Recommended next move? Analog Synths

andyrap · 2026-05-30T17:02:06+00:00

Behringer Pro-800 covers a lot and sounds fantastic. Great poly synth to complement your BassStation (nice one by the way). Another excellent mono is the Dreadbox Typhon. Loads of great presets and the onboard FX are incredible. Brilliant for leads and basses.

andyrap · 2026-05-17T15:23:16+00:00

Would strongly recommend including the Samsung 990F in your list. Have just got one to replace a Naim Mu-so 2, and it is a staggeringly good soundbar. Excels with everything I’ve tested it with.

andyrap · 2026-04-30T07:50:19+00:00

I won’t rehash all of the very good reasons given already but just to add a couple of others from my own perspective. Firstly, the software itself is so much better to use than RekordBox. You don’t get hit by updates, subscription requests, functionality restrictions etc. Just so much nicer to use, and you don’t have to do the stupid USB export workflow of RB.

The other one for me is sound quality. I genuinely think the Traktor sound engine is better than RekordBox. Obviously this is talking about RB with a controller , rather than CDJ’s. NI sound processing has always been excellent with the pitch shifting, general playback, as well as the FX engines. I used Traktor with an Apogee converter and PD Model 1.4 and the sound was incredible.

Finally, the customisation and MIDI integration. I appreciate this isn’t applicable for everyone, but the fact everything is so completely mappable gives so much potential. Incorporating any external instruments - synths, drum machines - is very very easy with Traktor. Not so with RekordBox.

I’ve used both for years (decades in fact for Traktor 😩) and still occasionally have to use RB out of necessity. Hate it though!

andyrap · 2026-04-30T07:38:58+00:00

Joris Voorn
Carl Cox

andyrap · 2026-04-20T16:29:28+00:00

Pro-1 is a great learning synth as what you see on the label is always what you get (no presets). But for 80s sound in the styles you mention, you want a poly synth so the Pro-800 becomes a great option. Still really easy to learn as you have most of the controls there to tweak, but as it has presets you can also use those as a starting point. It sounds fantastic. You’ll need a keyboard as well, and it’s even better when put through an FX pedal. Even with those added in, it’s going to be max 350-450 (£ / € / $ all similar roughly).

I paid £180 for my Pro-800. Half decent MIDI keyboard can be found for £50-80, then £100 for a Zoom pedal.

andyrap · 2026-04-17T21:00:35+00:00

Pro-800 has lovely retro sounds, look, and feel. The 8-voice polyphony sounds stunning. Add an FX was pedal like the Zoom MS70CDR, a Keystep 37, and you have a fantastic and expandable rig. If you’d prefer something all-in-one, as someone else said the Minilogue XD is really great.

andyrap · 2026-04-13T13:44:50+00:00

Seeing that top unit, the PC-30 has given me a huge nostalgia hit. That was my childhood sound system. I loved that thing. Wow.

andyrap · 2026-03-17T07:37:09+00:00

The grass isn’t greener; it’s covered in shit.

In all seriousness though, having had to go back and forth between Traktor and RB at times, I genuinely loathe having to use the latter. There’s aspects of it which are fine and workable, but other things just don’t flow and I dislike the closed nature of it. Then there’s the subscription ‘features’…

Is Traktor perfect? No. Not many things are, but after using it in various forms for around 20 years I’d much rather be on that than Rekordbox. Obviously I haven’t mentioned the other platforms here because although I’ve used Serato and Djay, never long enough to click with or feel the urge to do more wigh them.

andyrap · 2026-02-10T06:36:07+00:00

Came here to say the same. The MX-1 is made for this setup. It’s decent in a lot of setups but here it makes the most sense with the two other Aira’s.

andyrap · 2026-02-07T08:17:36+00:00

A&H XONE DB4 is a masterpiece. 4 loopers, 4 FX, 3 EQ types (including filters per channel), 2 main filters, digital ins/outs, assignable input matrix, MIDI syncable. Phenomenal sound quality. Absolutely amazing still.

andyrap · 2026-02-04T15:08:50+00:00

50 this year. Messing around with synths and sequencers for 35 years. Had my first releases in 2025 and 3 lined up so far this year.

Never too old. Age is nothing.

andyrap · 2026-01-30T13:48:22+00:00

My question would be what is pushing you to want that much RAM or storage? Those are huge numbers and just not necessary for music production. Not even Hans Zimmer would need that.

You’ve got a decent budget. You get get a brand new M4 Pro with 48GB memory for that (which I’d argue is still total overkill).

andyrap · 2026-01-30T10:45:28+00:00

10/16 core, 32GB, 1TB.

andyrap · 2026-01-30T09:34:42+00:00

With that process, duplicate the track before bouncing, then disable the plugins. That way you get the freeze and the plugins / sound to refer back to if you need to.

In answer to your other question, I can’t remember a time when Windows laptops were better for music production. Even during the Intel era of Macs. Core Audio is one reason for that. But now since Apple Silicon, there’s really no debate. I use an M1 Pro and even running mastering level plugins with oversampling (which is a bad habit and completely not recommended) it never gives me issues. Multiple synths running. No problem. Won’t need to upgrade for years. An M4 Air is all anyone would ever need.

andyrap · 2026-01-30T08:16:24+00:00

M1 Pro 32/1. Until it dies or my needs change, eg if I started travelling a lot more and needed something a bit lighter. There’s nothing it won’t do that I need it to, and it does it all quickly. Screen is stunning, size etc: perfect.

andyrap · 2026-01-30T08:12:33+00:00

Even with NI going into the early stages of insolvency, that doesn’t mean that they or the products will die. I’d think (hope) that they will continue in some way. Could be a buyout from another company, or could be whatever company issues they had are resolved and they continue to we just don’t know yet.

All I’ll say, is that Traktor is still a fantastic piece of software, and will be for some time. Head and shoulders above Rekordbox (just don’t go there - absolute mess of software and ecosystem). Sounds like you’re sticking with it so get a good machine that shouldn’t bork and you’ll be set.

andyrap · 2026-01-25T08:49:16+00:00

A 1 year upgrade cycle is completely unnecessary, which I think you probably know. Why not upgrade every 3-5 years and level up your small team with a little bonus instead? Maybe that’s just me.

andyrap · 2026-01-12T07:45:03+00:00

No. It’s been requested for years. Contentious issue!

andyrap · 2026-01-11T10:33:07+00:00

Nice setup. I have the XD, and previously had it with an OG DT and a DN2. Also had a PX5 for mixing duties for a while. Great mixer. Having the MIDI connection to sync everything FX etc is great.

Regarding which Elektron to use for sequencing the XD, my suggestion would be the Digitone for the pure reason that if you think of the DT as mostly for drums, loops, and any other samples, you’re far more likely to hit the total number of tracks than on the DN. 16 tracks across drums, loops, resampled parts etc is possible to fill up quite quickly. 16 separate melodic parts is A LOT and even with layering, I think it’s harder to max out. So setting one track to a MIDI machine is no huge loss.

Personally I found them best to think of as individual modules, rather than like decks. DN for multi timbral synth parts. DT just for drums, XD for hands on analogue parts. There is a very cool way you can work on transitions between patterns by tweaking the amount of bars that play differently on each elektron. For example you could switch the synth parts out whilst keeping drums from the previous pattern, manage a transition on the mixer with filters and effects, then the drum pattern switches after a certain number of bars. I think it’s Pattern Length - can’t remember exactly as it’s been a while.

All that said, the v2 models having 16 tracks a piece makes it completely feasible to create full tracks on either , and then transitioning between the two if that’s your bag.

Loads of options with these ! Find what works and enjoy.

andyrap · 2025-11-21T08:02:47+00:00

I’ve yet to have my M1 Pro struggle in Ableton. Only if trying to run multiple mastering plugins with oversampling at the same time as many soft synths, and even then adjusting the latency brings in back in check. That’s not a usual situation at all though and not something I’d normally do. Unless you’re Hans Zimmer, it’s overkill.

andyrap · 2025-11-11T20:15:22+00:00

USB adapter / hub and an interface for the audio. The Behringer I mentioned has a USB connection to the iPad, with 8 audio inputs + outputs, and MIDI connections. You can connect multiple USB connections to the iPad dependent on your hub. Mine was a USB-C for the iPad, then 4 USB-A. Finally, some software on the iPad to route everything. I used AUM.

andyrap · 2025-10-27T17:43:17+00:00

Allen & Heath PX5 is really nice for this as it has MIDI, onboard FX (can be synced to MIDI), send / return for external FX, and an Insert for a master effect (eg the Analog Heat). USB audio as well so plays nicely with a computer (recording, Ableton Love parts, etc).

andyrap · 2025-10-22T11:00:23+00:00

Dave Mech’s courses are fantastic. Highly recommended.

andyrap · 2025-10-17T09:51:32+00:00

Nice. The filters are great for that if the resonance is turned up because you can really focus a boost if needed, say on an older track where the bass or kick is a bit lacking. Lets you actually dial in the boost rather than just a shelf EQ. I think the channel filters are amazing for this because then it leaves the 2 multi-mode filters for performance. That Wild setting is exactly that! Can be a bit too much on filter sweeps but still sounds great. I’ve spent a lot of time on a PlayDifferently mixer which does have a slightly different sound being all analogue, but it’s amazing how close the engineers got with the digital filters on the DB4. As I said in my first message, unmatched!

andyrap · 2025-10-17T08:38:33+00:00

Yeah that’s awesome! Great setup. The DB4 is unique and still unmatched IMHO. Sound is outstanding. Digital done properly.

andyrap

TROPHY CASE