Well, I’m amazed at how you guys talk so “technical” all the time. it is so confusing. I’m just getting started with my synths, and i feel like a fool, as if i will never progress or something. My Voyager has barely got out of neutral.
No matter what stuff i read, i still can’t understand wha tdoes what, although i’ve learnt a little about the ADSR envelope, and the modulation and LFO.
As for the disgrace, you really don’t want to see how i’ve got it all set up. Don’t go to my site, or else you’ll see just how bad it is.
You MUST stop thinking in terms of “right” and “wrong” and of “good” and “bad”. Don’t you have anyone to hang out with in person that likes synths? A friend just told me that all synth/electronic duos have this split between one guy who does all the tech/programing and the other does the arangements. From Suicide to Soft Cell all the way to Auchtec(spell) and other IDM groups.
Are you just trying to get people to go to your website or something?
I really have no other friends to help me out. I know this musician, who used to own a Korg, but he reall yknows nothing about synths, and said he wish he could help me, but he can’t. Are there any books out there specific to thr Minimoog voyager?
What a drag not to have anyone to hang with and geek out talking about synths. You must be able to meet new people who you have some sort connection with in Britain. How about meeting someone at a show? I’ve always seen that sort of thing work. I mean, if you and someone you’re about to meet find each other at a show for a band you already have a mutual affection for. That says ALOT. Dance clubs same thing.
By the way what sort of thing would you want to do? I may be able to direct you to some cool people I’ve heard of in Brighton. They may be a bit “Indy” but that goes beyond that twee, and lo-fi styles.
So find out for yourself! Don’t whine about it. Balls, man, I managed to learn synthesis, and I grew up in the middle of nowhere. Hometown population: 1200. Yes, twelve hundred. And this before the internet, and with only 5 channels that’d come in on TV.
A grand total of zero people besides myself even knew what a synthesizer was. (“That’s like an electric piano, right? So how come you can only play a few notes if it’s so much better than a piano?”)
Are there any books out there specific to thr Minimoog voyager?
Yes there are, and you got suggestions.
If I had a credit card, I would think about buying them.
So why did you ask for suggestions?
Is there no library somewhere near you? Can you get there? (For me, it was an hour’s drive away.)
Really, there’s no excuse for not learning all you can. You just need to look. Have some initiative. Did you really save up to buy a Voyager, while all the while having no clue what it is or how to use it?
You’ve chosen an Aston Martin for your first car to learn to drive with. I’m not sure it’s the best choice for somebody just starting to drive. Nevertheless, you’ve got one. I’m am sure that the information about it is readily available. Look for “Keyboard Basics” then “Keyboard Technique” published by Hal Leonard. They’re quite old, but so is the theory behind most of the Voyager.
RE: “You have failed to appreciate how crap this country is for synth enthusuasts.”
Surely, you can’t be serious! Duran Duran… Pet Shop Boys… Fat Boy Slim… Gary Numan… OMD… Chemical Brothers… Depeche Mode – just for starters!
And that’s not including the fact that Techno/Trance/House etc. is much bigger in your country than in the States. I regularly buy cd’s from Ministry of Sound too – my first choice in purchasing Techno/Dance (and everything in between) music.
I don’t live there, but I sure would love to visit! So much in the way of electronic music has come from your Country, that, I’m totally shocked that you so easily dismiss it all as insignificant! No way! You’re not from Afghanistan… Well, I assume anyway…
I will say that I’m new to actually using synths as well. I think another individual suggested learning on a Roland SH-101 and then transporting what you learn on that simpler synth to your Voyager.
I second that motion. So much so that that is exactly what I’m doing. Surely, if you can afford to spend $3500.00 (US) on a Voyager, you can afford $300 – $500 (generally) for a SH-101. Check eBay. While you’re at it, throw in a book from Wizoo while on you’re shopping spree (as previously suggested).
My experience is that I had to finally just quit talking about it and just do it. I’m finally learning something too (imagine that) – and it’s really coming pretty easily and quickly.
Maybe you’ll hear my music in the club or radio someday! Well, it doesn’t hurt to dream, I guess…
I meant I have no friends to help me out with the synth.
But anyway, I was giving someone a demonstration on msn last night. I plugged the Voyager into the microphone input, and started a “voice conversation”.
He was impressed. And he is a really tough guy to please.
In reference to the statement that he may have bought an Aston Martin and not no how to drive, I’ll accept. However, I disagree that the Voyager is not a good starting synth. In fact I’d say it’s an excellent starting synth- albeit an expensive one. The panel is very clearly laid out and there are no deep menu scrolling to go through like many VA’s.
This seems to be a Kindergarden!
Sorry to see that a forum, where we should talk about new MMV - Technics, new OS’s and sounds, is used as a chatroom for lonley people.
There enough other resources on the web to do that!
Also i agree that MMV is maybe not the best starter to learn about synth an settings, a big modular should do it better…
Stefan
i agree with everything you said. i know about moogs, but since they pretty much all have the same innards, i mean for the most part. like filters oscillators, envelopes, etc. you wont be learning all that much because theres a whole world out there past moogs and moog clones
sequencers, boolean logic, reverbs, and delays, clones, or even transient generators, comparators, stuff i dont really know about. moogs except for the modulars are meant mostly as musical instruments. where as modular setups uses arent as clear. if you could get your hands on one of these you would learn a whole lot, like signal routing and stuff like that
For me the Voyager allows the exploration of ‘modular-type’ routing options without the expense of owning and running a ‘modular’.
There are arguments for, and against, suggesting that a modular should be ones first ‘synth’, I think.
From my point of view, it is all about learning what each basic component does to a sound, and I believe this can be better learnt from an original Minimoog rather than a modular (unless, like me, you had to go the old Roland/ARP "black-box’ science lab route).
The Voyager takes things more into ‘modular-land’ by providing more freedom of control routings. However, unless you appreciate the “basics” you’ve still got a “modular-esque” learning curve to go through when using the Voyager in order to get the best out of it (and it’s latest OS).
