MacAquinas wrote:MC wrote:I've been tweaking my own sounds on analog polys for thirty years ...
Which ones have you used and which did you like the sound of the most?
My first analog poly was a Polymoog I bought in 1985. Eight presets, no programmability. I probably still use three presets, doesn't get much use these days.
Owned a Memorymoog Plus since 1986. I really learned analog synthesis on this thing and have gotten a LOT of mileage out of it. The voice modulation is the key to unlocking what this thing can do.
Used to own an Oberheim Matrix-6R. When the Memorymoog was sick, this filled in. Sold it because the interface made it too hard to tweak and while it's a good sounding poly it was too sterile. The VCAs don't impart overdrive like the vintage stuff does.
Alesis Andromeda, beta unit I used for sound design in 2001. I use my own patches, very seldom use the factory sounds. I love the extensive modulation options, I can get sounds out of this that one would least expect from an analog synth (I programmed the factory piano sound that surprised many people).
Bought a dead Oberheim OB-SX in 2009 and restored it. Preset only with limited tweakability but creamy sounding poly.
Bought a dead Oberheim OB-X in 2010 and restored it. Limited modulation options but the cream that oozes from this thing is just sick. Nothing does brassy sounds better than this.
My favorites are the Memorymoog and OB-X. The former sounds brawny, the latter sounds creamy. They co-exist very well. The Andromeda is my "chameleon" poly, I have emulated sounds from my Memorymoog, Oberheims, and it can pull off a decent CS-80 too.
The interface makes a big difference for tweaking sounds. The single data wheel or +/- button interfaces are too awkward. A panel full of knobs and switches is my preference.
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