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Creating a Portable Studio Setup

Portable Studio

Whether it's a necessity or not, creating a minimal, portable studio setup is both a useful, creative and a potentially time-saving exercise.

Laptop

There's not a practical solution to get around this. There's no way a "desktop" could be considered portable, and the mini machines require taking a separate monitor anyway - which require additional power.

Headphones

Speakers are out of the question for a truly portable setup - and with such good quality headphones available, it's a no-brainer. My go to pair is the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro's - which are open-backs, and in hindsight, I'd probably opt for the closed back versions so I could use them in public without irritating nearby people. In reality, a laptop and pair of headphones can get you a long way, without needing any other gear - however there are definitely some neat quality of life improvements.

MIDI Keyboard

Having an ability to play in MIDI is hard to lose as a composer - and whilst taking your shiny S88 is out of the question, picking up a small Akai LKP25, or Arturia/Komplete Kontrol 32 could be your solution. I'd recommend looking for keyboards that have an expression control, or look into an additional control surface to handle expression.

Audio Interface

If using a keyboard, to get realtime playback, you'll almost certainly need an audio interface. My choice is the Focusrite 2i2 - it's compact, sturdy and reliable. It also uses USB-C - reducing the different types of cable I need to carry.

SSD + External SSD Casing

This is a huge quality of life improvement. Getting VST libraries onto an SSD, and then using an external SSD case to connect it via USB will keep you loading instruments quickly.

USB Dock

At this point, you may be running out of USB ports, which is where a USB dock comes in. I've tried the 4 way Anker USB port, and had issues with random disconnects. Recently, I picked up the Targus Travel Dock - which has been a game-changer. It includes a couple of additional USB ports, a USB C port that can also charge the device its connected to, an ethernet port for the slow-wifi days, and an HDMI port should you wish to extend onto a second monitor.

Creativity through constraint is a recurring idea for me, and even when not strictly necessary - artificial constraint so often yields creative solutions, something wonderfully valuable in the world of writing music.