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Synth advice needed
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Kadavr
Started Topics :
8
Posts :
88
Posted : Apr 16, 2007 02:47
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So I am looking into getting a synth. I don't have a midi keyboard, so also want to use it as a controller. Basically there are two price ranges at which I was looking at one around 500-600 and second one up to ~1300.
In the lower price range there is the Alesis Ion, which looks like it can generate some decent sounds, and it has quite a few controls and tweaks. Then there is the Korg Micro X (although I don't really like the tiny keyboard, and the fact that it has only 4 knobs which you have to assign every time), then there is also the Roland RH-201, which has quite a few knobs, and looks like it could be fun little synth, one of it's functions that I like is the laser d beam controller, to which you can assign different effects, like modulation and stuff.
In the higher price range there is the new Korg Radias, the Moog Little Phatty i really like, it has a really warm and deep and phat sound, would be really awesome to make some nice forest tracks with  ))) and I guess there is the Nord 2x...
So that's that. I know that most of you will suggest the higher priced models, and obviously they are worth it. I know that you can't really compare them to the cheaper models that I've listed. Then again those are twice as cheap, and only a couple of hundred more expensive then a midi controller, I guess the real question is, are their hardware capabilities even worth that, perhaps I am better off just buying a full featured midi controller like the X-station...
So feel free to give any suggestions you might have, and perhaps some other options that you feel might work better (like a cheaper midi keyboard and a virus a or b...). It would be nice if you could comment on all the examples that i gave, it would really help me out a lot,
thanks! |
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dija
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
48
Posts :
483
Posted : Apr 16, 2007 06:04
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If your dead set on getting a hardware synth and want something versatile I'd suggest getting a Virus B on ebay. It can be had for 500 or less.
IMO There is no reason to get a hardware synth unless there is a particular sound you are after and you really like a certain synth. |
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Get-a-fix
Getafix
Started Topics :
147
Posts :
1441
Posted : Apr 16, 2007 13:57
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I'd suggest the same as dija i bought the Virus Indigo (Virus B engine) recently and am very happy with it..
I was deliberating whether i really needed a hardware synth but then i decided to go for it & i'm really happy i did..
IMO i find myself being a lot more creative when i have the keyboard and knobs there in front of me to mess around with instead of having to use the mouse to do automations..
The only downside is that sometimes i waste hours just playing around with the Virus with a huge smile on my face from the fat sounds that come out of it!
 http://www.soundcloud.com/getafixmusic |
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PoM
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
162
Posts :
8087
Posted : Apr 16, 2007 15:30
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it depends if you want a synth that can give you a unique sound,or the opposite ,to sound like the producers you like or to make the same patchs,for that the virus and the nords are good(if it s the sound you are after).if i had the money i ll go for analog synth,a modular,built like a ms 20 and then buy more modules.if you are into forest trance, it ll sound a lot more psychedelic and experimental imo |
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Kadavr
Started Topics :
8
Posts :
88
Posted : Apr 17, 2007 01:14
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Quote:
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On 2007-04-16 13:57, Get-a-fix wrote:
IMO i find myself being a lot more creative when i have the keyboard and knobs there in front of me to mess around with instead of having to use the mouse to do automations..
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This is exactly the reason why I want it. that's why i am thinking about smaller synths which would serve as controllers for vst's, but would also have their own hardware sound. then again for their price i could get a virus, which is no doubt a much better machine. the only thing that bothers me is that so many people have this synth, and it will be tricky coming up with really unique sounds.
Of course I guess my best bet is to try and find some of the synths so i can try em out for my self, and see which ones appeal most to me.
Quote:
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On 2007-04-16 13:57, Get-a-fix wrote:
The only downside is that sometimes i waste hours just playing around with the Virus with a huge smile on my face from the fat sounds that come out of it!
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I think all of us are like that  , but it really is an upside, it's the whole creative production experience, which is just as enjoyable and important as the final result which it yields. however cheesy that might sound, but i doubt anyone will contest it, lol. What ever you come up with during hours of playing around with a synth or your favorite vst, it all adds up to your knowlege of software or hardware, and builds your own style of production. |
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Glitch_CapeTown
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
36
Posts :
952
Posted : Apr 17, 2007 02:28
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Kadavr
Started Topics :
8
Posts :
88
Posted : Apr 17, 2007 03:27
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Quote:
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On 2007-04-17 02:28, Glitch_CapeTown wrote:
save up a lil more and go for the TI Polar, seriously man
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yea i don't think I am quite ready to lay out two and half g's juest yet for my first synth lol
p.s. in my first post I wrote roland RH-201, that's a typo it's the SH |
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faxinadu
Faxi Nadu / Elmooht
Started Topics :
282
Posts :
3394
Posted : Apr 17, 2007 13:17
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dija
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
48
Posts :
483
Posted : Apr 18, 2007 01:29
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My virus is more of a nuisance really. Its such a pain to save patches, record, re-record, etc. Oops you forgot to save that patch.
I'm still glad I have it though I mostly use it to make sound fx and occasionally a pad or lead. If I used it religiously I'd go insane due to poor workflow and tedium. |
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Kadavr
Started Topics :
8
Posts :
88
Posted : Apr 18, 2007 02:49
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