a guy I know who is completely not me is in the early stages of rebuilding his basement Ye Olde Technoe Labbe and asked me for help so I am DEMANDING YOUR ADVICE ON HIS BEHALF also it's not me I swear

strymon timeline will do a lot of innarestin' delay stuff in one v tweakable box for this guy, who is definitely not the same guy i am pleased to see back posting on ilx

Digitakt for sampling?

I want one of the new Akai Force machines but they're going to be $1500 or something

get an Organelle.

own up to asking for your own advice my mang!!

it's ok to ask questions!

Digitakt is a good idea. 0-Coast would expand the possibilities of the Grandmother and Microbrute I guess.

Obviously if it was me, I would say so, but it’s this other guy, because if his midlife crisis big basement fartspace dreams go south and turn into the noise dude equivalent of the “project car” taking up space in the garage despite being too precious and/or broken down to actually drive, then it is his very real and not imaginary fault, and I’m just an intermediary trying to pass along some good advice.

dang you are too hard on yourself
i applaud your creative endeavor from my own basement fartspace practice space :)

I applaud both your creative endeavours from my own basement corner of a bedroom.

what online merchants of noise should this dude get his stuff from? I tried to go over to his house the other day to return a socket wrench and he mentioned that Jeff Bezos and B&H Photo Video are going to cause the end of civilization, so some sort of ethically acceptable alternatives are needed.

and by "tried to" I mean I got halfway up the stairs to his door before he leaned on the 2nd floor window and hollered at the neighborhood that "Jeff Bezos and B&H Photo Video are going to cause the end of civilization!!!" and I figured you know, this guy can get his socket wrench back some other day this week

Perfect Circuit and Analogue Haven. I've never had problems with either.

Seconding Perfect Circuit

fundamental stupid question, is this the optimal signal chain:

1. plug machines into mixer, 2. mixer into USB interface, 3. USB interface 3a. to monitors and 3b. to/from computer? 4. Use USB I/O headphone jack, 4a. get an A/B switch for second set of monitors?

I don't have one myself, so can't say how good it is, but the hapiNES (and forthcoming Large version) seem like something your friend would like.

The Drone Thing and Blackfly Swarm might help your friend with some of his tone generation and the KomaElektronik Field Kit and Field Kit FX could prove useful for him.

The MWFX Judder and Glitch pedals, if he's able to find them, will provide him with hours of joy.

(Drone Thing and Blackfly Swarm by Electro Faustus)

still require answer re: signal chain

do not understand how modern things work, always just sent MIDI to boxes, boxes into other boxes, mix down to two channels and feed to tape

Maybe look at something like the iConnectAudio4+ ? It's a USB interface with 4 ins and outs, plus headphones, and MIDI. Pretty handy all in one device. Can add a mixer in front of it if needed.

iConnectivity

I understand that I need an I/O box. just not sure how to optimally plug shit into it for a flexible setup that doesn't require the computer to be running constantly

1. do I have to install some dicey software to even use it?
2. does it have latency that is going to bother me all the fucking time?

I don’t think the latency is too bad. It’s never bothered me or been noticeable but I don’t think I’m picky. The software has improved recently - they have a quick and easy version and a deep in the weeds version. The easy version is new and a godsend. The kitchen sink version often left me befuddled, especially with MIDI. I’ve never tried it unhooked from a computer or iPad so can’t comment.

But based on what you’re saying I think you’d be better off getting a mixer and a simple interface. Look at the interface as your tape deck and run the rig in a way that feels familiar. That way you only need the computer when you want to record - all your mixing and monitoring can be done via the mixing board

I just plug my boxes into the interface/preamp, but I'm only ever recording one at a time. My friends who have real setups have similar signal chains to what you describe, I think. One uses Ableton for the master clock, which he says is really solid.