Aside from being a time to enjoy seeing and spending time with family, for me the week between Christmas and New Year is also a time to reflect on the year that’s coming to a close, and evaluate what’s worked well and what hasn’t.
One thing that hasn’t worked well for me over the past two to three years is making time for music and making song writing and music production accessible when away from home.
I’m hoping to remedy this by assembling a mobile studio of sorts.
I’ve been on the lookout for a suitable hard case for a while, and finally came across one a few days before Christmas. Not only was it perfect timing but it’s also been a perfect fit for all my recording essentials.
So far the kit contains my Panasonic Lumix FZ1000, which is capable of shooting 4K videos and outputting a clean HDMI signal - perfect for live streaming. For capturing live acoustic gigs I also have a Rode VideoMic NTG, leaving just enough room for a few leads, spare camera battery, charger and my Presonus AudioBox iTwo.
My headphones and laptop fit neatly in my backpack, so the only problem I really need to solve now is how to transport my Arturia BeatStep and and my PS3 RockBand Mustang MIDI guitar.
The Beatstep is a fantastic little sequencer and perfect for setting up looping beats. I also find it a pretty good instrument for playing bass lines on and triggering EZ Bass or MODO Bass.
The RockBand MIDI guitar I use for synth pads, strings and the odd piano part. For a $50 controller it’s an incredibly versatile instrument, especially for someone like me who has no real affinity for piano or keys.
I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas with loved ones and I hope you too find time to reflect on your year and find ways to bring more meaning or happiness to your life.
-Trevor-
