synthesizer shopping, what do you recommend?

[slothrop]

Hi, I've been increasingly in need of some new equipment for my 'studio' and am interested in purchasing a hardware synth but have no idea where to start.

Why hardware in particular?

Not saying it's neccessarily a bad idea but it's easier to recommend things if we know what you want from it.

[Ennayess]

roland gaia sh-01

hubba hubba

[wirez]

Yamaha CS 80
Yamaha DX7
Korg MS2000
Roland Juno 106
Roland Juno 60
Minimoog Voyager

Hhmm..

[wirez]

roland gaia sh-01

hubba hubba

That does look bloody beautiful! But how does it sound?

[nowaysj]

In all honesty, if you are going to get a piece of hardware, I'd say get a piece of analog gear. I don't think it makes too much sense buying a digital synth when you can get incredible digital synth vst's for $100, no joke. When I did buy my virus digi synth back in the day, it was the shit, and was unmatched in the computer world. Now massive can pretty nearly shit on this thing, hahaha. Analog however, is always going to have that SOUND. Maybe some dave smith stuff?

[wirez]

Analog however, is always going to have that SOUND. Maybe some dave smith stuff?

Virtual analogue is getting pretty fucking close now dude. There's not much between them at all, especially with processors!

[deadly_habit]

Yamaha CS 80
Yamaha DX7
Korg MS2000
Roland Juno 106
Roland Juno 60
Minimoog Voyager

Hhmm..

the tx7 desktop module is a fraction of the cost a dx7 goes for

[staticcast]

Analog however, is always going to have that SOUND. Maybe some dave smith stuff?

Virtual analogue is getting pretty fucking close now dude. There's not much between them at all, especially with processors!

Yeah, but inside a "virtual analogue synth" is just a computer. You can achieve exactly the same thing with your DAW and a (decent) plugin.

To the OP, ask yourself this: "why I want a hardware synth?"

Chances are your answer will be one of three.

1) I want "that hardware sound"
2) I want knobs and buttons that I can physically play with
3) I've got money to burn and hardware is cool

Ignoring (3), you've got two potential approaches. "That hardware sound" is kind of a half-truth: if it's digital hardware, you can accomplish the same thing with a plugin. So if you want an outboard synth because you think it'll sound analog, then for god's sake don't get a digital synth (even if it's an "analog modelling" digital synth), because a digital synth is just a processor in a synth-shaped box. Get an SH101 or a Jupiter or something. Or one of the DS boxes as nowaysj suggested. The world of analog synths is vast and beautiful.

If you want a hardware synth because of the tactile control and/or the permanence of an instrument that you have to record to audio, then digital is fair enough, but if it's just for the easy access to controls I'd think hard about whether you definitely want a digital synth over just getting a good MIDI controller and staying ITB.

[deadly_habit]

i just spent a good 30 mins today programming a patch on my micron today with the comp on then came back later and recorded it thru my modded art tube mp acting as a di for that analog grit
it's fun experimenting
i also used the analog drift feature in my micron too for a bit more emulation

[ruckus49]

^what do you use now nowaysj

[nowaysj]

What u mean?

I've been doing just about everyting itb. A little sampling into and some onboard sounds from my asr-x pro.

I just recovered my virus b, so have been playing with it. I think it's gonna take me a couple of weeks to get back in the groove with it. I did some tests today, just to hear massive v. virus. Truthfully, just a square wave with a lp tied to an adsr, and the virus did sound meatier. But working with it further, I don't know, I might actually sell this thing to pick up some dj equips. It is nice having dedicated controls, but the virus is tricky. Half the controls are still in the menus, though their menu system is pretty good. Not just one menu, but one menu for each area, like osc, filter, lfo etc.

[ruckus49]

i really wanna grab a virus b now. lol i posted this before you responded.

yeah i have an mpk49 which has 10 knobs and sliders, but it doesnt seem that convenient for me using it with most vsts for general programming purposes because you still need to do a lot of clicking. for live recording stuff it works nicely tho

[nowaysj]

U in the states right?

[ruckus49]

yeah in pittsburgh

[nowaysj]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWAX:IT

[ruckus49]

thanks bro

[Danger Co]

Yeah have to agree with some others - there is absolutley no need to blow cash on a digital synth. Computers sound awesome these days. I have gone from a totally hardware setup to a laptop and analog effects. There are some cases such as the elektron gear that is unique as far as digital synths are concerned. But for me I'm only buying analog hardware and getting a little phatty soon and can't wait to get into control voltage modulation. And there is no point comparing digital sound to analog. Both have pros and cons.

[nowaysj]

Yeah have to agree with some others - there is absolutley no need to blow cash on a digital synth.

I don't think anyone is saying that, there are reasons. Even if you get the same sound, your workflow may be positively effected through the use of a hardware digi synth. Then again your workflow can be negatively effected!

[netrik]

is there any websites that anyone could reccomend aswell.

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_trkparms=6 ... op=1&_sc=1

[FSTZ]

haha

there is also no need to buy a BMW when you can buy a Huyndai, but people do

perhaps hardware synths are a luxury but my TI just sounds so badass