Getting back into audio production/engineering

[Pianomanian]

I'm just getting back into audio engineering and music production after about a 5 year hiatus. I was and still am a newbie in the audio engineering/production world. Used to make hip-hop instrumentals and sample vinyl. But the last few years I've been focused on classical/jazz piano and now I'd like to combine what I've learned in both fields.

My thoughts are a bit unorganized, but I'll do my best to give an idea of what I'm asking for. Starting with some preface:

I have this half-baked idea/project of building my own sample library by using a field recorder such as the ZOOM H4n (currently trying it out now) to record sounds from paper crumpling, singers making various tones, non-traditional percussion, acoustic piano, to environments such as traffic, rainforests, etc...

I have an iPad Air 2 as well, but haven't explored its mobile recording possibilities.

I'll also be doing a lot of MIDI recording and line-out recording with my DAW keyboard (Yamaha MOXF8).

The idea is to have a very small home studio in which I'm able to bring back these samples from mobile recording and map them to my keyboard, and tweak these samples (or not) in such a way as to make musically interesting sounds that can be used as effects, or even the basis for songs, tracks, hip-hop beats, and compositions of mine.

My goals with the equipment I have, and that I'd like to purchase, are the following:

-Home recording with MIDI, line-out keyboards, with ability to record vocals, guitar, bass, eventually drums. Thinking 2 instruments at the same time with the ability to expand is what I'm looking for right now.
-sub goal: an audio interface that can act as a mobile recorder and desktop A/I?? The ZOOM H4n has this capability. Haven't tried it yet.

-Ability to easily go mobile for the purpose of recording sounds in all sorts of environments: up-close (shotgun mic?), ambience (Omni?), loud, very soft, vocals, all sorts of percussion, acoustic piano. Again, H4n has this ability from what I've read, and has 2 extra mic inputs on top of its built-in XY condensers.

And here's the gear that I already have:

21.5-inch iMac 2.8GHz Quad-core Intel Core i5
IPad Air 2
Yamaha MOXF8
Roland KC-550 Stereo Mixing Keyboard Amplifier
ZOOM H4n (just testing it out)
Monitors: 6 year-old Alesis M1Active 520
Phones: 6 year-old Sennheiser HD280 pro

I still haven't decided 100% what DAW software to go with. But probably Logic Pro X and Reason 9, just because I have some familiarity with both programs, and Reason 9 with a student discount is a decent price. Thinking about Ableton Live, because I'd like to experiment with live performing...

I'll be doing all the heavy lifting on the iMac.

With all of the above-mentioned in mind, what is some gear that ya'll would recommend for some of these purposes? Any suggestions as to an efficient, cost-effective mobile-recording solution given that I have an iPad Air 2 and have yet to tap into its capabilities? Audio-interfaces? Mics? Even down to the necessary cables, DI box, what have you. Anything you think might be of interest or help. I'm all ears!

Please ask questions, too, because I threw a lot up in this post. Answering questions would probably help me become more focused in what it is I'm going for with this set-up anyway.

Feel free to answer one question, a few, or if you're feeling ambitious- try to solve all of my problems posed here in one post. Lol.

Thanks everyone!

(Hoping this post is in the right place. Apologies if not!)
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https://soundcloud.com/ianmccarty/albums

[BertKoor]

As I read it you've given it some thought. Add the one component you miss, but you're always ready to go and explore. Enjoy!

Sorry, what was the question again?

[Pianomanian]

Well I'm wondering about an audio interface that can be used as a mobile recorder yet is also very high quality when it comes to desktop recording. If no such thing exists, then what stand-alone audio interface would you recommend, that's not over $300? I don't need more than the ability to record two instruments at the same time at this point in my set-up. I've done a bit of research, but the amount of gear out there is overwhelming.

And then I'm wondering what add-ons to the iPad Air 2 would be good for a portable recording rig.

Sorry about the meandering in the original post, heh.

[RichieWitch]

Not sure about the other DAWs in your post, but Ableton Live will allow you to create the sample instruments you're thinking about. Ableton's Sampler instrument would allow you to take each of your field-recorded samples and assign them to individual keys on your keyboard. Each sample can then be individually filtered, warped, modulated, twisted, mangled, etc, and you can also add either group or individual FX chains to the samples using your own plugins.

They just completed a big upgrade to Sampler and now it's more powerful than ever.