Need help on finding a new synth to keep my Moog warm.

Tips and techniques for Minimoog Analog Synthesizers
StefanH
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Post by StefanH » Wed Jul 13, 2005 5:59 am

The NL isn't a bad choice at all!
At least, it only depence of the music you want to make, that's how we all make the choice of our instrruments.
The NL is always easy to mix inside a production, because it is somehow transparent....
I know, we people here in the forum are almost analog - fans, but there are some other fantastic instruments as well (elektron, clavia, waldorf, etc...), which i never want to miss in my setup.
i also own a evolver and the evolver-rack (so, 5 voices), which is also one of my fav. But i can't compare it to the clavia's, evo is realy something special.

tunedLow
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Post by tunedLow » Wed Jul 13, 2005 11:33 pm

Thanks again. I have to say, after listening to a bunch of Polyevolver samples, the thing is nice. But here's my question - how is it for plain sounds? All of the examples are pretty tripped out. Any organ-like sounds?

The stuff I hear it doing is a big attraction, but I need vanilla as well.

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Post by Boeing 737-400 » Thu Jul 14, 2005 12:31 am

The Prophet-5 will keep your Voyager warm, both with the sound and the heatsink!

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GregAE
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Post by GregAE » Thu Jul 14, 2005 9:56 am

<< after listening to a bunch of Polyevolver samples, the thing is nice. But here's my question - how is it for plain sounds? All of the examples are pretty tripped out. Any organ-like sounds? >>

The PolyEvolver is a subtractive synth based on two analog and two digital oscillators - it will do all of the 'standard' tricks any other subtractive synth will do and then some. It's a four-voice synth (rack and keyboard versions available) that uses Curtis filter chips, so it will tend to have a sound like a Rev 3 Prophet 5 (Rev 1 and 2 used chips from SSM, resulting in a different sound). The PolyEvolver has a few unique features that can make it sound VERY tripped out, but only if you want it to sound that way. Like every other synth out there, it depends on how you program it.

tunedLow
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Post by tunedLow » Thu Jul 14, 2005 3:19 pm

Yeah, I figured that if this guy did the Prophet, they must be in there. I'm sold on this synth. I'll post some samples comparing the Voyager when I get it.

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Post by Boeing 737-400 » Fri Jul 15, 2005 2:43 am

I too am after a PolyEvolver Keyboard. The problem is that I want to try the synth out before buying. I don't think anyone in the UK has one for demonstration. I've been going over the instruction manual for it to try and find out a bit more.

pelican1
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Post by pelican1 » Fri Jul 15, 2005 7:50 am

I have to admit the manual is kind of bland for the PEK. Mostly it's just generic descriptions and midi tables.

It's sound to me is lush(wild or vanilla patches), but it is unique sounding. Meaning I like it: you may not. It's fun to play, program, and sequence. If you are one who does like the overall sound pallette then you will be in heaven for a while.

I definitely think everyone should check a synth out in person before buying (in this price range).

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GregAE
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Post by GregAE » Fri Jul 15, 2005 8:25 am

<< Yeah, I figured that if this guy did the Prophet, they must be in there. >>

'This guy' is Dave Smith, who was responsible for the Prophet 5 under the Sequential Circuits company name. Dave also developed the technology which eventually became the Korg Wavestation, after Yamaha bought Sequential (Korg is part of Yamaha). He also worked with a software company for a time, but returned to hardware development and set up a company under his own name - Dave Smith Instruments. His first product was the single voice Evolver, followed by the rack mount PolyEvolver, and now the PolyEvolver Keyboard.

Interestingly, the 4-voice PolyEvolver has the ability to work with a single voice Evolver for a composite 5 voice synth (where have we heard of that before?). So you could start with an Evolver (under $500 US) and when fundage permits add the PolyE.

tunedLow
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Post by tunedLow » Fri Jul 15, 2005 6:30 pm

pelican1 wrote: I definitely think everyone should check a synth out in person before buying (in this price range).
Agreed. I've played mandolin for about the last 10 years (guitar before that), and would never think of buying that kind of instrument before buying. Each one is different - even the ones made in China. However, as far as I know, there are no evolvers in my area to try. That said, evolvers don't change sound (unlike older analogs, from what I gather). So demo's are good enough.

And Dave Smith is still just "some guy" ;)

So's that "Bob" dude, and that "Orville" guy!

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Post by punkdisco » Sat Jul 16, 2005 7:13 am

"So you could start with an Evolver (under $500 US) and when fundage permits add the PolyE."

This is what I am currently doing. I have a Evolver being brought back from the US in about 4 weeks. Costing me $350 (£200) including shipping. They used cost in the UK is between £300 and £350.

I read the manual yesterday and it has a very simple interface yet it has some really intriguing abilities. Im have a Waldorf Pulse+ so the matrix interface is second nature to me, besides, the Evolvers matrix has a select button per row whilst the Pulse uses and advance button to navigate through its 6 rows..

Really looking forward to getting it..
Paul
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GregAE
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Post by GregAE » Sat Jul 16, 2005 9:41 am

Paul -

You'll enjoy the Evolver. It offers sound possibilities beyond what you can get out of the Voyager. You can also use the Evolver to process the Voyager (and vice versa), and use the Evolver's sequencer to drive the Voyager.

Plus, there's an ethereal coolness factor knowing that you're playing updated versions of synths (Minimoog and Prophet) made by two captains of the industry - Bob Moog and Dave Smith.

Have fun!

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countlove
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Post by countlove » Fri Aug 05, 2005 3:10 am

Well I totally thank everyone for the replies and advice. I have had the nord lead 3 for a few months and I love it. One of the main reasons for getting it was the no glitching when it comes to adjusting the knobs. For a live performance I think thats totally key, and I would never bring my moog to a show. Since its my first synth I treat it like a baby girl. Would you bring your baby to a show with drunk humans all over the place?

Programming on the nord is a breeze and being able to load 4 patches at once allows soo many cool sounds to be made. I like the fact that everything is on the keyboard. With the Voyager a lot of the cool functions have to be editted by the menu system which is a total drag. I purcashed the moog libarian software but I have nothing but problems with it. I am using a motu midi express 128 port with 8 in/out and currently the libarian software makes the moog go crazy when I am adjusting values.. It funks up the display on the moog and just creates random crap. It sucks. The people at Soundeditor told me that my motu unit is crap and I should get a midi sport instead..

I think thats Bullshit and totally insulting. a 40 buck midi device to replace my motu unit? bleep that. Why can't the libarian software be equal quality to the moog voyager?

Can anyone recommend a good midi port thats rack mount with 8 in/out? Is the motu timepiece crap too? I thought Motu was kind of midi hardware.

Count

punkdisco
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Post by punkdisco » Fri Aug 05, 2005 4:22 am

Hi Count

"I purcashed the moog libarian software but I have nothing but problems with it. I am using a motu midi express 128 port with 8 in/out and currently the libarian software makes the moog go crazy when I am adjusting values.. It funks up the display on the moog and just creates random crap. It sucks. The people at Soundeditor told me that my motu unit is crap and I should get a midi sport instead.."

This sounds to me like a midi loop but I am sure it would have been the first thing the guys at Soundeditor would have suggested.. I guess a really easy way to validate this would be to only have one way communications as a test. So, Motu MIDI out -> Voyager but leave the Voyagers midi out disconnected. you should now be able to control the Voyager successfully from the software. btw, I dont have the editing software so maybe it insists on two way communication and will not work without it..?

"Can anyone recommend a good midi port thats rack mount with 8 in/out? Is the motu timepiece crap too? I thought Motu was kind of midi hardware."

I have a Motu XT 8x8 (the old parallel version) and it is rock solid. I would be very surprised if it turns out to be the Motu but let us know how you get one..

Good luck,
Paul
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LWG
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Re: Post subject

Post by LWG » Fri Aug 05, 2005 2:37 pm

countlove wrote:Can anyone recommend a good midi port thats rack mount with 8 in/out? Is the motu timepiece crap too?

Hello,

Edirol UM-880 works well. My only experience with Motu hardware is their audio interfaces (828II, 896, etc), and their gear that I've used is pretty solid imo.

Regards,


LWG

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Lengai
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Post by Lengai » Fri Aug 05, 2005 6:21 pm

I have a MOTU MIDI Express XT and a MIDI Express 128. They are both solid MIDI interfaces (the XT is a better unit as far as functionality).

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