Can the Mopho do tight punchy basslines?

[Mr. Tunes]

Hello, folks. I'm interested in buying my first analog synth. Seeing as the Mopho is the cheapest, and has a lot of the features I like, it seems like it would be great for me.

The only thing is, out of all the youtube video's I've watched, the Mopho seems to have a very fuzzy quality to it...I'm not sure if people are just trying to over exploit one minor characteristic of this synth or it just naturally sounds like this. But I have yet to hear any demos that had those tight, punchy, arpeggiated(or not arpeggiated) basslines. I'm having a hard time finding examples of the exact sound I'm talking about, but hopefully someone will understand this.

Can someone direct me to videos or just reassure me that the Mopho can do this? Thanks!

I know you specifically said "analog" and I have heard a lot of good things about Mopho. But if Mopho turns out to be not your thing (but you still want hardware) do take a look at the MicroKorg XL or MiniAK, because the analog modelling on these is pretty damn good. The MicroKorg's synth engine is also very deep and can go way beyond analog if you want it to. Plus it looks cool—and that's hugely important.

for VA, the Alesis Micron is also good, and recently had a price drop.

[MadPsyance]

I know you specifically said "analog" and I have heard a lot of good things about Mopho. But if Mopho turns out to be not your thing (but you still want hardware) do take a look at the MicroKorg XL or MiniAK, because the analog modelling on these is pretty damn good. The MicroKorg's synth engine is also very deep and can go way beyond analog if you want it to. Plus it looks cool—and that's hugely important.

I think if I was going to get a MicroKorg, I'd just get an MS-2000, same engine I believe, probably cheaper, plus more knobs and less menus. Although I'd have to get a rack to mount it in.

[dj ike]

When I want tight bass I reach for an FM synth, a DX7, tx7, tx802, tx81z, fb01, dx21, dx27, these are some of the tightest bass synths ever created, analog in comparison seems fluffy to me.

I'm not talking fm8, which is great in its own respect, but not like the hardware, in the bass dept.

[zerocrossing]

Personally I think the DSI stuff sounds better than the Moog stuff. I think they're creamier / more lush. I'll probably be staying with software, but if I do get a hardware synth again I'll probably go with a DSI.

here's my first bassline with it, and an fx patch over top

It reminds me of Synth Squad.

Really? I've not gotten a sound like that out of Synth Squad. I'd like to hear yours.

[djanthonyw]

Personally I think the DSI stuff sounds better than the Moog stuff. I think they're creamier / more lush. I'll probably be staying with software, but if I do get a hardware synth again I'll probably go with a DSI.

here's my first bassline with it, and an fx patch over top

It reminds me of Synth Squad.

Really? I've not gotten a sound like that out of Synth Squad. I'd like to hear yours.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/z5q9i6

[zerocrossing]

Personally I think the DSI stuff sounds better than the Moog stuff. I think they're creamier / more lush. I'll probably be staying with software, but if I do get a hardware synth again I'll probably go with a DSI.

here's my first bassline with it, and an fx patch over top

It reminds me of Synth Squad.

Really? I've not gotten a sound like that out of Synth Squad. I'd like to hear yours.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/z5q9i6

Not even remotely close.

[djanthonyw]

Not even remotely close.

You're right, I like Strobe better.

Somehow I get the feeling that even if I did that with the Mopho, but said it was Strobe you would have said the same thing.

[Uncle E]

Not even remotely close.

Yeah, I agree. I see where Anthony's going with that since it does a pretty good job with the analog bite but it lacks the fullness. Anthony, try turning up the Drive, Amp, and Analogue - not so much that you hear distortion or noise but enough that they fill out the mids better - and then turning down the Level at the end. What's funny is when I was doing the Andromeda presets, Strobe actually sounded TOO full and Andy suggested I turn DOWN those knobs to better replicate the Andromeda sound.

In any case, that original Mopho file sounds pretty good, much better than anything I got out of the synth. I'll have to plug the Tetra in one of these days.

[himalaya]

www.electric-himalaya.com/demos/1OscBass.wav

just making it more bouncy in places

[zvenx]

until your new bank is released, you really shouldn't be teasing us like this
rsp

[himalaya]

until your new bank is released, you really shouldn't be teasing us like this
rsp

[zerocrossing]

Not even remotely close.

You're right, I like Strobe better.

Somehow I get the feeling that even if I did that with the Mopho, but said it was Strobe you would have said the same thing.

Never trust your feelings. They are based on perception and emotion which are both obviously imperfect.

Believe me, if you search the archive you'll find tons of posts were I questioned the "analog magic" that the hardware crew constantly mentioned. I've owned analog synths, but only in the 80s and early 90s. I've worked with moogs but never owned one. I kept hearing these a/b tests that told me nothing and I had a folder full of gorgeous sounding plugs. My conclusion based on the limited knowledge I had that the difference wasn't enough to justify an analog synth purchase.

So along came the MoPho. An analog synth for about the price of an expensive plug in. I took the plunge. I'm not above admitting that my original "feelings" were wrong. The MoPho has something that none of my plugs have and that's including Synth Squad. I found myself liking it so much I got a Prophet '08 as well. IMO they're great little synths for the money and give characteristics that none of the plugs have and trust me, I have most of them including Synth Squad.

That all said, I like Synth Squad but that marketing BS about it being some break though in VA is just that, bull sh!t designed to sell software to folks that have some romantic nostalgic association with hardware. The truth is it's a good little pack of plug-ins with it's own personality. I especially like Amber. It's not uncommon for me to have one of the DSI synths living along side a SS synth in the same format. We can all get along.

So the other end of the argument is the DCO vs VCO argument. I'm not sure my wallet can withstand the truth that might surface from that one, so I merrily ignore the possibility that buying an Andromeda would blow me away.

[zerocrossing]

What's funny is when I was doing the Andromeda presets, Strobe actually sounded TOO full and Andy suggested I turn DOWN those knobs to better replicate the Andromeda sound.

What do you mean by that? Do you have a bank of presets that are designed to sound like the Andromeda factory set?

[JediMind]

Err, yes, it can. But I can't really support it since I never tried it.

I can give a huge plus for the Waldorf Pulse (my short demo here). It has balls, and if you don't believe me, you should turn on your sub for a change

Another plus goes for the Roland SH-101 or SH2. I've heard some very very strong basses from those two.

For the bass on the Infected Mushroom track, you don't need any specialized hardware synth. Any synth (software included) will do.

Good luck!

[djanthonyw]

Just wanted to pop back in on this thread and say that I'm in agreement 1/2 way with zerocrossing. I purchased the Mopho from ddavi78 and it sounded really good. Good enough to go through the downfalls of hardware compared to software? That depends...

I really liked the sound a lot, and after using it for a short while I decided to go poly and ordered a Tetra. I still think the Synth Squad and Korg stuff is amazing, but I figured it would be nice to have a little extra something for an option and satisfaction of knowing I do have a real analog synth to play with.