KVR Audio

wergeld · Post by **wergeld** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 3:41 am

i am looking into getting a hardware-based synth right now. my experience so far has just been with software and using my axiom midi controller to handle the vsts and reason. after seeing my buddies electribe emx-1, i thought i might try out the hardware side of things.
i am trying to decide between these 3: korg microkorg, alesis micron, and novation xiosynth. i am completely new to this ballgame and am wondering if i am stuck with their presets, sounds, whatever or can i erase all patches and start from scratch with my own designs? also, can i do sample based synthesis on any of these (like mangling audio loops)? or is there something else out there i should be looking at? my budget is ~500$ for this piece of kit.

wergeld

lhm1138 · Post by **lhm1138** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 6:03 am

If you want to do sampling stuff, you can't do so on any of those devices you mentioned.

Should look at the Korg ESX-1. Similar to the EMX-1, but you sample with it, and if you have a card reader you can shuttle .wav files from your computer to the ESX-1.

wergeld · Post by **wergeld** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 6:23 am

thought about that esx-1 but the lack of smart memory (i think that was the card slot) makes it a no go for me. unless there is an adapter of some sort to us in it. but besides the sample stuff, can i remove the factory patches to clear room for my own patches?

wergeld

CapnLockheed · Post by **CapnLockheed** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 4:18 pm

Don't know about the Electribe series but most hardware synths do
not allow you to remove factory patches to make room for more
of your own but rather have a user bank for that purpose. Factory
patches are in ROM and user patches are in RAM. Further many synths
have a card slot that allows you to add ROM cards (pre-programmed
read only), or RAM cards,(roll your own!). I own a Korg M1 and
a Yamaha TX802 and have extensive card libraries for both as well
a large collections of patches in sysex format that I can tranfer
from the pc to the synth's user banks or RAM cards. I love my
softsynths but hardware is aces when it comes to gigging.

Cheers.....CL

3*s · Post by **3*s** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 4:30 pm

thb I don't think you'll find too much difference between hardware VAs and software VAs nowadays. Try getting a real analog (ebay) if you want to make the best of a big clunky box.

Highvoltage · Post by **Highvoltage** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 5:40 pm

3*s wrote:thb I don't think you'll find too much difference between hardware VAs and software VAs nowadays. Try getting a real analog (ebay) if you want to make the best of a big clunky box.

++1

wergeld · Post by **wergeld** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 10:36 pm

its not the big clunky box i am after. i am after immediacy. i want to turn on the synthesizer and play. i do not want to have to set up midi controls anymore between my axiom and pc just to play. maybe its burn out or whatnot, but i am looking for a change.
i will say this though, its got to be polyphonic. buddies EMX is not and it made playing it using my controller a real pain in the ass (no chords, cant play fast, odd 'pitchshifting' although that was neat once). i checked a couple of used places around me and was surprised at the lack of synths...i mean complete lack, not one or two...but none. made me sad.
as of now i am leaning towards the novation xiosynth as it can also act as a DI.
as for the ram/rom deal. i finally get it, some are hardcoded, rest you cant make up. as for expansion cards/memory cards, i dont think any of the three i mentioned have that. woe is me. i will keep looking though.

wergeld

EDIT: i just saw the virus snow thread. now that is what i am talking about! acts as a DI as well it seems. added that beauty to my list as well.

leaving my mouse behind...