MFB Kraftzwerg or doepfer dark energy

[massivesax]

Hi all,

i need to clear this up before purchasing doepfer dark energy or MFB Kraftzwerg..bit of a newbie when it comes to harware synths... how do i connect these synths to ableton so i can adjust midi and record audio?..
also if anyone has any opinions about which synth is better, this would be very helpful. sorry for the newbie question again..

thanks
b

GEAR -
Ableton 8 Suite
Macbook pro
Apogee duet
m-audio keystation 88es
KRK's

[amsonx]

I' dont konw the mfb but for dark energy simply to connect the usb cable to your midi interface and you see the darkstar.

[esky]

I thought you don't need a midi interface to connect the doepfer to your setup...? The MFB has far more to offer on sound design, but is more expensive. The Doepfer is better crafted. There are lots of videos on youtube for both. Coming up in july there's a cheaper alternative for the Kraftzwerg called Microzwerg with multimode filters, also quite interesting.For the dark energy a step sequencer with the same design will show up.
Personally i have good experiences with MFB, so i'd go for one of these...

[chis]

Vermona are also about to release their "desktop analogue" synth Lancet:
http://www.vermona.com/

[Ed J]

I have a kraftzwerg. It's bitchin'.

HOWEVER: it's a bugger to tune and the midi can be a bit tempremental, I've heard that the DE has much better build quality.

On the other hand, it's fat as fudge and can do an excellent pad, whereas the DE is only a single oscillator so it's more of a simple lead/bassline machine.

[chapelier fou]

I got tuning problem in MIDI with the Kraftzwerg too.
BUT : it's still amazing. And I use it mainly for bass sounds, so the "out of tune" is not much audible.

[epiphanius]

I was set on a Dark Energy myself, and then switched my sights to an Oberheim SEM. Unfortunately, I can't find a distributor in Canada for the latter, and duty fees are about 33%, adding significantly to the price. But check out the SEM if you're in the U.S. or Europe.

I hadn't seen the Lancet previously, and it looks to be sweet, but no cv out from the looks of it. I'm definitely after cv out. The patch bay version of the SEM offers a lot of useful options.

[massivesax]

great posts fellas, definitely swaying towards Kraftzwerg over dark energy due to its almost infinite options..lancet looks nice but really hungry for some patch cable action..have to wonder though is there difference in quality of oscillators...etc between two given the closeness in price and the absence of many features on dark energy..
any other Kraftzwerg users out there have any feedback?

[WaveRider]

and duty fees are about 33%,

how come? I am in Canada too, usually you just have to pay GST (15%) when you import?

[chapelier fou]

I just tried the DE. I am gonna buy it. That's it.