u/sinscum

Building a mostly-hardware setup for darksynth/horrorsynth (Carpenter Brut, Perturbator) plus darker ambient/drone for a project called Signal Decay. Recording into Logic, guitars added after. I like to "Jam" to come up with ideas.

Trying to pick the best box per layer rather than one do-it-all groovebox. Current thinking:

• Lead: Korg Minilogue XD or Minifreak
• Bass + drums: Sonicware Deconstruct Minimal (or Elektron Model:Cycles?)
• Pads: Roland J-6
• Drones: Sonicware Ambient Ø
• Sampler: Roland P-6

Questions:

1. Best box for distorted, characterful drums — Cycles, Deconstruct, or something else?
2. Best for genuinely unsettling drones/textures?
3. Should i commit to one brand (Korg vs Roland) for sync, or mix for best sound per layer?
4. Anything you'd cut or swear by that I'm missing?
5. Purely prefer the hands on aspect as i know VST would do this as well.

Budget matters but isn't everything, happy to build in tiers. Appreciate any input from the darker end of the genre!