KVR Audio

Jazzsevdalinka · Post by **Jazzsevdalinka** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 1:10 pm

I am buying my first analog synth and I can't decide beetween Telemark,Leipzig S and Moog Thin Phatty.Any advices are helpfull and other suggestions in price range.I will use it in many different genres if that is helpfull
Thank you!

filter303 · Post by **filter303** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 1:28 pm

I can't comment about the sounds of these synths for except that I've heard some impressive Leipzig demos. But the ability to save patches is a very important feature for me. It's certainly something to keep in mind. I would choose phatty from that list even though I am not the biggest fan of the newest moogs.

damoog · Post by **damoog** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 1:39 pm

filter303 wrote:I can't comment about these synths for except that I've heard some impressive Leipzig demos. But the ability to save patches is a very important feature for me. It's certainly something to keep in mind. I would choose phatty from that list even though I am not the biggest fan of the newest moogs.

I can't comment on the others but I own a Moog little phatty (keyboard version) and after owning it for 6 months I can't recommend it enough...other worthy mentions are arturia minibrute,Moog minitaur...eBay is still a good place to look,forget bidding on classics as they sell WELL over the top,instead refine your search to buy it now and try variations on spelling as this well often get you a real bargain pal

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 1:45 pm

Of the 3 you mention, the Leipzig S is the most interesting to me. The built in sequencer could make it a great choice for putting drum sequences together, and would compliment my Dark Time/Dark Energy combo perfectly. The demos sound pretty good too.

whyterabbyt · Post by **whyterabbyt** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 1:57 pm

Personally, if I was looking at another analog, Id seriously consider the patchpanel SEM...

himalaya · Post by **himalaya** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 1:57 pm

If this is your first analog synth, then personally I'd want one with full parameter access with one knob per function. Therefore, Telemark would be my choice from your list. It's a semi modular synth so you can start immediately and when the inspiration strikes you can experiment with patch cords. Lipzieg-S is also superb synth with lots of mangling potential. The step sequencer is very cool indeed. But the way the resonance is designed has put me off. It does not work as you'd expect.

SP is very nice but you'd need to play it to see if you like the interface. Both, Telemark and Lipzieg S will provide a greater range of sounds.

If you can stretch your budget why not try Oberheim SEM Patch Pro? Like Telemark, it gives you some patchability plus a midi interface, but the main benefit would be the sound and perhaps better built quality.

Another synth I'd look into is the new MFB Dominion X. It's already available. The features are unbeatable at this price which hovers around the same level as your listed synths. The sound ain't bad too, judging by some demos. This synth really has a lot going for it, including memories. Definitely worthy of further investigation. I was going to get one, but MFB is about to release a new version with a redesigned filter, so I'm waiting for that one instead.

Also, once you get a 'big' synth, get Dark Energy (there are lots on the second hand market). It's just too much fun! It makes some very cool effects. Mind you, the new one is redesigned and has lost the LFM parameter which I find to be very useful, especially at high resonance, it just screams! So, the old one would be my choice for effects.

Something to look forward to is the new Boomstar range from Studio Electronics. Google it and then drool...

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 2:03 pm

himalaya wrote:Something to look forward to is the new Boomstar range from Studio Electronics. Google it and then drool...

Drooling already

... check out second-hand ATC Tone Chameleon too. There are some real bargains around. I got mine for less than £200 ...

@himalaya When did the change the Dark Energy? I have the old one, and wouldn't want to change a thing.

monopoli · Post by **monopoli** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 2:07 pm

Judging from demo's on Youtube the Telemark sounds great and would be my choice.
But some of the credit probably also goes to the guys who made the demo's; they obviously know what they're doing.

There are less good demo's of the Vermona Mono Lancet. I have one and actually like it a lot. It's a bit misrepresented on Youtube and there's not much hype around it but I would definitely recommend it too.

Jazzsevdalinka · Post by **Jazzsevdalinka** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 2:21 pm

I will go through all of yours advices and make my choice,thank you for replying.I an kinda interested in SEM.

himalaya · Post by **himalaya** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 2:22 pm

thecontrolcentre wrote: @himalaya When did the change the Dark Energy? I have the old one, and wouldn't want to change a thing.

It's a very recent change, all to do with the CEM chip. Read here:
http://www.doepfer.de/Dark_Energy_II_e.htm

I also have the old one and wouldn't change it or sell it. It's too much fun.

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 2:36 pm

himalaya wrote:It's a very recent change, all to do with the CEM chip. Read here:
http://www.doepfer.de/Dark_Energy_II_e.htm

Thanks. Seems like it'll be a very different beast ...

Doepfer wrote:because of the pure analog circuit and the temperature control it takes about 30 minutes until the VCO is in tune.

Don't like that "modification" too much.

himalaya · Post by **himalaya** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 2:45 pm

monopoli wrote: There are less good demo's of the Vermona Mono Lancet. I have one and actually like it a lot. It's a bit misrepresented on Youtube and there's not much hype around it but I would definitely recommend it too.

Vermona makes quality stuff. MonoLancet is highly regarded for good sound. Perfourmer is a very original synth with lots of cool features. I love the way vermona designed their knobs. They look perfect with those deep grooves, which make one finger turning very easy. Is this how you feel too?

I'd love to see another synth from Vermona, one that occupies middle ground between the MonoLancet and Perfourmer with a more classic signal flow/feature set: 3 oscillators, PWM (the standard way not via mod wheel!) LP+HP, hard sync, x-mod, dual LFOs, throw in a step sequencer like on Leipzig-S all for around £650...That would be very tempting.

zerocrossing · Post by **zerocrossing** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 2:51 pm

thecontrolcentre wrote:
himalaya wrote:It's a very recent change, all to do with the CEM chip. Read here:
http://www.doepfer.de/Dark_Energy_II_e.htm
Thanks. Seems like it'll be a very different beast ...
Doepfer wrote:because of the pure analog circuit and the temperature control it takes about 30 minutes until the VCO is in tune.
Don't like that "modification" too much.

That's what every manufacturer is going to recommend with any VCO based synth. I think the Phatty has the same warning but in practice, for me (I live in a very temperate part of the world), my experience has been that by the time my computer has booted up and DAW is up and running both VCO based synths, the Slim Phatty and the ATC-x, are stable.

If I were to recommend an analog VCO based synth to a new user I'd wholeheartedly point to the Studio Electronics boxes. I don't know if the Boomstar (based on the ATCs) is out yet, but I love my ATC-x. I got mine used for $800 and it's fantastic.

monopoli · Post by **monopoli** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 4:25 pm

himalaya wrote:Is this how you feel too?

Yes, it looks like it sounds; warm and creamy and the knobs and switches feel very sturdy.

By the way, I just put my Dark Energy on the Dutch version of e-bay (marktplaats) I just don't like the sound that much and found instead I prefer using my Vermona Mono Lancet or Akai VX90 (which uses the same CEM3394-chip as the Dark Energy if I'm correct)

kritikon · Post by **kritikon** » Wed Jul 04, 2012 5:14 pm

Must admit that I don't often look for analogue that much recently, but there are some tasty looking pieces in this thread that I never knew about (NZ is such a long way away and anything sold here tends to be at least doubled in price). But with the exchange rate at the moment that Telemark is looking very tempting. 700 quid is not much over $1400, and I'm over in the UK in September, so I might have to go along to some shops. I like the look of most of those SE synths, but have to admit I really don't like edit pages in an analogue synth. Gimme one knob, one parameter any day. Although...that Boomstar with a 303 filter...I've got some mortgage money left over from the house build, and I'm sure I can make do without doorsteps etc. 50 quid for concussor modules...

.

Jeez, the missus would kill me, but they've got so many knobs...

Buying new analog synth