• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Best Bass Synths

#21
SFjonstarr said:
How much are you planning to play keyboards? Are you just looking for something passable to gig with or do you want something you will be happy with for many years of use?
Click to expand...

I'm planning to play keyboard up to about 30% of the time when playing live... so I definately want something that sound better than passable, but I don't want one of those wall to wall analogs.

I've heard the Micron played live and I just loved it, but when I've tried it the problem I had with it is just what some of the people in this thread have already mentioned and that is that it's a hassle to fiddle with the sounds on the fly... that is one of the reasons I dig the Lead so much.

Right now it looks like I'll be waiting til the Phatty gets to my nearest shop, which should be in sometime in august.
 
#22
I believe with the Micron you can make sounds on externally and then put them on the micron, this gfets rid of the limited interface problem. My keyboardest uses an Ion as one of his main instruments, he was telling me it's possible to make sounds on the ion and then put them on the micron (if you know someone that has one?) I would only get the ion if your up to spending the extra money and are going to be using it alot. It's a great peice of equipment. The only problem my friend has had is that because the benders move some wires inside the keyboard, they can get tangled and break and need to be resoldered. The bassist from the electronic band Soundtribe Sector 9 uses a micron frequently and it sounds great live. I can't offer anything about the other ones..
 
#24
Here's what I use in my studio for bass synth.
DSCF0082.jpg


For live, I use an Alesis Micron triggered from a set of Roland PK-5A pedals.

Cheers,
Jim
 
#26
jazzbo8,

Nice dotcom setup there. Mine is much smaller (a 22 space) but just as much unusable for gigs.

OK a few things responding to earlier posts:

1. Moog LP and Voyager are MONO synths, they can only play one note at a time...Micron, Ion, Nord are all polyphonic and can play chordal parts too. They are also multitimbral which means you can have splits...play bass on part of the keyboard while playing another sound (strings, organ, synth, FX, whatever) on the other part.

2. Laptops are giggable BUT a computer plus an audio interface plus a contoller board is THREE things to break down, more cables to lose/break down, etc. If your gigs tend towards rougher venues a one-piece solution might make more sense.

3. Lack of knobs on the Micron is always mentioned but the knobs on old synths were never meant for live performancce control...that's what velocity, aftertouch, wheel, ribbon controllers and expression pedals are for. The knobs are mainly for PROGRAMMING the synth. The Micron does have five performance controls (two sliders and three knobs) and each one is programmable PER PATCH. So on any patch you can control up to 5 things in real time which to me is more than enough.
 
#27
jazzbo58 said:
Here's what I use in my studio for bass synth.
DSCF0082.jpg


For live, I use an Alesis Micron triggered from a set of Roland PK-5A pedals.

Cheers,
Jim
Click to expand...


That's a beautiful thing, right there. There's nothing like a real synth full of knobs, they might look intimidating but actually they're a lot simpler to use than a modelling synth with just a screen and a few dials to change the parameters. I won't even get into software synths... right up there with replacing a vintage SVT with a Seamonkey-approved laptop plugged into a power amp in my book.
 
#28
I use a Micron set up on a small music stand in front of me while I play bass. The micron interface is a little weird, but I don't "make" new sounds at a gig. I make them ahead of time and then just play them at the gig. There are 2 sliders, a pitch wheel and 3 assignable knobs that can be used for anything on the Micron along with footpedals. You can have almost 1000 sounds on the Micron as well, separated into catagories (pads, lead, strings, drums, sfx, etc.) including setting up favorites for quick access (which is what I do for gigs)

My main appeal of the Micron is its size in relation to the sounds. Since I already have to lug around bass gear and PA gear I wanted a very small synth. The Ion is nice too, but I have some friends with them and they have all had problems. You can also find a ton of patches/sounds on the internet for the micron/ion. They are fully compatable.

I also use an Akai Deep Impact bass synth pedal for my basses.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back