Adding a Computer and a sound card into the setup - Suggestions?

Hi,

It's very long time i don't use a computer (pc or mac) in my setup. I don't use any software for sound generation and i use hardware sequencers and a 4ms wav record to record. Now, i am thinking to bring an apple back in my setup for two main reasons:

1. MIDI sequncing for Polysynths (I will keep sequencing all the monophonics via external eurorack sequencer)
2. Recording

So i am thinking to buy a:

1. Mac Mini (i don't need anything else then a software sequencer and recording capbalities)
2. A soundcard (I would prefer to go eurorack as i don't have so much space in my very tiny studio). Which one should i conside giving i will not be using it for mixing (i will keep mixing on hardware)
3. A midi interface

Any suggestions for point 2. and 3. - eurorack format has priority unless it's much more expansive then a desktop solution.
Thanks
Mat

Hi Mat !

I'd be tempted to suggest the Expert Sleepers ES-9, but it depends on what you mean by "mixing on hardware". If the output of that mix is a single stereo channel, it might not be for you, but I personally appreciate using it to multitrack the modular into Ableton. It has the added benefit of allowing the extensive use of things like compressors, limiters or even creative FX's on each track or buses, I can easily re-route that into the modular for more processing through physical modules, the sky is the limit... and I suppose latency is another one :-)
If you plan on sending midi information from Ableton to the modular through the ES-9, that's definitely doable with CV Tools although I believe you might need Max4Live to use those things...

D.

Ehy D,

Yes, i was thinking to get the es9 but i am not sure i really need it (and the module is not cheap).
I currently use a wmd performer as mixer but i am thinking to make some room in the studio and get a proper deck.
ES9 might be a good solution to record multitrack in ableton even if i am not a great fan of working with software (i don't think i will use any of those sw compressors, etc) and i have quite a few modules for processing.
What i think i need it's a good soundcard to record a single stereo signal and something which allow me to send MIDI message from the computer to the external synth. eurorack is preferred but i apprecciate that desktop gears might be cheaper in that scenario.
thanks
mat

The ES-9 price and size start to make better sense in a setup like mine, with Push as an interface for the software I can focus on instead of the mouse and pretty neat for mixing IMO, and also with willingness like mine to explore leveraging things like VCV or CV tools tu supplement the rack - perhaps I've made the mistake of suggesting better for me than for you :-D
If you're going to dedicate some space and money to an outboard mixer you don't already have, I think my advice should be to pickup up one of those mixers that has an integrated soundcard (some also offer in-built effects and what not, could be useful). Not sure about the midi connectivity though, and how important that is to you. If you really want Midi to CV as well, you have the option of getting that in the rack, picking a small sound card that can do that too, or a separate device just for that, I think there are some pretty small ones...

Hello !

If you're not interested in the multi track part, an ES-8 would maybe a better solution, it is smaller and cheaper.
For the midi part, and since you want to go into polyphony, I would choose the FH-2 from Expert sleepers. It is very power full and you can add expanders to your needs for outputs/voices.