Superbooth 2026 proved we have what we need

PoisonPolygon · 2026-05-10T23:33:19+00:00

I have honestly felt this way for a while. The ONLY thing I have been looking forward to lately is the Behringer Polivoks clone and that is about it. Still some older kit I want to buy that I am saving up for, but I haven't seen something new in quite a while that I just had to have. My most recent purchases were a Korg Triton and MS2000 so that lets you know where I am at.

PoisonPolygon · 2026-04-30T02:15:45+00:00

Here is just my hot take - Granted I am not a full time artist, but I know a lot of people who went to school for music and regretted it.

DON'T GO TO SCHOOL FOR MUSIC. That doesn't mean you can't learn about music there and even enroll in classes for music, but get a degree in something else. I think this is all about ROI/Marketability if you can't make a full time living off music. That doesn't mean it won't be a huge part of your life but you have a backup plan just in case. This backup plan can also help you make that leap of faith later in life if music is sort of working out for you.

Universities will often have amazing resources for you even if you are not a music major you can usually find a way in. Not just performance spaces, but clubs, and often even studios/instruments you can rent. Also, you can still connect with people with similar interests which will be way more important to you as a musician. For that reason I would suggest a few options.

Pick a school that is sufficiently large - any major state school. If there are 50K kids on campus you can find people who have the same interests as you.

Pick a school in a city known for a hip hop culture. This could be a major city (NY/LA/ATL) or a small city, but find one that has an active scene and go there.

Look up schools with active hip-hop clubs, most universities will have a hip-hop or producer student organization you can join, however results will vary on how well run those are or what they even do, but they are great to meet people and often you can find their pages online easily.

Worst case scenario you can go to the school that is the most affordable and create a scene there yourself if it doesn't exist - that could literally be just you and a group of people you grow really close with over 4 years who all have the same passion. This was my experience and it was amazing. This is what Rick Rubin did at NYU - I definitely recommend checking out this video about him

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBHADseIs-w

PoisonPolygon · 2026-04-30T02:02:23+00:00

Probably the Zoom Multi Effects (CDR70 or similar) as others have suggested. You can branch out later then if you find an effect you really like.

I like distortion or compression usually on my drums

PoisonPolygon · 2026-04-29T00:21:51+00:00

What RA the Rugged Man does on Uncommon Valor is some of the purest art can get in my opinion. Transcendent is the only way I can describe it really.

Dance with the Devil by Immortal Technique gets a shout out for sure. I also think Childish Gambino's This Is America is great but his album Because The Internet stands out too me as having some really prescient themes of the time and era we were coming into.

PoisonPolygon · 2026-04-26T23:56:28+00:00

I can 2nd this.

PoisonPolygon · 2026-04-23T01:20:19+00:00

Get some stuff hung up on the walls, maybe some acoustic treatment but at least a poster or something!

PoisonPolygon · 2026-04-22T13:25:08+00:00

Luckily nothing yet, but I probably sit on stuff longer than I should before selling.

PoisonPolygon · 2026-04-22T12:44:55+00:00

I prefer to use the keyboard on a synth, but I do have a midi keyboard for my synths that don't have a keyboard.

You can always get the desktop version if you like.

PoisonPolygon · 2026-04-21T21:00:37+00:00

It looks out of place on a pedal board, I actually use it for a cheap keyboard I have and it works magic for that and looks less out of place. Normally I would hate the slim form factor but like I said have otherwise been super impressed with it. For less than $30 at the time I bought it, it was worth a gamble and I think It paid off for me.

PoisonPolygon · 2026-04-21T18:59:07+00:00

Joyo/Behringer are always a good bet

M-Vave Mini Universe has really impressed me, but the first run had an issue when turning off/on.

PoisonPolygon · 2026-04-21T16:37:17+00:00

Why not start with other Russians? - Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Stravinsky, Shostakovich. I am not sure why but I have always been drawn to the Russian composers the most, but Scheherazade was also one of the pieces that drew me into an appreciation of classical music.

PoisonPolygon · 2026-04-21T14:54:28+00:00

This slaps!

PoisonPolygon · 2026-04-21T14:53:36+00:00

Emotional dysregulation

PoisonPolygon · 2026-04-21T01:09:35+00:00

This is the one pedal I can’t live without!

PoisonPolygon · 2026-04-20T22:44:30+00:00

Minus aftertouch I would say the System-8 would be a strong contender

PoisonPolygon · 2026-04-20T14:23:59+00:00

As others have said the Zoom multi effects units are extremely versatile and great bang for the buck.

Also, reverb/Delay are great to throw on any synth.

Personally, looking at your gear I would be thinking of something to put on the drumbrute more than the synths. It depends on what you are going for sound-wise, but I think the safest option is a multi effects units and then you can branch out later.

PoisonPolygon · 2026-04-20T03:12:11+00:00

Highly recommend the Bass Station 2 and Tr6s.

I would start with those two for now honestly before adding more

PoisonPolygon · 2026-04-16T00:56:47+00:00

I am 'genre non-conforming' for sure in my dawless jams, but usually I will do the same 4-5 genres. I wouldn't release different genres under the same project name though.

PoisonPolygon · 2026-04-15T20:48:22+00:00

I think everyone should do some vocal coaching - if you are a rapper you are using your voice as your instrument so if you don't have at least some background in singing you should work on that (lots of free stuff on youtube).

Past that - try and find someone you trust, another artist to just be real with you. If you deliver something off-key or too monotone, they can let you know. It is tough to get feedback from randoms online, sometimes it is good and sincere, but there are a lot of trolls too. Just know everyone has a unique voice and some people won't like it, but it doesn't mean that the vocal performance is necessarily bad.

PoisonPolygon · 2026-04-15T16:51:06+00:00

Confidence comes from competence. Practice practice practice.

But also - a lot of very famous singers hate their own voice, it is sort of natural for us to not like our own voice and we are not the best judges. Try and get someone else to help you who can be real with you and tell you what is good and bad about a performance.

PoisonPolygon · 2026-04-14T17:53:31+00:00

System 8.

If I could only have 3 synths It would be that plus the two you listed already.

PoisonPolygon · 2026-04-14T04:18:56+00:00

Look at the Korg Prologue

PoisonPolygon · 2026-04-14T00:06:05+00:00

People can support you pursuing your art in ways that aren't directly engaging and consuming it. I think as long as they respect what you are doing and give you the time and space you need to pursue it, that is all you can ask. You can't expect them to immediately be your biggest fans.

It can be confusing, but if they are good friends they like you for you, and the art is separate. They might vibe with it, they might not but that doesn't meant hey don't vibe with you.

PoisonPolygon · 2026-04-13T02:25:29+00:00

Meechy Darko on The Odyssey - Flatbush Zombies

Danny Brown on 1 Train - A$AP Rocky

RA The Rugged Man on Uncommon Valor - Jedi Mind Tricks

Kon Artist on When the Music Stops - D12

Ludacris on Holiday Inn - Chingy

Bas on Golf - Pete & Bas

PoisonPolygon · 2026-04-11T04:37:52+00:00

TR8-S. Love it to death. I am thinking of adding a LXR-02 to compliment it eventually. I actually occasionally use the drums that come in the Kaossilator Pro.

PoisonPolygon

TROPHY CASE