So I gotta get a hardware synth, but a cheap one!

[Resonant Serpent]

MS2000

Alesis Ion

Roland JP8000

They all sound awesome, and they all have knobs.

If you really want something cool to play with, and you can solder, then try this:

http://www.paia.com/fatman.asp

[pandashake]

ensoniq esq-1 ~150 US$ max, fat analogue filters, nice keys. Large sound palette, too. Someone here advised me to check one out instead of buying a new synth, and I'm very glad I listened

and pawn shops are FILLED with them.

[Uncle E]

Alesis Ion

Roland JP8000

+1 on both. The JP8000, like the Nord, doesn't require you to use even a single menu.

[kritikon]

Alesis Ion...last time I messed about with one, I liked it - and normally I don't like the usual VA h/w synths. A decent sound and plenty of knobs to mess with. There seems to be a trend for VAs to be going back into multi menus and hidden functions etc, which I don't like, and from the OP statement, he wants to mess around with knobs not menus.

Likewise, I'll second the recommendation to steer clear of things like the Roland JV range - they can make some very nice sounds, but it's not a knob machine and most definitely not quick to patch. I loved my old MS10 but it really didn't keep tuning stable for very long. Great sound, but not necessarily practical. Strangely enough something like a Roland 101 is a very good messing about synth, but you have to consider the monosynth limitations (never mind sonic limitations) and when you see what more you get from a VA than with a monsynth - it's not an easy choice. 202s are great too - but the CV inputs are crap unless you have the mod board fitted, so the expense (alongside a midi/CV converter) builds up. Low range Yamaha CS analogues are good mucking about synths, but again, they're mono and you need a converter.


For cheap - it really means a VA. Ion gets my vote. Or the MS2000. Viruses are too fiddly and personally I don't like the bass emphasis they seem to have on everything. Nords are OK, but I always found them too bright and harsh - a sound you either like or don't.

[clueless]

Low range Yamaha CS analogues are good mucking about synths, but again, they're mono and you need a converter.

+1

For cheap - it really means a VA.

Yamaha AN1x?

for non-VA, maybe try an old Roland JX3p (WITH programmer)/JX8p/JX10, or a Korg DW8000.

[thecontrolcentre]

Novation Xio-Synth has plenty of knobs, an x/y pad, good sound, and it's also a midi/audio interface ... costs about £200 new.

[Uncle E]

Viruses are too fiddly and personally I don't like the bass emphasis they seem to have on everything.

Funny you should bring that up in a negative light, it seems to me the Virus would probably be the best choice sound-wise for somebody into trance (like this guy is).

[Shy]

For cheap - it really means a VA.

Yamaha AN1x?

I have an AN1x which is a nice and very versatile synth especially suited for effect type sounds and can be used very well in pretty much any electronic music style. But as far as fatness goes and being a main part of your music, it's not nearly as good as for example a Nord Lead. It's not a "fat" sounding synth by any means, it's truly hard to get fat sound from it. It's a very, very clean sounding synth with great uniformity across the entire frequency/note range, and with no instability or grittiness by design whatsoever. A truly clinical tool. The only remotely analog style instability and "liveliness" to get from it is by using its modulation and specifically FM features in creative ways.

It's designed to excel at producing a very wide range of sounds, and it definitely does, but it's simply not a good tool for warm and fat, full sound. For thin sounds that are actually pleasant, I know nothing better than it. For some kinds of pad sounds, it can be very good. And for crazy effects with a tight and very uniform sound, it's my first choice.

[no_signal]

If you really want something cool to play with, and you can solder, then try this:

http://www.paia.com/fatman.asp

Does this worth 200 bucks (178+taxes) ?

[RockNice]

The all new Line 6 Tone Port controller

http://www.line6.com/toneport/

[robohoe]

I second JP8000 and MS2000. Good synths.

[clueless]

@Shy, I don't doubt your experience, but I doubt mine even less, so I just don't believe you. Surely it's down to the programming? To me it sounded like a very good 2osc analogue poly, with a mono unison mode, and lots of extra goodies, a lot like my old Yamaha CS's actually (and they're "big" synths!) with something of my Prophet 600 (which is the most versatile synth I have) but all round I didn't think there was much it couldn't do. In common with those synths, I think it's hugely underrated, which is good news if you're buying one.

Anyway, maybe Coxy would find this more objective than either of us:

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1997_ar ... fa99b632f1

good old youtube...





did someone say "tr*nce"?





shit, I might buy one myself.

[pandashake]

If you really want something cool to play with, and you can solder, then try this:

http://www.paia.com/fatman.asp

Does this worth 200 bucks (178+taxes) ?

Yes, but they do require a bit of reverse engineering to get the tuning across four octaves just right. That thing can make this super-compressed ripping sound that I haven't heard anything else make. I still wish I hadn't sold mine.

[Uncle E]

Does this worth 200 bucks (178+taxes) ?

No, it sounds awful, the components are poor quality, and it was a total waste of time.

[clueless]

Member #92!