Lovable small hardware synth for sound programming?

[nachenko]

Hi everyone.

First, some context: after many years off the loop for personal reasons, I'm starting to make noise again. I'm currently in the process of building a new studio setup from scratch, something small and simple. I sold the hardware I had (including a Virus C, ) and most of the software, and replaced it by some new plugins. I even switched to a different DAW!

The problem I'm facing in my new setup is: somehow programming sounds just by mouse does not click on me. I don't miss the Virus (well, a little), and I don't miss dealing with manual SysEx dumps, that's for sure, but I greatly miss having real knobs and buttons. Somehow, having real knobs and buttons helped me "think better sounds".

So I'm looking for a small hardware synth with lots of knobs, great DAW integration (no manual handling of Sysex files like the Virus C, please), no keyboard and huge fun factor. Analogue or digital, both are OK. And I prefer to build my own sounds, presets quality is not a thing for me. I don't need or want a workhorse, just something small, well designed, to work with.

And the problem is: I've been out for too much time! Arturia making analogue synths! IK Multimedia too! Some guy making an analog synth in a USB pendrive! Eurorack modules everywhere! New companies like Dreadbox.

I don't know where to start. Any advice is appreciated.

[thecontrolcentre]

Most fun boxes I own are Doepfer Dark Energy & Dreadbox Abyss ... been eying up the new Dreadbox/Polyend collaboration, Medusa. Not sure about DAW integration other than standard 8pin midi. The DE has USB/midi & CV.

[sprnva]

If DAW integration is a requirement then maybe the IK Uno would be a good starting point?

Most of the desktop analog/eurorack stuff doesn't have presets (it's a feature) so that could be problematic.

A bit higher up on the price scale there's the Elektron Digitone. DAW integration is coming (Overbridge 2 is in closed beta).

[deastman]

Tight DAW integration rules out 99% of the hardware synths on the market.

Are you looking for analog? Virtual analog? Something sample-based? FM synthesis? Do you want polyphonic or a mono synth? Modular? Semi-modular? Extensive modulation matrix? What about price range?

[nachenko]

Analog or Virtual analog. FM synthesis was never my cup of tea. And I'm not into Eurorack, I don't want to open this door, so to say, looks dangerously addictive.

Something along the ways of Roland SE-02 or Elektron Analog 4 looks great. Those two look great.

EDIT: but I knew nothing about Dreadbox until a week ago. Little boxes full of personality. I like the fact that they don't play safe with the design, and stuff looks solid.

[lfm]

Clavia NordRacks maybe - midi modules of NordLead series.
I have not found any synth that are more fun to work with - and sounds incredible.

NordRack 2 or 2X - excellent choice.
Real easy to program each parameters sensitivity to velocity
a) set all knobs as you want them as start position.
b) press assign button - and move any knob(s) to a new position - where you want velocity to modulate between starting position and this new position.

This works for any knob - and there are a lot of those.

And real easy when you save a new preset - press store button, and then move around presets and listen to which free spot you'd like to overwrite - and press store again.
Too many synths you have to first check out which free positions you might want to replace.

Not sure what you want in daw integration - nothing of that on those I think.
You mean like - getting presets listed to choose the right one inside daw?

Never needed that stuff - just do a short clip in beginning of track, before song begins, where I record program change and what else is needed - to play back once.

[BertKoor]

pick up a DSI Evolver second-hand. Small box full of fun.

[Michael L]

pick up a DSI Evolver second-hand. Small box full of fun.

and it integrates with your DAW as a VST/AU plugin: http://www.soundtower.com/evolver/

[rod_zero]

What is nice about dreadvox is that since they don't have presets you start learning to reprogram sounds very fast and the synth becomes second nature. Or you just bought ce to audio ASAP and get done with it.

[rod_zero]

There is one solution to HW/SW integration that doesn't got that much attention but IMHO is the most innovative of the bunch: Roland Plugout technology.

The plugout stuff is just SW plugins which you can use in the HW or as plugins within your DAW, so you can program sounds in the Hardware and then use them in your DAW, or program the sounds in SW and use them in the HW. The HW controls also map perfectly to the software so you have a 1:1 controller, this is quite practical.

The problem with this system is that Roland made the software plugouts expensive, between 150 and 200 USD, and then they started a subscription service called Roland cloud which is 20 USD per month, it gives you access to all their plugouts but many people don't like subscriptions.

The plugouts avaible in the Roland cloud and the HW they can be loaded to are:

SH101 (can be loaded in to System 1 and System
SH 02, S1 and S8
Promars, S1 and S8
System 100, S1 and S8
Juno 106, S8 and comes as default
Jupter 8, S8 and comes as default
The System 1 engine and the system 8 engine have their own plugouts but they are always native to their respective hardware.

IMHO if you wanna try this you could get a Roland System 1m (better than the keyboard version because it has patch points and the keyboard sucks) and suscribe for a free trial to roland cloud.

[imrae]

You should look into the 0-coast. No patch recall ('cause patch cables..), but amazing west-coast sounds in a small well-designed box.