This is the gear I take out for live performances. At Minus gigs, this is in addition to my bass and pedalboard, other gigs may include the Rhodes Piano and/or the Nord Lead. Everything packs into the back of the rack, making it easy to carry and quick to set up and tear down.

Pictured here(top of rack, clockwise from upper left): Boss SP-202 Sampler, Clavia Nord MicroModular, Ibanez AD-80 Analog Delay, Peavey PC-1600. In the rack, from top to bottom: Lexicon LXP-5, Lexicon JamMan, Lexicon Vortex, and Mackie 1202 Mixer.

The heart of this system is the MicroModular. The Nord Modular concept is an interesting one: the unit, when hooked to a computer, emulates a modular synth on the computer screen, and is programmed by connecting modules with virtual patchcords. Then, patches can be saved, and the unit disconnected from the computer and taken to gigs. The MicroModular is about the size of a VHS cassette, but contains a very flexible and powerful synthesizer. I originally got it for live gigs, as it is basically impractical to take "real" modulars out. It's a wonderful tiny synth, it and the Peavey PC-1600 controller make a very compact and powerful noise-making system. The PC-1600 provides a virtual front-panel for any MIDI device, with 16 programmable faders and buttons. The PC-1600 also controls the LXP-5.

Lexicon JamMan: With it's 32-second recording time, the JamMan is something of a classic live looping device. I used to use this live in my bass rig, but now I use a Boomerang with the bass, which has a much simpler interface. Still, the JamMan is a very capable delay, looper and one-shot sampler.

Lexicon Vortex: Perhaps my vote for weirdest delay-based processor ever, the Vortex offers a number of delay and modulation algorithms, and the ability to "Morph" parameters between selected algorithms. It's a strange and hard-to-describe box, which is perhaps why it never caught on with the public. I'll never get rid of mine, though.

Boss SP-202: This is a low-cost "Groove-Approved" sampler, barely a step above a toy, but it offers some interesting ways to record and process sound. It's definitely overpriced at list price, but if you can find one used, it's worth it. I like to use it to get samples before we start playing, from the ambiance of the club or other bands on the bill, and weave them into our show.

Here are a few of the many stompbox effects I've gathered over the years. From the left: PAiA/Craig Anderton Ring Modulator, built from a kit, Electro-Harmonix Electronic Mistress Flanger, TubeWorks Real Tube distortion, PAiA/CRaig Anderton Super Tone Control state variable multimode filter, also built from a kit, 3MS Duo Distorter Rouge distortion, DOD Bass Grunge, and Electro-Harmonix Memory Man Analog Delay.