a really nice toy - help and suggestions needed

[whyterabbyt]

Well as you possibly know Im hoping to be in the same sort of position meself so Ive been thinking bout this a lot.


Im in multiple minds abut it still, but here's how Ive kinda been thinking.

A Kyma would be a damn nice idea, but its outside of a 2K budget I reckon, once you factor in bringing it in from the US

A Nord G2X Modular would give me twice the horses of the current G2, and a 5-octave keyboard, but nobody's got them yet. Its high on the list though.

Staying in softsynth land, and buying a couple of grunty AMD64 systems and a good keyboard controller is a distinct possibility, and means I could use them as rendernodes for 3D as well if I need to.

I like the Analogue Solutions Vostok suitcase synth; probably couldnt afford the EMS, but this has that same 'take it to vurtstock' factor...

A Doepfer modular. Scot's a pro and thats a significant factor in his choice of modular. Im not, so the Doepfer's more of a likely choice for me. Plus it has theremin modules

I still want an MS20 and a Mono/Poly.

[vurt]

I like the Analogue Solutions Vostok suitcase synth; probably couldnt afford the EMS, but this has that same 'take it to vurtstock' factor...

.

i should most definitely have the korg by then
i know i keep saying itt but i just keep looking at space i gotta sort me a desk out soon!!!

[mystahr]

from what I could gather about your music, I reckon a Kyma would suit you well...

the only thing that puts me off about kyma is the lack of hardware (for this much money i really want some wood/chrome/lights )

had a look at the nord g2 on the web this morning and that looks quite cool, also been looking at a cs80 and and arp2600. the voyager looks really nice (especially the aniversary edition)

cheers,

steve.

Don't let the lights fool you and the lack of hardware for the Kyma for that matter too.

But yeah, we talked about this yesterday. I tend to agree with Püre though on the Kyma; it's an investment for life

[dystonia_ek]

A Doepfer modular. Scot's a pro and thats a significant factor in his choice of modular. Im not, so the Doepfer's more of a likely choice for me. Plus it has theremin modules
.

I know quite a few pros who use Doepfers. Very flexible options, huge number of modules, compact size. Plus the theremin modules!

There are relatively(!) affordable modular buiding options from MOTM, Modcan, Blacet and Synthesisers.com as well. You could always start with a small system to get the hang of it and then just add new bits from time to time.

The downside of all of this modular stuff is that eventually your living space turns into this:

[SFX]

Steve - Do you have Reaktor? I know you want hardware, but I can tell you that since I got Reaktor
(years ago), I haven't touched my Nord micro modular
(I know it's not a G2, but the software hasn't changed that much.) Reaktor is unbeatable for really out there stuff, but a fraction of the price of Kyma.
There is a huge user library available - so you can modify existing ensembles or create them from scratch.

[vurt]

A Doepfer modular. Scot's a pro and thats a significant factor in his choice of modular. Im not, so the Doepfer's more of a likely choice for me. Plus it has theremin modules
.

I know quite a few pros who use Doepfers. Very flexible options, huge number of modules, compact size. Plus the theremin modules!

There are relatively(!) affordable modular buiding options from MOTM, Modcan, Blacet and Synthesisers.com as well. You could always start with a small system to get the hang of it and then just add new bits from time to time.

The downside of all of this modular stuff is that eventually your living space turns into this:

at least he will have somewhere to put the ashtray down

[WilliamK]

Just curious, if you have space, why not get like several barebone computers and network those guys with FX-Teleport to make a BIG synth?

You could run everything at 96khz so. Some people say that any VST will sound "analog" at this resolution, but I don't really know.

Anyway, that's MY dream.

Wk

[meister eder]

1)no more than maybe £2,000
2)suitable for my style of music (increasingly longer ambient style wibbliness, most of you have probably heard some of my stuff by now)
3)preferably hardware, cos at this price i really wan't some furniture as well
4)a little bit special, i know this isn't really a criteria but at this amount of money i wan't something that will really blow me away cos otherwise it will be a shit load of little toys

You are talking about the Hartmann Neuron here.



It is nearly £40 above your price limit though...

[blaster78]

Just curious, if you have space, why not get like several barebone computers and network those guys with FX-Teleport to make a BIG synth?

You could run everything at 96khz so. Some people say that any VST will sound "analog" at this resolution, but I don't really know.

Anyway, that's MY dream.

Wk

i already have 4 nice computers networked using fx teleport (although only in demo, I should probably buy that) giving me a load of processor power and 5gb of ram between them, i've more than got that aspect covered (the benfits of having to buy computers for work that got put on clients budgets and therefore never existed according to inventory when i resigned) although i've never written a tune complex enough for me to need it (my basic system is a P4 with 2gb ram)

reaktor is an idea as i don't have that, but i would prolly have ended up getting sessions soon anyway.

this purchase is as much about asthetics as sounds (although obviously the sound is important too) i will likely never have this much cash to spend on my hobby all at once again so unless i get a job that requires this sort of expensive kit, this is prolly my one and only chance. i really want a big "thing" that sits there, possibly flashes lights at me from time to time, and makes me smile (even when i'm not playing it) some of you may think this is a little bonkers but

the doepfers (and other modular systems) are an excellent idea (i was looking at their website earlier) and as you say can be expanded later i'll have to have a sit down and figure out what modules do what, what i would like/need and whether its do-able in my price range. in fact, i'll have a look at that now and post what i think my prefered system is for £2k and maybe someone can have a look at it for me and make sure i'm not forgetting anything (or missing important bits out)

cheers for everyones suggestions, appreciate it.

steve.

[blaster78]

1)no more than maybe £2,000
2)suitable for my style of music (increasingly longer ambient style wibbliness, most of you have probably heard some of my stuff by now)
3)preferably hardware, cos at this price i really wan't some furniture as well
4)a little bit special, i know this isn't really a criteria but at this amount of money i wan't something that will really blow me away cos otherwise it will be a shit load of little toys

You are talking about the Hartmann Neuron here.



It is nearly £40 above your price limit though...

that looks pretty damn cool , definately gonna have to try one of them out.

cheers,

steve.

[blaster78]

actually, the doepfer guys conveniently offer some basic systems and for the cash i could probably afford the basic system with midi and an expansion system as well. does anyone know where you could go to try one of these out ?

i've got loads of cool ideas off everyone, i guess its just a case of tacking down demo models of all the options and spending a couple of days driving around trying out synths.... what a shame

cheers,

steve.

[kritikon]

Or even look for a couple of older analogues; for a couple of grand you might be able to pick up something like an MS20 and a Jupiter. Or a full MS set (MS10, 20 and 50 expander).

I did think maybe something a little more wizzbang and definitely capable of the weird sounds you're after...such as a Waldorf Wave, but I suspect you'd be lucky to get one for that price. When they first came out, they were near to 5 grand weren't they? But possibly they go for alot less 2nd hand?

2,000 might get you a Serge modular - just that little bit more distinctive than a Doepfer.

Or...how about even going for some esoteric outboard rather than synths. There are so many quality s/w synths that you can make most types of sound within s/w, but there are still h/w FX that can't be duplicated as well. 2 grand should get you a PCM91 - that is money well spent that you'll never regret. I don't know about Eventides - I think even their entry level boxes are quite a bit more.
Or the Focusrite Liquid channel thingy - quality and exremely versatile convolution in a very high powered box.

Or again, go for some older FX h/w. Things like a Korg VCS3 vocoder, Roland Tape Echo, Moog phaser, and there were a few decent analogue flangers around - you might be able to get the whole bunch for that price - and these are FX that I aren't reproduceable by any s/w I've tried yet.

Just a few thuoghts.

[Manc Chris]

.. For the record, forget Dawson's, get over to Sound control in Salford. They are always up for bartering, and can get any synth you wanna demo in store within 2 days.

..And mention my name!

(Hopefully they may add summa my debts onto your bill )

[püRe]

from what I could gather about your music, I reckon a Kyma would suit you well...

the only thing that puts me off about kyma is the lack of hardware (for this much money i really want some wood/chrome/lights )

had a look at the nord g2 on the web this morning and that looks quite cool, also been looking at a cs80 and and arp2600. the voyager looks really nice (especially the aniversary edition)

cheers,

steve.

Don't let the lights fool you and the lack of hardware for the Kyma for that matter too.

But yeah, we talked about this yesterday. I tend to agree with Püre though on the Kyma; it's an investment for life

Pure really did change his opinions from that post...

it appears that my choice is now a Dotcom modular...I heard the demos

http://www.synthesizers.com

I heard only the best about the modules (and the guy who sells them) from Scot [Solida]...

[mystahr]

Oh goodie, a life saveing link



Now to get in the lucky situation of having the money to spend for soemthing like this