Why? Because you have to get out of the studio sometimes. We are getting to the holiday travel season, too. Basic ground rule for eligibility: no sockets required. And we will reserve acoustic instruments for a later time.

I have the Boss SP-202 Dr. Sample. It's kind of fun for lo-fi sampling action, has a built in mic, and has some decent effects going on. (Ring Mod was a bit against the grain when this thing hit the market.) The bad? No on-board sequencer and limited MIDI--input only. I'd use it a lot more if it had a sequencer, as bare bones as it is. Later Dr. Sample models remain battery powered but add sequencing functions, among other things. I end up using this more for one-shot's than composition--really want that damn onboard sequencer. SP-202
SP-303
SP-304

The sequencing thing has got me seriously considering getting a Nanoloop cartridge for a Gameboy I have sitting around. 8 bit synth and step sequencer capable of cool glitch-y sounds from the samples on the site. Anyone tried one?

Anything absolutely to-die-for out there?

Bear

To hell with music from a laptop--be a Gameboy musician! A different software package called Little Sound DJ is, well, no longer in production, apparently, but you can make your own ROM to use. Either this or the Nanoloops is probably going to get you less hassle from airport security then a Dr. Sample will.

Your accounting firm looks at you funny for traveling with a Gameboy? Well, there's good stuff for your Palm Pilot (or other Palm OS device). Bhajis Loops has a sampler, pattern sequencer, wavetable synth, and effects--puts my SP-202 to shame in some regards, though the interface is the stylus and not sample pads. Microbe is similar but without sampler. If the pixelated Nanoloops interface is too low-tech for you, the display on these looks much more friendly.

Bear

Hey, Bear's Gone Fission, thanks for being the mod of this forum.

Now, WTF? Man, you went way crazy. I like the idea of portable music makers. I like portability. I get my ideas in dreams and in travelling. I hardly ever get them sitting in front of a piano or a computer.

It occurred to me that Mojo Pie is about recording musicians, so why not talk about funky and uncommon instruments too? I like it all funky and uncommon--it makes up for talent.

The other thing is that I like to change up instruments to unlock ideas.

Bear

We have a winner! Battery-powered patchable analog synth:

http://www.chimera-synthesis.com/bc16.html

I must have it. Hopefully the soon-to-be-released step sequencer from their line is also battery powered.

Bear

Hi,

I use my iRiver H320 running Rockbox for CD quality stereo with line in. I plug my M-Audio DMP2 into it and I plug anything I want into the DMP2. Usually 2 Realistic 1070b omni dynamics.

You know this is almost retro anymore.

If I'm just putting down an idea I use the internal mic mono.

I need a little rechargeable battery/inverter to run the DMP2. As it is now I must have 110. Some of the car jump start units provide 110. Any other ideas for when you need just a little bit of 110?

I bought everything used. The whole rig was under $200.

Thanks,

Hairy Larry

Heads up for any blip-hoppers--the current Jan/Feb '08 Tape Op has some audio-for-game-system products in its review section. Only the GameBoy Camera (a crappy digital camera which has step sequencer and sounds?) would be portable--the other two are for Atari 2600 and 8-Bit Nintendo.

Bear

Got a Nintendo DS? Get a virtual Korg MS-10 for it the next time you're in Japan. They eventually brought the Kaosillator to the US, too, so you can hope.

Bear

Not portable, but on the tip of Nintendo-powered music.

Any theremin aps for Wii yet?

Bear