Synthesizers anyone?

stonebeard wrote: Fox On The Rocks wrote: ARP's are absolutely AMAZING! Definetly better than Moog's and Korg's in my opinion. Hardly matter for the common man since Korgs are the only things selling for under $5,000, $2,000 if yer lucky.

Very true! Don't get me wrong, Korg's are great but if you have the dough you'll definitely want to settle for ARP!

Fox On The Rocks wrote: ARP's are absolutely AMAZING! Definetly better than Moog's and Korg's in my opinion.

awaken77 wrote:   p.s have someone tried DSI Mono Evolver?

 I actually just sold a mirco korg a few days ago. Pretty neat little gizmo, got some really nice presets and a decent range of programmable options. The vocoder is nice but somewhat superfluos. I also like the line in option which is fun to use it as a pseudo guitar synth. Theres even a video on you tube of a guy using it to mod a radio broad cast thru the line in. The only drawback is the programming section through its use of the knobs is somewhat klunky. However Korg rectified this by releasing a freeware program that allows you to program it via GUI on your computer through its midi inputs.

Edited by Flimbau - September 08 2011 at 17:49

mono wrote: Philamelian wrote: Don't underestimate softwares guys. There are really powerful softsynths, i think it's just a matter of choice. There are also hundreds of really useful free softsynths and a lot of cheap ones.  "Massive" is a good example (50% off right now!! along with many other NI products, veeery limited offer (in time)) http://www.native-instruments.com/#/en/products/producer/massive/

Also Arturia Moog Modular V

http://www.vintagesynth.com/misc/mmv.php

I create my own patches, and it is just brilliant. My strong recommendations!

Massive is also very good (as, in fact, nearly any major modular synth - NI Reaktor or Cycling 74 Max for Live). What I value most about it, is its unique opportunities of waveshaping LFO's. Talking about other NI products, there are also Absynth and FM8, but I think Massive would be better choice for prog needs (Absynth is essential rather for someone who creates ambient/drone et al. it is powerful enough for other tasks - the same as FM8, it uses FM synthesis, so you can create lead synth not any worse in it, - but for atmospheric music it is just the best fit).

stonebeard wrote: mono wrote: Try the Waldorf Blofeld. VERY complete synth for 300$. What now? Looked into this a couple of times shopping around for my synth, and only the rackmount unit approached $300, and even then it was ~$450-500. The keyboard ones went for $700 minimum, more around $900.

I got if for 350euros in France, and usually the prices are the same in $ in the US...
Guess I was wrong! (probably because it's made in Germany?)

mono wrote: Try the Waldorf Blofeld. VERY complete synth for 300$.

What now? Looked into this a couple of times shopping around for my synth, and only the rackmount unit approached $300, and even then it was ~$450-500. The keyboard ones went for $700 minimum, more around $900.

jammun wrote: Here's what you need if you want to really have fun: http://www.activebass.com/news/item.asp?i=332   It is a blast to play with.  You get to be virtual Emerson.  You get to move the virtual patch chords.  You get to wonder, why is there no sound?  Yes I've got a patch chord into the VCO, yes I've got a patch chord into the VCF.  Wait, sheet I forgot the VCA!  Ahh, blessed sound.    It ain't cheap ($250?) but it sure is fun, and you will learn synthesis probably in ways that you never imagined.   And you can try to get that kinda whistle-y Moog sound on From The Beginning.   Obviously, requires a midi-capable keyboard, unless you like playing keyboard with a mouse.

This thing can produce the best sound I've ever encountered on a softsynth. Too bad it's the most unstable softsynth ever: it will bug, freeze, delay, eat hefty amounts of CPU if you try something more demanding. Absolutely unreliable for a live performance. But excellent for studio work if you're into such kind of thing, and if you're patient.

I was going to go the soft synth + controller way, butI realized getting just a controller and relying on a computer is kind of dumb starting out. I want to be able to jam and perform live, and since Macs are horrible I won't be getting one and I'm only getting a desktop now. Anyway, I've had my eye on the Korg MS200, but sadly I want rich pads (ambiance, etc), and 4-voice polyphony is a no-no. Also, the bargains for that seem to be in rack mounts, something I'm not going to get into now. Similar models like the Alesis Ion I couldn't find anywhere, and I let a JP-8000 go on ebay because $450 is just a bit much for me now.

In the end, if all goes right I have one of these lines up: http://www.vintagesynth.com/ensoniq/ens_esq1.php. Sure, I'm not finding it for a extreme bargain, but $245 is all right for me. I think I'll be getting an effects processor too. I've heard good things about the Lexicon LXP15, but are there any good modern ones going for under $200 that can compare?

Philamelian wrote: Don't underestimate softwares guys. There are really powerful softsynths, i think it's just a matter of choice. There are also hundreds of really useful free softsynths and a lot of cheap ones.

"Massive" is a good example (50% off right now!! along with many other NI products, veeery limited offer (in time))
http://www.native-instruments.com/#/en/products/producer/massive/