What's the best Virtual Analogue Synth for £500

I'm thinking about getting my first proper synth but not yet. I was down in Digital Village last week and was messing with Roland Gaia Sh-01 synthesizer and it was a lot of fun. Yeah I know these synths are just essentially computers with a control surface but the ease and tactile nature of playing with the sounds was just a tonne of fun! Anyways just thought I get you guys thoughts. Oh I imagine I'll get the obligatory get a real analogue synth comment from BCM lol!! ;p

EZ mate

Can't you get a real analog for £500?

Yeah, really though Promo, why do you want a VA synth? With that much cash you can buy an SH-101, or a get a Dark Energy and have a little cash left over. If you want poly, you could get both a Juno 106 and a JX-3P for that. Isn't having deep, warm sound, and an instrument with actual lasting value, more important than gimmicky controls?

One of the best solution for real analog at that price would be the dsi mopho keyboard. I would totally get that before the gaia.

The desktop module is way cheaper (somthing like 250£) but if you want some real controls and keys, get the keyboard version... It's within your price range and it's a pretty awesome for a entry level monophonic analog synth.

ez guys

get a pretend analogue synth

how about a used Virus? I think you can get a B or C model in that price range, if you keep an eye out.

Roland Gaia Sh-01 looks really good

get it!

Or how about for the same money

Yamaha DX 7

Casio CZ1

Yamaha A5000 or Akai s5000

Even the original nord mdular should be 500 pounds?

i would buy a real analog-dave smith tetra

conversely

on the virtual tip a nova -novation desktop which is 6 part multitimbral,tons of routing/oscillaton,audio in,digital efx for all 6 channels,great arpeggriator ,solid as a brick uk build

a true beast for cheap -used-for way under 500 pounds sterling

check both out bro

  On 11/9/2011 at 1:14 AM, ganus said:

Juno 106

limited modulation options/no velocity sensitivity/distinctive chorus/many thin sounds without chorus

quite a good machine for multitracking on a computer or if you're a sysex superhero

imo not so good in an acid setup where tracks are recorded live... EQ/mixing very fiddly with this one... too far in the background or too close in the mix

let me give you an example, there's no s&h but you can control the filter cutoff via sysex and simulate the effect, i guess you will know if that's going to annoy you or not

and get your nail polish remover out for those dodgy filter chips ~ Chunky OG

If I had that to spend I'd get a seconhand blofeld and a maschine mikro.

I haven't answered your question.

Ez guys

ha you asked for it. XD

I have a korg MS2000 and love it. I'd also easliy jump for a dopfer or blofeld.

2nd hand (ebay, SOS classifieds)

+

Itronix pIII touchscreen laptop

or

slow down, everyone

For God's sake.

EZ

dx7

definitely get this for that legendary 303 sound. everything is EZ vintage in this unit, classic sound I tell ya. big ups to rolland.

*jots it down*

i'd get a Nord if I had that sort of money.....

You could get many different things for £500. second hand there's loads to choose from.

I reckon you could probably find an old Virus or Nord for around that much, maybe even a mono machine. really depends what you want from it though. Just try to test as many as possible.

the other option, which I think I'd do, is to get a couple slightly cheaper things. less fashionable but more toys.

for example, you could probably get a Novation K station for less than £200 and honestly, it's a criminally underrated VA synth. that'd leave you £300 for other fun boxes.

I'm sure you could pick up some analog bits too. I've always been blown away by the DSI stuff, sound wise at least. Never really felt at home with the interfaces though. I think the Slim Phatty lands around £500 ish too. Could even pick up a sh101 and have some change.

Just try loads of things. VA stuff often gets criticised for not having that analog character, but that's not to say that none of these digital synths don't have their own quirks and charms. They do all have their own little characters though, just hunt about a bit.

forget to mention the alesis ion for a luuurvley UI tho its not the best all rounder for sound it is one of the most analouge sounding VA's

the AN1x is an underdog but the UI isnt the best

I dunno what to get to be honest its just something I'm sort of musing over. Problem is you see someone demoing a synth on Youtube and you think 'shit I'd like that'. Really there are too many choices.

quasimidi rave-o-lution 309

  On 11/12/2011 at 2:34 AM, BCM said:

quasimidi rave-o-lution 309

hey the 309 isn't bad at all it just has an awkward sequencer and too many menus