Re: Minimalist rigs, form factors, etc.

[Mark Sottilaro <sine@zerocrossing.net>]

I had put together a minimal "porta" rig a while ago, but I keep taking 
out the "big guns" mainly because of the synth I have in my big rack.  
The new mini rig will go like this:

Guitar into

Digitech GNX2

Repeater with a Korg KAOSS pad II in it's effects loop

PA

This simple rig sets up in under 10 min in the dark.  The problem is 
it's got no drum machine as part of it.  Once you add that, you then 
need a mixer and midi cables.  This seems to almost double set up time. 
  But wait, maybe a processor for the drum machine!  Surely I must have 
that!  OK, add a Air FX to that.  Wait!  No MIDI guitar?  Surely I must 
have some MIDI guitar?  Tack on a GR-30 to that... ooo, that sound 
source is awful dry and uninteresting... maybe I'll sneak in a Korg 
MS2000R to beef it up...

Oh no!  My "Mini" rig now takes longer to set up than my full rig!

So this has been my problem.  I always think of the scene in The Matrix 
where they're in the "loading construct" and Neo says, "Guns.  Lot's of 
GUNS."  I want LOTS OF GUNS when I play.  I have a certain sound I want 
to create, and it's hard for me to not want to schlep my entire studio 
out with me each time I play.  So much so that I'm kind of thinking I 
may totally stop playing live for a while.  This is something I keep 
wrestling with.  I don't get much money for playing live.  I have a 
hard time monitoring what's going on, which makes improvisation hard.  
It takes almost as much time in break down moving and set up as I 
usually play, and it's all awkward and heavy to move.  Add on to that 
the fact that I often feel tethered to my gear, so that after my part 
(in a "festival type" of show) I feel like I've got to load up my car 
and then go.

I guess this this is all coming from my last gig at Ascension 3 in SF.  
(http://www.redbullascension.com/)  It was a great gig, but I always 
feel like the shear effort of all of it just isn't worth it.  I get 
more good feedback from posting stuff here.  I get more good jams going 
here in my living room.

I think all of this would be different if I was part of a band and I 
had other people totally responsible for their part of the deal.  Like 
a bass player (the Stick player I was playing with got a boyfriend and 
has not touched her instrument since)  and percussionist/DJ type.  If 
there are any of you out there in the SF area, send me an email and 
maybe we can get together.

Mark Sottilaro