hardware synth recommendation

so i've been using this one VSTi, Vivaldi MX, for years. i love the features and have made some of my favorite sounds with it. however, the aliasing and some other things have really started to bug me, so i'm looking to see if i can replace it with hardware. here's what i would like (minimum):

4 voices, 2x osc per voice, ability to use 2nd osc as modulator

ADSR per osc, tone control per osc, pan per osc

portamento/glide (bonus: per osc)

bonuses: more knobs, fewer menus; analogue oscillators; routable outs

quick searches have pointed out the DSI PolyEvolver and the Alesis Andromeda. i'd have to play around with them to see if they're right as (like everything) they come with mixed reviews.

anybody here using something like this? know of it? i'm open to those DIY modular kits if they're not too insane, but i'd prefer a single-unit solution.

Most analogue polys are going to topple over at the "pan per oscillator" hurdle. I think only the two you mention have that. Routable outs will be the other sticking point in the analogue domain.

Other analogues that do most of what you're after are the DSI Prophet 08, the JoMoX SunSyn, Oberheim Xpander, Oberheim Matrix 12...

Not one of them even remotely affordable :)

In the digital domain, there's the Korg Ms2000, Oberheim OB12, Novation Nova, Alesis Ion, Nord Lead, Waldorf MicroWave...

excellent post! thank you!

although it has had the unfortunate side effect of making me a little obsessed with the sunsyn. FUCK.

interesting fact: you can still get stereo/better audio by adding "&fmt=18" to a youtube url, even if there is no HQ link.

these synths seem to all use saws/square waves for their basic tones. i always think of sines as "the basic unit of synthesis" . . can i achieve this with filters? do you know why that is?

Digital wise if you don't want too much aliasing and a sound a cut above the average VST then the Blofeld or Nord Modular.

Analogue wise a modular like Doepfer, Analogue Solutions, Analogue Systems aren't too expensive for custom setup.

the Sonic Core ASB range is very good. I have the Pro-12 (a Prophet clone) and it's very nice indeed. Was actually considering selling it, but just can't bring myself to - it's too cool.

Vivaldi MX is an fm synth right?

Sounds like you're after a digital FM synth, you should be able to find some cheap 80's ones. If you want it analog you could stack cyndustries' Zeroscillator's I guess.

ya maybe a couple of cheap 80's FM synths then you could route to your hearts content.

I've got an MS2000 and it's really flexible. There are 2 outs, which are stereo most of the time, but you can create a double timbre layered patch and pan them out right and left and then you've got 2 mono signals.

Are you going to be sequencing in a computer? If so I'd really recommend just getting a synth you like the sound of and doing the rest with something like PD or max or something. I just built a patch that can control 5 cc's w/ adsr envelopes.. Meaning you can put one on anything that's got a control value.

Don't think that the features of the synth are the limiting factors.

can someone link me to studio pics thread

please :)

thanks dan