Consequences Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 SO I am after a synth. I have never used one. I will go and say other than audacity I have never produced before. I really just want something I can tweak to make little tunes or samples out of, then be able to record them to the PC somehow. I have some requirements though 1. I want a new one. Made for sale in 2015/6. I always used to buy old stuff and it always came broken. 2. I need it to last me a while, so nothing too limiting. 3. I don't have a DAW so I need something that will work with freeware. USB preferably. 4. I want something I can put on a table. My posture is terrible and when I meditate I can't breathe properly it will be nice to have an excuse to sit with my back straight for a few hours. I am thinking...Roland JD-XI ?? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koolkeyZ865 Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 What is your price range? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudenorth Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 My first was a DSI mopho module. I learned a ton about subtractive synthesis on it. It can be had with or without a keyboard. One of the newer moogs would probably suit you and last you for a long time to come (sub 37). I would not recommend the JD-Xi. I'd rather use an old casio or yamaha PSS. The Yamaha CS Reface might suit you well and its polyphonic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
futureimage Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 Novation Bass Station II. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TubularCorporation Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 3. I don't have a DAW so I need something that will work with freeware. USB preferably. Download Reaper right away! You won't regret it. Not freeware but the only limitation on the demo is a nag screen, other than that it's identical to the full version. http://reaper.fm/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaggerMcGuirk Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 My first was a DSI mopho module. I learned a ton about subtractive synthesis on it. It can be had with or without a keyboard. Same here. You really need to use the controller app to get the most out of it, but it's a perfect jumping off point, and pretty cost effective. I'd probably also recommend the Korg Volca line. They sound pretty good, and don't cost very much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QQQ Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 price range makes a big difference here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silent Member Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 The korg minilogue seems like a very good and reasonably priced starter synth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grain Bastard Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 Moog Mother32 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Toffer Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 Vouch for the BS2. Start with basic synths Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koolkeyZ865 Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 Vouch for the BS2. Start with basic synths This. Please, don't do what I did. Don't start off with an MC-303 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 I'm looking into getting a cheap'ish synth source myself, and am looking at the microkorg's, korg r3's & alesis micron going around 200,- euro's second hand here. Anyone here familiar with the micron? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Chesney Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 All sound great and are very capable synths but unless you are good with subtractive synthesis already and can easily work out abbreviations on small displays then they are not that intuitive. Sure, anyone can learn on these but most just end up slightly tweaking presets and off you go. I'd recommend something less menu driven and more hands on. Or middle ground would be a Blofeld. Easy matrix system and the graphical display will teach you more than you think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweepstakes Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 The micron sounds pretty good but it's a bitch to edit. Too much packed in that little thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweepstakes Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 BS2, minilogue, mopho, and blofeld all seem like great choices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purlieu Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 Yeah I'd agree with not starting with something packed with menus. I have a MicroKorg XL and it makes some great sounds but I do tend to edit presets rather than starting from scratch as I don't actually enjoy staring at numbers on a screen that much. In comparison, I also have the Volcas and they're great fun as they're completely hands on. The analogue ones are certainly limited but can still come up with a fair range of sounds and being able to associate differences in sound with tweaking actual knobs means I'm learning far more directly from them... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grain Bastard Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 BS2, minilogue, mopho, and blofeld all seem like great choices. .....and the Moog Mother32 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Chesney Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 There are actually loads of really good options out there but it does depends on what the user wants from it and mainly... Budget. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweepstakes Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 Yup. The ones I echoed are all around the $500 mark - budget but not so budget that you start making the kinds of compromises that defeat the purpose of hardware. Any lower than that, you should just get used gear, or a volca or two if you don't mind the limitations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 I'd recommend something less menu driven and more hands on. The micron sounds pretty good but it's a bitch to edit. The internet says there are software editors for it, kind of defeats the purpose of hardware maybe :) , but I won't mind spending time creating a tool front end for it in Renoise's guru tool ( https://www.renoise.com/tools/guru). guru examples; Then midi map most parameters to a bcr2000 midi controller for hands on control. If I had more money to spend, I'd look for the more knobby synths. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Chesney Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 Yeah, a digital synth with an editor is kind of redundant really. You might as well get a good softsynth. Hardware is alot about interface and hands on fun. And of course, they all do sound different. If I went back in time i'd have loved to have learned on a CS5 or similar. Sh09, MS20 etc are going to be real fun and are never limited as every sound and between is usable. Timeless waveforms and filter combos will never go out of favour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kausto Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 I'd rather recommend nord rack 2. A swiss army knife of synths. They have to be pretty cheap now. Anyways they worth every penny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweepstakes Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 I'd rather recommend nord rack 2. A swiss army knife of synths. They have to be pretty cheap now. Anyways they worth every penny.Best answer so far. But it's definitely not new... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auxien Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 Yeah, a digital synth with an editor is kind of redundant really. You might as well get a good softsynth. Hardware is alot about interface and hands on fun. And of course, they all do sound different. If I went back in time i'd have loved to have learned on a CS5 or similar. Sh09, MS20 etc are going to be real fun and are never limited as every sound and between is usable. Timeless waveforms and filter combos will never go out of favour. Usually I'm sure this is the case, but with the Micron, I'd say it's likely the opposite for many owners. I know for me and at least some others, the menu diving is ridiculous and never gets much better. I bought it because price + sounds possible were a great deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Channel Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 I second the recommendations for Minilogue and the Volca stuff. Arturia Microbrute or Minibrute might be worth considering as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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