Nord Lead 2x vs. Moog Little Phatty

pmaraziti · #1 06-01-2010, 03:35 PM

Wishing to alternate between bass and synth for a project I'm along the lines of Massive Attack, NIN, Portishead, Archive etc., I'm considering adding a synth to my setup.

One of the band members already plays and enrich our sound with a laptop synth controlled by a midi keyboard. I think that though a second synth focusing on the low end would be a nice addition. It's quite a lot of money (I need a separate amp on top, right?) , but I'm thinking about...

Do you have experience with the Nord Lead 2x and/or the Moog Little Phatty? Do you reccommend any of these or others for the purpose?

Thanks a lot in advance, Paolo

superbassman2000 · #2 06-01-2010, 09:19 PM

why not both? haha

in reality, they are both phenomenal synths and I would say it's all about personal preference along with the type of sound you are trying to get. To be honest, considering the cost of both synths you might even want to check out softsynths--you could get a few VSTi options and a decent computer and a midi controller as well.

However, of the two, I vote for the Nord

pmaraziti · #3 06-02-2010, 03:28 AM

Uhmmm what sound you'd say the Nord is better for vs. the Moog?

Yeah... all software might seem a possibilty... although is the one I know the least about.... I need to do a serach here...

Actually, one thing I was thinking of as well: would instead a Moog Taurus 3 be a better companion? E..g anybody plays bass guitar on top of a Synth Pedal system like the Taurus?

superbassman2000 · #4 06-02-2010, 07:09 AM

personally I like the nord because to me you can get more sounds out of it. To me, the phatty sounds like a phatty regardless of how you are changing the sound, which could be a good thing, if that's the sound you want.

As far as picking which synth to get and whether you should get a taurus, I would suggest that you consider what you want to do with the band and what sound you want to get. Check out samples at the homepages and on youtube if you want an idea of what each can do and go from there.
Do you need a taurus? can you play the lines one the taurus that you need to play?

a_magg · #5 06-02-2010, 07:45 AM

I'm actually in the same boat looking at synths, but rather than offer a suggestion (since I'm not sure still myself) I wanna offer you a inexpensive alternative to buying another amp for the synth.

I currently use the Radial Bigshot i/o instrument switcher to go between my bass and my EUB. Makes it 1-click to switch between them, and the one input has adjustable gain for something hotter.

http://www.tonebone.com/re-bigshot-io.htm

Hope this helps!

SteveC · #6 06-02-2010, 08:16 AM

The Nord kills. My keyboard guy has a couple. Best I've heard. The Clavs (think Superstition) are fantastic, as are the "B3" sounds.

superbassman2000 · #7 06-02-2010, 08:37 AM

also check out the access virus--it's a fantastic bass synth!

Joeykun · #8 06-02-2010, 08:42 AM

I have owned alot of synths over the decades. I tried just about everything out there. So here is my 2 cents....

The Nord Lead 2X is great. It has more voices so its definately more versitile. The sounds are great and and the basses are really fat. You can get it to sound like a Taurus, Mini Moog, Prophet, etc. I owned the rack mount version and used a Roland PK-5 and Korg X5D to control it. Really nice.

I dont own the Little Phatty. But, that synth is more like the Moog Rouge than a Mini Moog. Yes, it is analog and has some great sounds but I believe the Nord Lead 2X competes rather well with it!

For my money I would go with the Nord because of the greater options it provides.

pmaraziti · #9 06-02-2010, 02:51 PM

Gents, thanks for the suggestion. I was also looking at the DSI Mopho keyboard. How would it compare to the others? the size is very attractive and maybe it'll suffice for the purpose ?!?!

pmaraziti · #10 06-03-2010, 04:17 PM

Ok, today I walked into the one of my company's offices, I travel a lot and today I was away from home. I get introduced to a new hire and my eye falls on his screen and I see a picture of a mixer and I ask: "Are you into music?"

Minutes after we go through his 9 year of bass experience and what he does more recently: he supports trip hop and alternative bands helping them with production... nice! ... I tell him about my wish to enter the synth word... he's a vast experience of synth projects.... when I describe my needs he goes: " a DSI Mopho keyboard is for you".... it was the little trigger I needed and I've ordered one!!!!!

wish me luck in this new experience!

Joeykun · #11 06-04-2010, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmaraziti

" a DSI Mopho keyboard is for you".... it was the little trigger I needed and I've ordered one!!!!!

wish me luck in this new experience!

I like the DSI stuff. I own the Prophet '08. There is some encoder issues going on where they jump when tweaking the knobs. They use some deoxit to correct the issue but it returns. There is some OS updates to correct them that seems to be working ok.

Here is a good forum to use if you have questions. One of the engineers is on there (Chris) He is a great source. You can always PM me as well. The Mopho and the Prophet share many of the same parameters:

http://prophet5.org/index.php?sid=3e...8ac1d902220f1d

Good luck entering the synth world!

superbassman2000 · #12 06-04-2010, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeykun

Good luck entering the synth world!

lol you'll need it--if you ever thought bass GAS was bad, you are about to enter a whole new world. In a year and a half, the OP might own the little phatty, MoPho, Nord Lead, AND taurus pedals!

Joeykun · #13 06-04-2010, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superbassman2000

lol you'll need it--if you ever thought bass GAS was bad, you are about to enter a whole new world. In a year and a half, the OP might own the little phatty, MoPho, Nord Lead, AND taurus pedals!

Tell me about it..........

pmaraziti · #14 06-04-2010, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superbassman2000

lol you'll need it--if you ever thought bass GAS was bad, you are about to enter a whole new world. In a year and a half, the OP might own the little phatty, MoPho, Nord Lead, AND taurus pedals!

Gas doesn't exist....

Yeah, indeed, that's what I'm afraid... speaking of which... I'm assuming I can run the synth through my bass rig...or

pmaraziti · #15 06-04-2010, 04:11 PM

thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeykun

http://prophet5.org/index.php?sid=3e...8ac1d902220f1d

Good luck entering the synth world!

superbassman2000 · #16 06-04-2010, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeykun

Tell me about it..........

<gratuitous synth porn>

O. M. G.

that is quite a collection!

Jerry J · #17 08-14-2010, 12:20 AM

I REALLY didn't need to find this thread!

I've really wanted to find a synth to fool around with for quite some time. I'm thinking that I want to start out with a Roland Juno 60/106. From what I've read they are great starter synths that sound decent.

I've gotten to fool around with both a 106 and a 60 and had a blast even though I didn't know a thing about them. But I was like a kid with a new toy.

What really got me started on all of this was a Squarepusher video on Youtube. A guy playing bass to a synth that he programmed...now isn't that a real one man band?

bassguppy · #18 08-14-2010, 01:02 AM

I think you really want a Nord Electro 2. Hey look...there's one in the non-bass classifieds.

pmaraziti · #19 08-14-2010, 01:04 AM

By the way gents... I finally decided to go for none of the above!

...but instead bought a Dave Smith Instruments MoPho keyboard.... lovin'it!

narud · #20 08-14-2010, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superbassman2000

also check out the access virus--it's a fantastic bass synth!

some good sounds out of the virus but my buddies started falling apart with light use within weeks