I want a hardware synth and could use some advice

[Uncle E]

Microfreak is amazing. I wouldn’t want it to be my only hardware synth but it’s a perfect third or fourth synth.

[killmaster]

Microfreak is amazing. I wouldn’t want it to be my only hardware synth but it’s a perfect third or fourth synth.

I keep thinking they'll announce a Microfreak II based on how successful it has been.

[killmaster]

Pretty much narrowed it down to the West Pest and Minilogue XD module.

Advantage of the West Pest is I can take it with be anywhere, and I probably would take it with me a lot.
Also, sounds incredible. Just the quality of the sound itself. Also, the sequencer/arp and it's simple but effective generative random functionality is great. And price seems great for what it offers. And it's simple for me to comprehend I do wonder if I might end up in a cul de sac where the results all start sounding similar and not getting enough variety due to it's small set of parameters.

Advantage of the Minilogue is the probably never-ending variety that would be possible and the thrid party importable oscillators and effects plugins will probably insure it stay fresh well into the future. I think I could comprehend it as opposed to the Wavestate. Only downside I see is price, being doulbe that of the Pest.

So hard to decide.

I really appreciate all the input. I ended up considering nearly every suggestion

they are two very different ends of the scale, the west pest does indeed sound awesome, of those two, for me, its two west pests.

however, i get the impressions you want something a bit more "all round"?
the minilogue will give you far more than double the price worth in that respect.
its a full on "synthesiser" as many expect them, lots of range, can be played alone, with its built in fx for pads/bass/leads...

the west pest is a single oscillator mono synth, which will have a much more limited (although still fairly wide) range of sounds, although the extra lfo for audio rate fm, will add a fair bit of texture, it wont be the same as those fully programmable oscillators in the logue. what it will do however, is kick the logues ass within that range

if i was you, ie not adding the pest to a big system, id get the logue for now.
the pest is cheap enough, that maybe some point in the future, you could add it, and between the two, spend relatively little, but have a decent little powerhouse

great advice and info! Thanks, I may do just this!

I seem to be adding the microfreak and 0-Coast back into the mix. Any thoughts on those as well?

[glokraw]

Would you actually and consistantly enjoy creative sessions WITHOUT the visuals provided by computer screens? I think a good dealer would accomodate you as a solid customer, to buy, test return, buy test return demo models a few times to insure the hardware itch is very deeply embedded.

Not knowing your setup, have you used a dual or trio monitor setup to make more excellent access to what you have now? Do you have a mixer or interface to record new multiple inputs? Do you rely on NKS?

I suspect you could sell your P1 and K Kontrol keyboard, and go with a

https://nektartech.com/panorama-p4-p6/

I think it would provide more 'hardware synth experience' with your far greater software sound sources, than any given hardware synth, and keeping most of your P1 experiences at hand.

I have four hardware synths, but the most sonic fun from them is to use the 88 key Alesis or Yamaha keyboards to control the latched arpeggiator from the IK UNO analog synth...sending the arps to multiple softwares, while including the UNO's own output and knob twiddling as desired...and using effects suites like Bluecat Axiom, IK's Amplitube, and Guitar Rig on those streams. The imagination is the main limit, so digging in to re-refresh knowledge of presets and effects is always rewarding.

Can you get to a high end store? An overnighter hotel-room for hands-on tests could determine what you would enjoy most for years, making a hotel room and some travel a bargain. Make it a
Cheers

[killmaster]

Would you actually and consistantly enjoy creative sessions WITHOUT the visuals provided by computer screens? I think a good dealer would accomodate you as a solid customer, to buy, test return, buy test return demo models a few times to insure the hardware itch is very deeply emnedded.

Not knowing your setup, have you used a dual or trio monitor setup to make more excellent access to what you have now? Do you have a mixer or interface to record new multiple inputs? Do you rely on NKS?

I suspect you could sell your P1 and K Kontrol keyboard, and go with a

https://nektartech.com/panorama-p4-p6/

I think it would provide more 'hardware synth experience' with your far greater software sound sources, than any given hardware synth, and keeping most of your P1 experiences at hand.

I have four hardware synths, but the most sonic fun from them is to use the 88 key Alesis or Yamaha keyboards to control the latched arpeggiator from the IK UNO analog synth...sending the arps to multiple softwares, while including the UNO's own output and knob twiddling as desired...and using effects suites like Bluecat Axiom, IK's Amplitube, and Guitar Rig on those streams. The imagination is the main limit, so digging in to re-refresh knowledge of presets and effects is always rewarding.

Can you get to a high end store? An overnighter hotel-room for hands-on tests could determine what you would enjoy most for years, making a hotel room and some travel a bargain. Make it a
Cheers

Great! Well, I follow what you are saying and very good points. I kinda kludged my studio together over years where I was working too many house to make music. If I could start over again with the knowledge I've accumulated now, I'd probably do exactly what you are recommending (with the Nektar Panorama etc...) Though my retirement budget for music is limited.

To answer questions, no, just single monitor on my iMac. I mix in Bitwig only. To me and the way I work, NKS makes things more complex. I got the KK S61 thinking it would make things easier. It's easier just to map controllers to the Nektar P1 as I need. But, I take your point and it makes good sense. Has got me thinking. Thanks!

[killmaster]

P.S. I live down the street from Make Noise (Asheville) so I'm tempted to go demo an 0-Coast but know little about modular so would not know how to get the most out of a test drive. I know it would take some time to learn for me. I'm not into modular at all yet and have zero interest in hardware modular. VCV Rack is a possibility down the road.

[glokraw]

Ujie Katsunori has dozens of these video reviews, likely you've seen some!
But they are a good resource in any language.
Give your wallet to a responsible party

[killmaster]

Ujie Katsunori has dozens of these video reviews, likely you've seen some!
But they are a good resource in any language.
Give your wallet to a responsible party

Thanks!

[killmaster]

good intro to the 0-Coast:

[killmaster]

[vurt]

P.S. I live down the street from Make Noise (Asheville) so I'm tempted to go demo an 0-Coast but know little about modular so would not know how to get the most out of a test drive. I know it would take some time to learn for me. I'm not into modular at all yet and have zero interest in hardware modular. VCV Rack is a possibility down the road.

im sure they would help you out.

but if you have zero interest in hw modular, are you sure this and the west pest are a good idea? to be sure, a bloody awesome combination, that could give you some amazing sounds that very little else would, but it is modular hardware, and will take some patching to get beyond fairly basic but still fat! sounds.

given you have the option to do this, i would anyway, maybe it will help you decide that the modular options definitely aren't for you, and save you the time and hassles returning/selling stuff later.

and as cool as those videos are, hearing it in person, you will hear far more detail, feel how the sounds react to such slight touches, and you may just fall in love

apologies for the spam, but this is mostly 0coast, with a bit of sequencing from a 0ctrl (the west pest would cover that) and fm using noise from strega, im sure you'll have options there
oh and a mimeophone delay. but the sound is all from 0coast...

http://www.viablehybrid.com/vurt/testtu ... cial01.mp3

[Diskonnect]

The Hydrasynth line look really intriguing from what I’ve seen. I’m sure you can’t go wrong with them.

For myself, I love that Moog sound. Currently have the Moog semi modular trinity and it’s a blast jamming on it. I’m also a bit of an elektron fanboy and have a couple of their boxes. You should check out the syntakt, it looks really interesting for making drum/percussion and bass parts amongst others.

[killmaster]

[unkow]

You mentioned that you like recording foley-like sounds. Have you thought about buying a violin bow and getting into Daxophone territory?

[killmaster]

You mentioned that you like recording foley-like sounds. Have you thought about buying a violin bow and getting into Daxophone territory?

No, but I'm so glad you mentioned it! Amazing. I do have a violin bow and my wife is setting up a wood workshop. Thanks for the great inspiration!