Missing a synth to complete my set.

[rod_zero]

For trance you mostly need software, you already have a virus. I honestly would dump the A1 and just use Hive and Serum.

For melodic techno some analog comes handy, the Sub37 has been used to death in the genre so maybe an Arturia Matrixbrute for evolving leads with modulation. I also think the oberheim sound really fits the genre for pads if you can go for an Ob6, or for leads/bass a Studio electronic Boomstar with SEM filter would be a nice one.

[zerocrossing]

For trance you mostly need software, you already have a virus. I honestly would dump the A1 and just use Hive and Serum.

For melodic techno some analog comes handy, the Sub37 has been used to death in the genre so maybe an Arturia Matrixbrute for evolving leads with modulation. I also think the oberheim sound really fits the genre for pads if you can go for an Ob6, or for leads/bass a Studio electronic Boomstar with SEM filter would be a nice one.

If anyone is interested, I have a Studio Electronics ATC-X with SEM, Moog, ARP and 303 filters installed for sale. It covers a huge range of analog mono flavors, and unlike the Boomstars, includes a Windows editor, has tons of preset memory, extra envelopes, etc.

[cryophonik]

n/m

[Trancer]

Thanks a lot for your answers.

Thank you for your feedback regarding the Pro 3 improvements.

It remains a beautiful instrument and given its capabilities it could be a very good choice.

Digitakt why not.

I have the Analog Rythm MK2, a very powerful machine of excellence.

On the other hand, I sold it, simply too much handling to do.

I prefer a more direct machine.

Too bad not such a powerful analog machine but simpler.

The strength of Elektron products is clearly the sequencer, a marvel.

Here I just have to choose one more machine and focus on its potential and ability to bring me added value.

Concerning the vsts, I made a decision to evolve into Dawless.

The computer only serves me for recording and finalizing the composition.

What you list as a nice machine synth.

The Subsequent 37, the reference indeed.

The Moog sound is clear, but I sold it.

It does not have a good reputation for manufacturing quality and calibration must be done frequently, just like the OB 6.

Matrixbrute, Pro 3 a good idea.

But the analog remains a little capricious, you don't really want to have to wait for it to heat up then do calibration every time or almost every use.

Maybe I have the wrong idea about analog, but often what we hear about it.

Despite everything, the two models mentioned above are a very interesting option.

Now which one would be best suited to my research?

[chk071]

Concerning the vsts, I made a decision to evolve into Dawless.

The computer only serves me for recording and finalizing the composition.

Which means that you are not DAW-less.

Anyway.

[pdxindy]

I'm not sure what you mean by DAWless. Are you trying to play a whole composition at once? Or are you recording one track at a time (into the DAW, ahem)

Save up your money and get a 3rd Wave

24 voice polyphony
4 part multi-timbral
I haven't played one myself, but the user interface looks fantastic. Tons of knobs and immediate.
Excellent sequencer

[cryophonik]

This is the Hardware subforum, guys. I'm sure the OP is well aware that software exists and I'm also sure that he's aware that there is an entire Instruments subforum dedicated to discussing soft synths.

[Nug Wrangler]

maybe have a look here:

https://kulshanstudios.com/journal/tag/ ... ance+leads

[zerocrossing]

.It does not have a good reputation for manufacturing quality and calibration must be done frequently, just like the OB 6.

Matrixbrute, Pro 3 a good idea.

But the analog remains a little capricious, you don't really want to have to wait for it to heat up then do calibration every time or almost every use.

Maybe I have the wrong idea about analog, but often what we hear about it.

I’ve never heard of frequent calibration needed for the OB-6, and I can’t really remember the last time I needed to calibrate my Prophet 6. My ATC-X has no user accessible calibration and has never once needed it.

I also don’t particularly notice my analogs really needing a prolonged warm up time. When I go into my studio, I first turn on my hardware synths and audio interface, then boot up my computer, launch Bitwig and I’m good to go. Maybe Moogs are a bit more touchy than most, but I think if you stick to something modern you should be OK, and personally I think Studio Electronics makes better Moogs than Moog, except for the Mom series. Those sound great but no patch memory and lots of patch cables. There’s the Dominion 1 too, which has great Moog design oscillators, but those are pretty rare and more expensive. My PolyBrute can do a bit of Moog style sounds too, but not as well as the Studio Electronics ATC-X or Dominion. Maybe not even as good as Model 72 or The Legend, but still very good at being its own thing.

I guess with analog you have to shift your point of view. If you’re expecting the behavior of a Virus, you will be disappointed. It’s like buying a formula race car and comparing it to a luxury sedan. They’re just different tools that are designed for different strengths. The imprecision of the analog synth is the point. They literally build in something that decalibrates each voice card and oscillators in a Prophet 6 so you can dial in some wonkiness, because modern electronic components are made so well that they’re incapable of the natural imprecision of vintage components. It’s nice because they do it in software and you can decide how much you want, all the way to, “oh crap this needs to be serviced by a technician.”

[cryophonik]

I’ve never heard of frequent calibration needed for the OB-6, and I can’t really remember the last time I needed to calibrate my Prophet 6. My ATC-X has no user accessible calibration and has never once needed it.

Yeah, I'm not sure where the OP gets some of this information, but it seems like he tends to find some little tidbit left by an amateur on Reddit or something and uses it as an excuse for every possible option. The OB-6 and Prophet 6 need calibration a few times to adjust to your room, but after that, it's a rarity to have to calibrate them, as long as they're kept in a the same place with a controlled climate and relatively consistent temperature. Mine do need a little while to warm up, since we keep our A/C cranked all summer long (a couple of Michiganders transplanted to California and still not used to the heat after 22 years).

.. and personally I think Studio Electronics makes better Moogs than Moog, ...

I think you stole that quote from me! Yes, I'm an SE fanboy. I've been so tempted to buy your ATC-X, but I already have an SE-1X and two Moogs and I'm really lusting over a Trigon desktop right now, but would need to kick one of my other synths off the island to have space and inputs for it.

[zerocrossing]

I’ve never heard of frequent calibration needed for the OB-6, and I can’t really remember the last time I needed to calibrate my Prophet 6. My ATC-X has no user accessible calibration and has never once needed it.

Yeah, I'm not sure where the OP gets some of this information, but it seems like he tends to find some little tidbit left by an amateur on Reddit or something and uses it as an excuse for every possible option. The OB-6 and Prophet 6 need calibration a few times to adjust to your room, but after that, it's a rarity to have to calibrate them, as long as they're kept in a the same place with a controlled climate and relatively consistent temperature. Mine do need a little while to warm up, since we keep our A/C cranked all summer long (a couple of Michiganders transplanted to California and still not used to the heat after 22 years).

I think a lot of people who grew up with digital hardware or software have a hard time finding good information on the internet. Is an analog synth going to behave like an Access Virus? Of course not, that that’s the point.

.. and personally I think Studio Electronics makes better Moogs than Moog, ...

I think you stole that quote from me! Yes, I'm an SE fanboy. I've been so tempted to buy your ATC-X, but I already have an SE-1X and two Moogs and I'm really lusting over a Trigon desktop right now, but would need to kick one of my other synths off the island to have space and inputs for it.

I’m pretty surprised that it hasn’t sold yet. Obviously not the most knobby synth in the world, but I can’t think of a better and more compact way to get a lot of different flavors of analog in a compact box. Modulation wise, it beats Diva and a lot of the analog emulations plugins. The interface is actually very intuitive to use, and there’s always the software editor, which is solid. That’s how I use it, these days. I almost picked it over the Dominion 1, but I realized that when I took away the 4 filters, the Dominion 1 just has more capabilities. I think I’d miss my little Dominion 1/Torcido feedback trick, which sounds absolutely bonkers.

But speaking of synths that I think are killer for almost every genre, my REV2 16 voice desktop would be great for the OP. Plenty of modulation, voices, mod sequencer, no warm up needed, can use slop to loosen it up. Two layers of 8 voices can make massive fat pads.

[cryophonik]

But speaking of synths that I think are killer for almost every genre, my REV2 16 voice desktop would be great for the OP. Plenty of modulation, voices, mod sequencer, no warm up needed, can use slop to loosen it up. Two layers of 8 voices can make massive fat pads.

Totally agreed! It's a great synth for techno, especially with that parameter sequencing, and it slays at trance as well. I think too many people still think that trance is nothing but supersaws, which is not remotely true, but the OP has that covered in spades with his Virus anyway. The Rev2 gives a whole new range of pads, plucks, leads, and basses. Not to mention that a 16-voice Rev2 is the essentially the same as having two 8-voice analog polys, which seems almost unreal at that price range. Here's an example of the Rev2 doing old- and new-school trance:



...and another one with some great trance sounds:

[Trancer]

Thank you very much for your most interesting answers and opinions.

Using a Studiolive 32sx console, everything is managed there.

A splendid machine but also enormous price.

Regarding instability, user feedback for both the Ob6 and the Prophet 6.

Aware that analog not digital

At the time I wanted to buy both models in module version, but calibration was really a problem for me, always recommended to let an analog warm up.

I don't know if Moog is more fragile in this regard, but for example the Minitaur it certainly depends on the room where it is located, perhaps too much temperature difference, but calibration very regularly.

The use of vst settles the story of stability and calibration, but I no longer want virtual, I prefer to use hardware machines.

I prefer analog machines, but this calibration thing bothers me, really bothers me.

Returns regarding the Ob6 and Prophet 6 are customer returns.

Now it is true that for some we have been lulled into digital, so the subtlety of analog can escape us a little

It’s true that Studio Electronics products are fabulous.

The Rev 2, I thought about it at one point, I find it a little nasal, a little muddy with certain sounds.

Which in no way prevents it from being a good machine.

For my part, I preferred the DSI period from the time of Evolver, Polyevolver, Tetra, Mopho, P12, Pro 2.

Thanks for the links to both videos.

[kritikon]

Calibration is almost not a thing any more. I've had over 30 yrs with analogues and the only 2 that ever had problems with tuning were a Korg MS10 and Behringer Wasp.

MS10 was extremely unstable - 15 minutes playing and it was out of tune. But I've still got a rev1 MS20 and it is rock solid today, never drifted out of tune once, ever.

Wasp Osc1 was out of tune by about 2.5 notes from the day I got it. Embarrassing to say it took me a wee while to figure out why it sounded so good on its own but so awful when I put it into a track with other synths . Probably because I'm so used to analogue tuning not being a problem, it just didn't occur to me. I thought my ears or my perception was broken at first . Anyway, Wasp does not drift with heat at all, it is solid. Just osc1 is out, and I never sent it back because I could simply tune down osc1 properly with the tune knobs and I'm happy with that (probably shouldn't be). Since then it's not drifted at all, ever.

I remember old Moogs were drifty, but surely they make them better nowadays (I don't have hands on experience as I just don't like Moog filters much, so avoid them)? TBH I don't even consider tuning with analogues when I buy, as I found it so rare.

[zerocrossing]

For my part, I preferred the DSI period from the time of Evolver, Polyevolver, Tetra, Mopho, P12, Pro 2.

Thanks for the links to both videos.

I’ve owned the original Prophet ‘08, MoPho, Evolver, Tetra and currently own a REV2, and the REV2 sounds extremely similar to the Prophet 08, which sounds similar to the MoPho. Outside the differences in features, the biggest difference is that the REV2 has slightly cleaner sound, like they upped the dynamic range. Where the ‘08 could be a bit harsh in the mids, the REV2 is a bit sweeter. I’m taking fairly subtle stuff, though. The bigger difference was with the Tetra, which had noticeably rougher sound.