commit 0947c9535d2cc12f23460d0ad3125f78eea539d5
parent fe6455ba042523f660a5375d75724c7a867b85f6
Author: David Eisinger <[email protected]>
Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2026 16:06:19 -0400
instrument descriptions
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2 files changed, 96 insertions(+), 31 deletions(-)
diff --git a/content/journal/synth-setup-september-2026/index.md b/content/journal/synth-setup-september-2026/index.md
@@ -4,41 +4,106 @@ date: 2026-09-14T15:46:55-04:00
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{{<dither synth-diagram.png "1600x1600">}}My synth setup as of September 2026: three tiers of keyboards, samplers, and a mixer, with plenty of cables connecting it all.{{</dither>}}
-* [Yamaha Reface CP][1]
-* [TASCAM Model 12][2]
-* [Roland SP-404MKII][3]
-* [Novation Circuit Tracks][4]
-* [Novation Bass Station II][5]
-* [Conductive Labs MRCC][6]
-* [Sequential Prophet Rev2][7]
-* [Jaspers 3D-105B][8]
-
-[1]: https://usa.yamaha.com/products/music_production/synthesizers/reface/reface_cp.html
-[2]: https://tascam.com/us/product/model_12/
-[3]: https://www.roland.com/global/products/sp-404mk2/
-[4]: https://us.novationmusic.com/products/circuit-tracks
+## [Novation Circuit Tracks][1]
+
+The "brain" of the operation. This is a portable groovebox that has four sampler tracks, two synth tracks, and two sequencing tracks for external gear. I use the sampler tracks for drums: bass/snare/hats/ancilliary. The built-in synth tracks also send out MIDI data, so I'll usually use one for bass or pads and the other to sequence an additional external instrument[^1].
+
+I love this thing. It's screenless, so no menu diving, and quite simple to use after some time with it. I've got a few different sound packs I've loaded onto it. I like the stuff from [SoundGhost][2] and [Isotonik Studios][3]. It's also great for making music on the go: the Circuit Tracks + a USB-C ipad is surprisingly capable[^2].
+
+[1]: https://us.novationmusic.com/products/circuit-tracks
+[2]: https://soundghost.net/product-tag/circuit-tracks/
+[3]: http://isotonikstudios.com/product-category/synth-patch-store/novation/circuit-tracks-patch-store/
+
+## [Yamaha Reface CP][4]
+
+Electric piano, very simple. Six instruments to pick from (I use 2 or 3) and a few onboard effects. I probably lean on this thing a little bit too much; almost everything I make starts with 7th/9th chords on the Reface. It sounds _great_ but makes for a lot of similar-sounding tracks.
+
+[4]: https://usa.yamaha.com/products/music_production/synthesizers/reface/reface_cp.html
+
+## [Novation Bass Station II][5]
+
+Simple(-ish) monosynth (so one note at a time, no chords). I find this thing a little bit dense (e.g. I'm unclear on what the two knobs labeled "Mod Env" do) but I can usually come up with a sounds I like pretty easily. Despite the name, I don't use it for bass that often, since a lot of the cool stuff you can do with it is lost to my ear at low registers.
+
[5]: https://us.novationmusic.com/products/bass-station-ii
-[6]: https://conductivelabs.com/product/mrcc-midi-router-control-center/
-[7]: https://sequential.com/hybrid-analog/prophet-rev2/
-[8]: https://www.thomannmusic.com/jaspers_3d_105b.htm
+
+## [Sequential Prophet Rev2][6]
+
+Eight-voice polysynth. Sort of the opposite of the Bass Station: it's pretty easy to understand what all the knobs do, but I struggle to create original patches I'm really happy with, so it's not as central to my sound as I feel like it should be. Still features in most things I make, though.
+
+[6]: https://sequential.com/hybrid-analog/prophet-rev2/
+
+## [Roland SP-404MKII][7]
+
+Dedicated hardware sampler. This is a *powerful* machine and I go through phases of using it a lot and very little. I use its effects pretty heavily, piping the Reface through the "lo-fi" effect, for example.
+
+[7]: https://www.roland.com/global/products/sp-404mk2/
+
+## [TASCAM Model 12][8]
+
+12-track mixer. All the instruments feed into this. Plugs into my MacBook Pro over USB-C when I'm read to send stuff to Ableton. The "Sub" output runs into the SP-404, so that I can easily sample a single instrument, and Aux 1 goes to my Microcosm pedal that I'll talk about in a minute.
+
+[8]: https://tascam.com/us/product/model_12/
+## [Conductive Labs MRCC][9]
+
+MIDI router. Sort of like the TASCAM but for MIDI data instead of audio. All the controllers (the Circuit, my MIDI controller, and the laptop via the mixer) go into the inputs, and all the instruments plug into the outputs. It's pricey but you need something like this if you want to control a bunch of instruments.
+
+[9]: https://conductivelabs.com/product/mrcc-midi-router-control-center/
+
+## [Jaspers 3D-105B][10]
+
+Nice keyboard rack. It's sturdy and it looks cool.
+
+[10]: https://www.thomannmusic.com/jaspers_3d_105b.htm
+
+---
+
+That's the main rig. On the adjacent wall, I've got a small desk for my computer plus a few other pieces of gear.
{{<dither synth-diagram-2.png "1600x1450">}}The other half of my September 2026 synth setup: a laptop and Mackie monitors above a compact keyboard, effects pedals, and Pocket Piano, with a Korg digital piano alongside.{{</dither>}}
-* [Mackie CR3 Studio Monitors][9]
-* [Hologram Electronics Microcosm][10]
-* [Arturia KeyStep 37][11]
-* [Zoom B1 FOUR][12]
-* [Critter & Guitari Pocket Piano][14
-* [Korg SP-250][13]
-* [IKEA MITTPLAN Desk][14]
-
-[9]: https://mackie.com/
-[10]: https://www.hologramelectronics.com/microcosm
-[11]: https://www.arturia.com/products/hybrid-synths/keystep-37/overview
-[12]: https://zoomcorp.com/en/us/multi-effects/bass-effects/b1-four-b1x-four/
-[13]: https://www.korg.com/us/support/download/product/1/201/
-[14]: https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/mittplan-desk-white-10549428/
-[15]: https://www.critterandguitari.com/
+## [Hologram Electronics Microcosm][11]
+
+A "granular effects pedal," takes whatever audio you send into it, messes with it, and sends it back out. I love this thing -- adding it to my setup was a big level up, adds organicity and keeps things from sounding too robotic. I can hear a big difference in the music I made before and after ...
+
+[11]: https://www.hologramelectronics.com/microcosm
+
+## [Arturia KeyStep 37][12]
+
+[12]: https://www.arturia.com/products/hybrid-synths/keystep-37/overview
+
+## [Mackie CR3 Studio Monitors][13]
+
+These were my computer speakers until I got into vinyl and bought an [amplifier][14] and [passive speakers][15]. Now they're plugged into the mixer and let me listen to my loops all day while I work (sorry Claire). They're ... fine. Could probably use an upgrade here.
+
+[13]: https://mackie.com/
+[14]: https://wiimhome.com/wiimamp/overview
+[15]: https://www.polkaudio.com/en-us/product/home-speakers/bookshelf/signature-elite-es15/300363.html
+
+## [Korg SP-250][16]
+
+[19]: https://zoomcorp.com/en/us/multi-effects/bass-effects/b1-four-b1x-four/
+
+## [Critter & Guitari Pocket Piano][17]
+
+I think this was the first actual synth I bought, after seeing it on [Bonobo's EquipBoard][18] page. It's fun, portable, and sounds quite nice. It's also open source and hackable, though I've never pursued that beyond loading some community patches onto it. Doesn't see a ton of use these days and is probably the first thing I'd sell were I to downsize. Fun for the kids though.
+
+[17]: https://www.critterandguitari.com/
+[18]: https://equipboard.com/pros/bonobo
+
+## [Zoom B1 FOUR][19]
+
+[16]: https://www.korg.com/us/support/download/product/1/201/
+
+## [IKEA MITTPLAN Desk][20]
+
+[20]: https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/mittplan-desk-white-10549428/
+
+[^1]: There are only two input jacks, so I can't send the audio from the third instrument back into the Circuit, but because I use a dedicated mixer, I don't really use that feature anyway.
+[^2]: portable music setup
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