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 » Fri Aug 14, 2020 3:11 am

I sold one of my Junos (amongst other things) a little while ago because Covid completely ate my savings... And I haven't really touched synths since then...

But this demo fucked me up a bit and now I'm craving synths again (Behringer Cat, Wasp, and Monopoly):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Txe03KzZnGA

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Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by redchapterjubilee » Fri Aug 14, 2020 4:31 am

I recently traded out my old trusty Microbrute for a Behringer MS-101. In the interim months I began to "gig" on livestreams again and had to pull the whole Berlin School setup out of mothballs. The added flexibility of the MS-101 (MIDI out, hold function, sample/hold) and the more robust sound was a nice upgrade. Like Mackerelmint, I'll be lining up for the UB-Xa. I had a Matrix-1000 in the '00s and loved the sound. Ultimately it frustrated me since I did not have the ability to edit a sound. I'd find a preset I mostly liked, wished I could change a few things to it but couldn't, then I'd waste time scrolling through all the presets trying to find something else.

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Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by BlixaFan » Fri Aug 14, 2020 10:55 am

redchapterjubilee wrote:
Fri Aug 14, 2020 4:31 am
I had a Matrix-1000 in the '00s and loved the sound. Ultimately it frustrated me since I did not have the ability to edit a sound. I'd find a preset I mostly liked, wished I could change a few things to it but couldn't, then I'd waste time scrolling through all the presets trying to find something else.
i think there are a large amount of Matrix editors these days that could help you do that! in fact, i'm looking at adding a Matrix 1000 or a Matrix 6 to the arsenal

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Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by mackerelmint » Fri Aug 14, 2020 12:20 pm

BlixaFan wrote:
Fri Aug 14, 2020 10:55 am
redchapterjubilee wrote:
Fri Aug 14, 2020 4:31 am
I had a Matrix-1000 in the '00s and loved the sound. Ultimately it frustrated me since I did not have the ability to edit a sound. I'd find a preset I mostly liked, wished I could change a few things to it but couldn't, then I'd waste time scrolling through all the presets trying to find something else.
i think there are a large amount of Matrix editors these days that could help you do that! in fact, i'm looking at adding a Matrix 1000 or a Matrix 6 to the arsenal
There are! Buuuuut, the MIDI implementation on the Matrix 1000 is more than a bit lacking. Even getting it to take MIDI input in the first place was a frustrating exercise. I still had a rotten time trying to edit patches when I had one, so I eventually sold mine on, but apparently there are mods to address the MIDI shortcomings. Kiwitechnics has a whole upgrade that they sell that they claim to be a redesign. What that means exactly, I'm not sure, but it does apparently expand the synth's capabilities and make the MIDI actually work well, as well as make all the patches editable. If I were to get another Matrix, I'd probably give the kiwitechnics mod a shot.
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Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by redchapterjubilee » Fri Aug 14, 2020 6:25 pm

Yup. what MIDI it could take was problematic, slow, and could freeze the synthesizer up. It ultimately wasn't worth it anymore. So i moved it on. That was, geez, 10 or more years ago? Since then there have been nicer editors to come but from what I've read they don't work 100% either.

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Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by mackerelmint » Fri Aug 14, 2020 6:48 pm

Right. You fundamentally need to fix the firmware on that thing if not some hardware as well, in order for it to be worth owning.

I guess the Kiwitechnics mod has a guitar synth mode that's optimized for that, which is pretty rad. Maybe I'll get one again if I ever come across a really good deal. Doubt that will happen, though.

*looks*

Oh, shit, poly aftertouch. Huh. Want.
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Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by BlixaFan » Fri Aug 28, 2020 7:25 am

i have been quite intrigued by the Prophet Rev2. I have watched and listened to a lot of demos, and I am thinking this is a much better idea for my next synth, rather than a Matrix 6/1000. I know myself well enough that I will not want to menu dive or use an editor. i like the immediacy of knobs and having everything easily accessible. I'll wait until I can afford an Xpander/Matrix 12 one day...and a VS. Until then, i think i have a solid set up that can only be improved by a solid poly analog synth. The Rev2 seems to tick all the boxes for me :)

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Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by redchapterjubilee » Tue Sep 15, 2020 7:41 am

My poor Juno is under the weather again. I had the vcf/vca chips cleaned up a few years ago but apparently everyone's factory chips are dying even if they've been cleaned of the black goop. So the voice board is off again to have the vcf/vca chips replaced with clones.

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Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by eggwheat » Wed Sep 16, 2020 12:44 am

redchapterjubilee wrote:
Tue Sep 15, 2020 7:41 am
My poor Juno is under the weather again. I had the vcf/vca chips cleaned up a few years ago but apparently everyone's factory chips are dying even if they've been cleaned of the black goop. So the voice board is off again to have the vcf/vca chips replaced with clones.
Yeh..it’s doesn’t last. It will be bad connections from the surface mount components to the tracks. The goop weakens and rots the connections..and it carries on even after removal.
Last edited by eggwheat on Wed Sep 16, 2020 4:58 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by Singlebladepickup » Wed Sep 16, 2020 3:55 am

The Polybrute looks sick. Especially love the built in ribbon controller and the x/y touch controller with movement record. Steiner Parker and Ladder filters, bunch of effects, and the cool looking button matrix.

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Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by redchapterjubilee » Sun Sep 20, 2020 1:14 pm

Already in line for the forthcoming Behringer pro-800. 8 voice dual oscillator prophet 600 clone in a module. Coming in January for less than $600.

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Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by mackerelmint » Sun Sep 20, 2020 10:21 pm

I'm still holding it in a knot for the UB-XA.

It's got a screen on it, which makes me wonder how far it's going to stray from one knob per function. Poly aftertouch is kinda coming back into fashion and it'd sure be nice if it has that.
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Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by redchapterjubilee » Mon Sep 21, 2020 5:19 am

The Pro-800 is bare bones. I'm imagining the UB-Xa will be in stereo, have poly aftertouch, and will feel like an instrument rather than a module. I'm likely to run after the UB-Xa when it pops up, but in the meantime the Pro-800 will scratch an itch I've had for many years. I have never owned a "heritage" sort of analog polysynth. No Prophets, no OB-X's, no Jupiters, etc. All I've ever had are single oscillator Korg/Roland/Akai polys and virtual analogs. The ability to program a simple 5th pad will be worth it, let alone the ability to run it in manual mode.

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Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by mackerelmint » Mon Sep 21, 2020 5:39 am

I hear you. My only analog synth was that Matrix 1000 I talked about being a nightmare upthread. ;D I've never had a true knob per function synth that isn't a plugin and it's a real drag. The Pro-800 isn't THAT bare bones for a legacy clone like that. It's maybe a little surprising they didn't go for the Prophet 5 clone after they made the Pro-1, but maybe that means they're actually trying to get the fauxberheim out the door. I wonder how the membrane buttons are going to hold up.
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Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by BlixaFan » Fri Oct 02, 2020 7:03 pm

and then suddenly... Prophet 5 Rev 4.
i'm in. i'm not sure how yet. but... i'm in.

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