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SYNTHESIZER: do I have to play keyboard...?

T

Terrorstorm

Feb 21, 2005
611
1
38
Wolfsberg/Austria
#1
Hello folks..

I'm a bit confused..
Until now bass was the only instrument I played..and I was able to play.
I am working on an experimental one-man project. I want to create some unique noise/ambient sounds with synthesizers as well as with bass & effects.

As far as bass things go I have no problems. I am using a lot of effects.

Synthesizers are completely new to me and I am really not talented in playing keys. I can do some easy things I learned on my own but it's not enough.
So my main question is.. is playing keyboard very necessary for synthesizers or can synths on their own do enough. :hiding:

I thought midi is the way to go. I bought a midi keyboard and tried software synths with it. But I'll return it because it isn't what I exactly want.

I also want to use the synth live - direct into the PA system.
And I want to be able to use effects with it.

Can you name me some synthesizers/sequencers that work well without great keyboard playing. If possible in the 300-500 dollar price range.

Here's a video of a guy trying his synth with some effects.
That's also what I want to do.


THANKS! :smug:
 
#2
Take a look at the Korg MicroKorg, and the Alesis Micron. Both are very powerful, small, and ~$300-$400.

You don't need great piano/keyboard skill to play funky bass lines and leads on a synth. Typically on a synth you'll only be playing one note at a time anyway (monophonic). It all depends on what you want to do with it. You can play chords and technical piano like parts too.

I play synth bass lines with mine. For me it is more about tweaking the synth than playing complex and difficult stuff. Think Bernie Worrell with P-funk.

IMO, a bass with effects is never going to sound like a synth. Close, but not the same.
 
#5
I don't play keys very well at all and I use Sonar's or Reason's Piano Roll to manually key in parts. It sounds tedious, but if you are used to cut and paste it can actually go quite quickly.

Here are a few tracks that have significant synth (100%) and none of it was keyed in via keyboard (controller).

Then each track is pointed at a soft synth - but could easily be routed to an external, hardware synth too.

Popcorn
54 ways to leave the planet

Every single note was entered via piano roll for drums, keys, bass and other instruments. It was very easy.
 
#6
another HUGE vote for the microkorg. i was sort of in the same position as you when i bought mine. i'm not a keyboard player at all but wanted to incorporate some more sounds into my tunes. it actually works to your advantage that you aren't a keys player if you get the microkorg. the keys are smaller than normal. so it works a lot better and more comfortable to play it sort of hunt and peck style. i've also heard good things about the alesis micron but haven't tried it yet.

besides all the great sounds you can get out of it, and believe me you'll run out of time before you can tweak all the possible sounds, you also get a cool vocoder! it's also midi capable so if you get a midi cable you can use it as a midi trigger. the thing can even run on batteries which it highly mobile. personally i can't say enough good things about it. it falls in your price range too. check it out and have fun. it's really fun to experiment with.
 
#7
For something like what you've posted, I'd say a keyboard is completely unnecessary. That's not really what I think of as synth-driven music in the keyboard and MIDI sense. That's more like knob-twiddling effects stuff. What you really need for that are some strange effects (like a noise swash, for example) that can practically stand on their own (otherwise you'll always sound like a bass through effects) and a noise source (which could be your bass, a synth, blowing on a microphone, sticking a contact mic to anything under the sun, stepping on a cat, and so on). You'll also want a good delay. From there, it's just knob twiddling. If I were to use a synth in that sort of music, I wouldn't actually want to control it with a keyboard, because that would be at least one hand that I couldn't use for playing effects. I'd probably set up some loops in a sequencer and trigger them at opportune times.
 
#8
lemur821 said:
For something like what you've posted, I'd say a keyboard is completely unnecessary. That's not really what I think of as synth-driven music in the keyboard and MIDI sense. That's more like knob-twiddling effects stuff. What you really need for that are some strange effects (like a noise swash, for example)
Click to expand...
Yeah, that looks like a fine tool for what I'm searching! I already have a Truly beautiful Disaster by Effector 13 which has a feedback loop built in.
Link Removed
In the loop are about 10 pedals..so actually it doesn't just sound like bass through effects :) but for a noise project I feel limited. Unfortunately there's no dealer for 4ms pedals in my area..I would have to order from USA or look on ebay...


lemur821 said:
sticking a contact mic to anything under the sun
Click to expand...
could you explain to me what a contact mic is.. and how it works?

thanks a lot, guys.
 
#9
zac2944 said:
Take a look at the Korg MicroKorg, and the Alesis Micron. Both are very powerful, small, and ~$300-$400.

You don't need great piano/keyboard skill to play funky bass lines and leads on a synth. Typically on a synth you'll only be playing one note at a time anyway (monophonic). It all depends on what you want to do with it. You can play chords and technical piano like parts too.

I play synth bass lines with mine. For me it is more about tweaking the synth than playing complex and difficult stuff. Think Bernie Worrell with P-funk.

IMO, a bass with effects is never going to sound like a synth. Close, but not the same.
Click to expand...

I listened to some of the MicroKorg's sound clips and it REALLY sounds great! There's just one thing that bothers me.. Can I include other effects/processors (like in the video I've posted). And I don't mean midi/software effects from a computer program. I mean hardware effects like the 3 in the video.
The synth on its own will sound great but too "well behaved". I would want to make it sound more evil with some effects.

Thanks for the infos so far!!
;)
 
#10
brianrost said:
The TB-303 used in that video has a sequencer built in, in fact it is impossible to play it in real time with a keyboard. It's more like a drum machine.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]is what you want:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

You can even run your bass through it :D

About $200 in the USA.
Click to expand...

A built in sequencer is definitely what I will need, because it can run on its own and I don't have to play keys.
Will check one out.
In Europe they're unfortunately a bit more expensive, but still in my range... so.. thanks!
 
#12
brianrost said:
Good luck Terrorstorm...

BTW that Korg EA-1 MkII has effects built in (distortion, flanger and delay), two independent synthesizers and can even process external audio (like your bass). I think it's exactly what you're looking for and quite inexpensive.
Click to expand...

thats cool, but can you tell me if I still would be able to add extra effects/sound processors. I want to use some of the pedals I already have for bass with the synth I'm going to buy to experiment a bit.
 
#13
Terrorstorm said:
I listened to some of the MicroKorg's sound clips and it REALLY sounds great! There's just one thing that bothers me.. Can I include other effects/processors (like in the video I've posted). And I don't mean midi/software effects from a computer program. I mean hardware effects like the 3 in the video.
The synth on its own will sound great but too "well behaved". I would want to make it sound more evil with some effects.

Thanks for the infos so far!!
;)
Click to expand...

Sure. Just sent the MicroKorg's output through effects before going into an amp. Many players do this.
 
#18
you can also plug devices *INTO* the microkorg. i haven't tried this yet but i'm sure you could get some real weird stuff by plugging a drum machine into the synth and then messing with the synth keys.

and yea, you can run the micorkorg into as many effects as you want. i've messed with running it into my guitar pod xt, moog murf, and vstack OD pedal.
 
#19
Cool!...
does it have a sequencer?
I would probably at times need one.
If not, can you suggest me one that I could use with it...

anyway.. all of you were a big help. Thanks a lot.

Now I have to decide between the Korg MicroKorg and the Korg Electribe...
Hmm.. I want a keyboard which is on the MicroKorg, but I also want a sequencer which is on the Electribe.

I probably also will order a Noise Swash from 4ms pedals which I will use with one of these two.
 
#20
Terrorstorm said:
Cool!...
does it have a sequencer?
I would probably at times need one.
If not, can you suggest me one that I could use with it...

anyway.. all of you were a big help. Thanks a lot.

Now I have to decide between the Korg MicroKorg and the Korg Electribe...
Hmm.. I want a keyboard which is on the MicroKorg, but I also want a sequencer which is on the Electribe.

I probably also will order a Noise Swash from 4ms pedals which I will use with one of these two.
Click to expand...

Have fun with that. They can be touchy, but they sure do sound unique.
 

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