Casio SK-1
Casio SK-5 (1988-1992) Played with these in the late 80's as a teen. Learned to use them with hi-speed dubbing on tape decks to get more time sampled, then would use lower keys to make lots of loops just to have something to write rhymes to. Later I would use samples with breakbeat albums. I thought I was the man back then.
Gemini DS1224 (1993-2002) This joint made a man out of me! First I would use my high speed sample trick from tape decks & Casio SK's with the pitch high to get more time then pull the lever down low. Then I began to sample drum sounds wherever I could get them clearly. I would tap them out while simultaneously hitting the bank buttons and let the tape deck record my drum pattern. Next I would play tape deck back through channel 1 on my mixer and load new samples into the Gemini and flip them thru channel 2 of mixer while another tape deck recorded everything going on in the two mixer channels. I finally had an original beat and you couldn't tell me sh*t! LOL! Later on I got an Ensoniq MR-76 keyboard and would use its drums, make sequences, and do samples live from Gemini while tape deck records. If I messed up, had to start over from the top or freak the sample some kind of way to keep from starting over.
Boss SP-505 (2003-2005) A guy at a music store that was going out of business let me get one of these for free! I didn't know how to act to actually have a machine that had some drums in it and could sample with decent time, had effects, and I could actually sequence all in one machine? Heaven for me at that time. Only thing I hated was that it didn't have much memory and I never could quite understand the whole memory card thing at that time, so I had to finish a beat or two before I could put new samples inside of it and I don't like to rush finishing something I feel is not completed. At the same time, hearing some other sample or piece of music would drive me nuts and I would want to hurry and clear the samples stored so I could jumpoff some new idea or sample I wanted to get at. I learned that I didn't have to trigger samples to the beat 1 at a time, but I could actually come up with my own patterns by pressing when I wanted to and/or layering. Don't know why it took this machine, but this is the time I discovered that. Later got rid of it because I didn't know how to make the pads as responsive as they use to be.
FL6-10 (2005- ) Many people trash FL but I love it. There is so much I have yet to learn about proper terminology and tech attributes, so this was a great start for me to get somewhat familiar with DAW's. Once I realized(as far as my production habits were concerned) that it basically triggered sound files on my computer for me, allowing me to arrange and sequence, I went inside of the sound files and got rid of sounds I had no interest in, got Sound Forge and made my own folders of drum and sample sounds. Personally, I like to tinker with tech on my own until I THINK I know everything then read manuals because not knowing sometimes helps me to find ways to make things do what they shouldn't or learn new skills. I learned so many tricks with sounds bungling around with this program. My only gripe with working on the computer is that I have to premeditate music which takes some of my creativity away. I longed for the day I could get back to pressing pads and being able to be sparked instantly with an idea that I could flesh out in the moment.
MPC2000XL[/b] (2014- ) Finally I have the machine I've always wanted and its killing me that I cant just turn it on and take off because I have to learn where things are etc. As I learn the MPC I see/hear things that make me excited but like I said I have to learn how it works and where everything is...which is torture right now. Eventually I want to connect via MIDI with some type of DAW, but as of now I cant deal with all that tech sh*t (if anyone knows where I can read up and get better acquainted with the knowledge and terminology PLEASE point me in the right direction) and I just want to beat pads and nod my head to dope sh*t LOL!!
I'll get there though...I do this out of nothing but love for music!
