SYNTHY GOODNESS!

[daystcity]

Yello all tbers. I was listening to some jamiroquai and others recently, and I was wondering what (affordable) synths you all use or have heard about to get some funkiness when you can't get it out of you're bass?

Thanks much!

[Visirale]

Originally Posted by daystcity

Yello all tbers. I was listening to some jamiroquai and others recently, and I was wondering what (affordable) synths you all use or have heard about to get some funkiness when you can't get it out of you're bass?

Thanks much!

Depends on what affordable is to you, and what resources you already have.

For a hardware based synth, you can't go wrong with the Alesis Ion or Korg R3 (which has a 300 dollar rebate to make it around $500 for a month or so). I'd go with the R3 out of those two. I had the ion and didn't care for it much.

But if you want ultimate power and versatility, go with software synths. NI Absynth is pretty powerful... but if you want a little bit of everything, I'd go with Reason 4.0. The Thor Polysonic Synth in it is AMAZING and has some incredibly lush sounds. Add a few other synths, an amazing sampler, drum machine, advanced looping, effects, mastering suite, and it's one heck of a package. If you're a student you can get it for around 200... if not 400. But get it and a good midi controller and you're set.

And if money is of no object, for monosynth I'd have a moog voyager, and for polysynth, I'd get a Dave Smith Instruments poly.

But you said money is a concern, so I'd go with reason .

[tplyons]

Unfortunately I've been forced to sell all my keys, but I enjoy a few boards here and there.

I definitely prefer a hardware synth, none of this software garbage.

However, Alesis does some great stuff rather inexpensive.

[Visirale]

Originally Posted by tplyons

Unfortunately I've been forced to sell all my keys, but I enjoy a few boards here and there.

I definitely prefer a hardware synth, none of this software garbage.

However, Alesis does some great stuff rather inexpensive.

I agree that a good hardware synth can't be beat, but have you used reason? JMJ said here on the boards that ImaRobots keyboardist ditched his whole live rig of multiple keyboards and now just uses a midi-controller and a laptop. It's starting to become a trend. I'd say Reason is steps above the virtual analogs except maybe the Access Virus, and not too far off real analogs. The graphical user interface makes tweaking very easy and very extensive so that anything is possible. If you just want some awesome presets, then the Korg has some of those... but if you're willing to spend the time learning about sound synthesis and modulation, Reason can be an extremely powerful tool.

[Traver]

Reason may be a bit much if he has no experience with synths whatsoever...

[keb]

Currently I have an Alesis Ion, an old Yamaha DX7IID, and (even older) Moog Taurus pedals. At some point I'd like to replace the Ion with a Prophet '08 and perhaps add a Moog Little Phatty to the whole setup. Also on my wish list is an old Korg Delta string machine and a Roland D-50 (I love old synths from the '70s and '80s.)

It's kinda funny, I have far more synth GAS than bass GAS.

I've dabbled a little with software, but I've found I just like hardware better. Really just a kind of warm and fuzzy comfort thing than anything rational.

[daystcity]

Reason seems interesting, Thanks for all the replies guys, I knew there would be some great knowledge out there, I'll check out the korg and ion as well.

[Lex]

Moog Little Phatty WITHOUT question.

It's a really good fun unit.

[Visirale]

Originally Posted by Lex

Moog Little Phatty WITHOUT question.

It's a really good fun unit.

Stage II over the stage I. Arpeggiator and midi sync are nice...

[Lex]

Originally Posted by Visirale

Stage II over the stage I. Arpeggiator and midi sync are nice...

Agreed!