FatHand

You should try taking the power out while recording/monitoring, I've seen this happen with certain laptop/interface combinations. I guess the other thing, although fairly obvious, is that the gain could be too high and the input is clipping. Are you sure that everything is set correctly on your tascam - line/mic level or instrument input?

Just got a Korg MS-20 mini - I think this picture is bigger than the instrument. It is as awesome fun as it looks.

Good plan. I still like listening back to what I wrote several years ago but I know that I don't write in the same way now. A lot of it is down to understanding more about how to use synthesisers and experimenting with sounds in less obvious ways. Part of the reason I enjoy this realm of music so much is because you both have to create the music and understand how to mix and produce the sounds you are after. You can learn a lot from making a little tune and trying out all the different processing functions of your DAW/outboard equipment.

Good thread. There is more merit to this kind of topic than a battle of people attacking and defending playing in covers bands - a pretty futile debate. I get enjoyment from so many aspects of music it's hard to condense. I must have tried out most aspect of music that can be acheived on a local level - experimenting with many different genres, setting up and running quality groups, promoting, sessioning for others, composing, going to gig and enjoying other people's music. Although I am less active on the live music front these days I get my pleasures from developing my studio, keyboard and synth collection and composing stupid electronic music. I have a growing desire to start up some kind of music event again but I've only just started thinking about this. I also get a lot of enjoyment out of working with other people and helping them progress their own music. I'm hoping to have a studio set up soon that I can invite my musical pals round to record with as near professional quality equipment as possible and for free.

I did have a listen. What I would say is that Dubstep is not really my thing so help on producing this kind of music is beyond me. There were some interesting ideas there and mixing up the vocals is one of them. I think if it's been a while since you worked on them it might be worth starting fresh. Your taste and musical understanding may have moved on since and the wab wab synth is a bit over done now. Electronic production is a very different process to playing in a band too so the more you do it the better and easier you will find it.

One up for Animoog. It is a quality piece of software synthing and well supported. 4 track recording, midi controller etc. Reactable is really good and has some depth to it. It uses a mixture of samples, synthesis and effects. There is a bit of a learning curve on this one so it will keep you going for a long time. I had to give up on it as it is hard to use on the iphone, it would be amazing on ipad. You can upload your compositions to a chart and download what other people have done. Really unique way of composing. I eventually plan on using it in conjunction with my OP-1. iMaschine is also really good. Easy to use and well supported. New sample packs that follow its bigger brothers and the ability to take your projects/sketches from the iMaschine to use on the computer software version. You can use your own samples and record directly in if you want to add something live to your 4 parts. Also direct upload to Soundcloud if you have something you want to share. Beebot is quite fun and could be useful for some things.

Yeah, definitely take round your hardware! I've got a juno 6, moog MG-1, analog 4, minibrute, dark energy, virus ti, octatrack, op-1 which I'll make sure are all hooked up.

Yeah definitely. Carpets are going down in a few weeks time so any time after that. My favourite at the moment, although not a synth, is the Elektron Octatrack. Tricky to get your head around at first but I feel like I can do a lot even having just scratched the surface.

As as saxophonist and playing in a brass section on stage next to amplified instruments I would say that a decent monitor mix is essential. Also when I play keys I generally go straight through the PA so I rely on the monitor mix to hear myself. No matter what size band you play in, the vocalist needs a decent monitor mix to help with their pitching. Instrumental Jamming in a bar or somewhere without a PA is a different matter,

You can do a lot with just that! Just about to go and check out your link a few posts ago. I'm a bit limited for space at the moment so been enjoying using some soft synths. Found some really interesting ones in native instruments reactor.

Shouldn't be an issue.

Yeah, a pricey route to go down. If you are interested I am happy for you, or anyone who is genuinely interested to come round and try out different synths that I have. I'm currently renovating my flat so it'll be a month or so before the music room is back to fully functional but once ready, everything should be set up for recording live jams.

Anyone else into the idea of Modular Synthesis? It's a bit of a specialist/geek thing to get into but I'm thinking of saving up to get a Eurorack setup. I've finally started work on live electronic performance and really enjoying tweaking aspect, thinking that some kind of modular rack might be an interesting addition.

You could try using drum loop samples - easy to come by and good place to start tracks.

I'd do it the same way as DistortedScience. I have augmented my synth/outboard gear collection quite a lot recently almost to the point I need a bigger space to put it all. I notice you are using the Maschine, how you finding it? I really like mine and now starting to go down the resampling route - create beats using the maschine then loading them into my Elektron Octatrack. Planning on doing any of your electronic stuff live?

I don't post a lot these days as my musical activity is changing and I actually have work to do at work these days. I don't really have the same level of live performance output I once did but now heading in a more music production direction. Unfortunately this isn't the place to discuss the technical stuff having tried a couple of times to catch some interest. Having said that I still read posts every day, even the mundane stuff, habit and also the off chance that something interesting pops up. I have bought some of my best equipment from people off here and I have found musical friends that I have done great things with on here. I think there is still benefit in Aberdeen Music. Lets start posting interesting stuff again.

I didn't bother reading this as I don't use Reaper but ultimately, when it comes to learning your DAW all you have to do is type your exact query into Google. Someone else has definitely had the same problem as you. Once you get used to the menus it will seem less daunting. http://wiki.cockos.com/wiki/index.php/How_to_Compensate_for_Interface_Latency I typed in "adjusting latency in reaper" and this was the first hit. I wouldn't pin my hopes on Aberdeen Music solving your Reaper problems quickly!

The further I read that post the more the internal voice in my head turned into the voice over guy from 'the wonder years'.

I've been bolstering up the studio recently. Are you still getting some use out of that JP8000? I had to send the spirit to a good home in the end as it ended up doing the same in my flat as it did in yours!

If you use Windows XP I have an Mbox 1 free to a good home. The drivers were not supported beyond this operating system but it is a good little external sound card.

Which kind of cajon is it?

Great positive mention! Loved that embedded track of yours, that's very much my cup of tea.

Had a similar idea to you, to pick up a tweakable delay unit as outboard for processing audio but also wanted it for live use. I ended up getting the Strymon Timeline as it covers a lot of ground and got great reviews. It's out of the budget range you mentioned and has a loop function along with probably some other functions you probably wouldn't use but it seriously good. It has deep modeling options, the lofi delays are great. I guess at that price point, stomp box wise, l the other option is the Eventide Timefactor. Probably very similar, very tweakable. I did a quick search on lexicon delays and this outboard one came up http://www.proaudiosystems.co.uk/lexicon-mx300-reverb-delay-and-dynamic-effects.html?gclid=CMW4vZadhLgCFYTItAodXlAA-A Might be worth checking out older lexicon outboard stuff, you might pick it up cheaper.