KVR Audio

mybook · Post by **mybook** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 6:31 am

Hi all, I'm looking to buy a small synthesizer I can carry around with my laptop. I guess my budget would be around $300.00 which looks to be pretty low.

I'm not good at sound synthesis at all so I would like to learn on this on my free time..

Thanks!

nix808 · Post by **nix808** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 6:35 am

Is a controller an option?
There are many smallish ones.
It would mean you learn a softsynth on ur laptop though,
not a piece of hardware.
Hope u have fun 8D

mybook · Post by **mybook** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 6:39 am

Yeah I thought about getting a controller but I feel like I would learn better with hardware. Plus it might sound weird but I kind of want to carry it around with me so I can play with it at random times... like when I watch TV or before going to bed, etc.

nix808 · Post by **nix808** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 6:50 am

http://www.korg.com/microKORG
How does this look?
It's $400 or so

xamido · Post by **xamido** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 6:53 am

Try roland gaia. You can find used one on ebay for 400 i think. It have all the knob that you need to learn, so there's no menu diving, good for learning how to program sound.

You did mention small. If size matters, novation xiosynth is also not bad.

phlake · Post by **phlake** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 8:03 pm

I think you should double your budget and consider analog. These are around the $600 price point:
- Arturia MiniBrute
- Doeepfer Dark Energy
- Moog Minitaur
- Vermona Mono Lancet

mclane · Post by **mclane** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 10:41 pm

Microkorg

Sendy · Post by **Sendy** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 11:16 pm

I recommend going for the MicroKorg XL if you can. When I bought mine it was almost the same price as the original, and the synthesis can go quite deep for the price. Actually, very deep! The small keys are a pain, but they have a certain bounce to them that's addictive. I really didn't mind the menu fiddling, either. I never use the PC editor because I just got quick on the menus. That says they at least laid them out logically.

Failing that, perhaps go for the all analog MFB Nanozwerg. It's a little one osc module synth that's VERY cheap and is PACKED with features, including a multimode filter and audio rate modulations.

rodan · Post by **rodan** » Thu Feb 09, 2012 12:00 am

I got the dsi mopho for about 325 brand new on ebay (i offered a lower price to the dealer and he accepted). If you watch you may be able to pick one up for a similar price. It's a tiny analog synth and imo it sounds great.

JimmiG · Post by **JimmiG** » Thu Feb 09, 2012 12:23 pm

MoPho, Microkorg, Microkorg XL, Blofeld, Alesis Micron/Akai Miniak (they're the same synthesizer) or maybe try finding a used Novation Nova, Virus A or similar. If you must have a keyboard, your only choice in that price range is basically the Microkorg.

Dogboy73 · Post by **Dogboy73** » Thu Feb 09, 2012 1:28 pm

mybook wrote:Hi all, I'm looking to buy a small synthesizer I can carry around with my laptop. I guess my budget would be around $300.00 which looks to be pretty low. I'm not good at sound synthesis at all so I would like to learn on this on my free time..

Small, affordable, something to learn on? To be honest all roads are leading to the Arturia Minibrute IMO. It's small, definitely affordable & (most importantly for learning I would say) very hands on with a control for every parameter. You could also use the keyboard as a controller for software on your laptop. Although be aware that none of the synth parameter controls send/receive MIDI so you would not be able to use these to control software or anything else.

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Thu Feb 09, 2012 1:58 pm

Miniak is about the cheapest synth on the market atm ... or maybe a XioSynth. MiniBrute looks great, but isn't available yet.

whitecloud · Post by **whitecloud** » Thu Feb 09, 2012 3:49 pm

thecontrolcentre wrote:Miniak is about the cheapest synth on the market atm ... or maybe a XioSynth. MiniBrute looks great, but isn't available yet.

I have both of the above funny thing is I got my Xio 25 a few years back new for $250.00. Also if you are in the States NovaMusik has the Miniak for a steal
http://www.novamusik.com/search.aspx?ty ... =70&lbs=15
The Miniak has 37 keys and is built way better but it's interface is a pain you can get an Software editor that makes things so much easier
http://www.hypersynth.com/miniak-editor.html.
The Miniak does sound very nice.
The Xio 25 is small enough to tote around with your laptop, but I would recommend
a very padded bag for it. It can do several things. Besides being a Synth, you get an USB audio interface, a midi controller. It comes with Software to edit
other things like VSTi's etc and create a template for those. It is pretty easy to do. There is also a Free software editor for it's synths parameters, but sometimes I find myself just using the front panel(11x2 knobs,11x2 buttons and a
XY pad). to alter existing patches or even start from scratch. With both the factory presets don't sound that great but luckily there are a ton of free user preset on both their receptive Yahoo groups site
. The Miniak is compatible with the Micron as far as presets and the Xio can use Novation's A K And X Station sounds. The Miniak has a ton of storage like 1000 presets, the Xio 200. I have a MiniBrute on pre-order and this one is another story. Full Analog a knob, slider for evertything, but no preset storage, you just take a picture or use a template to jot down your favorite settings. Should be available sometime in April

ZenPunkHippy · Post by **ZenPunkHippy** » Thu Feb 09, 2012 4:10 pm

This is out of your price range, but for portability factor it is a winner:

http://www.teenageengineering.com/products/op-1

Covers most major synthesis types. Can produce whole tracks using just the OP-1.

But what you really want IMO is a hands on analogue synth such as the Minibrute. Analogue synths with one knob per function are excellent for learning with, as long as the full set of features such as envelopes and LFO modulation are included.

A bad choice would be something like the Korg EA-1. That was my first synth. Fun, nice sounds, but lacking some critical features such a proper ADSR envelopes and LFO's.

Peace,
Andy.

mybook · Post by **mybook** » Mon Feb 13, 2012 9:37 am

ZenPunkHippy wrote:This is out of your price range, but for portability factor it is a winner:

http://www.teenageengineering.com/products/op-1

Covers most major synthesis types. Can produce whole tracks using just the OP-1.

But what you really want IMO is a hands on analogue synth such as the Minibrute. Analogue synths with one knob per function are excellent for learning with, as long as the full set of features such as envelopes and LFO modulation are included.

A bad choice would be something like the Korg EA-1. That was my first synth. Fun, nice sounds, but lacking some critical features such a proper ADSR envelopes and LFO's.

Peace,
Andy.

Whoa that OP-1 is a strait beauty. That's something I would love to have... but you are right I def need a equipment with knobs and sliders just to learn with.

So far I like the Minibrute or Microkorg. The Microkorg is much closer to my budget but people have said the Minibrute is just FUN to use which would be a huge plus. Dang MSRP of $499 is pretty hard to swallow though.

small entry-level hardware synthesizer?