/synthesizer/
Images are sometimes not shown due to bandwidth/network limitations. Refreshing the page usually helps.
You are currently reading a thread in /mu/ - Music
You are currently reading a thread in /mu/ - Music
What is a good starter synth? Im considering pic related, under 1000$ please.
>>60703912
im also thinking of a yamaha MX61 cause it seems to be the most generic synth I've seen, somehow generic musical instruments are romantic to me.
>>60703958
>>60703912
you guys fucking suck, back to Kpop waifudom then...
The Yamaha MX61 is not a typical synthesizer in that you don't create your own sounds on it with a subtractive engine. You start with a large bank of pre-prepared sounds and get a small level of control to tweak them. It would be more commonly know as a ROMpler because it's a sampler which relies on Read Only Memory instead of allowing the user to record their own samples.
>>60704018
Wow, I was going to continue on through some of the best modern and used synthesizers today, but apparently you don't have the patience to wait for someone to type.
>>60704042
NO! keep going or I kill Kurdt.
What is a "real" synth then? one without ROM?
>>60703912
what do you need? just something to dick around with starting off or something you'll actually use after you learn? do you want an analogue or digital synth? monophonic or polyphonic? also, what type of synthesis? i imagine you're likely trying to into subtractive shit but you should definitely know what the difference is between the types of synthesis and how they function.
>>60704065
Please do. One which uses oscillators, filters, and amplifiers, and allows you to use LFOs and Envelopes to modulate those three components.
>>60704080
I definiatly want polyphonic and analogue if possible, Im a classically trained piano player and played jazz guitar in college. I'm really into Boards of Canada and I'd like to use a synth to add backing chords to my band, as well as some big single line melodies. I don't expect to get BoC's sound cause I know they use 16 bit samplers and vintage equipment, I understand ADSR and basic synth stuff but I'm a pleb.
>>60703912
Don't go the GAIA.
It's interesting at first and then you realise how gimmicky it is.
KORG Micro is a good bet simply because it's so cheap with so many options
or a second hand Roland Juno D or similar.
Juno's (especially the 106's and G's) can go for up to $2000 but the Juno D has a shittone of nice(!) sounds and second hand it's pretty cheap. The only drawback is simply how bad the control knobs are - they break very easily
The MX61 is great fun and you won't get bored of it
just don't get the GAIA please god.
>>60704084
Does the Roland Gaia have real oscillators and filters? It looks like it does, I think it is digital though
>>60704110
ok thanks for the info anon I appreciate you. the Korg micro doesnt intrest me much cause I need full sized keys to feel comfortable.
get a midi keyboard, trash dick
I only use computers for porn/4chan
>>60704108
Your best bet for a $1,000 analogue polyphonic synthesizer is an old Juno 106. You can buy them factory serviced with all 6 voices working for $999 on ebay, easily, or less if you're patient in searching.
>>60704120
Yes, the Roland Gaia is a real subtractive synthesizer. The key bed is unfortunately very plastic and cheap and the sound engine is not very good. It's digital.
>>60704141
You can buy a $99 MIDI keyboard and plug it into any MIDI enabled synthesizer to expand the keyboard. This would be an incredible option when combined with these >>60704061 except that they only have four voices - only four simultaneous notes can be played. They have other problems, but they are relatively small compared to that.
>>60704182
Just chain 2 JP-08s for an 8 voice Jupiter, $798 plus whatever taxes and shipping costs there are.
>>60704182
wow this synth is beautiful anon I'm seriously considering getting the Juno 106, they run between 700-800 on ebay.
>>60704210
I'm not the guy you're responding to, but the JP-08 kinda sucks, especially for live use. The faders are insanely small and some of the parameters step really badly.
>>60704108
well then you'll likely be just within your price range to either buy some of the classics (junos, moogs, and polysixes) but if you want a newer synth there's always Dave Smith instruments stuff. I've never messed with it but his tetra module seems like it would fit what you need just fine, it has 3 oscillators but only has 4 notes of polyphony and doesn't have a keyboard variant (though that shouldn't be a problem if your budget is 1k since you should have enough left over to buy one separate.) I'd say go for the dsi tetra ($800) and then maybe save up another 50-100 dollars so you can afford a decent keyboard or a semi-cheap synth that has one. If you go for the latter route I'd recommend getting a Yamaha DX7II, they generally run about $250 and are both great as a keyboard and as a synth (though they are extremely annoying to program.) It'll fit right in with BoC stuff too if you use it right, a lot of their early unreleased mixtape stuff (particularly old tunes 2) sounds like it has a lot of cheap fm synthesis in it.
>>60704141
Fair digs.
I think if you want that analogue sound with polyphony your best bet is to go >>60704182
what he said and get a 106. They're expensive but WORTH IT SO MUCH because they have DCO's run through an analogue signal path which means it stays in perfect tuning forever while still sounding super warm and delicious.
You've gotta be lucky to get a good one for $1000 as this guy is saying but if you find one for that much DO NOT HESITATE and BUY IT.
>>60703912
If your starting out i would go midi. Are you running a DAW? Or trying to go the all hardware route?
>>60704167
i think thats 99% of 4chan
>>60704210
For $798 you shouldn't have to work with 8th inch jacks, microscopic faders, and low sample rate audio.
The Boutique synths run at half the audio rate of the System 1 they're based off of. In fact, the System 1 would have 8 voices if it ran at the Boutique audio rate. On the JP08, the cross mod isn't even usable because the fader is too small to tune it precisely. I know this because I owned one for a couple weeks.
>>60704225
Don't buy cheap ones. They will have dead voices, random white noise, and calibration issues in the controls.
>>60704225
Make sure that the vcf/vca voice chips are good in the 106, they will break if they are the original ones and haven't been serviced.
>>60704239
Juno's are like $1200 max for a mint 60, and $900 max for 6/106s. The Alpha Junos are even cheaper, I usually see them on craigslist for $300-600;
>>60703912
This >>60704225 this >>60704182 or maybe an MS-20 Mini, depends what you want.
Don't buy a cheap JUNO-106 though, it'll have dead voices and make you hate it. Buy one that's serviced and working if you go that route.
They aren't real in depth synths, but that's part of the appeal.
>>60704304
An MS-20 Mini isn't going to work for this guy. He's going to need polyphony if you read the thread.
If I went real cheap and just got all three KORG volca's what exactly would I be missing out on?
What does Panda Bear use? I know he goes on about some yamaha keyboard workstation but does he use synths?
>>60704332
Pretty much everything.
>>60704344
he uses this I think.
>>60704234
Oh and just to add to the DX7II keybed part, it has full size, fully weighted keys and is renowned for its high quality. Even if you don't go with the exact setup I suggested, see if you can fit one of them into your budget as the keyboard. It'll really help you transition into messing with synths as a piano player (on top of being a great synth in itself.)
>>60704332
A lot. They're good low budget synths but with a budget large enough to buy all three you can get a better starter setup than that (unless you absolutely need a solid cheap synth/drum machine combo.)
OP here, what samplers would you guys recommend? I know AnCo, Jdilla, Madlib and Grimes all use pic related so it seems I can't go wrong the with Boss Sp303, it looks like garbage though (like all Boss products.)
>>60704344
He made a song called sequential circuits on his last album so he probably uses a prophet 5. also im pretty sure he used a teenage engineering op-1 for a bit
>>60704389
MPC1000 is a solid, clean digital sampler as long as you buy and install jjos on it.
>>60704394
wow this is sexy, Ill never be able to afford real equipment why live?
>>60704321
My bad. That would be my go-to for learning how-to-synth.
JUNO-106 would be my pick then, but it's certainly got a specific sound.
>>60704409
Ok im learning alot here, so JJOS is a free Operating system for the MPC? What is so good about it? MPC looks very nice ive been reading about these for years.
>>60704418
get a job and save up you whiner.
i saved for 2 years before i started buying real gear.
>>60704451
I work my fucking ass off im no neet faggot, Ive just spent all my money on drums, guitars, amps, trumpets, bass, pretty much everything else.
>>60704451
you know real prophet 5's cost a shit ton of money right?
>>60704418
Here are some proper multi-voice synthesizers for you to look up, to help you kill yourself.
DSI Prophet 12
DSI Prophet 8
DSI Prophet 6
DSI Poly Evolver
Moog Sub 37 ($1500 to play 2 notes at a time)
Moog Voyager (Buy 8 for 8 notes at a time)
Alesis Andromeda
Roland Jupiter 8
Roland Jupiter 6
Yamaha CS80
Korg Poly Six
>>60704469
>I work my fucking ass off
so why are you complaining about not being able to afford gear if you work oh so hard?
>>60704495
thanks anon will save this list.
>>60704438
JJOS is a third party operating system developed by a former designer for akai who designed the samplers it runs on originally and likely ran off with the source code to their OS when he left. It costs somewhere between 100-150$, can't remember right now, and when there's a major overhaul you usually have to pay like 20$ for an upgrade key, but without it all the mpcs that its developed for are practically useless compared to most current gear. It's definitely worth it, and you can switch between the various versions unrestricted if you buy the current version.
>>60704504
cause I have to pay health care, car insurance, rent, food, cell phone, and gasoline every month. America is the land of the keks.
>>60704520
IS THERE REALLY A FUCKING WORD FILTER ON C-U-C-K??? DAMN IT HIRO
>>60704494
mhmmm so did my jupiter 8 and dmx.
>>60704504
Not him but bills and what not can be expensive. The moment you factor in other interests and it's pretty understandable.
I spend a ton of money on engines.
>>60704531
lol how new are you/long have you been away from this webzone
baka desu kek senpai
>>60704545
>tfw I had the cash for a Jupiter-8 but bought an R1 instead.
I guess it's a good thing I prefer JUNOs.
>>60704061
>>60704230
>>60704266
Out of curiosity you tried a JU-06? I tried out a JP-08 last week and ultimately decided against it for more or less the same reason. It felt really cramped.
>>60704547
you're saying this like i don't pay bills
i eliminated the extraneous during the period where i decided i wanted to buy some nice gear. no phone, little food, long working hours, shitty apartment, no car, etc. it was pretty fun in retrospect.
all i'm trying to get across is that i hate when i see people complain about not having money for gear when there are so many ways to get what you want. selling drugs helps too.
>>60704603
>selling drugs helps too
I think its time for bed
>>60704588
It still has 8th inch jacks, the sliders are only slightly bigger, and the audio sample rate is still ass hairs.
I would only buy the JX03, and only with the keyboard to use as a battery powered backpack synth with a built in speaker to bring around without needing a big separate case.
I choose the JX03 because the knobs get around the shitty slider problem. And the built-in speaker is actually loud enough to play with acoustic instruments. Neat.
>>60704603
i agree that people can be lazy but they also might live somewhere expensive too. i could probably buy a house in other places for what i pay for in rent
>>60704603
>you're saying this like i don't pay bills
Nah m8, I was agreeing with you.
>>60704619
Good to know. I was curious because I've wanted a JUNO-106 and an MS-20 for awhile now. Think I might just pay the extra and get a real one instead.
>>60704619
Googled it then, 44.1kHz? My main outboard gear is fixed to 48kHz.
That'd be somewhat annoying.
>>60704668
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0xOcfzrMG0
>>60704702
I usually watch this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STkETxJf0wg
Get a nord lead 1 rack, real cheap
There's almost no point in buying a hardware synth unless it's analog. You could get a MIDI keyboard and a software synth of your choice for considerably less than a synthesizer.
If you actually want analog sound, there are lots of cheap starting points like the Minibrute that will certainly get the job done.
>>60704832
while you are not wrong i must say that i just enjoy hardware. i use VSTs too but i just like having a clustered room full of synths. it makes me want to make music. im well aware that its not the most cost efficient but i don't care. i enjoy it
>>60704832
looks fun.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwuHJh3xLdc
How is the Arturia minibrute and microbrute?
>>60704832
A good digital hardware synthesizer is a computer, a dedicated 1:1 interface for the VST, and a top quality DAC all in one box with one power cable.
The set up time for a good hardware synthesizer is seconds compared to several minutes for the laptop, audio interface, midi keyboard, plus the load times for windows, your host, and your vst. Plus there's zero risk of having your audio settings wrong and having either delay or crackling. This makes it much better for live playing, or playing with other people.
Yes, it's true that a laptop is more powerful than a hardware synth. What you sacrifice for that power is the potential for things to go wrong. It's also worth mentioning that programming with a hardware interface is much cleaner and free of distractions compared to a computer - but that'll be different for everyone.
>>60704859
Not him, but I feel you. Gear can really inspire you to be musical.
>>60705006
>Yes, it's true that a laptop is more powerful than a hardware synth
To be fair, generally the DSP can be much more focused and purpose made in hardware.
I've got an AxeFX II in a rack behind me, there isn't a VST around that could compete with that thing for amp modelling.
>>60705145
>there isn't a VST around that could compete with that thing for amp modelling
If someone put the effort into making it, it would. Fact is, guitarists like hardware, and generally have no idea about properly getting guitar signals into a computer, so no-ones bothered to make it hardware. Line 6 made Pod software, but everyone still buys hardware Pod's.
>>60705522
You ever A/B'd PODFarm against a POD from the same generation though?
The hardware in something like an AxeFX is much better than a computer could do without at least some level of hardware to back it up.
The top of the line amp modelling software is garbage in comparison.
Save your money over a few years and buy yourself a macbeth m5, truly awesome piece of kit
>>60704603
>selling drugs helps too.
Hope you like jail, faggot
>>60704110
>Don't go the GAIA.
this, the GAIA is a sampled piece of shit
fucking soundfont player
>>60704120
>Does the Roland Gaia have real oscillators
Nope, it plays samples.
>>60705852
IMO PODFarm vs. a POD sounds similar, presuming you have a decent computer. Comparing PODFarm run on an old shitty PC to a POD is gonna bias the Hardware POD.
Comparing a POD to AxeFX is effectively comparing fisher-price toy car to a go-kart though. You would have to a powerful computer to replicate the sounds on an AxeFX, but it's all digital data. I'm almost certain an Axe-FX doesn't use any entirely proprietary DSP chips. It's probably the same stuff that's stuffed in a top end Roland/Yamaha workstation.
>>60703912
inexpensive but not cheap synths:
Waldorf Blofeld Keyboard (oscilators, wavetables, snappy envelopes, deep modulation matrix)
Yamaha AN1x (great sounding synth)
Novation Nova 2 (beefy sound, great user interface)
Roland Alpha Juno 2 (ultimate analog bread and butter synth)
Korg MS2000 (fantastic user interface, vocoder)
cheap and good monophonic synths:
Waldorf Pulse (great filter)
Waldorf Pulse 2 (snappy envelopes, deep modulation matrix, paraphonic)
Novation Bass Station (very easy to use, love the sound of this thing)
Also you should try a Yamaha DX7. the DX7 is not as cancerous as many people describe it. you can connect it via midi to your pc and programm it. I milk tons of sounds out of this thing.
