1 (edited by score100 2009-05-09 13:20:55)

Topic: Getting my first synth - recommendations

Hi guys,
I'm at the point where I'm starting to get tired of sending midi commands to my vsti's and wanna work with a real instrument.  I don't have the money yet (starting to save up), but I'm thinking like max 450 euros.
Now to my speficitations

- i'd like to have a more vintage sounding synth, raw output that doesn't soubnd fuzzy or filtered, i think you guys know what I mean
- I wanna have all the controls for it onboard, for every single function one knob. I don't see the point in buying an analogue synth when i have to use (again) some internal computer to select which parameter I want to adjust. That means of course also I want keys, not a rack wink
- I want a really simple interface, no extra matrix super whatever filters/sequencer high-tech shit. As simple as the minimoog or ms10, any more options is a waste of time to me.
- A vocoder would be a nice extra

EDIT: And I don't care about having MIDI or not!

My selections so far:

Korg MS2000
http://www.keyboardmuseum.com/pic/k/korg/m/MS2000.gif

+has vocoder, is not too old so probably in good shape when I get one
- has more options than I need, sound is kinda vintage and cool but I think it could be better. haven't tried it yet though.

Juno 60 or 106 ( I can't really tell the difference between the two...)
http://www.rolandtaiwan.com.tw/roland/images/Image/L_ill/j/juno-60.jpg
+ dope 80s sound, simple interface

Roland sh101
http://www.xs4all.nl/~awolfe/sh101.jpg

+simple interface too, well and reviewers say its still great smile
- monophonic

Or are there more synths that fit to my given conditions? I'm not really an expert on (vintage)synths so feel free to flame! big_smile
Would be great if some people here have experience with the named gear and some advice.
Cheers yo

2 (edited by Freek 2009-05-08 18:51:12)

Re: Getting my first synth - recommendations

go sh101!

its simple, sounds great, basic and versatile.. also good for playing live and the trigger-sequencer can be really fun. even got 'slides' and 'rest' function.

TB or not TB

Re: Getting my first synth - recommendations

I would go SH101 or Juno 60 personally but neither has MIDI. Having a mostly MIDI setup and wanting a vocoder you should probably go with the MS2000 to start and a vintage analog after although the MS2000 won't sound much better than your VSTIs so maybe you could go with something vintage. I'd lean towards the SH101. I love the engine. I was just playing with my 202 last night again and it's ridiculous how amazing those little plastic boxes sound.

Re: Getting my first synth - recommendations

polysynth is generally best for first synth, imo, but it somewhat depends on what kind of music you are making.
juno 60 or 106 is good (106 has midi but also a nasty voice chip problem, i'd steer towards the 60 which sounds a bit better and has a arpeggiator w/ trigger input), korg polysix, or jx3p w/ pg200 (super underrated synth for the price, has midi + trigger input on a polyphonic sequencer)...
101 is of course great...
not a huge fan of any of the VA synths, but could be fun if you get one for super cheap or something..

Re: Getting my first synth - recommendations

repeat:

I'd go for a 101. you really can't go wrong with one of those. nevermind midi, that shit is terribly overrated. you can just sample/record it into the computer or whatever. it has a built in sequencer and arpeggio which makes it a lot of fun to play, even if you say you don't need that wink
if you really can't let go of mother midi there are little boxes that will fix that for you.

otherwise a juno is nice. although i'd stay away from the 106, apart from the broken voice chip problem I've encountered a few with buzzy outputs.

I don't know if an MS-10 is really that simple... it's part modular. although you would probably enjoy that after a few months.

and ofcourse you want "super whatever filters".. those are what makes a synth great smile

Re: Getting my first synth - recommendations

I hardly use any midi recently...only for vsti's, but I tend to record everything live recently.
I like the sh101's sound from what i hear on youtube, but the lack of polyphony makes me unshure. The reason why I want to go polyphone is that I'm a learned piano player, and I tend to use a lot of three- and/or fourtones for melodies.
and the juno 60 has also more keys...:)

7 (edited by SOS 2009-05-08 20:52:08)

Re: Getting my first synth - recommendations

if you want something to play as a full piano, definitely do not get a 101 (or any monosynth)as your first purchase (although you will almost definitely want one as your second or third synth smile ).
juno 60, poly6, jx3p (with programmer), or maybe prophet 600 are your best bets.

Re: Getting my first synth - recommendations

youre asking for a pretty rare thing: an analogue polysynth with full midi (you want to control those vsti's right?) with an analogue interface. not many of those around.. most synths with analogue interfaces will have stupidly simple midi at best: no velocity, only midi omni mode, etc. this includes the jx3p.

only ones i can think of would be the juno 106 or an alpha juno 2 with pg300 programmer..

Re: Getting my first synth - recommendations

hmm I don't see score100 asking for full midi or even midi at all`?

just get that juno-60. I think it will suit you just fine.

Re: Getting my first synth - recommendations

rude66 wrote:

youre asking for a pretty rare thing: an analogue polysynth with full midi (you want to control those vsti's right?) with an analogue interface. not many of those around.. most synths with analogue interfaces will have stupidly simple midi at best: no velocity, only midi omni mode, etc. this includes the jx3p.

only ones i can think of would be the juno 106 or an alpha juno 2 with pg300 programmer..

as olof said already: I don't really care too much about midi. I just use a midicontroler to control vsti's still because its the best alternative to having a real synth, but I record only audio, and I want a synth so that I DON'T have to play vst's again, only as an alternative. smile

Re: Getting my first synth - recommendations

Did you look at those Alesis Ion's (sorry it's not on your list)? It's VA but it sounds really nice (don't judge it by the presets...). Every function has a button or knob, has a vocoder, pretty advanced midi (knobs can send cc or nrpn), 4 parts multitimbral...
It's the first synth i bought and i'm still happy with it. If you want to use it 'basic' it can do that, but later on you can get deeper into the functions and you can do stuff with it that's pretty advanced. You can get them second hand for around 450. Just saying...

Re: Getting my first synth - recommendations

I would go the Juno60 from the 3 you mention. Korg PolySix is also ace, and there is a good midi kit available for it. Just be careful with leaking batteries on that one.

13

Re: Getting my first synth - recommendations

i had a micron at one point and was NOT pleased with the sound. thin, plasticky, and overly busy. not to mention a chore to program (the ion at least partially sorts that prob out, i know). i considerably prefer the nord sounds and interface as far as VA goes.

Re: Getting my first synth - recommendations

get an eps16+ keyboard

Showing the way for the modern man to become a Model Man.

Re: Getting my first synth - recommendations

rude66 wrote:

only ones i can think of would be the juno 106 or an alpha juno 2 with pg300 programmer..

Akai AX60. It's even bitimbral.

But don't get scared by interfaces, synths like the JX8p, Akai AX80 or Crumar Bit99 and the likes are extremely easy to edit, even without a programmer. I can understand why people don't want them (no way to tweak the cutoff and resonance at the same time, for instance) but they are not difficult to program.

16 (edited by olivier8 2009-05-09 18:14:16)

Re: Getting my first synth - recommendations

as a first synth, i recommend a 101, great for learning how analogs work, & useable either in midi (via a CV converter)  or just sync mode with the onboard sequencer (best of both worlds)
& a poly 800 (you can easily do the filter Hack) or maybe a DX21 if you prefer FM sounds (stackable) both of these are usually cheap and are cool (IMO)

edit/ if you like to play piano style you will enjoy having two keybards, one w/ a bass sound & the other one more pad/leads orientated

Re: Getting my first synth - recommendations

the jx3p might be interesting too...what is it with that programmer? is that essential to have? bcause it costs actually as much as the synth itself hmm

Re: Getting my first synth - recommendations

I would say

Alpha Juno
Jx3p
Crumar Bit xx

These are the most bang for te buck.

i don't need the gear, the gear needs me 
http://www.mono-poly.nl/

Re: Getting my first synth - recommendations

score100 wrote:

the jx3p might be interesting too...what is it with that programmer? is that essential to have? bcause it costs actually as much as the synth itself hmm

well it's double the fun.. especially if you want creating your own sounds in a more intuitive way or tweak parameters live.
without it you have to select a parameter and use the single slider to change sound..

Re: Getting my first synth - recommendations

my first and still only hardware synth is the alpha juno 2.
It's quite cheap over here (about 160

Re: Getting my first synth - recommendations

Does that MS2000 have a sequencer on board? Like those step things?

22 (edited by automatique 2009-05-12 18:18:28)

Re: Getting my first synth - recommendations

yes it's similar to the microkorg, but with little more functions as far as i remember. (16 instead of 8 steps as you see on the pic) microkorg is a stripped-down ms2000 imo.

Re: Getting my first synth - recommendations

automatique wrote:

yes it's similar to the microkorg, but with little more functions as far as i remember. (16 instead of 8 steps as you see on the pic) microkorg is a stripped-down ms2000 imo.

yeah kinda, but i just don't wanna buy a microkorg simply because its more of a preset-machine for me. Its called synthesizer because you can synthesize your own sounds, not because its a versatile piano where you can also adjust the sound in some way. For me its just too "indirect", thats why i think the ms2000 is a better alternative for 100 euro more.

Re: Getting my first synth - recommendations

microkorg is pretty nice ... but if you want to have most functions on a knob then MS2000 is good (although there are a few sub-menus). I like Microkorg though.

Re: Getting my first synth - recommendations

I agree with Marco. The MicroKorg is nice. Definitely not a preset machine. Actually the random function in the editor yields crazy results. In fact it only has a few features less than the MS2000, but I don't think it would be right for you simply because of my biggest problem..... Tiny keys are horrible. I actually use a midi controller to control mine at this point because of that. As  far as a VA goes it's pretty sweet. Just missing a few knobs and real keys.