ok so i need some intelligent opinions regarding a synth, so of course, gotta hit up the SOURCE, SP forums.

i'm wanting to invest in a hardware synth. it's been years since i picked one up, and i'm weighing my options. no, i KNOW just demo demo demo and see which one you like best, or it all depends what you need/ want to do. i just wanted everyone's opinion on what synth they'd get given the following options (by the way the music i'm making is more dark, ominous, heavy, slow moody etc. im thinking dj shadow and godflesh in a bar fight if they had all just huffed ether..im also using ableton live and sp 404)

ok so here's what im considering:

m audio venom (gritty aggressive and cheap enough so i could pick up some soft synths too)

novation ultranova (just demo'd this yesterday and the thing is pretty crazy. deeeep bass and some crazy pads)

roland gaia (opinion seems wildly split on this unit...i like the sound BUT i do find it annoying that there's no screen hence no patch names...which i find annoying. you're like "ok, sound #32 and sound #18 etc..")

moog lil phatty stage II (ok so obviously more pricey, and i dont know if i need a monphonic, but i've found one used for a RIDICULOUSLY low price-about 500 under retail- and ITS A MOOG. these things are just ridiculous..anyone who has played on one knows that they're just a completely different animal...crazy)

OK, so thoughts? i think im leaning towards the ultranova, BUT the MOOG is sick!!! and the venom might be more suited to my needs, and it's CHEEEAP...

Like you said it all depends on what u want to achieve with it...
but, for me personally ,out of the synths you mentioned the only one i'd seriously consider is the phatty..the other one's i wouldnt touch with a ten foot synth pole..but then again i have more of an older synth preference myself so i guess im not very helpfull here...

shruthi-1!
http://mutable-instruments.net/

supposed to be new kits in november. of course you'll need to build it. I've wanted one for a while but always miss my chance. I just ordered the sidekick but haven't gotten all the parts for it. The kits for the shruthi-1 come with everything you need (except box) which is really convenient. when I get the sidekick (which is an analog mono filter and self-oscillating synth but with no controls other than knobs, old school) built i'll post it here or in other inst. section.

I know someone with a Venom. It sounds absolutely incredible in my opinion, definitely one of the most unique sounding modelling synths I have heard. I prefer it to the Moog as a personal preference but like you said, it is a Moog and if that's the sound you are going for then you really need a real analog monosynth. The Venom is really limited in terms of editing, although there is software you can use which fixes that, I would say that if you like the sounds you can get out of the Venom then go with it, it is definitely worth the cost. Haven't got too much experience with the Roland but lots of hands on control can only be a good thing in my opinion. Novation make some dope stuff, haven't used the model in question but the cheaper Xiosynth is really nice and from everything I have seen the UltraNova is even better.

Personally I would choose the Venom but that's only because the sounds suit the kind of music I make.

thank you all for the interesting and informed thoughts...

as it turns, out in a COMPLETELY unexpected turn of events, i ended up grabbing a (wait for it)...

MICROKORG XL!!???

THAT'S RIGHT!

I found a dude living 10 min away and he's selling one for $200!! i figure why not, and grab it and ladies and gentleman, I COULDN"T BE HAPPIER!!

i'm telling you, i demo'd this little bastard a few times and was impressed, but never picked it up, and i kinda heard soso things about it on the web, so i kinda slept on it. MAN, this thing is a BEAST! maybe i just have no taste, but i can't tear myself away from it...SO EASY and sounds SO GOOD! i already own a microkorg and this thing is more and better...i'm tellin y'all DON"T SLEEP!!

and the price was so good, im gonna save up a month or so and grab a slim phatty too...

pick on up used...you can get 'em cheap because they're criminally slept on...

just my 2 cents: microkorg xl is an overlooked MONSTER and a shitload of fun. if this had a moog decal slapped on it, people would be calling it a classic...

oh and special ups JBL..those things look ILL...wanna pick one up for sure

nice grab. i used to have the microkorg and ejoyed it quite a bit. on the diy side of things, I am having a hell of a time trying to get all the pieces rounded up. GET THE KIT if you get one. I'm trying to get pieces at the local shop but they don't have half the stuff. I have to order both from the usa and england just to get all the right parts. I know it will be worth the while. when it's all said and done i will have spent almost enough to have bought a used mf-101, but at least my box will be more original; plus I can repair it myself.

nice cop on the MK XL its honestly a lot of portable fun and the keys are much better than the older version. I prefer the menu system and the effects are great.
I started to run a lot of synths or soft synths through external speakers and guitar amps fish bowls salad bowls and shitty little speakers, you get some interesting crunch.
I looked at the Gaia once and was told straight up that it alias' like hell. and a lot have been return... I thought it would be a like a roland sh-101 which would be nice... and 'dark'

the thing i dont get about the MK XL is it's weird moulded plastic tray thing around what really should be the edge of the case... looks bizarre

yeah i agree, the microkorg xl isn't the prettiest belle at the ball...the body styling is pretty bad. BUT the sound...dayyyum.