Need suggestions for an affordable monophonic synthesizer

I'm hoping to find something good for below 600 dollars.

I need the following features:

glide/portamento

midi or trigger sync

good sounding VCOs (not tinny or digital)

good LFOs, vibrato, or tremolo

resonance that doesn't absolutely kill the bass

I've been leaning towards the MC-202, but it's price range has gone up a lot recently, and I can't afford to pay 800 dollars right now.

The Atomosynth Krakken looks like a pretty good alternative to me, but I can't really find anyone talking about it, and the demos are on youtube, so I cant really tell all that well how the VCOs are.

I'd really like some suggestions/advice.

Why not http://www.doepfer.de/Dark_Energy_e.htm

or http://www.davesmithinstruments.com/products/mopho/

Just asking because there is a lot of talk about them. I don´t own any hardware myself but eventually plan to buy some, too. But then I discovered the DIY-Synth-World and ask myself if I should try that, just for fun.

Well, I've heard that the Mopho is pretty shit, and heard some high quality samples from the keyboard version, and it's really not my thing.

I'm interested in the Dark Energy, and I figured someone would probably recommend it, but I have a just have some concerns about it. First off, there's no built in glide, and while there's supposedly some cheap glide add-on, I can't find hardly any info on it, where to get it, or how to install it. Second, $625 USD is pretty high for me for something that I haven't really seen/heard the kind of sounds I want coming out of.

I've considered the whole DIY synth thing myself, and I've done some work around building circuits and modifying existing ones, but I really want a sturdy, reliable mono synth, and I've never made anything myself that didn't require constant maintenance and resoldering with heavy use.

  On 2/28/2011 at 11:11 PM, analogue wings said:

The CS-10? Isn't it's only input method CV? I have no CV gear, and I need to be able to sequence. Also, there's none going for less than $700 USD atm.

It's a great sounding synth though, and I'll keep an eye on it on ebay in case it goes lower, and in case I learn to play the keys well some day.

Anyone have any opinions on the Waldorf Pulse? Any good?

Oh lol, you meant the CS-01? Since the image you posted didn't show up, I thought you meant the CS-10 from the image url.

Yeah, not so sure I want to go that route. I know it's true analog, and you can milk some decent sounds out of it, but it's not really worth what people charge for it these days, not to mention the time/money of a retrofitting kit.

How about the Nanozwerg? Anyone know anything about it?

i can highly recommend the Doepfer Dark Energy (I have one and it's awesome). Don't get a Mopho no - you may as well get a virtual analogue with a load of presets - sounds exactly the same - full of shit trance presets and sounds you wouldn't use in a million years.

I also have an MFB SynthLite II, and whilst I haven't used a Nanozwerg, I can attest to the SynthLite's awesomeness. Be aware that the build quality and reliability is quite poor on MFB gear however. Sounds great though!

The other thing I was going to recommend is the Vermona Mono Lancet - fully analogue monophonic sound module with MIDI etc. Looks lovely, but I haven't used one myself so can't really say much about the sounds.

edit: with regard to the Glide add-on for the Dark Energy - it's really cheap and easy to fit. I bought mine without it, and my girlfriend bought me the Glide option as a Christmas present. It was about £15 delivered and took me all of 5 minutes to fit - you just put it in the already drilled hole and attach the wire to the right connector which is very simple to find. Honestly, it's was so easy and quick to fit, nothing to worry about at all.

edit edit: you said you hadn't really heard the kind of sounds from the Dark Energy that you want - what sort of thing do you want from a monosynth? the Dark Energy is fantastic for acid bass, sub-basslines, cutting mono leads sounds, blips and squiggles and also capable of a useful variety of kick drums. it cuts through a mix really well and sounds very beefy and full - it's main forte is definitely bass and acid sounds, but it is quite versatile once you master programming it. if you've never used a "proper" analogue synth with no presets or "help" of any kind before though, you might find yourself getting frustrated with it.

I would second the DE with one caveat, it's not quite such a good deal if you're in the States. If I was in the States I would save up a bit more and get one of the new SEMs.

Also, wrong forum.

  On 3/3/2011 at 1:42 PM, BCM said:

with regard to the Glide add-on for the Dark Energy - it's really cheap and easy to fit. I bought mine without it, and my girlfriend bought me the Glide option as a Christmas present. It was about £15 delivered and took me all of 5 minutes to fit - you just put it in the already drilled hole and attach the wire to the right connector which is very simple to find. Honestly, it's was so easy and quick to fit, nothing to worry about at all.

 

edit edit: you said you hadn't really heard the kind of sounds from the Dark Energy that you want - what sort of thing do you want from a monosynth? the Dark Energy is fantastic for acid bass, sub-basslines, cutting mono leads sounds, blips and squiggles and also capable of a useful variety of kick drums. it cuts through a mix really well and sounds very beefy and full - it's main forte is definitely bass and acid sounds, but it is quite versatile once you master programming it. if you've never used a "proper" analogue synth with no presets or "help" of any kind before though, you might find yourself getting frustrated with it.

First off, thank you for the long and helpful post. This is the kind of help I wanted.

I'm certainly convinced. I'll probably go for the Dark Energy + glide kit now.

I'm desperate to get those sounds that you simply can't get out of vsts or poly synths, and integrate them with my music. The main kind of sounds that I'm looking for are acid bass, analog drums, deep heavy sub-bass, and screaming glide leads, and this seems to fit the bill.

  On 3/3/2011 at 3:26 PM, Adam Beker said:

http://losynths.blogspot.com/2011/02/losynth-analog-monosynth-vst.html

Very funny.

  On 3/3/2011 at 3:38 PM, kakapo said:

wrong forum.

Yeah, figured that out right after I posted it. Probably why I hadn't been getting many posts. Oops.

look on youtube for video tutorials for fitting the glide kit (there's plenty). as i said, it's piss easy, but always good to watch someone else do it first...

also, some suppliers will sell you the dark energy with the glide kit already installed - musikhaus thomann certainly do. they're based in germany, but they do ship to the US - not sure if would be more economical to buy in america though.

glad to be of help :)

  On 2/28/2011 at 9:26 PM, ganus said:

Well, I've heard that the Mopho is pretty shit, and heard some high quality samples from the keyboard version, and it's really not my thing.

 

I'm interested in the Dark Energy, and I figured someone would probably recommend it, but I have a just have some concerns about it. First off, there's no built in glide, and while there's supposedly some cheap glide add-on, I can't find hardly any info on it, where to get it, or how to install it. Second, $625 USD is pretty high for me for something that I haven't really seen/heard the kind of sounds I want coming out of.

 

I've considered the whole DIY synth thing myself, and I've done some work around building circuits and modifying existing ones, but I really want a sturdy, reliable mono synth, and I've never made anything myself that didn't require constant maintenance and resoldering with heavy use.

  On 3/3/2011 at 1:42 PM, BCM said:

i can highly recommend the Doepfer Dark Energy (I have one and it's awesome). Don't get a Mopho no - you may as well get a virtual analogue with a load of presets - sounds exactly the same - full of shit trance presets and sounds you wouldn't use in a million years.

 

I also have an MFB SynthLite II, and whilst I haven't used a Nanozwerg, I can attest to the SynthLite's awesomeness. Be aware that the build quality and reliability is quite poor on MFB gear however. Sounds great though!

 

The other thing I was going to recommend is the Vermona Mono Lancet - fully analogue monophonic sound module with MIDI etc. Looks lovely, but I haven't used one myself so can't really say much about the sounds.

 

edit: with regard to the Glide add-on for the Dark Energy - it's really cheap and easy to fit. I bought mine without it, and my girlfriend bought me the Glide option as a Christmas present. It was about £15 delivered and took me all of 5 minutes to fit - you just put it in the already drilled hole and attach the wire to the right connector which is very simple to find. Honestly, it's was so easy and quick to fit, nothing to worry about at all.

 

edit edit: you said you hadn't really heard the kind of sounds from the Dark Energy that you want - what sort of thing do you want from a monosynth? the Dark Energy is fantastic for acid bass, sub-basslines, cutting mono leads sounds, blips and squiggles and also capable of a useful variety of kick drums. it cuts through a mix really well and sounds very beefy and full - it's main forte is definitely bass and acid sounds, but it is quite versatile once you master programming it. if you've never used a "proper" analogue synth with no presets or "help" of any kind before though, you might find yourself getting frustrated with it.

  On 3/3/2011 at 3:38 PM, kakapo said:

I would second the DE with one caveat, it's not quite such a good deal if you're in the States. If I was in the States I would save up a bit more and get one of the new SEMs.

 

Also, wrong forum.

I would agree on the Doepfer Dark Energy. If the price feels a bit steep, just look for a second hand one. I just bought one for $490 shipped, and it was in the original box, had the manual, looked brand new, etc.

And BCM is dead on with it, it is great for bass/leads/FX-Squiggles and so forth. Plus if you aren't down for just CV control it also has MIDI in and USB.

Oh, I know, I got it. I'm loving it.

how much do Roland sh2s fetch these days?

Something like $800, give or take

a friend of mine is about to get the Mopho

should i warn him? he read some great reviews of it he said

yes, warn him.

sh101 is always a good choice for a first-step, $400 monosynth

I had a DSI Evolver, really nice. Kind of sorry I sold it, probably will get a polyphonic version one day.

meh he's stubborn. not that it really matters he makes techhousish stuff

sure he'll love it for about a year then sell it...

My housemate has a mopho, he doesn't use it much. I want to poly it to my Tetr4 for an extra voice, but he would probably notice its absence despite not using it...