I want a synth

SO I am after a synth. I have never used one. I will go and say other than audacity I have never produced before. I really just want something I can tweak to make little tunes or samples out of, then be able to record them to the PC somehow.

 

I have some requirements though

 

1. I want a new one. Made for sale in 2015/6. I always used to buy old stuff and it always came broken.

 

2. I need it to last me a while, so nothing too limiting.

 

3. I don't have a DAW so I need something that will work with freeware. USB preferably.

 

4. I want something I can put on a table. My posture is terrible and when I meditate I can't breathe properly it will be nice to have an excuse to sit with my back straight for a few hours.

 

I am thinking...Roland JD-XI ??

 

Thanks!

What is your price range?

My first was a DSI mopho module. I learned a ton about subtractive synthesis on it. It can be had with or without a keyboard.

 

One of the newer moogs would probably suit you and last you for a long time to come (sub 37).

 

I would not recommend the JD-Xi. I'd rather use an old casio or yamaha PSS.

 

The Yamaha CS Reface might suit you well and its polyphonic.

Novation Bass Station II.

  On 6/14/2016 at 3:15 AM, Consequences said:

3. I don't have a DAW so I need something that will work with freeware. USB preferably.

 

 

Download Reaper right away! You won't regret it. Not freeware but the only limitation on the demo is a nag screen, other than that it's identical to the full version.

 

http://reaper.fm/

  On 6/14/2016 at 3:31 AM, dudenorth said:

My first was a DSI mopho module. I learned a ton about subtractive synthesis on it. It can be had with or without a keyboard.

 

 

Same here. You really need to use the controller app to get the most out of it, but it's a perfect jumping off point, and pretty cost effective. I'd probably also recommend the Korg Volca line. They sound pretty good, and don't cost very much.

Edited June 14, 2016 by BaggerMcGuirk

price range makes a big difference here.

The korg minilogue seems like a very good and reasonably priced starter synth.

Moog Mother32

Vouch for the BS2. Start with basic synths

  On 6/15/2016 at 6:31 AM, Chris Toffer said:

Vouch for the BS2. Start with basic synths

This.

 

Please, don't do what I did. Don't start off with an MC-303

I'm looking into getting a cheap'ish synth source myself, and am looking at the microkorg's, korg r3's & alesis micron going around 200,- euro's second hand here. Anyone here familiar with the micron?

All sound great and are very capable synths but unless you are good with subtractive synthesis already and can easily work out abbreviations on small displays then they are not that intuitive. Sure, anyone can learn on these but most just end up slightly tweaking presets and off you go.

I'd recommend something less menu driven and more hands on. Or middle ground would be a Blofeld. Easy matrix system and the graphical display will teach you more than you think.

The micron sounds pretty good but it's a bitch to edit. Too much packed in that little thing.

BS2, minilogue, mopho, and blofeld all seem like great choices.

Yeah I'd agree with not starting with something packed with menus. I have a MicroKorg XL and it makes some great sounds but I do tend to edit presets rather than starting from scratch as I don't actually enjoy staring at numbers on a screen that much. In comparison, I also have the Volcas and they're great fun as they're completely hands on. The analogue ones are certainly limited but can still come up with a fair range of sounds and being able to associate differences in sound with tweaking actual knobs means I'm learning far more directly from them...

  On 6/15/2016 at 4:25 PM, sweepstakes said:

BS2, minilogue, mopho, and blofeld all seem like great choices.

.....and the Moog Mother32

There are actually loads of really good options out there but it does depends on what the user wants from it and mainly... Budget.

Edited June 15, 2016 by Chesney

Yup. The ones I echoed are all around the $500 mark - budget but not so budget that you start making the kinds of compromises that defeat the purpose of hardware. Any lower than that, you should just get used gear, or a volca or two if you don't mind the limitations.

  On 6/15/2016 at 4:05 PM, Chesney said:

I'd recommend something less menu driven and more hands on.

  On 6/15/2016 at 4:10 PM, sweepstakes said:

The micron sounds pretty good but it's a bitch to edit.

 

The internet says there are software editors for it, kind of defeats the purpose of hardware maybe :) , but I won't mind spending time creating a tool front end for it in Renoise's guru tool ( https://www.renoise.com/tools/guru).

 

 

 

Then midi map most parameters to a bcr2000 midi controller for hands on control. If I had more money to spend, I'd look for the more knobby synths.

Edited June 15, 2016 by Guest

Yeah, a digital synth with an editor is kind of redundant really. You might as well get a good softsynth. Hardware is alot about interface and hands on fun. And of course, they all do sound different.

If I went back in time i'd have loved to have learned on a CS5 or similar. Sh09, MS20 etc are going to be real fun and are never limited as every sound and between is usable. Timeless waveforms and filter combos will never go out of favour.

I'd rather recommend nord rack 2. A swiss army knife of synths. They have to be pretty cheap now. Anyways they worth every penny.

  On 6/15/2016 at 9:05 PM, telefunken said:

I'd rather recommend nord rack 2. A swiss army knife of synths. They have to be pretty cheap now. Anyways they worth every penny.

Best answer so far. But it's definitely not new...

  On 6/15/2016 at 9:05 PM, Chesney said:

Yeah, a digital synth with an editor is kind of redundant really. You might as well get a good softsynth. Hardware is alot about interface and hands on fun. And of course, they all do sound different.

If I went back in time i'd have loved to have learned on a CS5 or similar. Sh09, MS20 etc are going to be real fun and are never limited as every sound and between is usable. Timeless waveforms and filter combos will never go out of favour.

Usually I'm sure this is the case, but with the Micron, I'd say it's likely the opposite for many owners. I know for me and at least some others, the menu diving is ridiculous and never gets much better. I bought it because price + sounds possible were a great deal.

I second the recommendations for Minilogue and the Volca stuff. Arturia Microbrute or Minibrute might be worth considering as well.

Edited June 15, 2016 by Night Channel