Perfect Partner for Voyager?

[restlessboy]

Despite the fact that my Voyager hasn't even arrived yet - presumably Moog are varnishing the wood as we speak - I'm already thinking about what I might get next.

I'm keen for another hardware synth with lots of hands-on tweakability which will cover those sounds and approaches that the MV doesn't excel at. So polyphony obviously, but also things like a more digital, modern sound (not the best way to put it but there we are...).

So what, in your opinion, would be a good synth to complement the Voyager? And why?

One I've got my eye on is the DSI Evolver. Thoughts?

[Just Me]

My favorite is the VFX-SD. A Blofeld works well also. Of course a P5 or Chroma sounds good with a Voyager.

[stiiiiiiive]

It depends on how you play music.

I'll talk about my experience: the Little Phatty goes very well with the Nord Lead series. I guess a Nord cannot be a bad partner for a Voyager then.
The Nord character is very complementary and will provide really good polyphonics -pads, strings- as well as cool leads, not in the Moog vein though. When it comes to bass, I usually think Phatty rather than Nord Lead, but why not: I'm doing this automatically as my fingers find their way to the knobs easier with the Phatty in that situation.
Last but not least: the Nord interface is really hands on, just as the Voyager's. If you're a keyboardist, you'd find yourself with a set-up allowing playing as well as live tweaking.


About the Evolver, I had one: it's quite a little beast, with uncommon possibilities. Pay attention to the encoders, they are lifetime-limited… If you're a keyboardist, you certainly prefer the 3 octave version, which is harder to find than the desktop one.
If you want polyphony, you have to know the PolyEvolver will sing of its 4 voices, which is sometimes limited. Actually, it comes to how you play music: live, studio only, with your fingers, with a sequencer…
For the story, I wanted the Evolver since it came out. I got the desktop one last year and sold it 6 months later. It definitely is a great synth, but I was fed up with programming patches rather than playing music. The Phatty entered just after…

[ColorForm2113]

I have a blofeld with my voyager and they sound amazing together. I sometimes forget that the blofeld is digital

[tommyecho]

I have a prophet 08, and it is a wonderful complement to the voyager. Some folks on these forums don't like the Prophet 08, but I think it's great. It has a different sound from the moog stuff, of course. Don't know if you're a fan, but Radiohead uses the same combination on there last album and current tour.

Enjoy!

[Brian G]

I also have a Prophet 08 and it's a great synth. No sure they may only sell the PE edition now, early ones with encoders had problems. DSI may have improved that though. Mine is an early one, I had problems so did the Pot Edition upgrade on it.

Depending on what other sounds you need, look at some of the Yamaha Motif, Korg, or Roland line.
Used wise there are many to look at, the Korg Z1 has select knobs for adjustments on the front panel and will give you a wide variety of sounds. Everything from "DX Rhodes type sounds to way out in space synth sounds. Can be a bit hard to wrap your head around programming but the cool thing is with all the knobs avilable you can tweak things pretty well.

Good luck

[stiiiiiiive]

I don't have one but indeed the Prophet 08 + Moog combination is awesome.

[restlessboy]

Thanks everyone. Prophet 08 is also on my potential list.

I think I want to like the Evolver more than I actually do. Keep looking at demo vids and listening to samples, but the sounds I hear from the Prophet are more appealing. I even saw a Mopho x4 video that tempted me, although I reckon I could make 90% of the sounds in it with a Voyager.

How is the Prophet for modulation options? I like nice clean modulated lines (which tbh is what I'm getting the Voyager for too), but I also want nice 'springy' eighties sounds. Human League, Pet Shops Boys, Hot Chip stylee. I'm guessing it's good for those?

[EricK]

If you can find a used Andromeda A6, that will be a great alternative also.

[restlessboy]

I've looked at the Andromeda. Didn't click with the sounds I've heard as much - there's a harsh quality to it even with some of the pads, though I don't doubt it's capable of more. Probably down to the specific videos I've heard.

I'd be put of buying second hand for something that there's apparently no customer support for, and a new Prophet generally seems to be cheaper than a used A6.

Still just dreaming at this stage though. Having okayed a Voyager purchase with the Mrs I don't know how soon I'll be able to sneak a second £1k+ synth past her. Might have to sell something. Like a kidney.

[analoghaze]

Get an iPad 2 and install...
Animoog
Wolfgang PPG Wavegenerator
TC-11

[ColorForm2113]

kinda off topic but every time i read the topic title i think it says "Perfect Panther for Voyager"
lol

carry on

[stiiiiiiive]

"Perfect Panther for Voyager"
lol

carry on

You mean the Octave Cat is a candidate?? Mate, you're so cryptic!

[restlessboy]

Get an iPad 2 and install...
Animoog
Wolfgang PPG Wavegenerator
TC-11

I've got animoog. It sounds brilliant and the concept with the signal path onscreen is really, really innovative. But do you know what I hate? Touchscreen emulations of rotary encoders. Totally counter-intuitive. Why copy something that depends on tactile feedback on a touchscreen? Why have an interface which has to remain static like hardware? You could have a slider which grows to twice its size when you touch it - allowing really precise control. But no, like nearly every other ipad synth maker, they put a visual representation of a knob on screen which you then have to slide your finger up and down the screen to adjust. Pointless.

Mini-rant over!

[ColorForm2113]

"Perfect Panther for Voyager"
lol

carry on

You mean the Octave Cat is a candidate?? Mate, you're so cryptic!

I have always wanted a cat/kitten lol