove than you think -- you'll look at something and go 'wait ya I'll use that! Why didn't I use that before?" and you'll still likely not use it.

Anyway, I like the thread, and will continue to read as it grows (wait... should we stop, and keep the thread minimal!!?! ). Seriously, though, it's a topic close to my heart.

[sidesword]

I think if I started over, knowing now what I know now, I'd essentially have "my" minimal setup, or closer to it, I'd say. But, there are VSTs I've bought that are NFR, and so I keep them. Installed. Not all of them, but most of them. I wouldn't buy them again, today. But at the time, they served a purpose, even if they would be replaced by synths of today.

Besides not installing certain ones I own, I've also deleted entire retail sample/sampler libraries, costing more than I want to think about.

I still struggle at times with finding the right amount of things, for me, but also recognize that that's part of my journey in music. The bigger picture, for me, is that I spend too much time thinking about things like the minimal set. I often think that it's not that the non-minimal set distracts me from writing, it's the *thinking* about the non-minimal/minimal set that distracts me. Putting my focus on such things is one of my avoidance tactics from just sitting down and making music.

I will offer one caveat. At some level it's impossible to really know what the minimal set is. Sometimes I'll review a VST or library, with the idea of deleting it, and I'll go through the process of not only listening to the sounds, but also I will try to be creative with those things. And I almost always find that I can create a new idea or melody. So how do I say that this item should be deleted? Or, kept, for that matter? On some level, you can argue either side.

would you recommend being even more cautious when purchasing plugins? i’m trying to avoid exactly that, i don’t want to waste unnecessary cash or time on things i’ll only use once or twice after hyping myself up about it, sifting through a million samples can really kill the workflow i agree but i’m not sure i’d ever delete them, I suppose limiting yourself to the NFR plugins you have would be an interesting obstacle in itself. Any more tips on looking for a minimal setup?

Honestly... for me, the thing that "works" (for me), is to accept that this is all part of my journey. Personally, the money lost on stuff I bought and don't use anymore, I've come to accept as part of this journey. I don't belabor "lost" money on food, nor entertainment (videogames that I bought and only played a few hours of) and so on. And so I try to frame money for music in the same way.

I don't presume that my situation is the same as anyone else's so I can't really help as far as how you personally might avoid purchases that don't pan out, so to speak, other than, again, for me it's a matter of perspective.

Also, I like Psuper's #4:

#4, If you have a ton of stuff and want to remove them, remove the majority by default and add back in if you feel you're missing it. I've accumulated so much since my teens (30+ years ago) both hardware and software, and my workspace has only 2 synths and 2 mics, 1 large 4k screen and the typical other stuff (studio monitors, mouse etc). Software is harder to remove than you think -- you'll look at something and go 'wait ya I'll use that! Why didn't I use that before?" and you'll still likely not use it.

Anyway, I like the thread, and will continue to read as it grows (wait... should we stop, and keep the thread minimal!!?! ). Seriously, though, it's a topic close to my heart.

I understand and although you said you can’t help in avoiding my purchases, i can still apply your thought of just acceptance and appreciation toward my current situation, whatever happens, happens i suppose.

I think the thread is past the point of being considered minimal now

[Psuper]

We 'minimalists' are a rare breed. I'm not certain if the following will be what you're looking for, but it will likely apply.

#1, keep your desktop, both in windows and physical, clean and clutter free. I only keep icons on my screen for music production, shortcuts for files I use or change often and that's it. However my entire DAW is dedicated and solely for music which I feel is absolutely necessary. If you can't dedicate one PC, boot up with a separate drive that is a dedicated OS. I have about 6 icons I use often, kept on the left bottom, the others I use occasionally on the right, and the rest go into Docs. Taskbar is clear.

#2, work in templates. Create your ideal 'minimal' base for the music you make most and get in the habit of loading it up instead of a blank or empty one.

#3, don't buy anything on impulse no matter how cheap it appears, or who thinks its amazing, or can't be passed up. This mentality applies to everything I do in life, and a prime attribute that allows me to afford what I want, within reason, and get the most enjoyment from the things I do deem worthy. Most people spend whatever they have as quick as they're able. Don't, you'll be better off by miles for your own sanity.

#4, If you have a ton of stuff and want to remove them, remove the majority by default and add back in if you feel you're missing it. I've accumulated so much since my teens (30+ years ago) both hardware and software, and my workspace has only 2 synths and 2 mics, 1 large 4k screen and the typical other stuff (studio monitors, mouse etc). Software is harder to remove than you think -- you'll look at something and go 'wait ya I'll use that! Why didn't I use that before?" and you'll still likely not use it.

For specifically 5 items, its pretty simple -- Cubase, Reason, Pianoteq comprises 90% of what I do these days, and can do a whole lot more than one would expect. Regardless, I do have other items including physical instruments and stuff for sampling, and soft synths and effects. Oddly enough, getting rid of Kontakt a few years back was the best thing I ever did to keep the 'software creep' down. I find myself looking more towards hardware anymore, midi controllers, physical items that significantly extend the functionality and ease of use out of the software I already have.

I primarily keep my desktop full of folders relating to projects in progress and projects i’ve finished, my taskbar contains my DAWs and the applications folder as well as my browser.

Damn i need to start working in templates a lot more!

Buying on impulse is a huge weakness i lose to! i easily apply it to my life but the practice flys out of the window when it comes to production! any tips on how to slowly ease out of these spending habits?

I’m planning on removing a lot of my current setup and doing a complete reorganisation, how is the balance between hardware and software synths? which do you find yourself using most? would you recommend one over the other?

Thank you for this answer! it’s been very helpful!

Buying on impulse is a huge weakness for most everyone, myself included -- I've had plenty of ups and downs in my lifetime thus far, so perhaps its a bit easier for me these days with my bumps and bruises, however I've always been fairly careful about spending for a variety of reasons. Regardless, motivators are different for everyone. I take a fairly straight-forward you can't "sell me" on anything, I'll be taking my time to do some research first, then will compare what you have to others on the market, then visualize if the money I may spend would be better spent elsewhere, or even saved for the next best thing around the corner. I find researching helps me a ton -- sometimes I'll rule it out immediately (requires kontakt or has some undesirable DRM or something doesn't quite click). Sometimes I buy it. Usually though I'll have found several other viable alternatives and simply wait it out to see which one goes on sale or something new comes out, then rinse and repeat the same strategy. Eventually I might buy something, and when I do there's more certainty its the right product at the right time. Taking time to research is an automatic diffuser to the impulsive purchase, it helps a ton.

I focus almost exclusively on Midi controllers for hardware, instruments for sampling, and software for most other sounds. Frankly I'd rather play the 'almost perfect' copy of a soft synth than go through the process of recording my own -- despite enjoying it immensely in the past, just not worth it anymore. It can be extraordinarily fun, its absolutely authentic, it gives you a sense of "doing something others aren't", and its a huge pita with sonic results that can easily end up more negative than positive. So I find my interests geared more towards what I can control existing software with, what I can sample, and how I can amplify the enjoyment of sitting at my DAW for hours.

And glad to help, I also enjoyed blabbering on about my workflow a bit.

[pdxindy]

...OSC contest peeps do it.

KVROSC is a great way to do this. I love my modular tool set but sometimes it's a good exercise to restrict yourself and learn how to be creative within limitations, especially when it comes to sound generation.

That being said, because I love my modular tools I don't have a large abundance of VSTs, but more so a large abundance of modules. With Bitwig (and it's GRID), MXXX/MSoundFactory, Falcon, and MUX I'm pretty much set. All other VSTs I have are complimentary or legacy now.

I was unaware of KVROSC, would you say you could be set with Bitwigs Grid on it’s own?

I use Bitwig and the Grid by itself would not be my ideal choice, but if that was all I had I would still make music I am happy with.

Bitwig plus 10-12 plugins would comfortably do it for me. 10-12 plugins is instruments and FX combined.

I don't find much benefit from having lots of different plugins. I prefer a minimal setup. I certainly don't want dozens of synths with thousands of presets that I spend my time searching through.

[rod_zero]

I consider myself quite minimalistic:

Ableton Live suite
U-he diva
Pianoteq
Reaktor 6, just got it

Replika Xt
Valhalla Vintage verb

Push
Roland System8