Synthesizer

[Illegitimate Species]

So i have no clue what type of synthesizer i should buy. Also i'm on a tight budget and need a vocoder function. I'm torn between Kaossilator Pads and Microkorgs. I'm not planning to make synth the basis of my beats, but to add as a filler to create a 90's chicago/westcoast sound (like do or die and bone thugs). The Legendary Traxster -synth over samples- type ish. I feel like a microkorg would be more precise with matching synthesizer keys with a sample, but i have no talent when it comes to jamming on a keyboard. Which piece of equipment do you believe would be more accurate to create that sound? Thank you.

[cartesia]

I think you should avoid the kaossilator because it is limited in both the style that you can play it and the sounds that it makes..

Microkorg will take a little more patience, but will be able to get sounds much closer

[drewzle]

yep...the Kaossilator really can't replace a synth. and you'd benefit heaps from knowing a synth before owning a kaossilator.

[Acities]

i would say, look on Craigslist for old 80's Ensoniq synths, i ended up buying a Ensoniq ESQ1 for $140, Ensoniq makes great gear hands down and they were all made in the USA, unfortunatly they dont really have vocoder options, but i would say go for a real synth rather than a newer Microkorg toy lol, just my opinion but im happy with the synth sounds ive come across on my ESQ1, listen to my EP called Return From Sender and take a listen to the synth sounds on there, good luck on finding a synth!!!

[Illegitimate Species]

i would say, look on Craigslist for old 80's Ensoniq synths, i ended up buying a Ensoniq ESQ1 for $140, Ensoniq makes great gear hands down and they were all made in the USA, unfortunatly they dont really have vocoder options, but i would say go for a real synth rather than a newer Microkorg toy lol, just my opinion but im happy with the synth sounds ive come across on my ESQ1, listen to my EP called Return From Sender and take a listen to the synth sounds on there, good luck on finding a synth!!!

Such a dope EP! "Plants" and "Moonboots" had me zonin. Great sounds

As for the synth, i guess it's gonna be the best quality that i can find in my price range. I know for sure i won't be getting a kaossilator now (atleast not for this type of project). I'm really leaning towards the microkorg toys because of their size, features, and prices.

[cartesia]

the microkorg is a real synth, some people just wont accept it

[Acities]

i had the microkorg at one point, wasnt really feeling it that much, different strokes for different folks!!!!

[V-F!]

the microkorg is a real synth, some people just wont accept it

FOR REAL!! I have had a PolyEvolver keyboard, own a moog phatty and the microkorg holds it's own against all of them. It has it;s own sharp digital almost 8-bitish tone to it. VERY fat bass. Take it from a guy that has lusted for all kinds of synths but always goes back to the microkorg. Get it!

[cartesia]

I dunno if id go that far hehe.. I'd take one of the others if i had to make a choice

[V-F!]

I dunno if id go that far hehe.. I'd take one of the others if i had to make a choice

Word, obviously, BUT, I'm just saying for 300 hundred bucks you are getting a fine synth(just for the love of god do not use the presets!!) as opposed to 2000 dollars for a poly evo is kind of overpriced for what you get out of it. I dont miss my poly evo, but I sure as hell would miss my microkorg.

[Acities]

like i said, Ensoniq made some of the best sounding synths out there, people are heavily sleeping on them, and people are letting them go dirt cheap, instead of spending 300 on a microkorg i would say you could prolly get 2 61key Vintage Ensoniq synths for that price, Microkorg is decent i must say, but it still has that clean digital sound that most people hate, Ensoniq's are digital but have analog filters on them so it sounds warmer and dirtier like the Moog or Sequencial Circuit synths, hell i'd even try to go with a vintage Korg or Roland over a newer Microkorg!!!!

[dishwater]

i posted about the mk in the other thread, i think i meant to post it here

as i was saying mk is dope but maybe you can get something more versatile for the price... for me it's perfect.

a friend of mine is an vintage analog synth freak, and he really digs the sound and possibilities of the microkorg though i doubt he'd pick it over any of his babies, voyager, moog, and so on (he's a greedy bastard, won't give me any of them)

[V-F!]

Dilla/The Neptunes used the shit out of the microkorg, that speaks mad volumes.

[Euclid Ov Oåklånd]

Microkorg is dope little keyboard and the more your venture into learning about sound synthesis the more the potential of it grows. I still know very little about making my own sounds but it's great fun to learn.

[Nothingless1987]

does anyone have any experience with the akai miniak? my impression is that it's an improved/repackaged micron. akai have discountiued these allready (don't know why?) and digi village have dropped the price from £379 to £229 with the og microns being £299. what do you lot think??