KVR Audio

zabal · Post by **zabal** » Tue Jul 09, 2019 7:52 pm

Hi all,

I hope it's the right forum to post this question. My brother birthday is next month and I am searching for a present. He produce electronic music for years ( mostly techno ). I know he wants to start produce music using analog synths, I want to find 1 or 2 synths for him something like this:

His current setup:
windows computer with abelton.
This keyboard: https://www.arturia.com/products/hybrid ... 9/overview
and pad controller something like this: https://www.akaipro.com/mpd218 (this is not the exact pad he has).
I am looking for cool analog or semi analog synth he can connect to his current system. I want something versatile that he will be able to upgrade or connect to other synth in the future. My budget is around 400$
Any suggestions?

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Tue Jul 09, 2019 8:24 pm

Dreadbox Erebus 3 is one of the coolest kids on the block ... its £450 in the UK, likely cheaper in the States (?). Semi-modular, paraphonic, analog ...

I like the Roland SE02 also. 3 oscillators, builtin sequencer. You get a lot of features at a good price. Some say they're a bit small & fiddly YMMV

zabal · Post by **zabal** » Wed Jul 10, 2019 5:53 am

cool I will check them. Are you sure it's compatible with his system?

imrae · Post by **imrae** » Wed Jul 10, 2019 6:11 am

That keyboard has a standard 5-pin DIN midi output so anything that takes MIDI in will be ok. Some new devices need a DIN-3.5mm adaptor which might be included.

The Behringer Neutron is a whole lot of tweakable synth for the money and can easily be the beginning of a Eurorack rig. However, Eurorack isn't for everyone and is a bit different from the "toys-spread-on-table techno" approach.

What would be very useful for that is a small keyboard synth that can deliver some rich sounds with a squelchy filter. Microbrute or Minilogue would fit that bill.

zabal · Post by **zabal** » Wed Jul 10, 2019 7:34 am

imrae wrote: Wed Jul 10, 2019 6:11 am
The Behringer Neutron is a whole lot of tweakable synth for the money and can easily be the beginning of a Eurorack rig. However, Eurorack isn't for everyone and is a bit different from the "toys-spread-on-table techno" approach.

From what I understand he wants to start experiment in this direction. if he can connect the Behringer Neutron to his current system it will give a taste of analog synth without changing all of the setup and then he can decide whether to keep going on this direction. Any other similar synth I should check?

Von Naphoven · Post by **Von Naphoven** » Wed Jul 10, 2019 9:00 am

The Moog Mother 32 is a bit in Neutron territory, although Neutron offers probably more bang for the buck. I really like the Neutron's sound, it's got a real gritty squelchy filter and strong oscillators. The aforementioned Erebus V3 is also a great synth, although the V2 I once owned had some tuning issues with limited tracking - but I think that has been improved in the V3.

kvotchin · Post by **kvotchin** » Wed Jul 10, 2019 9:01 am

Behringer Neutron and Model D are both excellent value. For pure experimentation, Neutron wins.

Agree though, that Dreadbox is worth a look if budget allows. Nice sound.

Von Naphoven · Post by **Von Naphoven** » Wed Jul 10, 2019 9:30 am

A good thing about the Erebus and Neutron is that they both have a delay on board which allows for a bit more sound design options than having no FX at all.

Distorted Horizon · Post by **Distorted Horizon** » Wed Jul 10, 2019 9:44 am

Does he also have an audio interface or a mixer?

tehlord · Post by **tehlord** » Wed Jul 10, 2019 10:30 am

Distorted Horizon wrote: Wed Jul 10, 2019 9:44 am Does he also have an audio interface or a mixer?

Yeah, this.

If he doesn't have an audio interface with midi in/out nothing will be 'compatible'.

zabal · Post by **zabal** » Wed Jul 10, 2019 11:23 am

He have this sound card:
https://www.native-instruments.com/en/p ... e-audio-6/
is it enough?

kvotchin · Post by **kvotchin** » Wed Jul 10, 2019 2:16 pm

Yeah, that should be fine. It’s an interface with audio and midi ins, so yeah.

Forgotten · Post by **Forgotten** » Wed Jul 10, 2019 2:47 pm

zabal wrote: Wed Jul 10, 2019 7:34 am
imrae wrote: Wed Jul 10, 2019 6:11 am
The Behringer Neutron is a whole lot of tweakable synth for the money and can easily be the beginning of a Eurorack rig. However, Eurorack isn't for everyone and is a bit different from the "toys-spread-on-table techno" approach.

From what I understand he wants to start experiment in this direction. if he can connect the Behringer Neutron to his current system it will give a taste of analog synth without changing all of the setup and then he can decide whether to keep going on this direction. Any other similar synth I should check?

I have a Neutron connected to a similar system, so he shouldn't have any problems at all.

Distorted Horizon · Post by **Distorted Horizon** » Wed Jul 10, 2019 4:47 pm

zabal wrote: Wed Jul 10, 2019 11:23 am He have this sound card:
https://www.native-instruments.com/en/p ... e-audio-6/
is it enough?

Great. It's enough

Distorted Horizon · Post by **Distorted Horizon** » Wed Jul 10, 2019 4:51 pm

IMO Bass Station 2 is a great synth. It's mono, DCO and sounds very neutral but it sits nicely in any song without making too big number of itself.

Neutron of course is a nice idea or possibly that Crave which is way cheaper. Then accompany it with some Volca series tool?

Looking for analog synths