I really wanted an Voyager but didn’t have the money so got an LP.
Now I know I MUST get a voyager. but the question is: does it matter which one?
I’ve been thinking about getting a RME and controlling it with my LP, but I’m reluctant as if there is something holding me back.
Have you ever wished you had just bought a Voyager keyboard?
I’m wondering if The RME is a little excessive with the LP, like I’ll just end up selling the LP. Or maybe they are two different machines and I’ll love both???
Please help me make a decision. I’m about ready for the purchase
If you have an LP and you want a Voyager, you might be further ahead getting an RME. You can get duophony out of them.
I have a Voyager Select. If you get the RME you won’t want to sell your Phatty. You could just get a Midi Controller if you wanted to play them seperately.
It all depends on if you are really satisfied with the keyboard length of the Phatty.
But if you want an extended keyboard and a touch surface, you should look into a Voyager.
Then if you wanted, you could get a dotcom keyboard controller, and control both seperately. (could do this with either version of the Voyager)
NovaMusik.com can get you a swell deal on a Voyager! I got my Select for 2999 WITH a Vx351.
Eric, agreed.
The keyed version has the oh-so-cool touch pad, and the whole package (especially with the optional backlighting) simply exudes quality. That, and I’ve just never been a RME guy. I would think the keyboard version would also hold it’s value a little better as well.
I also agree about Nova Musik - a very cool group of knowledgable folks who have an awesome inventory. Their exclusive version of the Voyager, the NE Edition, is stunning - it has a whitewash cab, with various lighting options, each with it’s own unique color-keyed compliment of panel switches & jack collars.
Unless Moog announces a new poly (one different enough from my Prophet '08 to warrant it’s purchase), the Nova NE Voyager will be my next board - I just need to decide between the solar or indigo versions.
why pay an extra grand for an extra octave and touch screen?
touch screen’s cool but only for preformance and I want one for studio and sound design so mabye the RME
superd2112- you mentioned backlighting doesn’t the RME have that too?
then a gain the indigo looks sooooooooooooo good!
I’m wondering if there is any hidden reasons to buy the Voyage Keyboard, like extra features, not obvious to people who don’t know all the technical stuff
If you are really into sound design and intend to get the expander(s), you should consider the RME. As keyboardists, we all complain about the inconvenience of the inputs and outputs on the Moogerfoogers (except for the CP-251). The same may be said for the inputs on the keyboard version of the Voyager.
I have the RME in a rack, and beneath it the VX-351 and 352, and right under that one a CP-251. This arrangement makes it very easy to plug in and remove the cables.
Think about it this way: If PLAYING the instrument is 99% of the fun, get the keyboard version. If also sculpting the sound with cables, foogers, knobs and pedals is an important factor for you, consider the RME. As the heart of a semi-modular system, modest or big, it’s a great instrument.
And as I see it, in contrast to pianos, organs etc., which have more or less fixed sounds, one of the main points of analog synthesizers is the ability to sculpt the sound in any direction you wish to. And this is actually easier done on the RME than on the keyboard versions - due to the placement of the VX-352 inputs in a rack, side by side with the 351.
I miss the touchscreen, but except for that, I have never regretted that I chose the RME.
Its only a few hundred dollars more, definately worth it because not only are you getting pretty much the best synth keybed (fatar) you are getting the touchpad AND the voltage inputs that the RME lacks.
With an RME you have what is pretty much just a Midi controlled synth. In order to approach being equal to the Key version, you need to get the Vx352 (for voltage inputs). If you decide to opt for the Vx351 (voltage outputs) it is going to be partially functionless. There will be no touchpad voltage outputs and I don’t think there is going to be any keyboard outputs as well (aftertouch, Pitch, Gate and Velocity).
WHen I got my first Voyager They were listing for 2695. Then about a year later you would see them selling at their lowest price for 2795 (but most dealers included a free case (100 dollar value). This was for the performer edition.
Now you should be able to get a performer edition for 2695 and I believe that the dealer will still likely make 800 dollars off of your sale.
I think you could talk Nova down to 1995 for a RME but I can’t be sure about that. Its only about a 500 dollar difference.
The Voyager Keyboard is actually worth it.
Nova DID have a whitewash Old School for 1800 closeout price. I think its gone now.
Correction: right now I control pitch BEND with aftertouch. (two semitones down, providing a certain “indian” style if you play it correctly - fast pressure, and then up).
KBD “press” from VX-351 outputs to OSC pitch input on VX-352 (via attenuator).
Right now I use an M-Audio Axiom 49 (sometimes also a Haken Continuum as a ribbon controller). I have considered the dotcom keyboard controller, but it looks like it doesn’t have aftertouch.
So let me get this straight;
The voyager basically comes with a Vx352 built in?
and withe the RME I’d need to buy both, but the Vx351 is practically useless.
Here’s what I got so far:
If I mainly sculpt sound and when I do “Play” I route my audio through a sequencer via midi then pick the RME. (minus some features which could be BIG!)
but If I want to play keyboard-no question get the keyboard
Why is the Voyager only have some of the parts(, i.e, whats with all the add on like CV’s, 'foogers, and Vx’s?) I know they’re not mandatory, but part of the fun with buying an expensive synth is because of the possibilities. I feel like I’ve started something I cant stop until I have all the parts to the puzzle.
And on the RME thread currently beneath this one, “polyslax” said:
“someone with an RME will have to confirm that a midi keyboard controller w/pitch and mod wheels generates CV at the VX-351 for keyboard pitch, gate, pitch bend and mod wheels…”
Besides the pressure/pitch connection I mentioned above, I currently also have connected a cable from WHEELS MOD output on the 351 to the MOD1 input on the 352, and finally one from PEDALS MOD1 output on 251 to S&H input on 352. Works perfectly when I turn the modwheel on my MIDI controller.
Shark,
Unless you want to do voltage processing like if you have Foogers or something and you want to control the RME or something else VIA Voltages, then you need the Vx352.
I was answeing your question that “Basically you spend a grand for an extended keyboard”.
But if you DID want to get some Foogers to go with your RME then you would need either voltage box to utilize the voltages unless you wanted to stay strictly in the audio chain.
Paul answered your questions, you do get a keyboard out and things of that nature from your Midi keyboard controller, but you still won’t get to use the touchpad outputs.
Yes, the Voyager keyboard basically comes with the 352 built in - except with the RME VX-352 expander I think you actually get an additional attenuator or mult (can’t remember exactly, but this has been discussed somewhere else on the forum).
The VX 351 is NOT practically useless for the RME; the ONLY thing not working is the x-y-a-gate touchscreen outputs.
For me playing is extremely important, but so is sculpting with this kind of machine. If play/sculpt is around 50/50 in importance, I would at least consider the RME - price aside. I usually just connect MIDI out from a MIDI controller keyboard to the MIDI in on the RME, and then audio out to a mixer.
I f playing is very important and you pick the RME, it would of course also be important to have a good MIDI controller keyboard. I would suggest something like Novation Remote SL 49 or 61.
And yes this is expandable with foogers and the MP-201 multi controller. My simple point is that if you patch a lot between inputs and outputs and foogers, doing so with an RME is actually a bit easier than with the keyboard version.
It’s not such a huge deal - but I think it’s worth considering this option (regardless of the price considerations).
Re. MIDI keyboard: Sorry, I forgot that you said you have the Little Phatty.
The disadvantage of the LP keyboard is that it doesn’t have aftertouch (I think). The huge advantage, however, is that you would also have a duo-phonic synth.
What kind of stuff happens when I “experiment w/voltages”
my ideal situation is to get something so powerful that I struggle to get my brain around it, taking me years to figure out. Like a puzzle.
Getting in to synthesis has had this puzzle effect.
Now that I’ve learned the LP the Voyager will make more scince, but now I’m finding out about all these add ons…Will it ever end?
I have the RME and a LP, and I absolutely love the combination.. The LP is setup in such a way that it really is easy to control the Voyager with.. it’s pretty much plug and play.. you can just hook it up to midi, and everything works. mod/pitch/octave control etc. It’s great.
And imo, the RME and LP really are 2 different machines with 2 different sounds. If your more interested in designing sounds, in creating your own, unique sounds.. I think it’s great to have them both, as both bring something different to the table for sounscapes etc.
Consider the price difference or the RME too… I’m not sure if your looking to buy used or new… but I got mine from a friend who kept it in great condition for 1600$ … since then I’ve even seen it online for 1300$ in US ebay. There are definately deals out there for the RME’s. Not many people are willing to sell a full keyboard version of the Voyager for that little, and mostly your gonna pay more than double than that for one.
I just figure with what I saved, I could buy another synth. A SEM perhaps.
Whatever you do, your gonna end up with a Voyager, which is awesome. So goodluck!
I first bought an RME, but was disappointed with I realized it didn’t have the touch controller surface (fine, I didn’t do my due diligence. ). While you can get inputs for an external surface via the VX352, it’s not the same. I would highly recommend you spend the extra and get the keyboard. I finally broke down and have one of each now, which is also very cool.
You can get duophony using the LP and either the RME or keyboard, too.
The LP and RME are two different machines, however, you can probably do anything the LP does on the Voyager, but not vice-versa.
). While you can get inputs for an external surface via the VX352, it’s not the same. I would highly recommend you spend the extra and get the keyboard. I finally broke down and have one of each now, which is also very cool.