Outboard Digital Synth (Is there a point?)

sketchyderek · Post by **sketchyderek** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 11:50 pm

In terms of music production, is there much of a benefit to having an expensive outboard synth if it's digital? I mean, why not just remain inside the box?

Trying to wrap my head around this one.

1point5 · Post by **1point5** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 11:58 pm

I've sometimes wondered this, but I think it depends slightly on your workflow. For me (and a lot of people as well I assume) the attraction of something like a proper analogue synth is 50% sound and 50% interface. Having all the faders and dials laid out in front of you is a much much more inspiring way to design sounds than clicking on fiddly little icons on a screen, one at a time, or even assigning midi faders and dials to controls.

VirtualMark · Post by **VirtualMark** » Sun Dec 16, 2012 12:03 am

Totally pointless imo - i owned a Virus TI Keyboard for a while and ended up selling it. The only thing that was an advantage is having dedicated controls for some things, but this can easily be set up on a midi controller using track presets or whatever your DAW uses. Things like having to bounce tracks in real time annoyed me tho.

An analog synth however - this is something you can't do in the box. You can get close with synths like U-He Diva, but they're demanding on the CPU and still aren't real analog.

benjam · Post by **benjam** » Mon Dec 17, 2012 3:55 pm

1point5 wrote:I've sometimes wondered this, but I think it depends slightly on your workflow. For me (and a lot of people as well I assume) the attraction of something like a proper analogue synth is 50% sound and 50% interface. Having all the faders and dials laid out in front of you is a much much more inspiring way to design sounds than clicking on fiddly little icons on a screen, one at a time, or even assigning midi faders and dials to controls.

This

outdropt · Post by **outdropt** » Mon Dec 17, 2012 5:24 pm

I think it is good for sound design. Like what has been said, having dedicated knobs is much more inspiring.

I feel that designing a sound on a digital synth gets you away from specific values and infinite tweaking. Like worrying about the exact milliseconds on your ADSR, or the exact FQ of your filter. And focus more on the groove and overall quality of the sound. It also makes it easier to find parameters to automate.

fragments · Post by **fragments** » Mon Dec 17, 2012 6:14 pm

I like the immediacy. I don't even have to turn on the computer at all. Also, with the routing possabilities on my Monomachne I can get some good, but basic sounds going. Route them to different tracks via my interface into seperate tracks in my DAW and record automation live as the rest of the tune is playing. I do multiple takes and chop stuff up and keep the best of the best. Better than static automation. Also, if I want static automation I can record that, then still jam changes on top of it.

My DSI Mopho doesn't give me as many options, but again, I can set up some automation based on LFOs then I've got four knobs left over I can route to whatever and jam on the synth while the drums and everything else are playing in my DAW and record.

I also have a delay pedal routed as a send/return that I do the same kind of things with. It really loosens up your producutions. Arrangment and getting good takes is obviously more time consuming. But it feels more like some one is playing an instrument...you know...if that is a sound you are going for.

MIDI controllers can work, but I still prefer hardware. You can get all kinds of crazy shit going w/o re routing MIDI functions all the time.

alphacat · Post by **alphacat** » Mon Dec 17, 2012 6:17 pm

Yeah, different strokes for different folks. Have a buddy who just can't seem to do anything interesting in a DAW no matter how hard he tries, but turn him loose on some hardware and he makes it sing.

I'm a mostly in-the-box guy, but there is no virtual equivalent for playing my Juno 60. It has physical sweet spots that are completely mechanical and not 100% linear, which makes for some very interesting "happy accidents." That's not digital though...

egoless · Post by **egoless** » Mon Dec 17, 2012 8:14 pm

Would you love to play (modulate) with this?

...rather than this?

It is the same thing actually... or not?

dotcurrency · Post by **dotcurrency** » Mon Dec 17, 2012 8:47 pm

I've always wanted one. You guys know of any good cheap (Affordable, cheap sounds negative) analog synths? Really low budget atm

fragments · Post by **fragments** » Mon Dec 17, 2012 9:09 pm

If you don't mind Monophonic I think the DSI Mopho is great if you want easy, entry level and knobs. There is menu diving, but once you get used to the routing/workflow it's a breeze to program and the Curtis Filter screams in a pleasant way. Just a sick little bass box. You can do kicks, percs all kinds of stuff with it.

Otherwise you are looking at a Moog Slim Phatty or maybe the Aturia Mini Brute.

Also, I got mine for 265 shipping included used from eBay...when you think of the price of the average VST synth...not bad. It's a bit dry, but I route it into my DAW and touch it up with subtle FXs. There are quite a few internal modulation options 4xLFO and 4x 16 step seuqencers to modify parameters.

Edit: Also, it's got an audio in jack so you can use the filter on aother gear

1point5 · Post by **1point5** » Mon Dec 17, 2012 9:12 pm

dotcurrency wrote:I've always wanted one. You guys know of any good cheap (Affordable, cheap sounds negative) analog synths? Really low budget atm

same here, looked into getting one for a while but so far all i have is still my monotron

I would probably go for a Dave Smith Mopho if I do ever get one though, don't think you can find a much cheaper fully analogue synth that sounds decent:

1point5 · Post by **1point5** » Mon Dec 17, 2012 9:13 pm

ahh Fragments beat me to it lol

fragments · Post by **fragments** » Mon Dec 17, 2012 9:21 pm

Forget the keys and extra knobs IMHO. I sequence the notes in my DAW...twiddle knobs on the box.

alphacat · Post by **alphacat** » Mon Dec 17, 2012 10:08 pm

fragments wrote:...twiddle knobs on the box.

That's what she said.

AxeD · Post by **AxeD** » Mon Dec 17, 2012 11:22 pm

Breaking news: VirtualMark positive comment about analogue gear.

VirtualMark · Post by **VirtualMark** » Mon Dec 17, 2012 11:39 pm

AxeD wrote:Breaking news: VirtualMark positive comment about analogue gear.

Lol I have nothing against analog gear - only the myths that seem to surface every time analog is discussed. I'd actually like to get an old analog modular synth to mess around on.

fragments · Post by **fragments** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 3:30 am

I us a combination of a VA synths, analog, outboard FX, and VSTs of all kinds. They all have they advantages and disadvantages. Mix that with an interface like a MOTU 828 MKii and you can go wild : )

travis_baker · Post by **travis_baker** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 4:24 am

i want a rhodes stage 88 anyone selling?

Ghost of Muttley · Post by **Ghost of Muttley** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 5:14 am

fragments wrote: Mix that with an interface like a MOTU 828 MKii and you can play 28 synths at once! : )

Outboard Digital Synth (Is there a point?)

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