Analog or Digital synthesizers.
Moderator: TGN
Analog or Digital synthesizers.
I've been looking to get a synth and i'm not sure whether I should buy an analog or a digital synthesizer. I've been looking around I heard it's best to start with a microkorg or an ms2000 but then I heard the yamaha tg-33 which is a digital synth and I've got to say I was impressed. Just want to hear which type of synth you prefer and why you do.
Re: Analog or Digital synthesizers.
To be honest, people will rave over analog synth but I'm pretty sure a bunch of stuff you would enjoy are made on digital.
Just find a cool polysynth like a ms2k/microkorg and jam.
Just find a cool polysynth like a ms2k/microkorg and jam.
Re: Analog or Digital synthesizers.
Yeah i'm really into the Ensoniq ESQ-1.Rabot wrote:To be honest, people will rave over analog synth but I'm pretty sure a bunch of stuff you would enjoy are made on digital.
Just find a cool polysynth like a ms2k/microkorg and jam.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DiXuvkiH-c
Love the 80s feel of it and I found one for 125.
But of course i'm only 13 and money's tight with my parents so you know might not get it right away.
- hseiken
- Winner of Silver Medal

- Posts: 1307
- Joined: Mon Aug 01, 2011 2:11 am
- Location: San Diego
- Contact:
Re: Analog or Digital synthesizers.
Analog generally has deeper sounds but synths like the Micron/Ion/MiniAK (it's literally the same synth in 3 different packages) have been heralded for not aliasing, being versatile and having full bodied oscillators and effects.
I personally prefer analog but digital has it's charm too, especially older digital synths.
If you are looking to get a synth, I highly recommend the micron for price + versatility. It can be snagged used from 150$ in pristine condition, has 8 voices, is 8 part multitimbral (so each voice can be different sound type), on board sequencer, high quality vocoder (40 band vocoder) and can also be used as a high quality effects device when you set input to pass through. Plus, the pitch bend wheel is just awesome when it lights up.
Don't take my word for it, though. Go to some stores and play around with some gear. I find that's the best way to make a decision on these things...gotta get your hands dirty!
I personally prefer analog but digital has it's charm too, especially older digital synths.
If you are looking to get a synth, I highly recommend the micron for price + versatility. It can be snagged used from 150$ in pristine condition, has 8 voices, is 8 part multitimbral (so each voice can be different sound type), on board sequencer, high quality vocoder (40 band vocoder) and can also be used as a high quality effects device when you set input to pass through. Plus, the pitch bend wheel is just awesome when it lights up.
Don't take my word for it, though. Go to some stores and play around with some gear. I find that's the best way to make a decision on these things...gotta get your hands dirty!
Re: Analog or Digital synthesizers.
Yeah thanks man will do!hseiken wrote:Analog generally has deeper sounds but synths like the Micron/Ion/MiniAK (it's literally the same synth in 3 different packages) have been heralded for not aliasing, being versatile and having full bodied oscillators and effects.
I personally prefer analog but digital has it's charm too, especially older digital synths.![]()
If you are looking to get a synth, I highly recommend the micron for price + versatility. It can be snagged used from 150$ in pristine condition, has 8 voices, is 8 part multitimbral (so each voice can be different sound type), on board sequencer, high quality vocoder (40 band vocoder) and can also be used as a high quality effects device when you set input to pass through. Plus, the pitch bend wheel is just awesome when it lights up.![]()
Don't take my word for it, though. Go to some stores and play around with some gear. I find that's the best way to make a decision on these things...gotta get your hands dirty!
This would be the micron correct?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8Kiw4aoex4
- hseiken
- Winner of Silver Medal

- Posts: 1307
- Joined: Mon Aug 01, 2011 2:11 am
- Location: San Diego
- Contact:
Re: Analog or Digital synthesizers.
Yup, that's the one. Highly underrated. My only real gripe with it is 1 knob patch programming. You get used to it with short cut keys, but then again, I'm just a knob twiddler, so I likes me panels of knobs.
There's patch editors for PC though you can use with it to ease the pain a little.
There's patch editors for PC though you can use with it to ease the pain a little.
Re: Analog or Digital synthesizers.
Had s Ms2000, sold it to get a micron. Sold that thing within 2 weeks.
I knob editing? NEVER AGAIN FOR ME.
Even the MicroKorg kinda annoy me...
I knob editing? NEVER AGAIN FOR ME.
Even the MicroKorg kinda annoy me...
Re: Analog or Digital synthesizers.
Awesome! im 14, so right now im only using casio sounds with sp fx. once i move out and get a job, i wanna get a microkorgFluentt wrote:Yeah i'm really into the Ensoniq ESQ-1.Rabot wrote:To be honest, people will rave over analog synth but I'm pretty sure a bunch of stuff you would enjoy are made on digital.
Just find a cool polysynth like a ms2k/microkorg and jam.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DiXuvkiH-c
Love the 80s feel of it and I found one for 125.
But of course i'm only 13 and money's tight with my parents so you know might not get it right away.
Re: Analog or Digital synthesizers.
Oh wow thought I was the only younger one here haha, but yeah I know what you're saying.rrr* wrote:Awesome! im 14, so right now im only using casio sounds with sp fx. once i move out and get a job, i wanna get a microkorgFluentt wrote:Yeah i'm really into the Ensoniq ESQ-1.Rabot wrote:To be honest, people will rave over analog synth but I'm pretty sure a bunch of stuff you would enjoy are made on digital.
Just find a cool polysynth like a ms2k/microkorg and jam.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DiXuvkiH-c
Love the 80s feel of it and I found one for 125.
But of course i'm only 13 and money's tight with my parents so you know might not get it right away.
-
LAZER BEAR
- Member
- Posts: 341
- Joined: Tue May 22, 2012 6:59 am
- Location: Concord, California
Re: Analog or Digital synthesizers.
I have an analog synth, Dave smith mopho keyboard. And a microkorg. If money is tight then as a first synth I would recommend a microkorg just because I feel it is easier to get good sounds out of it and it is polyphonic whereas its not easy to find an analog synth that is polyphonic for anything under $1000., then once you understand synthesis better, go analog. Analog is generally more expensive. Especially if you want a polyphonic.
-
tape smoke
- Funniest Member of the Year '09
- Posts: 1877
- Joined: Tue Jul 10, 2007 4:06 am
Re: Analog or Digital synthesizers.
romplers like the mc 505 and 307 have cool cinematic sounds, arps and cool effects, and pretty good drums too, dont be fooled by all the crappy techno songs on them, becuase you can use them for any kind of music, but still they are overpriced. your mostly paying for 10 pounds of metal .
I/O - EHT - Evangelist.

