I've decided to save up over the next year and buy myself a seriously nice synth. This gives me plenty of time to um and ah about exactly what I want.
The Voyager is a contender from sheer beauty and sound quality. But I'm torn as to whether a modular would be better for what I want to achieve.
Here's something I've already posted in another thread, I thought I'd be better re-posting it and starting the debate as a standalone:
Someone on that thread has already helpfully replied saying they think a modular is the way to go for me, and I can see why. When I'm talking about versatility, clearly comparing voyager to a true modular is like saying 'which is bigger, an elephant or infinity?' - but maybe sometimes an elephant is enough?I am not, primarily, a keyboard, player - I'm okay for what I want to do, but I'm reliant on editing after the fact to get my performances perfect. I see myself using a DAW to send midi to the Voyager and then recording final outputs with my hands flying from knob to knob. Knobs are very important to me after years of software synthesis. (fwiw - please don't recommend I consider the RME, for various reasons I've already decided against that)
So basically I'm more of a 'sound designer'. I'm interested in creating quite rhythmic, modulated, evolving sounds. The 'classic moog'/phat bass etc. isn't really a concern for me. I'm more interested in a range of sounds, harsh metallic noise, soft siney type eerie sounds, bell-like sounds, Radiophonic Workshop style bloops and bleeps. Basically I want versatility, and the chance to just muck about and be pleasantly surprised.
To get this I figure the expansion box is going to be a no-brainer, and there'll be plenty of scope to shell out on moogerfoogers and more over the years. So...
What I'm wondering is whether I might be better going for a pure modular system? Mix and match modules more? Is the Voyager too wedded to classic 'moogy' sounds? Or could you get sounds from it which don't have an obvious origin?
The sound samples I've heard hint at this - and the sounds in themselves are great. But the only truly convincing example of what exactly I'd be going for comes from the very short official moog video of someone testing out the Voyager XL patching.
Interested in any thoughts/ examples of people using Voyagers to do the sort of thing I'm after. Also any thoughts on how easy it would be to, for example, patch in a eurorack module to work with the Voyager?
There are things about the Voyager that appeal in terms of workflow, not least preset saving, the touch pad, portability, ease of processing external audio. And the fact that most modular sound demos just don't sound as warm and lush.
What I'd really like is to hear some examples of people really using the Voyager in a 'modular way'. I know it can sound like a Moog - it wouldn't sell many if it didn't! But can it only sound like a Moog?
I can see the case for the prosecution - the Voyager is not infinitely reconfigurable. But I want the case for the defence, imagine I'd come on here hating on the Voyager and saying it was limited. What would you produce to change my mind?
Look forward to hearing your opinions and your music!