Poly Chain or Different Synth?

Everything Phatty.
Post Reply
deltaphoenix
Posts: 39
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2012 11:21 am

Poly Chain or Different Synth?

Post by deltaphoenix » Sun Aug 25, 2013 2:49 pm

Okay, I have a Slim Phatty and I freakin LOVE IT. I have just sold my Access Virus B and I plan on picking up a different synth. I also have preordered this midi controller http://misa-digital.myshopify.com/products/tri-bass
I can run up to 4 different synths with this, I can play 3 notes at a time in most modes of the controller. I plan to use my set-up live.
Right now the Slim Phatty is my only synth. Like I said, I am loving it. I have been thinking about buying another one right away since I just sold my Virus, I have found another Slim Phatty for $575 used. I will get my controller around October (I pre-ordered), so I would have a few months to srape together/sell something else off and pick-up the third Slim Phatty by the time the controller arrives. I have several nice effects pedals that I could use to change sounds by stomping them like I do with my bass. I realize that I will need a mixer of some kind to at least take the 3 mono signals and run them in stereo. Right?
Anything else that I would need to run the Poly Chain set-up?
Also, Since this project is mainly me, drum machine, looper, synth rig and an added vocalist who may play a bit of guitar on top, I have a lot of sonic room to sound HUGE. So that is one reason that Poly Chaining appeals to me.

Alternately, I could buy a DSI Tetra, and control both the Tetra and Slim Phatty with the same controller (I could hold a chord on the Tetra by swiping up on the control screen, then play a part on the SP, for example). This gives me a Mono and a Poly to work with immediately. I am concerned about the Tetra's interface a bit, I am okay at deeper synth programming but I don't love it when it is very convoluted. Hence one major reason that I love the Slim Phatty and sold my Virus. Like I said, I do have effects to run my rig through so I don't feel like I have to have the most modulation intense sounds, I like GOOD basic, powerful and usable synth sounds that I can run through my PitchFacto and ModFactor for more movement and weirdness as the song parts require.
So what would you do and yes I know, I am asking the Moog People Moog or DSI. I have had a DSI Tempest before and I really liked it. I have never had a real DSI synth ( I mean Tempest is a drum synth).
Thanks!

EricK
Posts: 6015
Joined: Fri Apr 09, 2004 2:09 pm

Re: Poly Chain or Different Synth?

Post by EricK » Sun Aug 25, 2013 7:34 pm

The PV6usb is a nice mixer. I have the 14 and it is very solid. I think you can also get rack ears for the 6 also.
Support the Bob Moog Foundation:
https://moogfoundation.org/do-something-2/donate/

I think I hear the mothership coming.

deltaphoenix
Posts: 39
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2012 11:21 am

Re: Poly Chain or Different Synth?

Post by deltaphoenix » Sun Aug 25, 2013 8:02 pm

You know, I think I already have the Peavey6 (notUSB though). I have a little PA. I will see about the racking.
Thanks.
I know I am going Poly Chain :D

User avatar
Fooger_;-)
Posts: 44
Joined: Wed Feb 27, 2013 3:16 pm
Location: Switzerland on Planet Earth

Re: Poly Chain or Different Synth?

Post by Fooger_;-) » Mon Aug 26, 2013 3:06 am

I think it's nearly impossible to answer your question. Almost every modern Synth will fulfill your requirement. But it's always and every time a choice of taste! And if you're happy with the Phatty, then go for another one. Chaining several Moog Synths is a little expensive, maybe. But if you like the sound, why not? And the sound is great, as we know. By the way, do you know Vermona from Germany? They built a nice analogue Synth called perFOURmer. There you have 4 voices, switchable between mono ore poly, just as you like. But it has no memory to save sounds. You have to tweak every sound from scratch. But it sound's great too. Maybe this is also a candidate? But it's not a Moog... :twisted:
kind regards
Fooger ;o)

User avatar
Stuka
Posts: 468
Joined: Fri Oct 12, 2012 10:13 am
Location: Knoxville, TN

Re: Poly Chain or Different Synth?

Post by Stuka » Mon Aug 26, 2013 7:39 am

+1 for a Phatty poly-chain!!

I just recently got my Phatty poly-chain assembled and running, and I have to say it is VERY cool!!
If you don't have it already, get a copy of the Little/Slim Phatty addendum for OS v3.1 from Moog, since it addresses several updates related to the poly-chain that aren't addressed in the owner's manual.

You'll definitely want to get a mixer equipped with individual , pannable audio inputs for each of your SP's.
A very cool feature of the poly-chain is the arpeggiator routes each note to a different synth in the chain ~
With the audio from each SP panned left / right, you'll get some very cool auto-panning arp effects! 8)

Once you get SP # 2, I recommend you go ahead and run through ALL the calibration routines for each synth.
Be sure to let them warm up a good 30-45 minutes first, then run each routine, in order, on each synth.
This only takes maybe 1 to 1 1/2 hours total, but it is well worh it!
SInce running the routines, my LP/SP poly-chain sounds like one big "phat" machine! :D

Randy
Little Phatty Solar CV, Minitaur, Slim Phatty (x2), MF-101, MF-102, MF-103, MF-104M, MF-105M, MF-108M, CP-251 (x2), Animoog app, Filtatron app, Model D app, Model 15 app...and some 5U modular and Doepfer stuff...

deltaphoenix
Posts: 39
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2012 11:21 am

Re: Poly Chain or Different Synth?

Post by deltaphoenix » Mon Aug 26, 2013 5:47 pm

Sweet, Phatty #2 ships tomorrow!

I will definitely do the calibration routine. Thanks guys!

User avatar
Fooger_;-)
Posts: 44
Joined: Wed Feb 27, 2013 3:16 pm
Location: Switzerland on Planet Earth

Re: Poly Chain or Different Synth?

Post by Fooger_;-) » Tue Aug 27, 2013 2:24 am

Great!Have fun and make music... 8)
kind regards
Fooger ;o)

8bit
Posts: 6
Joined: Sat Jul 06, 2013 6:48 pm

Re: Poly Chain or Different Synth?

Post by 8bit » Tue Aug 27, 2013 8:52 am

I have a White Little Phatty Stage II (Blue LEDS) and a regular Black Slim Phatty. I'm considering buying a second SP for 3-voice polyphony. This could cost a fortune. Where do we stop? With 16 voices available, I'm guessing I'll run out of cash before I run out of rack-space!

Have you seen Moog's own Polyphonic Phatty setup on YouTube?

deltaphoenix
Posts: 39
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2012 11:21 am

Re: Poly Chain or Different Synth?

Post by deltaphoenix » Thu Aug 29, 2013 4:05 pm

Yeah I have seen that set-up! SAHWEEEETTT!

#2 Slim Phatty should be here in an hour or so. :D

Post Reply