Less Is More setups

[Skin Flick]

Anyone here have a nice minimal setup they prefer to use? Currently I'm working with a Behringer Wasp, SP 404 MKII and my vocal mic. Looking to swap the wasp out with something more...dynamic in it's place. What are the more barebones setups you guys have?

[Atrophist]

I've been working with an experimental sampler, the Torso S4. At home it's part of a larger setup, but live I can probably get away with using just that, and a Quilter pre-amp/DI thingy for added gain/dirt which the S4 is lacking. The preamp also has an FX loop for a pedal or two if needed. And the sampler has two independent inputs for contact mics, tape players etc.

[Balor/SS1535]

Assuming that you are also implicitly including a mixer in your setup, incorporating a feedback loop is a great way to "double" things up with minimal additions (though a pedal chain running feedback helps a lot).

[Skin Flick]

Torso S4

Looked at the price...jesus. I do envy that you have one though. Is it used on your last couple releases?

[Atrophist]

Torso S4

Looked at the price...jesus. I do envy that you have one though. Is it used on your last couple releases?

I got a good deal on a second-hand one. And no, I don't have anything out yet where I've used it. I've only had it for a couple of months.

EDIT:

I do think it's a bit overpriced for what it is, and what it can do. And the fact of the matter is that a couple of years after they've released it, they still haven't come up with all the features they promised. It still needs better filters and effects, and the ability to reorder the "devices".

Still, it's a very inspiring and versatile machine. And very intuitive to use. If you have the opportunity, give it a try to see if it's for you or not.

[Skin Flick]

Torso S4

Looked at the price...jesus. I do envy that you have one though. Is it used on your last couple releases?

I got a good deal on a second-hand one. And no, I don't have anything out yet where I've used it. I've only had it for a couple of months.

EDIT:

I do think it's a bit overpriced for what it is, and what it can do. And the fact of the matter is that a couple of years after they've released it, they still haven't come up with all the features they promised. It still needs better filters and effects, and the ability to reorder the "devices".

Still, it's a very inspiring and versatile machine. And very intuitive to use. If you have the opportunity, give it a try to see if it's for you or not.

I do think the 404 MKII works best for what I need. the layering is perfect, easy to sort, tons of samples, and it works as a mean vocal effect unit. Once I play enough scratch cards and win I'll grab the S-4, it has a neat layout and I dig the videos I saw on it.

[tisbor]

always minimal here: mixer, contact microphones, two or three extremely simple pedals (always the same for 20 years I guess) , one or two tape walkmans. A microphone if vocals are involved. No need for more stuff in my case.

[groesk]

my setup is pretty barebones but it works pretty well. nothing super weird, mostly pedals i bought from a guitar store.

Noise Synth
Electro Lobotomy Shadow Dweller (old and the knobs are starting to fall off, still never regret the 250$ purchase)

Distortion Pedals
Boss MT-2
Boss DS-1 (also use these in my brutal death metal setup)

Looper Pedals
Boss RC-5

Miscellaneous
WM-SXF44 Sports Walkman (usually using the radio function)
3.5mm to 6.5mm cable (connected to Fender 25 Amp)

Noise Gate (optional)
Boss NS-1X (i swear this damn thing does nothing, but i guess it could be used for range in harsh noise)

at the end of the day it's a huge pile of wires and thats what matters. basically a noise synth, a handful of pedals, and a walkman.

[Atrophist]

I do think the 404 MKII works best for what I need. the layering is perfect, easy to sort, tons of samples, and it works as a mean vocal effect unit. Once I play enough scratch cards and win I'll grab the S-4, it has a neat layout and I dig the videos I saw on it.

The SP404mk2 is honestly such a great machine. I'd defy anyone in our milieu to not find it useful in some way. Great FX, practically unlimited sample time, lots of connectivity options, etc etc. AND it has two headphone outputs, surprisingly useful!

Its only downside for me is that it's a little fiddly -- lots of button combinations to remember, plus the fact that if you happen to press the wrong one, things can go south very quickly. I use at home almost every day, but I'd hesitate to use it live for anything super advanced or complicated.

And if we're nitpicking, it would be great if buses 3 and 4 could be separate from 1 and 2 somehow.

But yeah, you can absolutely perform an total killer set with an SP404, a microphone, maybe optionally a contact mic and a couple of pedals. Not even difficult, if you at first make sure you know your way around the unit 100%. 

[HateSermon]

Firm believer in Less is More. The most recent Hate Sermon live set consisted of two inputs:

Homemade scrap metal contraption --> Boss Loop Station --> Boss DD3 Delay
SP404 SX with Mic input for vocals

I like to put whatever synth/drone sources I'm using into the sampler. So the synths stay at home.
Less room for error, and less shit you have to haul around and set up. I've played shows where you don't get a ton of time to set up so I kind of had to figure out how to arrange things quickly. Sound check? Ha! Not always!

[Skin Flick]

Its only downside for me is that it's a little fiddly -- lots of button combinations to remember, plus the fact that if you happen to press the wrong one, things can go south very quickly. I use at home almost every day, but I'd hesitate to use it live for anything super advanced or complicated.

And if we're nitpicking, it would be great if buses 3 and 4 could be separate from 1 and 2 somehow.

Hit the nail on the head here. Really want those buses separate so I can sort easier for effects. Also the enter knob can be a bit too sensitive. Other than that it's excellent. I'm still finding new features that come in handy for organizing and recording.

[Skin Flick]

I like to put whatever synth/drone sources I'm using into the sampler. So the synths stay at home.
Less room for error, and less shit you have to haul around and set up. I've played shows where you don't get a ton of time to set up so I kind of had to figure out how to arrange things quickly. Sound check? Ha! Not always!

Excellent points. I'm planning a new project for live sets where I can use samples for transitions into new "tracks", some of this is what my synth does when ran through some nasty patches. As long as I know those are all on the sampler, I'm ready to go.