Tetra... Prophet 08 rack or something else?

[macmurphy]

I am seriously considering getting one of these. It's one of those Creamware Prophet-5s mashed together with a Minimoog-clone.

I played with the Prophet-5 clone ages ago and I remember I liked it a lot. The Moog... well. It's a Moog. Never used this Moog-Prophet mash but in my mind I think layering a Moog with a Prophet-5 can be cool.

http://www.sonic-core.net/en/products/system1200.html

That looks monstrous! Very tasty

Neil.

[Grain Bastard]

I thought you prefered Olga and could not tell the difference between that and the 'analogue magic' of the Mopho? Im interested why you are now considering an analogue poly-synth...

While obviously I can't answer such a question about someone's personal preference, I would add the following, which is just my opinion :-

On paper, the Mopho should be a fairly simple instrument to get replaced by a VSTi as it's 'just' a mono 2-osc subtractive analog, of which I have many in the softsynth world that are indeed very good. I won't say names as I'm not trying to get into a 'Mopho is better than X software' debate and I'll agree with many people who suggest that 'X softsynth sounds as good' when the raw sound is analyzed in isolation. However, when used in a track where synths get layered, personally I have a much easier time getting the mix sounding right (to my ears) when some of the parts are 'real' rather than having all softsynths. The sound I want might be almost identical between the Mopho & the chosen VSTi, but generally I have a lot less 'effecting' to do to get the track finished. I see/hear a lot of debates regarding that 'well you won't tell the differences when used in a mix' when justifying a software case but imo its often the opposite - I can hear a problem though it is not with the raw sound emulation that is being discussed.

Now I'll add that this might be down to, in my case at least, workflow, as I don't usually bounce soft synths down to audio until the very end, whereas the analog has to be recorded to audio to use it again for another part. This cuts the 'tweaking' down somewhat and stops me adjusting the filter after maybe I've eq'd it or something and maybe that's the issue (ie me the user and not the instruments.) I'm also not suggesting for a minute that I can't achieve a similar mix with all software but I do have to work at it more and to be honest, I don't want to.

Only a fucknut would suggest that the Mopho is the last word in analog sound creation, its not. It has though, for me, given me back the ability to churn out tracks like I used to when I had access to hardware years ago. When I set about building a setup again, software seemed like the answer for me. It is/has been/will continue to be a hugely impressive part of my setup with software fulfilling duties that I doubt you could get hardware alternatives. That said though, I really am only interested in finishing tracks and the Mopho is a great weapon in allowing me to achieve that goal.

So, err anyway, yeah the Mopho might not seem 'better' at first listen but maybe when you have spent some time with it and used it for some actual tracks rather than just playing around with it, you may well experience something similar to me. Maybe you have no problem with an all software setup and in that case you definately don't need a Mopho and you probably won't see any 'magic' in it at all. For me, the combo of hard and soft works best.

Sorry for OT but maybe the above will help all you 'softheads' understand your loathed hardware using brethren a little more and cut us a bit of slack now you know somewhat more of our (my) inadequacies

Just MHO.

[Grain Bastard]

I thought you prefered Olga and could not tell the difference between that and the 'analogue magic' of the Mopho? Im interested why you are now considering an analogue poly-synth...

Um...who are you talking to?

The OP, zerocrossing I think.

[Grain Bastard]

I am seriously considering getting one of these. It's one of those Creamware Prophet-5s mashed together with a Minimoog-clone.

I played with the Prophet-5 clone ages ago and I remember I liked it a lot. The Moog... well. It's a Moog. Never used this Moog-Prophet mash but in my mind I think layering a Moog with a Prophet-5 can be cool.

http://www.sonic-core.net/en/products/system1200.html

That looks monstrous! Very tasty

Neil.

I think the CW stuff is very good (I have a Scope card) but you are aware that they are VA's not real analogs??

[macmurphy]

I am seriously considering getting one of these. It's one of those Creamware Prophet-5s mashed together with a Minimoog-clone.

I played with the Prophet-5 clone ages ago and I remember I liked it a lot. The Moog... well. It's a Moog. Never used this Moog-Prophet mash but in my mind I think layering a Moog with a Prophet-5 can be cool.

http://www.sonic-core.net/en/products/system1200.html

That looks monstrous! Very tasty

Neil.

I think the CW stuff is very good (I have a Scope card) but you are aware that they are VA's not real analogs??

Oh i know they are va's. It just looks impressive

There's no way in the world i'd pay £2350 for it though!

Neil.

[DrGonzo]

Oh i know they are va's. It just looks impressive

There's no way in the world i'd pay £2350 for it though!

Neil.

Yeah. The price is a bit - ehem - steep.

[Grain Bastard]

Oh i know they are va's. It just looks impressive

There's no way in the world i'd pay £2350 for it though!

Neil.

Yeah. The price is a bit - ehem - steep.

Indeed, with the pretty looks and 'analog price-tag' (and to be fair, its sound) it could easily catch people out

[james0tucson]

I think the CW stuff is very good (I have a Scope card) but you are aware that they are VA's not real analogs??

Oh i know they are va's. It just looks impressive

Neil.[/quote]

Are the filters digital?

[invitia]

Keep the Mopho, but are you so in love with the DSI sound that you need another one of the same?

I don't know what other synth you've got in your rig but I would raher buy something else, a MKS70, a Nord Rack 2, a Juno-60 or whatever to complement the sound. If you want another mono check the Studio Electronics ATC1, it's pure gold for real analog sounds.

[Grain Bastard]

I think the CW stuff is very good (I have a Scope card) but you are aware that they are VA's not real analogs??

Oh i know they are va's. It just looks impressive

Neil.

Are the filters digital?[/quote]

They are AFAIK. To be honest I've not seen this hybrid 'Pro-oog' but the older ASB boxes were totally digital, so I'd say its probably the same stuff but a new design.

The filter on the minimax is awesome though and you could get it as an individual plug for the Scope platform called 'Interpole'. Not sure if its still available as I'm too poor to be risking what cash I do have spare on a company that keeps going bust and phoenixing, so I ain't been looking very closely at what they're up to other than the emails I get.

I don't think you would be disappointed with the sound of any of their hardware synths but the prices are a different matter imo.

[Grain Bastard]

Keep the Mopho, but are you so in love with the DSI sound that you need another one of the same?

I don't know what other synth you've got in your rig but I would raher buy something else, a MKS70, a Nord Rack 2, a Juno-60 or whatever to complement the sound. If you want another mono check the Studio Electronics ATC1, it's pure gold for real analog sounds.

Polyphony????

I must admit that whenever I'm tweaking the Mopho, I always create something that makes me try and play a chord. I've had it long enough to realise its mono (it even says so in its name ffs!!! lol) but it does make Prophet sounds which, for me anyway, often lend themselves to layering.

I do it with the Evolver to

But hey, I could have laid down an extra grand on each purchase and I wouldn't be moaning about such limits.........

I would probably be moaning about being hungry and homeless instead though

[Dogboy73]

I mostly just want a polyphonic analog synth but I don't want to have to baby it. I want stable oscs and presets.

That's always been my position as well. I'd love to have an analogue polysynth but vintage machines are costly and often need plenty of TLC. I was very close to buying a Juno but then I started reading about the voice chips often developing problems & requiring replacements. Can't be arsed with all that to be honest.

With this in mind the Tetra looks very, very tempting. I don't have much space, so it fits the bill there. It's USB with a software editor, so it can integrate with a computer based set-up very well. But best of all I think it sounds bloody great! Iwas listening to some of the Combo presets yesterday. I usually hate the stuff where you trigger a patch & a whole track starts playing! But on the Tetra these patches sound so bloody nice & are nicely tweakable as well. I'm stoked! I want a Tetra

[illsub1]

I think the Dave Smith caters to poly because it sounds THIN! Head to head with a moog little phatty or voyager is no comparison! Might as well save to get the best. Sound beats specs any day.

[Dogboy73]

I think the Dave Smith caters to poly because it sounds THIN! Head to head with a moog little phatty or voyager is no comparison! Might as well save to get the best.

The Little Phatty & voyager are both monophonic though. The Prophet caters to poly for playing chords! Actually I wonder if Moog will ever build their own modern polysynth? That could be cool. In the mean time it's a Tetra for me I reckon

[Dogboy73]

I think the Dave Smith caters to poly because it sounds THIN! Head to head with a moog little phatty or voyager is no comparison! Might as well save to get the best. Sound beats specs any day.