The Synth Thread...

All instruments that aren't guitars (or bass guitars).
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StevenO
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Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by StevenO » Sun Jul 15, 2018 3:10 am

Yeah, that's what I was thinking... On paper, the 32 seems kind of lacklustre. In person, it is too. But I keep randomly stumbling upon clips (of usually more than one, linked together) and I end up wanting one. :D

Aesthetics aside, the Behringer Neutron would probably be the better purchase... HOWEVER, if I can't create music with what I have, then the problem isn't the gear. Why does this stuff have to be fun and expensive?

What's got you into the Metallic sounds lately? I've yet to get quite there... I do every now and then somewhat crave a Yamaha DX sometimes, for how lovely horrible they sound to my ears, but I'm looking to find another super cheap one (I found a DX 100 at a thrift store for around $100, but didn't jump on it).

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Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by mackerelmint » Sun Jul 15, 2018 4:04 am

I wonder if there's any reason these days that a 3 oscillator monosynth like the model D couldn't be reworked to be polyphonic and have patch memory. Behringer would sell a ton. That whole linking moogs together scheme is for the birds, and Dave Smith figured it out 40 years ago.

Sure would be nice.
StevenO wrote:
Sun Jul 15, 2018 3:10 am
What's got you into the Metallic sounds lately? I've yet to get quite there... I do every now and then somewhat crave a Yamaha DX sometimes, for how lovely horrible they sound to my ears, but I'm looking to find another super cheap one (I found a DX 100 at a thrift store for around $100, but didn't jump on it).
While that wasn't directed at me, it resonates (har) in that I like those metallic sounds too. There's something grand yet horrific about the DX sound generally, but it does clangorous things so well... the volca FM keeps making me think, but then 3 voices is pretty limited. And it also might be enough for me. I have FM8, but soft synths don't really turn my crank, and it would make a great way to program patches to load onto the volca.
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Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by StevenO » Sun Jul 15, 2018 4:21 am

The volca is fine, but very limited and toy-like. And considering they're not that far off, price-wise, from a DX7... Well...

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Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by mackerelmint » Sun Jul 15, 2018 4:53 am

Really? How much are DX7s going for? Last I looked the TX versions were over 400, so I said "nevermind" to that. You're not wrong about the volcas being limited and toy-like, I'm just thinking that for my purposes, those limitations may not matter. If I can get 6 operators for not much more than a volca, that'd be nice. I'll have to keep my eyes peeled, I guess.
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Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by StevenO » Sun Jul 15, 2018 7:02 am

Yeah, I see them around $400-$500, in good condition and serviced, but have seen the other DX series for around the $250-300 range, and that's in Canada. The Volca FM is around $250 up here. It's a little too small anf fiddly for me, personally, but it sounds good. Though three voices isn't enough for me.

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Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by optofonik » Sun Jul 15, 2018 7:24 am

I still own all 22 but most of them are in storage now since computing power and VST programming has gotten so much more robust. This picture is from about 1999. If you look closely you'll see... the laptop that controlled it all.

https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/ ... e=5BCD5365

For about 5 year prior to the the above upgrade one x486 computer ran MIDI sequencing synced to an Akai DPS12FX digital multitrack that replaced a Fostex Model 80 multitrack; the second computer, a x386, ran MIDI synth editing software.

https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/ ... e=5B9ECCCB

Today things are a bit different...

https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/ ... e=5BE5F99D

(I don't see an option to post a picture as an attachment, hence the links)
Last edited by optofonik on Sun Jul 15, 2018 7:02 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by mackerelmint » Sun Jul 15, 2018 3:04 pm

StevenO wrote:
Sun Jul 15, 2018 7:02 am
Yeah, I see them around $400-$500, in good condition and serviced, but have seen the other DX series for around the $250-300 range, and that's in Canada. The Volca FM is around $250 up here. It's a little too small anf fiddly for me, personally, but it sounds good. Though three voices isn't enough for me.
Oh, well, shit. That's a no brainier, then. I've seen 4 operator Yamaha FMs go for dirt cheap. Sadly, most of the patches I really like use 6.
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Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by OffYourFace » Sun Jul 15, 2018 11:04 pm

Re: metallic sounds, just for percussive sounds. Percussive melodies and unique rhythm sounds.

I’ve got everything I need and then some. I just like... stuff.

Also I wouldn’t pay more than $300 for a nice DX7. I love my TX416 but big heavy rack gear is a pain. It sounds way better than a DX7 though.

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Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by StevenO » Sat Jul 21, 2018 4:42 am

So, basically, every morning around 6 am, I turn all my synths on, make a coffee, and record something for my cat. It's rarely "good" but always fun and silly, and I usually only have about 10 or so minutes to actually do anything before I head to work.

Here's this morning's little ditty (it's a little crunchy at times because I didn't have the levels right):

https://soundcloud.com/steven-o-4/music-for-cats

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Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by Telliot » Sat Jul 21, 2018 5:39 am

StevenO wrote:
Sat Jul 21, 2018 4:42 am
So, basically, every morning around 6 am, I turn all my synths on, make a coffee, and record something for my cat. It's rarely "good" but always fun and silly, and I usually only have about 10 or so minutes to actually do anything before I head to work.

Here's this morning's little ditty (it's a little crunchy at times because I didn't have the levels right):

https://soundcloud.com/steven-o-4/music-for-cats
That’s awesome! What are using for the drums? Is the sequence your SH-01a?
The cool thing about fretless is you can hit a note...and then renegotiate.

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Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by StevenO » Sat Jul 21, 2018 6:02 am

The drums are from my Korg Electribe 2, which is also triggering/syncing up with the sequence I punched into the SH-01a. The little meowing cat-like melody line is from the Prodigy. I was trying to make something a tad obnoxious, but I kind of actually like it. If my Roland SH-2000 was working, I would have used the Funny Cat setting and maybe even the Frog Man setting for a bass line. Oh well!

;)

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Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by OffYourFace » Sun Jul 22, 2018 11:18 am

Dope

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Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by StevenO » Mon Jul 23, 2018 8:50 am

Thanks! It's pretty terrible, but it's just for fun. :)


I saw Arcade Fire again last night, and holy moly.. Every time I see them, I wind up wanting an old Korg MS-20. They (the one guy uses two quite liberally throughout the set) make them sound so good. Just fantastic. I think Mike, you're not the biggest fan of them? I'd be totally okay with having one, personally. :)

Not sure how the reissues live up to the old ones, but I have the itch!

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Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by Singlebladepickup » Mon Jul 23, 2018 9:01 am

I've got a Volca Beats coming in the mail today! It's not a pro drum machine, but it was $85 shipped and it's the closest to the real thing I've ever gotten (i've used digital piano and midi keyboard to make drum sounds, and had a po-12 making a bit of rhythms for a second before it broke). Pumped for some shitty snares and hats!

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Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by OffYourFace » Mon Jul 23, 2018 9:11 am

I like the MS-20 okay but I like the MS-10 more believe it or not. It’s weird that the MS20 lacks PWM but the MS10 has it.

A lot of people like the MS20 reissue.

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