synthesizer - it's time to get one

[SadFac3]

I use a Ensoniq ESQ1 digitally controlled analog synth. Check out some of Ensoniqs earlier synths.

[spacetrip]

looking at the ms2000 i love the sounds but all the knobs and things i can tweak scares me away. when i first tried producing music i used ableton n all the things i could mess with just fucked with my head too much to the point where i couldn't do anything cus i was focusing too much on messing with one sound. that's why i love the 404. i've never owned a synth and don't even really know how to play a keyboard! i kinda wanna use it to use in the background of my beats. or maybe come up with a simple loop and keep it going. the ms2000 looks just crazy! i have no idea how to program synths. it does have the dirty sound i like though, but why spend $500 on something that i probably will get TOO lost in? that's what i'm thinking. maybe i've overthinking it too much.

i need to keep it simple but gives a nice warm sound...
Shruthi-1 looks pretty dope...can anyone please give me a little more info on it? i wanna know if it's simple to use or a beginner would have trouble with this unique looking instrument!

and then the miniak looks like a good choice too! ahhh decisions decsions...

[ellaguru]

after your saying, a xiosynth or a microkorg then...
ps

SadFac3 wrote:
I use a Ensoniq ESQ1 digitally controlled analog synth. Check out some of Ensoniqs earlier synths.

damn that one sounds hot!!! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncIoh2CP3Lc)

[Rabot]

Shruthi-1 is a really fun synth but it's also a bit complex if you never meesed with any synth.

To be honest I learned ALOT on the MS2000. That's what got me into synth to be honest.

If you're a total nub get a microkorg or a MS2000. Microkorg is a bit harder to mess around with tho.

[spacetrip]

If you're a total nub get a microkorg or a MS2000. Microkorg is a bit harder to mess around with tho.

dangggg, the ms2000 looks huge and i have a small room but if it's really the easiest one to use then i might just have to get it...still trying to see any other options you all have to suggest! but it seems like the best ones have been listed so far.

[springwater]

Dont be afraid of the knobs. Software knobs is totally different than hardware knobs. Think of all the shit you can do with an MPc and there aernt that many knobs but a lot of it is intuitive. The knobs on a synth make it easier to program than a lack of em. When you gotta menu dive to create a sound, its a pain. When you got all the knobs, you say "pitch up" hit that knob, filter" hit that knob. Once you get into envelopes and modulation and, thats where it gets weird, but who uses that shit besides dubstep and trance dj's. You just need a waves, pitch and filter and amp, everything else is for show if your only concerned with the notes. Once you get into modulated band passes and pitch envelopes and LFO, then it gets weird but thats when the fun starts.

[lodger]

3 really important questions here are:
what is your budget, what kinds of sounds do you want to create, and do you need a keyboard to be part of the unit?

for 350 or so these days, there are some decent late 90's va synths such as the JP-8080, the ms-2000, and....if you're willing to pay about $400 to $500, the ever crazy access virus tabletops (I have ALWAYS wanted one of these).

realistically, the results from most of these can be done via vst...for analog look at the Alturia moog emulations that are commercially on offer or the KORG MS-20 which is only $50 as a standalone///which is honestly an amazing bargain.

[Astromass]

Hey
I've had a lot if success with synth apps in the iPad....highly intuitive control, lots of variety, and a perfect companion for sampling with the sp series samplers!
You can even control iPad synth apps with regular midi controllers.
Animoog is one of the coolest synths ever created, software OR hardware!

Word.
Todd
Soundcloud.com/stormy-acres

[Unfolding]

3 really important questions here are:
what is your budget, what kinds of sounds do you want to create, and do you need a keyboard to be part of the unit?

Exactly.

Just bought an Arturia Minibrute the other day. Was surprised at the price tag for all analogue plus midi & USB. Also kinda curious about how limiting/liberating a monophonic synth could be (worst case scenario: resample multiple notes to make chords). Turns out it's no problem at all. It works amazingly well, there's no learning curve at all.

Honestly the analogue thing was secondary to wanting a desktop synth that has all it's controls on it's face & a built in keyboard. Basically anything that rips off an SH-101.

Bonus cheat mode: Arturia made the keyboard able to send multiple midi notes, meaning that you can use it as a midi controller with a polyphonic synth while still sending out monophonic sound. Got it hooked up to the SH-32 for incredible sound stacking, set the SH-32 to one note chords & I'm in drone pad heaven.

[ellaguru]

Just bought an Arturia Minibrute the other day. Was surprised at the price tag for all analogue plus midi & USB. Also kinda curious about how limiting/liberating a monophonic synth could be (worst case scenario: resample multiple notes to make chords). Turns out it's no problem at all. It works amazingly well, there's no learning curve at all.

Honestly the analogue thing was secondary to wanting a desktop synth that has all it's controls on it's face & a built in keyboard. Basically anything that rips off an SH-101.

i don't really know if a mini brute and an sh101 are sounding comparable, but what i know is that the mini brute is the real business of now: like the microkorg few years ago (not in therm of sound, obviously), this one is to be destined to become a new classic.
many people i know told me that it's a real beast.

[Unfolding]

i don't really know if a mini brute and an sh101 are sounding comparable, but what i know is that the mini brute is the real business of now: like the microkorg few years ago (not in therm of sound, obviously), this one is to be destined to become a new classic.
many people i know told me that it's a real beast.

Yeah the sound's not really comparable, more like the workflow- no presets, no sequencer, gotta know your oscillator's timbre, ADSR filter & amp envelopes, basic arpeggiator, built in keyboard. Main thing for me is being able to stack like 5 oscillators with their own dedicated exaggeration dials, that is nice. The 'brutaliser' dial isn't too useful. Filter's res & cutoff is decent, not amazing. LFO hasn't blown me away just yet.

It is great, maybe too early to call it a classic. Plus there's somewhat of a monosynth renaissance going on right now. Get this:
Moog have just put out another new monosynth. This one comes complete with a Flying Lotus cosign: http://pitchfork.com/news/49225-watch-and-download-flying-lotus-original-composition-for-new-moog-analog-synth/
http://www.moogmusic.com/products/phattys/sub-phatty
^ dunno why they picked Lotus, he's not really a synth guy (his tones sound much the same no matter what gear he uses), rather he's a producer with serious DAW technique. Weird choice, Moog.

[spacetrip]

My budget is trying to spend under $350

I want raw, dirty, and warm sounds..

Novation Bass Station looks super dope, can anyone fill me in with info about this and their experience?

Korg MS2000 is basically the sounds I really like...super dirty and crunchy raw. That's the sounds I really want to make mostly...but looking at it, it looks intimidating and it's pretty big (I want something smaller for my tiny room) But others that have experience with this said it's not that hard. i do like how it has knobs seems fun to use.

Ensoniq ESQ1 might be my second favorite choice. it's super affordable and has great sounds! less knobs though and looks like you have to rely on the screen mostly, which is harder to work with i read here. also it's pretty big.

alesis micron i like how warm it sounds, but heard mixed reviews about this.

micro korg xl is another one i was looking into...ofcourse its small which is great for me.

arturia minibrute looks super dope! love how tiny this is

Animoog for the iphone i have, it's dope. but man it's hard to use on my tiny screen.

[ellaguru]

Korg MS2000 is basically the sounds I really like...super dirty and crunchy raw. That's the sounds I really want to make mostly...but looking at it, it looks intimidating and it's pretty big (I want something smaller for my tiny room) But others that have experience with this said it's not that hard. i do like how it has knobs seems fun


micro korg xl is another one i was looking into...ofcourse its small which is great

My opinion
If you want that ms2000 sound take it or the microkorg if you don't want to tweak.
An alterative to those could be the novation xiosynth25: small,good sound and very tweakable.

[spacetrip]

yeah i just might have to get the ms2000 because i love culp and his sounds, and he said he uses the ms2000

love what these guys do:
-culp
-sensei himself
-dpeee
-scruffnuk dust
-samiyam

[Unfolding]

My budget is trying to spend under $350

I want raw, dirty, and warm sounds..

Novation Bass Station looks super dope, can anyone fill me in with info about this and their experience?

Probs won't find a 2nd hand 'brute in that price range, hope I'm wrong there... An Owl (dude who used to lurk here) had a Novation A-Station, sounded sweet. Some of the jams he showed me with it sounded HUGE & totally pro, the pad sounds he made with it were super warm & complex, leads were suitably loud & gnarly.

Catch was he found the workflow a bit of a challenge- it's rackmount, has a densely knobbed face, the numeric menus were weird to navigate. If you can learn it right it's gold, just expect a hell of a curve.