I fancy an analogue synth.

stonevibe · May 2017

Mother 32 is nice, I bought one last year.

Dodge · May 2017

stonevibe said:

Mother 32 is nice, I bought one last year.

I'm loving it. I may have to buy another one or two.

GilgaFrank · June 2017

Beware of Eurorack, approach it with extreme caution as it is a black hole to throw money into. While my modular is utterly brilliant for getting weird sounds and the most incredible synth basses and modulated sounds from, the DSI Prophet 08 and Roland JD-XA score in terms of convenience and programmability.

streethawk · June 2017

GilgaFrank said:

Beware of Eurorack, approach it with extreme caution as it is a black hole to throw money into. While my modular is utterly brilliant for getting weird sounds and the most incredible synth basses and modulated sounds from, the DSI Prophet 08 and Roland JD-XA score in terms of convenience and programmability.

This image scares my wife.

GilgaFrank · June 2017

streethawk said:

This image scares my wife.

My silver-haired mother was playing Chopin on that lot this afternoon. I handled the filter cutoff.

Moss · June 2017

GilgaFrank said:

streethawk said:

This image scares my wife.

My silver-haired mother was playing Chopin on that lot this afternoon. I handled the filter cutoff.

Now that's a video I want to see

KDS · June 2017

I've been following this post with interest, I'm also interested in getting synth for playing around with. Any body got any thoughts on a nord 2x as beginner synth?

GilgaFrank · June 2017

Nord make fantastic sounding modelled analog synths. If you're a beginner you would also benefit from the Nord's "one knob per function" design. Little or no menu-diving, all the major functions are laid out in front of you. For this reason I'd steer clear of the smaller Novation virtual analog synths like the Xiosynth which involves a lot of menu-diving and shift-press-access menu-turn-knob sound design.

KDS · June 2017

Thanks GilgaFrank. I've looking at the options. Don't want to hijack thread (I can start new thread if that is preference), I've been looking at either Nord A1 (2x is discontinued) or Moog sub 37. Both look ace, but quite different. Anybody got any comments? What about amplification? Studio monitors?

GilgaFrank · June 2017

The best place to get info and advice is the Muff Wiggler forum, everyone who's anyone in the world of analogue synths posts there.

You've got one very fundamental choice - true analogue or virtual analogue.

Real analogue synths have a LOT of drawbacks - the tuning is slightly different on each oscillator every time you turn the module on, the patching takes a long time, there's no patch memory (obviously) so you've pretty much got to hit record and see what noise comes out of the machine. And forget trying to reset it to how you had it set five minutes previously, it can't be done. A couple of filter tweaks and envelope changes on a big system and you'll never get back to your starting point for another take. So recording becomes more about capturing the live performance as you manipulate the synth. The great advantage though is the sound.When I first got an analogue system wired up and working, I'd literally play one note and just sit there enjoying the utterly wonderful resonant noise it made. I've played a lot of virtual analogue synths and none of them come close to sounding as good as the real thing. Think valve amp versus modelled amp, they never quite have the right sound.

And remember, an oscillator is monophonic. If you want polyphony then go with the virtual analogue.

If you do go with the real thing and you're handy with a soldering iron then you can build your own modules. Works out a lot cheaper and there's a great sense of satisfaction in building a synth from individual components. If that appeals to you, look at the Frequency Central System X modules. The top 3U of my modular is almost all System X modules I built from kits. The sound of them is easily comparable to a Moog and the filters don't cut out all the bottom end as you turn up the resonance. Highly recommended.

goldtop · June 2017

KDS said:

Thanks GilgaFrank. I've looking at the options. Don't want to hijack thread (I can start new thread if that is preference), I've been looking at either Nord A1 (2x is discontinued) or Moog sub 37. Both look ace, but quite different. Anybody got any comments? What about amplification? Studio monitors?

Start a new thread, because you've chosen chalk (virtual analogue polyphonic) with cheese (analogue monophonic). You also need to decide on what interests you: the means (sound design) or the ends (making music). Every synth owner finds these are two connected - but somehow opposing - aims.

GilgaFrank · June 2017

EDIT: That's weird, I typed this post then the post disappeared, then it came back ... what's going on here?

KDS · June 2017

In case anyone curious to know how I get on...... I just ordered a Nord A1

GilgaFrank · June 2017

I think you made a good choice, the Nord is a quality piece of hardware. Have fun sending it MIDI clock to sync the LFOs and delay effects to tempo.

fftc · June 2017

There is a nice modular set-up on ebay right now that might make a good starting point for someone.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162542738648?ssPageName=STRK:MESINDXX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1436.l2649

I don't have any background in keyboards or synthy stuff at all but I bought a Korg Minilogue at the tail end of last year. Still amazes me the sounds this thing can produce. I would love a Minimoog but just can't justify that kind of spend. Maybe one day.

Junkie XL is doing a wee series on modular stuff on YouTube just now. Quite interesting for folk like me who don't know the ins and outs.

goldtop · June 2017

I like Junkiexl's videos. But I wish he's turn the reverb down.

I think it's a 224, and whatever it is, it makes everything sound great but a bit samey.

Ro_S · June 2017

Arturia. very affordable.

GavRichList · June 2017

Moog Sub 37. Treat yo'self. Modulation on it is so intuitive.

Teetonetal · June 2017

Ro_S said:

Arturia. very affordable.

Just so badly made. Or at least the keylab series is.

Ro_S · June 2017

Teetonetal said:

Ro_S said:

Arturia. very affordable.

Just so badly made. Or at least the keylab series is.

I was thinking of the Arturia Microbrute anakogue synth. I thought it a good choice for an affordable analog synth.,

Teetonetal · June 2017

Ro_S said:

Teetonetal said:

Ro_S said:

Arturia. very affordable.

Just so badly made. Or at least the keylab series is.

I was thinking of the Arturia Microbrute anakogue synth. I thought it a good choice for an affordable analog synth.,

Don't get me wrong - I think the Arturia stuff sounds great and looks good on paper. But my experience with the build quality of the Key lab series is shocking. Really, Really cheaply made and very breakable. They were so bad that I ended up getting mine for free from the distributor as we went through so many. All broke in delivery.

Shame as I'd love a drumbrute but I can't bring myself to go there again.

goldtop · June 2017

I agree on some Arturia stuff. I had the Beatstep Pro, which is great, but the micro-USB socket is a very common point of failure (just 4 SMT solder pads leading to your typical stress breakages) and Arturia didn't want to acknowledge or fix the design problem, so I sold mine before the inevitable happened.

GilgaFrank · June 2017

My Beatstep is still going strong but it's in a fixed place, never moves. So maybe that's saved the USB socket!

lysander · June 2017

+1 on the Korg Arp Odissey.
For me the Odissey is one of the best sounding if not the best mono synth ever made - I prefer it to the Minimoog even.
The slim keys are fine, very playable. Can be bought for £400 ish second hand.

If you fancy a real beast then the Arturia Matrixbrute is a-mazing. Build quality is excellent. Sound is mind blowing.
Not a beginner synth however as it takes a lot of finesse to dial in.

lysander · June 2017

Also, don't get into Eurorack. Been there, done that, you'll end up selling most of your guitars, have a wall of modules and never make any music.
It's great fun and can sound great but not at all productive, and a bottomless money pit.

GilgaFrank · June 2017

lysander said:

Also, don't get into Eurorack. Been there, done that, you'll end up selling most of your guitars, have a wall of modules and never make any music.
It's great fun and can sound great but not at all productive, and a bottomless money pit.

I built my Eurorack modular without selling any guitars, it was expensive but it's in constant use. Plus I learned a lot about electronics by making the modules. But yes, it is a black hole to throw money into.

goldtop · June 2017

The meanest sounds I ever heard from a synth came from a modular; one of the performers at last year's Leeds Modular Meet. If LotR's orcs ever went had tecno parties, that was the sort of evil music that would be playing.

Me... I won an empty eurorack cabinet with a £5 raffle ticket and sold it for £99. That's the extent of my interest!

Dodge · June 2017

I'm not sure if all these suggestions are for me, but I'm very happy with the Mother 32. I'll be ordering a couple of Werkstatts to go with it if I can get my head around what it'll take to add a proper gate in to them.

GilgaFrank · June 2017

Dodge said:

...if I can get my head around what it'll take to add a proper gate in to them.

Just get one of those Werkstatt CV expanders, adds 3.5mm ins and outs so it'll interface to Euyrorack. Bit pricey but it'll let you run the Werkstatt from any CV sequencer like a Beatstep Pro or the Mother 32's CV and gate outs.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Moog-3-5mm-CV-Expansion-Header-for-Werkstatt-01-NEW-/272638776078?hash=item3f7a89930e:g:QV8AAOSwN6JY-N~Z

Dodge · June 2017

GilgaFrank said:

Dodge said:

...if I can get my head around what it'll take to add a proper gate in to them.

Just get one of those Werkstatt CV expanders, adds 3.5mm ins and outs so it'll interface to Euyrorack. Bit pricey but it'll let you run the Werkstatt from any CV sequencer like a Beatstep Pro or the Mother 32's CV and gate outs.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Moog-3-5mm-CV-Expansion-Header-for-Werkstatt-01-NEW-/272638776078?hash=item3f7a89930e:g:QV8AAOSwN6JY-N~Z

No gate in on the expander.

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I fancy an analogue synth.

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