I've owned three of the four. Still have the Microbrute.budda12ax7 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 03, 2017 3:30 pmAny feedback on the minibrute or micro brute...
Or
The ALESIS micron or ion??
I need to get a decent synth for recording ...
The Micron/Ion synth engine is probably the most "analog" like of the '90s/'00s era virtual analog synthesizers. I liked the basic tone of those synthesizers even better than the more celebrated Access Virus and Nord engines. Of course, the Micron is hampered by being in essence a preset machine. It is the very definition of tedious to program that thing. The Ion, on the other hand, puts all of that stuff right out on top for you to program to your heart's content. But Ion's also have issues with their outputs that crop up over time, as did mine. $250 to fix it. I'd love to have that synth back now.
The Microbrute also everything right out in front. Unlike the Alesis, no chords. All monophonic. One oscillator instead of 3. A Steiner-Parker style filter as opposed to a whole bunch of modeled filters. Full size keys on the Alesis vs little ones on the Microbrute (though Minibrute is full-sized). The Microbrute is a neat little synthesizer. If I'm playing keys live in a situation where I'm not just playing keyboards all night that is the one synthesizer I take with me. The control voltage matrix is cool for getting it to play with other CV stuff. I like to plug other things into the filter and warp the signal. Guitar, drum machine, etc. I use the sequencer for tonal bursts and I have a couple of sequences programmed in for things that I'd normally use my iPad for but in the instance I'm only bringing one thing out, then I've got the sequence. Tonally...it's no Moog. It can get raunchy in a hurry but I have a harder time getting it to smooth and subtle. It takes some getting used to, even coming from other analog synthesizers. It is not my #1 (that's my Vermona Mono Lancet module), but you'd be hard pressed to spend $250 on a better analog mono.
One other thing to take into consideration if you have a MIDI or USB keyboard. Arturia's Model D ships 12/15. A near clone of a MiniMoog for $299. I've had mine on preorder since July.