LiamKillen’s Gear Purge: Saying Bye to Old Friends

Unbreakable Promise—Broken!

In the synth realm, nothing stays constant, and Liam Killen knows this dynamic landscape all too well. Opening his candid confessional, Liam reflects on the videos that once declared he’d never sell certain beloved gear. Yet, as time moves on and fresher gear hits the streets, those promises crumble just like stale street tacos. Liam kicks off with a casual reminder that gear, much like our favorite beat tapes, can eventually drop out of rotation. New gear brings new possibilities, sparking a lust for a change and the need to stay ahead of the beatmaking game.

"No gear is safe from being sold."

The Model 1.4: The Untouchable that Got Touched

So, what about that Model 1.4 mixer, huh? For Liam, it was the crowning jewel in his DJ arsenal—or so he thought. Featuring an analog landscape with two effects sends and a sculpting filter ready to shape any track, it seemed untouchable. But after lugging around a cumbersome Apogee Ensemble, Liam realized the setup’s real-world impracticality. No amount of sweetening from the noble D-sub cables could tame the beast that is cable management. Enter the SSL Big Six, which streamlined his setup and parked the Model 1.4 on the gear sale lot. Here, practicality trumped nostalgia, packaging convenience with functionality in a way the Model 1.4 could never offer. It’s a mixer and interface love affair all in one—and one that’s clearly made its mark on Liam’s gear shelf. This mixer slaps harder than my grandma’s wooden spoon and has already elbowed its way into the spotlight.

OP-1 Field, a Funky Farewell

"Yes, it was the most unique, you know, portable fun thing for what it was until, can you guess it, the OP-XY came out."

Next on the chopping block is the OP-1 Field, with its colorful facade and playful quirks. Once a backyard barbecue of creative potential, now it’s left overshadowed by its successor, the OP-XY. Liam recounts his fondness for the OP-1 Field, recognizing its beginner-friendly vibe and unique sound textures. However, his dalliance with sequencer-heavy heads like Electron gear led him to crave more complexity—a territory where the OP-XY shines. Though the OP-1 Field served up good times aplenty, the OP-XY’s beefed-up sequencer and improved sounds hit the right notes for his evolving musical journey. It’s like trading in your old compact car for a turbocharged ride, ready to blaze new trails in sound.

Octatrack: Puzzle Pieces Out of Place

The Elektron Octatrack finds its way out of Liam Killen’s studio due to its daunting learning curve that feels more like assembling a complex Ikea bookshelf without instructions. Despite loving other Elektron units like the DigiTakt and Analog Rytm, the Octatrack’s workflow remained an enigma. Liam’s narrative paints the Octatrack as the gear that never integrated smoothly into his setup despite its potential power. He even turned to community experts but still found the device struggled to fit his style, unlike the more intuitive and fluid newer Elektron models. In a vibrant viewport of soundscapes, it seemed the Octatrack was always the odd piece, never quite ready to snap into place.

"I could never really dig into the workflow of the Octatrack."

Microcosm’s Magnificent Exit

Hologram Electronics Microcosm, a pedal that once had heads turning faster than a DJ’s scratch, is another casualty of Liam’s gear shuffle. Its unique textures captivated users everywhere, glitching through soundscapes and giving everything from pads to percussion a fresh face. But as much as it was loved, Liam found his affection wandering to newer realms. For him, the lo-fi vibes of the Chroma Console, boasting hints of Microcosm’s magic but with more degradative effects, won his favor. It’s like trading a shiny new bike for a sleek cruiser that suits the city streets—the sound shift adds more spice to Liam’s sonic palette.

MicroFreak vs. MiniFreak: A Fractal Fiasco

And then there’s the Arturia MicroFreak—often hailed as an affordable powerhouse and a darling of beloved synth choices. Yet, Liam has opted for its bulkier sibling, the MiniFreak, leaving MicroFreak humming in the “for sale” columns. With more octaves to tinkle and weighted keys, the MiniFreak amps up the action, serving all the funky lines and more with its dual sound engines. Plus, finding a MicroFreak on the second-hand market for a pocket-friendly price seemed a no-brainer. Arturia’s aptitude at balancing price and capability continues to earn them a standup ovation, and Liam clearly couldn’t resist.