What’s in My Bag: Mobile Production Essentials
Our resident producer/audio engineer, LoopinIII is putting us onto his mobile production set up. This one is for anyone interested in all things audio.
Being cooped up in the studio constantly gave me a feeling of being boxed in. I wanted to make beats at the park or in a coffee shop surrounded by nature or just the world around me, wherever that may be. So I started to search for gear that would enable me to produce in any setting where i felt inspired. I’m also more of a hands on producer, utilizing hardware samplers like MPCs (You know the beat machines with sixteen square pads) instead of a mouse clicking producer only using software on a computer. Once I found out that an iPad had similar capabilities in software, but I could tap the beat pads on the screen I was bought all the way in. It’s been a long time coming for the technology and software on the mobile computing platform and my gear has changed a lot along the way. What stays in my back as of right now…
Workstation: iPad Pro 13-inch (M4)
The iPad has been vital for my journey as a mobile first producer. And the Pro with the M4 processor allows me to work professionally from anywhere with the power i need to run studio gear from a tablet. The touch interface and the Apple Pencil give the feeling of musicianship from a computer platform that a mouse or trackpad just can provide me. I have newly added the iPad Magic Keyboard and I love the functionality. Besides having a layer of protection for my iPad, I now have a stand to keep it elevated in landscape orientation instead of it only sitting flat on my lap or the table. Having the physical keyboard also more space for editing in my programs by eliminating the need for a keyboard taking up screen real estate.
Interface: Motu Microbook IIc
An audio interface is needed to get professional quality audio output to headphones and speakers as well as a good Microphone preamp to record with quality. I didn’t want any knobs poking out that could be easily broken off or something made of some cheap plastic. My got-to has been a durable solid metal and compact interface made by Motu. It’s class compliant, which means I can plug it into my iPad and it automatically compatible with my apps right out of the box without the need of any drivers or extra set up steps.
Headphones: Shure SRH840A
The headphones used for super critical listening and finalizing mixes are heavier and more expensive so I leave those in the studio. I like to use the Shure SRH840A while on the go or traveling. They are detailed enough and have a good frequency response for mobile production and mixing so i can get the sound close to finished.The are isolated enough to where Im not worried about the sounds around me interfering with my creative process.
Speaker: IK Multimedia iLoud original
I was looking for a single battery powered speaker that had good enough sound quality to produce and mix. Traditionally you want 2 studio speaker monitors in an acoustically treated room to accurately mix the sound. The industry didn’t have a small enough package in one monitor other than the original iLoud speaker that I have been able to find. There are 1 tweeter speaker and 1 subwoofer speaker on each side of the device pointed straight forward so its almost like having 2 speakers. The overall audio quality works perfectly for quick production/mixing sessions while away from the studio. Not to mention the bass response is solid for being able to add 808s and other heavy bass.
Microphone: Shure SM58
Recording just anywhere isn’t really ideal outside of acoustically treated environments. But just in case an idea strikes, I keep a Shure SM58 with me so I can duck off into a stairwell, the car, or other enclosed area to capture some quick vocals. It’s also good for recording any impromptu instrumentation or sounds around me that I can sample.
Miscellaneous:
I keep all sorts of cables for audio and for power that i rotate in and out depending on the scenario. You can never have enough cables, especially when you’re away. Cables are the usually the first piece of equipment to malfunction.
I’m kind of a gear-a-holic so my bag tends to change. If you have any suggestions or devices you recommend, reach out on any of my socials, I’d love to chat and hear why.
Check out LoopinIII on all platforms and make sure you catch his weekly YouTube show “Can You Dig It” where he takes us along through his crate digging and production journey.