synthesizer shopping, what do you recommend?

[hovatron]

Don't get a DX-7.
It's huge, practically impossible to program (+ you have to do it all from one slider at the front... and we're not talking subtractive synthesis here... this is a FM synth guys. algorythms.).
I sold mine and got a Juno-60. It's lush, the analog filters make the DCO's amazing, etc etc.

As for leads / basses the ultimate is the Korg MS-20... I guess I'm speaking generally here as it is far far far out of the price range. But it has a patch bay, the craziest filters ever and a THICK low end. So much fun to play.

roland gaia sh-01 is a nice idea, but it's built like a toy and sounds like one in most instances... might as well get a MicroKorg.
And as far as I can tell they are pricey. Shell out a couple extra hundred and cop a Roland SH-101 off the used market. I got a Roland MC-202 recently (UNDERRATED BEASTTT) and it's essentially a SH-101 with a TB-303 sequencer on it. and it runs on batteries.

I don't make dubstep, but if that's what you're trying to do, I'd go with the SH-101 if I were you. they go for like 650$.
or build a modular
or don't. It's a money pit. I love mine to death but jesus christ took like 4 months just to have enough parts to make it make a sound. but now I got my ARP filter clone and the heaviest oscillators around sounds like the voice of god in the club.

/nerd

[jobbanaught]

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

Yeah, i bet half of the ppl on this thread have never used a hardware synth in their life Imo a good hardware synth, be it digital or analog, still sounds better than 99% of the VSTs out there. Otherwise they simply wouldnt be produced anymore. Plus with hardware you have a much nicer workflow with dedicated knobs for everything.

[hovatron]

it goes both ways.
I use hardware because I don't like screens and I really enjoy dedicated knobs and stuff.
I only buy analog cause.. well... I'm not sure really.

that said I know of some VSTs that sound better than a lot of the junk synths being made today. (like that Roland Gaia.) Although there is amazing hardware coming out, be it analog or digital (Elektron, Doepfer&most modular synth companies, Dave Smith, Moog, MFB, etc etc)
The shitty synths still sell as well as ever in part because someone will blindly buy it and tell themselves it "sounds so warm and "phatt" only because it's in a box and has some keys.


Elliott Lipp had said something funny at some poitn along the lines of "Oh yeah, I know a bunch of people using VSTs that sound almost as good as the real thing making songs that are almost like a good song"


but it's not what you useeeee it's what you do widdit.

[jobbanaught]

that said I know of some VSTs that sound better than a lot of the junk synths being made today. (like that Roland Gaia.)

The shitty synths still sell as well as ever in part because someone will blindly buy it and tell themselves it "sounds so warm and "phatt" only because it's in a box and has some keys.

No doubt about that. You have to search for hardware synths, go into shops, listen to them on Youtube etc... But you will find lots of synths that are superior to most VSTs soundwise, especially when pushed to their boundaries. And with hardware, you can build up a relationship before you buy your instrument. When you have found the synth with the sound you like, it wont be the next best VST in your folder of 50 different synths, but instead it will be something personal. You learn it inside out and it is so much more rewarding than dabbeling with a VST for two days. Imho of course...

but it's not what you useeeee it's what you do widdit.

[FSTZ]

but it's not what you useeeee it's what you do widdit.

DAMN STRAIGHT!

[hovatron]

When you have found the synth with the sound you like, it wont be the next best VST in your folder of 50 different synths, but instead it will be something personal.

Also true. They might be electronic instruments, but they are still instruments. Like an aging pathetic middle aged rocker with his whiskey-stained les paul.

but yeah
I mean, the way I look at it, is I'm an electronic musician so I need electronic instruments. like, the classical violin player COULD get a casio with a violin sound on it, but at the end of the day fuck it.

If I can give a recommendation here, I'd say get something with no patch memory. I'm really really really tired of hearing presets in music.
It might seem like a drawback at first (and to be honest I'm sure some people are furious some of their synths don't have 98 banks of presets and 1280483 memory slots), but it forces you to think outside the box, takes you in directions you might not have planned on and gives you a rush once you write a patch and a melody to go with it that really work, makes you want to record it NOW because you know the sound won't exist after right now.
binary code and presets are zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[FSTZ]

^^yeah

very true

I took my old novation synth, initialized it and didn't load in any presets. I then filled up the slots with my own patches.

great way to get your head around sound design

[deadly_habit]

^^yeah

very true

I took my old novation synth, initialized it and didn't load in any presets. I then filled up the slots with my own patches.

same with my micron. it's nice to turn off all distractions and delve into just sound design

[nowaysj]

If I can give a recommendation here, I'd say get something with no patch memory.

I'm largely with you until here. Sure initialize the presets as soon as you get it (Virus b has two banks that you can't wipe out ) but I love the ability to save patches.

[Sharmaji]

you can get a novation bass station for mad cheap. not the sexiest of synths (and, truth be told, not a ton of bass), but a great cheap entry into all of this.

i sold mine years ago, though-- just wasn't gettin me as hot and heavy as others had.

do love my microkorg, tho.

[nowaysj]

Okay, some samples from three synths, 2 vst's and 1 digi hardware. I think the biggest difference you will find between these is how the envelopes and filters sound.

This sample uses 3 notes from the first synth, with a one beat rest, three notes from the second, with a one beat rest, and three notes from the third, then a rest. This is then repeated 3 more times up the keyboard.

Can you guess the digi hardware?

Soundcloud

The original is dl'able, it's a 24 bit wave.

[jsills]

i have a Korg R3 and a Mopho both around 400 or so. microkorg is dope too but the thing is a bitch to program, for me anyway. def a huge plus to be able to reprogram the thing and turn it on with all your patches ready to go. reminds me i should probably be using them more

edit: i will say that the R3 doesnt stay synced very well. also the internal bpm is a little squirely and a lot of the stock sounds are wack as fuck. the microkorg has much better presets imo.

[nowaysj]

Hadn't ever heard of the r3

In researching it, I found pure gold...

Soundcloud

[contakt321]

Okay, some samples from three synths, 2 vst's and 1 digi hardware. I think the biggest difference you will find between these is how the envelopes and filters sound.

This sample uses 3 notes from the first synth, with a one beat rest, three notes from the second, with a one beat rest, and three notes from the third, then a rest. This is then repeated 3 more times up the keyboard.

Can you guess the digi hardware?

Soundcloud

The original is dl'able, it's a 24 bit wave.

Can you start a new thread for this? This will be fun.

Lets do a poll, etc, set a deadline and then reveal to us.

[nowaysj]

Sure thing boss!

[nowaysj]

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

This virus b just sold for $405. UNBELIEVABLE. I paid over a grand for mine back in the day. Maybe another argument against buying digi hardware, no price retention?

[jobbanaught]

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

This virus b just sold for $405. UNBELIEVABLE. I paid over a grand for mine back in the day. Maybe another argument against buying digi hardware, no price retention?

True, if youre planning on reselling stuff later go for something analog (the more vintage, the better). Or top notch digital synths like the virus TI or a machinedrum. I bought both of those from ebay and sold them one or two years later, same price. Nice way of just trying out stuff And the analog synths I own (Waldorf Pulse, Waldorf Microwave, Cheetah MS6) go for at least double the money I paid for them five years ago...

[nowaysj]

My virus b was the TI of it's day (9 years ago), and it is now less than half the price

[partition]

Thanks for all the helpful advice.

I was looking at the Dave smith Morpho. Any good?

The whole reason why I'm looking at hardware is because I hate fiddling with controls with my mouse.

[hovatron]

Mopho sounds great

pros:
TINY!
analog
midi
you can do in-depth editing on your computer
cheap!

cons:
only four knobs so for hands-on and live it's tight, but for in depth sound-design, you'll be at your computer, which you might not want.
ugly as sin.