Buying my first synth help needed

Discuss music production with Ableton Live.
ttaralli
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Re: Buying my first synth help needed

Post by ttaralli » Sat Apr 03, 2010 10:45 am

Hey guys - thank you so much for your input. Right now I'm looking at getting the Moog Little Phatty. It's Analog and monophonic (I'm fine with monophonic), and it also seems to pretty fairly easy to understand. It seems fairly upgradable with moogerfogers, and it also seems to hold it value on ebay. I'll probably buy one used. I looked at the Evolver keyboard and like it a lot but I worry I might be frustrated with getting the sounds I'm looking for out of it being so new to synthesis. ANyone have ay other suggestions or any reason I should stay away from the LP, before I jump head first into this?

dum
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Re: Buying my first synth help needed

Post by dum » Sat Apr 03, 2010 12:20 pm

ttaralli wrote:Hey guys - thank you so much for your input. Right now I'm looking at getting the Moog Little Phatty. It's Analog and monophonic (I'm fine with monophonic), and it also seems to pretty fairly easy to understand. It seems fairly upgradable with moogerfogers, and it also seems to hold it value on ebay. I'll probably buy one used. I looked at the Evolver keyboard and like it a lot but I worry I might be frustrated with getting the sounds I'm looking for out of it being so new to synthesis. ANyone have ay other suggestions or any reason I should stay away from the LP, before I jump head first into this?

in terms of analog tones - the mono evolver is the only other synth i use that makes me look at my voyager with suspicious eyes.

In fairness, I haven't used a little phatty but i use the voyager & evolver side-by-side and i'd choose the evolver over a little phatty without hesitation. Seeing as you're on the used market, my last nugget of advice would be to try a used mono evolver keyboard first... do some research and make sure you don't pay more than the going rate. If after trying it for a couple weeks you find it's not for you, re-list it. if you play your cards right you shouldn't lose more money than the cost of shipping from when you initially bought it.

small price to pay to be sure you're not overlooking a monster synth.

however in all likeliness you won't be passing it on :mrgreen:
Pasha wrote:Thanks dum for being so precise.

ttaralli
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Location: New York City

Re: Buying my first synth help needed

Post by ttaralli » Sat Apr 03, 2010 12:34 pm

Cool I'll look into it. Does anyone know if Guitar Center still sell the Mono Evolver? I'd love to go in there and try it out.

dum
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Re: Buying my first synth help needed

Post by dum » Sat Apr 03, 2010 1:12 pm

ttaralli wrote:Cool I'll look into it. Does anyone know if Guitar Center still sell the Mono Evolver? I'd love to go in there and try it out.

Oh I didn't notice you are based in new york city... there's bound to be a few places where you could try out these synths ?

All my purchases are online, by necessity. I sometimes forget there's folks out there with access to stores stocking synths & fx.
Pasha wrote:Thanks dum for being so precise.

Vibrations
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Re: Buying my first synth help needed

Post by Vibrations » Sat Apr 03, 2010 2:20 pm

@Jacqueslacouth

You would hesitate to recommend this synth because it is very new ???

And it appears flimsy in build and sound wise ???

Did you had one in your hands already? When not your opinion is completely worthless.

Jacqueslacouth
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Re: Buying my first synth help needed

Post by Jacqueslacouth » Sat Apr 03, 2010 7:43 pm

Vibrations wrote:@Jacqueslacouth

You would hesitate to recommend this synth because it is very new ???

And it appears flimsy in build and sound wise ???

Did you had one in your hands already? When not your opinion is completely worthless.
Have a close look at the amount of wiggle in close up of the videos on the faders...they look very loose and flimsy....And as for my opinion, it is simply that, an opinion based on my observations. The track record of the industry in recent years has seen countless releases of both hardware and software which were the result of poor quality control and insufficient product testing. You know..."he who doesn't learn from History's mistakes.....

So Please, don't be so arrogant as to presume another human beings opinion as worthless, this kind of disrespectful comment is sadly reflective of the sad dilemma facing a society in decline. The anonymity of forums is seen to excuse a never ending stream of dismissive, and rude comments. I hope that in the flesh, you have greater human qualities than exhibited hear.
Loving your children, caring for the environment and respecting each being you meet for who they are and not who you think they should be....COOL!!!!!

Emissary
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Re: Buying my first synth help needed

Post by Emissary » Sat Apr 03, 2010 8:18 pm

Access Virus......?

funky shit
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Re: Buying my first synth help needed

Post by funky shit » Sat Apr 03, 2010 10:18 pm

Little Phatty is an absolute beast. I have its bigger brother the voyager and the moog sound is just awesome!
ttaralli wrote:Hey guys - thank you so much for your input. Right now I'm looking at getting the Moog Little Phatty. It's Analog and monophonic (I'm fine with monophonic), and it also seems to pretty fairly easy to understand. It seems fairly upgradable with moogerfogers, and it also seems to hold it value on ebay. I'll probably buy one used. I looked at the Evolver keyboard and like it a lot but I worry I might be frustrated with getting the sounds I'm looking for out of it being so new to synthesis. ANyone have ay other suggestions or any reason I should stay away from the LP, before I jump head first into this?
I know what you mean, i adore the moog, but my mopho gets some serious tones that no other synth engine can get :D (other than DSI obv)
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ttaralli
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Re: Buying my first synth help needed

Post by ttaralli » Sat Apr 03, 2010 10:54 pm

Okay now I'm heavily looking into the Mono Evolver :)

Vibrations
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Re: Buying my first synth help needed

Post by Vibrations » Sun Apr 04, 2010 8:08 am

@Jacqueslacouth

I don't need a close look at the videos - I already had the chance to play with this toy.

Your opinion is not an opinion. Your opinion is simply a prejudgment.

And this to say is disrespectful in your eyes? Are you the emperor of China?

ttaralli
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Re: Buying my first synth help needed

Post by ttaralli » Mon Apr 05, 2010 2:58 am

Ok Still looking around, Played with some synths this weekend. I have one more question, I know it's not an analog sytnh, but what does everyone think of the Nord Lead 2??? I thought it had a nice sound, but again this will be the first real synth I ever buy and I just want to be sure. At this moment it's between the mono Evolver keyboard and the Nord Lead. ANy advice would be great!

funky shit
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Re: Buying my first synth help needed

Post by funky shit » Mon Apr 05, 2010 3:10 am

ttaralli wrote:Ok Still looking around, Played with some synths this weekend. I have one more question, I know it's not an analog sytnh, but what does everyone think of the Nord Lead 2??? I thought it had a nice sound, but again this will be the first real synth I ever buy and I just want to be sure. At this moment it's between the mono Evolver keyboard and the Nord Lead. ANy advice would be great!
Have a nordlead2x. class synth :D some epic pads and sounds are possible.
but after using analogue synths which the nord was moddled after, its a no go for bass/leads etc.
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JuanSOLO
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Re: Buying my first synth help needed

Post by JuanSOLO » Mon Apr 05, 2010 4:35 am

Going back to your original post you mentioned an analog synth for learning. Seems to me the best advice was to get one of the Dave Smiths and if you dont like it in a couple weeks, sell it for basically the same price.

Personally I am shopping for an analog synth as well. After years of Software Synthesis, I cant escape the unique quality that electricity makes when playing a COMPLETELY ANALOGUE synth, software can only emulate it, but it has not reproduced it.

One of my band mates plays a Juno 106, ugly as sin, but he makes some killer sounds with it. I too have investigated the Nord vs. Mopho or Evolver, vs. the Virus. Personally I want something "new" yet very "classic" analog. To me the Dave Smith stuff is that option. The Nord and Access stuff are very appealing in the way you can configure and store sets ups etc. But these seem to be more of a bridge between Digital and Analog, where the Dave Smith seems more like modern classic analog. So for learning analog, I get the feeling the Virus, Nord, or anything like it tends to teach you in that manner, where something like an evolver, is set up to understand the classics in a new package.

My vote is for either the Mopho or the Evolver. HOWEVER any vintage synth would be a nice tool, but over time these instruments become fickle, and wacky, needing tune ups so to speak.

It has been a tough decision for myself, but I have settled on at least a Dave Smith synth. Still deciding between a Prophet 8, Evolver, or Mopho.

funky shit
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Re: Buying my first synth help needed

Post by funky shit » Mon Apr 05, 2010 6:10 am

JuanSOLO wrote:Going back to your original post you mentioned an analog synth for learning. Seems to me the best advice was to get one of the Dave Smiths and if you dont like it in a couple weeks, sell it for basically the same price.

Personally I am shopping for an analog synth as well. After years of Software Synthesis, I cant escape the unique quality that electricity makes when playing a COMPLETELY ANALOGUE synth, software can only emulate it, but it has not reproduced it.

One of my band mates plays a Juno 106, ugly as sin, but he makes some killer sounds with it. I too have investigated the Nord vs. Mopho or Evolver, vs. the Virus. Personally I want something "new" yet very "classic" analog. To me the Dave Smith stuff is that option. The Nord and Access stuff are very appealing in the way you can configure and store sets ups etc. But these seem to be more of a bridge between Digital and Analog, where the Dave Smith seems more like modern classic analog. So for learning analog, I get the feeling the Virus, Nord, or anything like it tends to teach you in that manner, where something like an evolver, is set up to understand the classics in a new package.

My vote is for either the Mopho or the Evolver. HOWEVER any vintage synth would be a nice tool, but over time these instruments become fickle, and wacky, needing tune ups so to speak.

It has been a tough decision for myself, but I have settled on at least a Dave Smith synth. Still deciding between a Prophet 8, Evolver, or Mopho.
Prophet 08.
If your looking to learn synthesis dont go for the mopho.
the UI is 11 knobs.. to learn you need all the paramaters right in front of you, ready to tweet at any time.


only my preference.
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dum
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Re: Buying my first synth help needed

Post by dum » Mon Apr 05, 2010 6:18 am

only failtards would consider using a nord lead to sound analog.

use it to sound digital and you're in heaven. magic synth.
Pasha wrote:Thanks dum for being so precise.

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