New track release, free DL 🖤

hey fam, giving away x2 GL for Sound Department tomorrow in Italy! DM me your name/email on IG. First come first served, enjoy ur weekend 🖤🤍

Hardware Series - Chapter III

Okayy… now that we’ve talked about what hardware is and went through a bunch of machines…

let’s get into the part that confuses people the most:

𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐩!

This is where most people get lost, overspend (!!!), or end up with 10 machines doing nothing.

Again, there is no perfect setup, but only a setup that works for you.


ꅮ𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍ꅮ

Before buying anything, ask yourself: why do you even want hardware?

Do you want to:

• perform live in clubs?
• produce in the studio?
• jam and experiment?
• build a hybrid setup with your DAW?

This sounds simple, but most people skip it and start buying random gear. If ur goal is live performance, your setup will look very different compared to a studio-focused setup. If your goal is production, u dont need a complex live rig (at the beginning).

Clarity here saves you money, time and a looot of frustration.


ꅮ 𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐒𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐅𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐀.𝐊.𝐀 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐌𝐀𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐄 ꅮ

I think that every setup needs a center. One machine that acts as your main brain. A machine that you can master and build your setup around.

This could be:

• a drum machine
• a sampler
• a groovebox
• or even your DAW (laptop)

Everything else should support that. One of the biggest mistakes is trying to build a setup where everything does everything. It doesn’t work. Pick one main machine and build around it. Try to learn it as much as possible, experiment, go crazy, use it in unconventional ways.

Personally, i’ve learned (and still learning 😅) that it’s way more powerful to know 1–2 machines deeply than owning many and knowing 10% of each. That’s where your sound actually starts forming.


ꅮ 𝐊𝐄𝐄𝐏 𝐈𝐓 𝐒𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐄 (𝐀𝐓 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓) ꅮ

You don’t need a crazy setup to make powerful and impactful music. Some of the best tracks ever made came from very minimal setups.

Examples:

Minimal setup
• 1 drum machine
• 1 synth

That’s enough to create full ideas.

Hybrid setup
• laptop (Ableton)
• 1–2 machines

Very flexible, very common, and very effective.

Live setup
• 2–4 machines max

More than that becomes hard to control, especially in a club environment. You want to have control of your performance, and not be tooo chaotic.


ꅮ 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊𝐅𝐋𝐎𝐖 > 𝐆𝐄𝐀𝐑 ꅮ

This is the most important part. I think its not about what machines you use, but HOW you actually use them and having a personal workflow is SUPER important.

For example, my production workflow is usually:

• build drums on hardware (sound design & mixing)
• create synths, textures & fx on hardware (sound design & mixing on top of drums)
• jam a little bit to create the idea in my mind
• record 8-bar or longer loops into Ableton
• arrange inside the DAW
• light processing after (mostly EQing, sidechains and subtle volume & filter automations)

It’s quite simple, but it works for me. You need a workflow that you actually enjoy and repeat consistently. Of course, it’s always important not to get stuck in the same process for too long, even if it works and you get amazing results. Its nice from time to time to get out of your comfort zone and try different things.


ꅮ 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐕𝐒 𝐒𝐓𝐔𝐃𝐈𝐎 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐒𝐄𝐓 ꅮ

Not all setups are made for both. Some machines are amazing for production but not ideal for live performance, and others are built for performance and feel limited in the studio.

If your goal is 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄:

• think about control & actual live performance
• think about transitions and flow
• think about how fast you can react while performing

If your goal is 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨 & 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:

• think about sound design
• flexibility & modulation
• sequencing possibilities


ꅮ 𝐇𝐎𝐖 𝐓𝐎 𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐒𝐄𝐓𝐔𝐏 ꅮ

If you’re into techno or industrial techno, a very solid starting point is:

→ start with a drum machine
→ then add a synthesizer

The drum machine will handle your rhythm and groove, and the synth will give you melodies, textures and character.

That combination alone is more than enough to build strong tracks and even create a whole live performance.

ꅮ 𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐏 𝟏 – 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐀 𝐃𝐑𝐔𝐌 𝐌𝐀𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐄 ꅮ

This can be the core of your setup. Your groove, your signature & your foundation.

Some solid options depending on budget and level:

Beginner / Entry:
• Roland TR-6S
• Arturia DrumBrute

Intermediate:
• Roland TR-8S
• Elektron Digitakt

More advanced (if you want to commit):
• Elektron Analog Rytm
• Roland TR-1000

Why start here?

Because in techno, drums are everything. If your drums work, 70% of your track already works. Spend time here and learn it properly. You can do insane stuff with basic drum machines if you try to master them that someone with medium knowledge on an advanced one can't even reach. (READ THE MANUAAAAAAAAAAL)

ꅮ 𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐏 𝟐 – 𝐀𝐃𝐃 𝐀 𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐙𝐄𝐑 ꅮ

Once your drums are solid, you need something for:

• basslines
• textures
• atmospheres
• leads

Some good starting options:

Beginner:
• Korg Minilogue
• Arturia Microfreak
• Roland SH-101

Intermediate:
• Elektron Digitone
• Novation Peak

Advanced:
• Elektron Analog Four
• ASM Hydrasynth
• Erica SYNTRX

This is where your identity starts to form, although the options are almost limitless. You really need to make a good resaerch online, to see if you actually like the sound and the workflow of each before buying it. Don't ever go with hype or trends, always listen to your intuition and trust your taste. (RTFM!!!!!!)

Your synth choices + how you use them = your signature sound.

ꅮ 𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐏 𝟑 – 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 (𝐒𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐓𝐔𝐏) ꅮ

Keep it very simple at first:

• drum machine → main groove
• synth → textures / melodies
• audio → into soundcard or mixer
• MIDI → between your machines

You don't have to do complex connections or routing at first, use each machine for it's own purpose and treat them as separate, and eventually all of your machines will act as one.

If you’re using Ableton:

→ use it to record your loops
→ arrange your track later

ꅮ 𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐏 𝟒 – 𝐎𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐀𝐃𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 (𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐍) ꅮ

Once you understand your setup, you can expand:

• sampler (blackbox / Octatrack) → for more control
• extra synthesizers or drum machines
• FX pedals (reverb / delay / distortion) → for more character
• sequencers → if you have multiple machines (check II part for recommendations)

But this comes later.

ꅮ 𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐓𝐇 – 𝐃𝐀𝐖 / 𝐇𝐘𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐃 𝐒𝐄𝐓𝐔𝐏 ꅮ

If you prefer something more structured and “in the box” here are some options:

→ Ableton + Push
→ Ableton + APC 40 Mk2
→ Akai Force
→ Maschine+

Then maybe add:

• 1 synth
• or 1 drum machine

This setup is easier to manage, faster to produce with and in my opinion less overwhelming. Still very powerful though.

ꅮ 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓 ꅮ

At the end of the day, your setup wont make you a better artist. It just amplifies whatever is already there. You can have the most advanced machines in the world and still sound empty, or u can have the simplest setup and create something powerful that can touch people.

What really matters is how much time you spend with your tools, how well you understand them, and how honestly you use them to express yourself.

There’s no rush to build the "perfect" setup, because it doest exist. Your setup will evolve as you evolve. What feels right today might feel limiting in a year, and thats part of the processs.

So focus less on what you “should” have, and more on what makes you want to sit down and create. Build something that feels natural in your hands, something that makes sense in your head, and something that translates what you feel into your sounds and tracks.

Thats where your identity comes from. ꅮ

enjoy 🖤

Hey fam, ive been a bit quiet here lately. The past month was busy with travels, and projects, but now things are settling down and im also consciously focusing on fewer things with much more intention.

ill try to be much more active throughout the summer as i prepare a new live performance aaand ill do my best to document the entire journey with you, sharing the process, challenges, experiments, and everything in between.

in the meantime, you can enjoy this recording from Euphoria (in Kosovo) a few months back. its now on Youtube!! hope you enjoy the ride

Much love 🖤🖤

Hey guysss, giving away x2 GL for Berlin this Saturday dm me on IG first come first servedddd 🍜🍝🧁

That one!

Morning fam, i wanted to share something with u that’s not directly related to music, but to art and creativity in general.

Lately ive been revisiting "The Creative Act" probably my favourite book since the year it was released. It helped me tremendously understand not only my music, but the creative process behind it, how ideas appear, where inspiration comes from, the mindset of creating something meaningful, and how important it is to stay true to your own path which for me at least is super important..

i'd honestly recommend it to anyone involved in any form of art, but especially musicians and producers. Rick Rubin is one of the greatest producers of all time, and the wisdom shared in these pages goes faaaaaar beyond music.

just leaving it here for all of you. im sure many of you will find something valuable inside it. 🖤🖤

and the track of the day 😈😈

Sharing a short jam i made recently, as i’mworking on a new project.. more info in a few weeks, enjoy 🤍 🐉

Clips from last Friday in Amsterdam 🫯