No Moog poly, so what to buy?

[The Analog Organist]

Thanks, Peterkadar. I'm glad we agree. Maybe DSI could buy the Andromeda design!

[superd2112]

Well folks, after wringing it out for 6 hours now (with a short lunch break), I am very much impressed, and very happy with my choice. The old Andy was a deeper synth, with some very cool features and super lush pads, but the P08 is a sonic monster - the filters sizzle, the envelopes are snappy, and this thing creates some of the most wicked lead & bass sounds I've EVER heard or felt from a synth. Less adept at creating odd sci-fi sounds & trance rythms, but better at creating punchy, soaring & useful musical patches (for me, anyway). Even with all of it's modulation possibilities, the Prophet is a pretty easy synth to navigate and program. It actually sounds more like an Oberheim OBXa than a Prophet 5 to me. I think the Taurus and Prophet will compliment one another very well, and I look forward to the arrival of my T-3s. Gear Acquisition Syndrome (GAS for short) knows no limits though, and I still want a CV-modded Phatty, a Theremin Plus and several Moogerfoogers for some freaky mad-scientist stuff.

[HB3]

Could anyone offer a comparison between the Prophet 08 and Nord Lead 3?

[The Analog Organist]

I've gone a few rounds with critics of the Prophet '08. It's fine if some one just doesn't like it. So be it; that's a matter of their opinion and personal taste. But when a person calls it, say, a "synthesizer for beginners," it really irks me. It's to throw a snobbish insult at a masterfully designed machine, and it reflects far more on the critic than on the instrument. I think a good synthesist - a truly artistic, patient, precise, and imaginative programmer - can make even a cheap synthesizer sound good. They can turn limitations and shortcomings into unexpected advantages that give an otherwise mediocre instrument a distictive sound, unlike any other synthesizer.

So, the Prophet '08 is what it is, and nothing more. Its sonic range is not unlimited. But a decent musician can make wonderful sounds and music with it, or he must be nearly talentless.

I'm happy to see that, on this forum string, people are appreciating the instrument, rather than whining about it for ridiculous reasons. I've come across other forums and web sites that really irritated me with their fickleness about the Prophet '08, and I've always thought, "How on earth could they be talking about this fabulous synthesizer?" Jeepers, fine art requires hard work and long hours. We shouldn't expect an instrument to do the work for us. Nor should we judge a synthesizer by its factory programs. They have their uses, but they seldom come even close to demonstrating the potential of the instrument.

Years ago, a musical instrument was referred to as an "axe." Well, you use an axe by the sweat of your brow. The image is appropriate for music composition and performance as well. They require hard steady labor.

[superd2112]

Words of wisdom, Analog Organist. I believe that for the most part, factory presets are really just for demonstrating the synth to potential owners. I rarely use a preset for live or recording purposes without first tweaking it into my own creation. In fact, I think thats one of the best use for factory presets - to use as a starting point for programming your own sounds. As far as the Prophet, I actually like quite a few of it's factory presets, & dislike some others, but the same is true for every programmable synth I've ever played. Bass is my primary instrument, and though I don't consider myself to be the greatest keyboard player, I do take pride in the fact that I can dig deep into my synthesizers to pull sounds out of them that are truly unique and my own, whether I start from a preset or from scratch. I think almost every synth - analog or other - has something good to offer if you dig deep enough. The one possible exception would be the Yamaha DX-7 I owned years ago - it had some fine presets, but programming that synth was like pulling teeth!

BTW - I look forward to chatting with you on the Prophet forums if they ever activate my account! Looks like things (including moderators) move pretty slowly over there...

[The Analog Organist]

See you there, superd2112.

[EricK]

I really appreciate that analysis of the A6, Organist.

My cousin used to have one, now he has the ION. He was impressed with the Voyager.

Id love to get a polysynth but im not a keyboardist primarily. Id rather have a renewed polymoog should Moog build one.


Eric

[peterkadar]

I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing to call a Prophet, Little Phatty, Voyager, or anything a beginner synth in one respect; I think those synths are all great because of their accessibility, and in that way, make a great jumping off point for learning about subtractive synthesis. You could also include a Nord Lead in with that group. Or an OB-Xa or a Jupiter really. And of course, anything that makes synthesis more accessible and easy to use for people - and to inspire new players - is a good thing.

However, if it's coming from the idea that it's a limited and poor quality instrument, THAT I would resent.

As far as the A6 design goes... I don't know if any of the smaller companies could foot the bill to do it. It'd have to probably be one of the big three... I wonder what they could come up with if they really wanted to do an analog machine like back in the day...

[The Analog Organist]

The specific example I was thinking of was from a person who claimed the Prophet '08, compared with the Andromeda A6, was merely a beginner's synthesizer. It was definitely a put down of the P08.

[MC]

That's a fair summation but it shouldn't be a slam against the P08.

I read of many people who sold their A6s because they couldn't comprehend such a deep synth. The P08 would had been a better choice.

Both are good synths, it's a case of how complicated you want to get in sound design.

[analoghaze]

[Voltor07]

I really enjoy my A6. It is great fun.

That's great! The one I tried at the music store got stuck on one note as I was sweeping the filter cutoff, and the manager came by, turned it off, turned it back on and said, "Yeah, it does that sometimes. It just needs rebooting every now and again." I said to myself, "Self, never buy one of these."

[gd]

If you do opt for p 08 I woulkd recommend you getting the PE version over the encoder vers. I have one with encoders and will be giving it the 2nd shot of deoxit since last August. It is an excellent synth just remember that unlike the A6 it has no built in fx. I am looking at buying a Tetra to add to it.

[peterkadar]

The PE version ROCKS!

And Voltor, +1 about your experience with the A6. I had one, and it was amazing, but it got more and more buggy over time and became the most expensive paperweight I ever owned... next to my '94 Voyager Minivan

If people are having reliable experiences with the Andromeda, that's really cool. I would consider you to be a very fortunate person indeed. Keep making beautiful music with it!!

[sunny pedaal]

i'm sorry to disagree with the bad press the a6 gets :
i started the electromusic.com a6 topic , so might have some knowledge on the a6.
1 the bugs are very minor things compared to the whole picture
2 most a6's function perfectly , and so for long time. that also includes the tuning and other issues.
3 they are way cheaper then the 3000$ , that is , if you can find one
4 they look much better than the small /cheap looking prophet
5 their soundpallet is way bigger then that of the p8, afcourse you'll need understanding of analogsynthprogramming ( more then with a p8 which stays more to the surface of analog synthesis )
i followed the a6 for years now, including most , if not all of the topics on the net about the a6, and i have one for years now, i took her on roadtour and; i never had any problem with it( that is after the first buy period/ 3 month's in which i indeed had to let do some servicing ), wouldn't sell it , know how to use and tweak it , and NO , never felt the urge to sell her or even buy a prophet 8.
and i'm sure lot's of a6 users feel exact the same way.
so.. that's my 5 cents