List of budget synths you'd like to aquire within 1 year.

gd · Post by gd » Tue Jun 07, 2005 4:03 pm

By budget I mean < $1000 US.

Mine are:

Opus 3
Future Retro Revolution or 777
OBX or OBX-A

I just sold my SE-1 as I felt that the Source I have sounded better and the SE-1 ended up sitting collecting dust. I still say that for you all out there looking for an inexpensive Moog, The Source is a great way to go, midi it up and it is fantastic for studio and live useage. I don't really miss my miniD now that I actually put some time into programming the Source.
The FR Revolution is just too cool to look at, I liked the 777 when I had use of 1 and an expander is coming out that will augment the 777 &/or the Rev.
To make room I will be selling the rest of my Emu gear and roms by orders of the boss.

OysterRock · Post by **OysterRock** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 8:23 pm

Believe it or not, I've been pining after a Solina String Ensemble for a while now. I know, I'm weird...

endocrine · Post by **endocrine** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 9:00 pm

More Casio VL-1s. Maybe an SK-1. Budget synths are not under 1000 dollars. They under 200. Roland JX-8P. Have you played that Novation K-Station? I was very impressed for the price.

ebg31 · Post by **ebg31** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 10:32 pm

Well, let's see. I've only been turned on by a handful of budget instruments over the years. Let me see which ones I haven't owned, yet.

Moog Opus 3

Oberheim OB-1 (pretty fitting, considered I just watched Star Wars Episode III. Obiwan - GET IT?)

Oberheim Matrix 6r - programmable from the front panel, unlike the Matrix 1000

Yamaha DX7 MkII

Roland Alpha Juno 2 - even though it has features that I already have in my JX-10

Korg DW-8000 - cheap, but legendary wavetable synthesis

Korg 05R w digital synth module

MicroKorg - yeah, I know it's not well liked here, but I find it damn nice.

ARP Pro DGX - one of the first keyboard synths with aftertouch sensitivity, a feature absent from my Axxe

ARP Omni - from what I understand, it's a more desirable instrument than the Solina, which only 16-note polyphony

Considering that I only wish to have 7 instruments at one time, that's a pretty hermongous wish list. And, all of them available for less than a thousand American dollars.

Demokid · Post by **Demokid** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 3:39 am

Here are some fun and really inexpensive sizers that sounds pretty good.

SEIL Opera-6/DK-600 (Warm sounding even with DCO, has SSM chips)
Korg PolySix (Warm, organic sounding and based on SSM chips)
Roland Juno-60 (Surprisingly warm sounding though it has DCO, great sounding filter)
Akai AX60 (VCO but the filter is not warm more raw and harsh sounding. Can make some cool sounds I miss it a lot!!)
Kawai SX-240 (Sounds a bit raw but sometimes almost warm. It is something about the big LED display and being able to name patches to MOOGISH.

)

Regards
Demokid

gd · Post by gd » Wed Jun 08, 2005 8:05 am

just as an side, I was talking to a young guy (early 20's) who is a kybd player. He was asking about the Obie Viscount 12 vs the Korg MS2000B as he liked the old Oberheim sound. I just found it interesting that he had no desire for soft synths as he was concerned about using them for live use. I told him that while the Viscount and MS 2000B are good synths they won't replicate the sound that he was after with an OBXA. I asked him if it was the "Jump" sound that he loved, his reply was what is that? he talked about Rush and a few others. Damn looks like another competitor to me in getting an OBX/XA.

ebg31 · Post by **ebg31** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 9:13 am

Hi gd,

You should try talking him into the Alesis Ion. I'm not in the market for one myself, anymore. However, the sound bytes that I heard on husiciansfriend.com were pretty high quality to me. I wonder how he couldn't have heard "Jump."

Actually, I personally don't dig soft synths, either. Hardware gear is much more hands-on. I'd save the soft synths for sequencing, rather than live playing.

mee3d · Post by **mee3d** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 10:44 am

While the Oberheim/Viscount 12 is an interesting synth in it's own rights it doesn't sound anything like an analog Oberheim . . why it has the Oberheim name on it I don't know?

The ION is a much better VA synth for emulating older gear, and there are some pretty good renditions of classic moog and oberheim sounds in there . . run the output through a pedal a little hot to add some soft clip and it's spot on.

I had 2 bad ones before I got one were all the knobs worked but i beleive Alesis has fixed this problem . . I reckon a 5 octave, 16 voice, ION MkII 2 would be the bollocks (an ION coupled with a Source makes an excellent gigging rig).

I'm really starting to re-like Alesis again. After years of crap synths, they have a great range of unique and interesting keyboards.

Mal

OysterRock · Post by **OysterRock** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 12:43 pm

Hey mee3d, nice OSCar. I always thought that was one of the coolest looking synths. Never been near one, though.

ebg31 · Post by **ebg31** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 2:02 pm

WHOA!! A 61-key version of the Ion with twice the voice capacity. Not only would it REALLY be the bollocks, as Mal put it, but it would be one major CRACK of the bollocks. Chances are, it could blow the A6 clear into the next dimension.

MC · Post by MC » Wed Jun 08, 2005 2:59 pm

ebg31 wrote: ARP Pro DGX - one of the first keyboard synths with aftertouch sensitivity, a feature absent from my Axxe

Actually the ARP ProSoloist preceded it, and it has a better filter (4034 filter which is a transistor ladder filter that infringed on the Moog patent)

I have the PS and despite being a preset synth, it really sounds good.

ARP Omni - from what I understand, it's a more desirable instrument than the Solina, which only 16-note polyphony

Solina and both Omni's have full polyphony. Underneath the hood is a top octave system like transistor organs.

MC · Post by MC » Wed Jun 08, 2005 3:00 pm

ebg31 wrote:WHOA!! A 61-key version of the Ion with twice the voice capacity. Not only would it REALLY be the bollocks, as Mal put it, but it would be one major CRACK of the bollocks. Chances are, it could blow the A6 clear into the next dimension.

A 61 key Ion make not an Andromeda, the modulation and flexibility of the Ion isn't as deep as the A6.

But the Ion is one of the better sounding VAs I've heard, and I'm an RA snob.

mee3d · Post by **mee3d** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 3:34 pm

The ION is no Andromeda for sure . . in the studio an Andromeda or RA synth is going to be much better (authentic) but for stage work the ION is quite a nice number . . and should she break mid number . . you could run down to your local music store and pick up another one while the songs still playing (if you are in a prog band that is).

Smashing.

mal

ebg31 · Post by **ebg31** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 6:18 pm

mee3d wrote:The ION is no Andromeda for sure . . in the studio an Andromeda or RA synth is going to be much better (authentic) but for stage work the ION is quite a nice number . . and should she break mid number . . you could run down to your local music store and pick up another one while the songs still playing (if you are in a prog band that is).

Smashing.

mal

He he he he he! "Progs On the Run! Just SCREAM, and everybody comes a-running! Take a run and buy another ION!!!!!" Get it!!!

It helps if the gig is at a fairground a stone's throw from the local instrument joint. That happened to one of my bands. We showed up to the gig ill equipped, and we found what we needed next door. For real!

gd · Post by gd » Wed Jun 08, 2005 6:32 pm

feel a little dense right now as I totally forgot about the Ion, and I used to own an A6, still cursing whoever stole it. I have never played one but I did like my A6 for the short time I had it. Me, I still want an OBXA, maybe it is my fading memory but I just remember grinning when playing it. I am going to have to get to a store and hear one of these Ions and tweak away.

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List of budget synths you'd like to aquire within 1 year.

List of budget synths you'd like to aquire within 1 year.

Re: Budget Synths

Re: Budget Synths