HOW TO BUILD A HARDWARE SYNTHESIZER SETUP

Here's gear I really recommend for a hardware synth setup. Some of the things are new and not in the video. All links are affiliate links.

GOOD STARTER SYNTHS
Korg Minilogue XD (my nr 1 choice for a beginner!)
HydraSynth Explorer (battery powered!)
Arturia Minifreak (it's really good)
Cobalt8 (virtual analog poly synth)

DRUM MACHINES
Roland TR8S (very versatile!)
Drumbrute Impact (analog and affordable)
Korg Drumlogue (a good starter drum machine)

MIXERS (all of these can record multiple channels at once)
Bluebox Mixer (standalone, super small)
Soundcraft MTK 22 (USB mixer, hook up to a computer)
Tascam Model 12 (super affordable!)
Presonus 16 channel (solid digital mixer with USB recording capability)

MIDI THRU BOXES (midi splitters)
Kenton Thru-5 (split a midi output into 5 midi outputs)
iConnectivity MioXL (there's a smaller one too!)

SYNTH STAND

GOOD FX
Blackhole (solid reverb)
Tricerachorus (I really like it on the Korg Minilogue)

SEQUENCERS
Arturia Keystep Pro (it got everything you need to get started)

GROOVEBOXES / SAMPLERS
Novation Circuit Tracks (4 track Sequencer & Synth)
Elektron Digitakt (8 track sampler, 8 track sequencer)
NI Maschine+ (standalone sequencer/sampler)
Polyend Play (8 track sample & midi sequencer)

SPEAKERS:
IK MTM (great for small bedrooms!)

SYNTH MERCH

PRESETS & SAMPLES (still lots of free stuff!!)

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GEAR I USE (affiliate)

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#HardwareSynthesizerSetup #Synthesizer #Dawless

[BoBeats]

Here's gear I really recommend for a hardware synth setup. Some of the things are new and not in the video. All links are affiliate links.

hardware synth setup

Looking to build a hardware synth setup? Here’s some gear I recommend and if you buy something using my links I get a small % of every sale at no cost to you.

GOOD STARTER SYNTHS
Korg Minilogue XD (my nr 1 choice for a beginner!)
HydraSynth Explorer (battery powered!)
US: sweetwater.sjv.io/jrr64P
Arturia Minifreak (it's really good)
US: sweetwater.sjv.io/QyyddY
Cobalt8 (virtual analog poly synth)

DRUM MACHINES
Roland TR8S (very versatile!)
Drumbrute Impact (analog and affordable)
Korg Drumlogue (a good starter drum machine)

MIXERS (all of these can record multiple channels at once)
Bluebox Mixer (standalone, super small)
Soundcraft MTK 22 (USB mixer, hook up to a computer)
Tascam Model 12 (super affordable!)
Presonus 16 channel (solid digital mixer with USB recording capability)

MIDI THRU BOXES (midi splitters)
Kenton Thru-5 (split a midi output into 5 midi outputs)
iConnectivity MioXL (there's a smaller one too!)

SYNTH STAND

GOOD FX
Blackhole (solid reverb)
Tricerachorus (I really like it on the Korg Minilogue)

SEQUENCERS
Arturia Keystep Pro (it got everything you need to get started)

GROOVEBOXES / SAMPLERS
Novation Circuit Tracks (4 track Sequencer & Synth)
Elektron Digitakt (8 track sampler, 8 track sequencer)
NI Maschine+ (standalone sequencer/sampler)
Polyend Play (8 track sample & midi sequencer)
US: sweetwater.sjv.io/0ZZK5R

SPEAKERS:
IK MTM (great for small bedrooms!)

[Wolfdings]

"Getting away from the computer" this is one of the most important things to advance, once you're stuck artisticly. Switching to analogue devices was real hard to me, but I had to since vst composing drove me mad over the years. Starting from almost zero again. Thinking about how to connect everything, struggling with broken cables or grounding issues and learning how to perform. But it rewards you with a complete new approach of making music and it is so much better, more vivid, deeper and sounds a thousand times better than any vst! Do it

[crashbox]

I'm 21 years old and I finally bought a minilogue and I love it. The microbrute was my first synth and I still love it but I love playing pads on the minilogue.

[localtechnique]

Solid advice Bo! I think it would be cool to go into the pros and cons of audio interfaces vs mixers for beginners. Interfaces make sense when working in the box but for a hands-on hardware setup a mixer might work better as you can tweak the levels/pan/eq/effects with your hands instead of having to reach for a mouse.

With USB mixers the one thing to watch out for is how many channels of audio they send back to the computer/recorder. A lot of the lower end ones only send a stereo mix. Then there are some that have built-in recording like the Zoom LiveTrak.

On the controller end of things I have to say I'm really happy with the KeyStep I picked up recently.

[feethebunny]

It's like you knew that I needed exactly this video today. I'm new to synths and have been doing what research I can to try and figure out how to put a nice setup together and this both gives me some good ideas of where I should be going next and reaffirms my purchase of a Volca Keys the other day. Thank you so much, and can't wait for the video covering recording in more detail later.

[TenThumbsProductions]

I find hardware to be more creative as well. It feels like I am playing an instrument. Making computer music always feels like melodic emails to me.

[toddbaylis]

Thank you for breaking everything down in such detail whilst also not speaking a million words a minute and abbreviating everything (and assuming the audience already knows everything you are covering). I had a really hard time wrapping my head around this after watching several other videos but yours has just cut through the noise.

[knutitup]

You said RM1X and I almost cried. That was my first sequencer and it is so powerful. It controlled my ER-1, EA-1, Alesis SR-16, ESX 1 and Yamaha S03 effortlessly. I loved the workflow. Unfortunately it was stolen. I want another one.

[kristeremtweden]

My studio computer recently gave up so I started to use my Roland MC-303 as the "brain" for my setup and I have really learned alot about my synths since then. Without the computer you really need to go deeper into your synths and take the time to learn .. right now I'm not in a hurry to fix my computer haha this way is more direct and more fun.

[wearetemporary]

There’s a solid reason to invest in hardware that often gets overlooked: it tends to last longer than software and retains value. No matter what you spend on software, within 3-10 years its value depreciates toward zero. Not with hardware. It might depreciate significantly, of course, but never to zero... and sometime it holds or appreciates in value.

[vixstar]

Thanks Bo. I look forward to watching more as I am the only person I know who digs this stuff! I still can't get my head around actually making songs. Interesting noises aplenty but no real content.
Really appreciate YouTubers who take the time to teach.

[rbrookes]

I'd like tutorials playing synths and on putting together basic tracks. I know it's been done but I think Bo will do it better. Oh and hi from next door in DK :)

[wulyflyf]

Absolutely Awesome video! Right now my setups are: Digitone +Digitakt+ Analogue Heat MK 2 + Heath & Allen Zed 10 mixer + Keystep/ my other is MPC One + Keystep +Ju-06+ Moog Grandmother/Mother -32 or Minilogue, Beatstep Pro to sequence any of them together mixed /matched, with a Scarlett 2i2 to Record. I have kept my OP-1 out, as I just don’t like it mixed in right now. Excellent video explaining the key components in a DAW less setup.

[NevilleHayfield]

Bro, love your channel 👏👊💪🔥
I was in to Synth's as a kid. Had a JP8000, MC-303, Yamaha Cs1x and a few other bits. Ended up having to sale off bit by bit. Was the most gut renching thing ive ever had to do. Watching your stuff's has made me want to get back in to it 👏🔥🙏

[jonathanhayward]

Hey Bo. Really think that this was a great video for beginners wanting to get into a hardware setup! Very impressed at the quality of your videos and the clarity of information provided. Looking forward to seeing more. For a mixer/sound card I think that the Roland MX-1 is a great start especially if using Aira gear or Boutiques...and has effects :) Just worth a mention I thought. Keep up the great work. Really like the way your videos are progressing over time.

[takeaim]

I've recently switched to a computer less setup. Boss 505, Arturia Microfreak, OP-1, and MPC.

It's SO FREEING to not have to deal with a laptop in the mix. And, ket me tell you, it makes just jamming for hours on end SO MUCH MORE FUN.

[stofNine]

I needed that when I was a beginner! Well made, Bo. Best wishes from Bavaria!

[Poopdudeification]

As others have mentioned, Bo, the simple breakdown of "here are a few things that fill this need at different price ranges" is really useful. It'd be great to also see you literally hook up a few variations of the tools you choose and make a quick jam out of them ☺

[francoiscolarusso]

Thank you so much Bo! That’s the missing link in all those beautiful hardware synth videos! Personally, I’m a circus artists and a year ago, I had an injury during my act and a surgery not long after. I had to stay still and of course couldn’t perform neither train. That’s where I came across the OP-Z and got caught almost right away. I’m looking forward now to produce my own music for my performances. And to do so I added to my setup the op-1, the Po-400 (I really crushed with TE 😅), a midi controller with Live and an audio interface. Finally the Deluge three weeks ago for my birthday :P I thank all of you guys Youtubers, with all your beautiful videos, I knew how to use the things before even getting it. So it got really easy to want an other synth and an other one and an other one... 😅 Now I’m looking to connect all of my gears and I have a hard time finding information on the first steps to synths hardware setup. Anyways sorry for the long comment, I just wanna say that I’m really interested for this series and thank you so much 🙏🎶🤓🎹🙌

[BigBadWolf..............]

Thanks for the hardware setup video. I think the setup itself can be complicated. I think there are various levels of difficulty but the circuit is so simple. I have to say the circuit is a very versatile sequencer. I use my reface cp on channel one. I have the midi in and out both hooked up and I can play my reface and record the sequence with the circuit. I then use my iPad as midi channel 2. I play the iPad synths from the circuit. I also have a cheap eBay midi splitter. I set up my Roland sp 404 on channel 3 and record a sequence on the sp and it clocks to the circuit. I might later on use a boss rc 505 and midi splitter box to add in guitar/bass/and vocals later on. All of this because the circuit is so solid. I don’t even use the built in synths. I can’t wait for the new update.