Should i sell my Hardware Synths?

Discuss music production with Ableton Live.
xpl2003
Posts: 63
Joined: Sun Mar 13, 2005 6:01 pm

Should i sell my Hardware Synths?

Post by xpl2003 » Sat Apr 09, 2005 2:45 pm

Thinking of definately selling the following:

Waldorf Micro Q - Never ever used it since purchase - people say its really good but the interface is kinda hard to master and doesnt seem to produce anything amazing compared to alot of soft synths i have heard.

Novation KS Rack - Same as V-Station VST - I purchased it mainly for the hands on control but again not really used it much and the Vstation sounds VERY similar in quality etc.

Bare in mind i also have a Supernova/Virus A and soft synths.

Would you seel these or keep em?

Any advice would be great.

Hypomixolydian
Posts: 812
Joined: Wed Jun 16, 2004 9:54 pm

Post by Hypomixolydian » Sat Apr 09, 2005 3:13 pm

Considering the fact that you probably won't get anywhere near the price you paid for them, I would keep them. I have quite a lot of hardware stuff I rarely use these days. I looked into what I would get if I sold them and decided NO WAY!!! Some of my hardware stuff is Korg Triton Rack, Technics WSA 1 Keyboard and module, Yamaha SY 85, Pod pro (1st version) and an Ensoniq DP 4 + effects unit. I have loads of software stuff!!!
Not too long ago for nostalgia's sake, I played some of my hardware synths. I have to say they sounded great!!! All of them!! Even the SY 85. So my opinion, for whatever it is worth, is keep them.

xpl2003
Posts: 63
Joined: Sun Mar 13, 2005 6:01 pm

Synths

Post by xpl2003 » Sat Apr 09, 2005 3:58 pm

Thanks for your reply.

The way i see with these 2 synths i propose to sell is that i would get around the same price i paid for them at the moment because people still want them on ebay.

If they were vintage synths then i would maybe consider keeping them.

Some of the VST Software synth demos i have been trying are just mind blowing - i.e Oscar, Reason Combinator, CS80. They all seem to produce nice lectronic sounds which i am into.

I sort of feel my studio setup will be a bit empty without my hardware synths but i am highly considering having a massive change around and purchasing 3 x 17/19 inch TFT monitors and maybe some control surfaces.

My equipment does take up alot of room and connecting it up is a pain most times and when its connected it never works spot on (sync, delays etc). I never have these problems with just using Software :).

Its all confusing! :-0

randyh
Posts: 95
Joined: Thu Jan 20, 2005 4:37 pm
Location: St. Louis

Re: Synths

Post by randyh » Sat Apr 09, 2005 4:24 pm

sell them. I've had a few hardware synths for the past several years. I thought I might bust em out at some point. Never have. Gonna sell them soon. Invest in a good computer (with a nice monitor like you said) and some good speakers, some good plugins, a nice controller, and treat your room if you can. At least that's what I'm doing :)

just my opinion btw. If you sell them and go "doh" don't blame me. :P I don't think you will though.

-r
Master of the Interweb

muthafunka
Posts: 2251
Joined: Fri Jan 10, 2003 5:28 pm
Location: Tokyo

Post by muthafunka » Sat Apr 09, 2005 4:24 pm

If you haven't used them for a while then you probably won't use them much, I'd say ditch 'em, especially as you still have some sweet pieces. What's more if you say you can get nearly what you paid then where's the loss, esp. as they're not exactly vintage collectors' items, you can always buy them again if you reeeeeally want them.

innerdreamrecords.com
Posts: 148
Joined: Thu Feb 17, 2005 1:16 am
Location: Los Angeles
Contact:

Post by innerdreamrecords.com » Sat Apr 09, 2005 4:48 pm

I've had many hardware synths that I've sold - I always sample the hell out of them before I sell them.

I had the same synths that you have I don't miss them - the only synth I wish I still had is the Virus C.
http://www.innerdreamrecords.com
iTunes - Sony Connect - Beatport
House | Electronic | Alternative

minimal
Posts: 939
Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2004 9:57 am
Location: zh - switzerland
Contact:

Post by minimal » Sat Apr 09, 2005 5:35 pm

do you have the microQ rack version?
I have the keyboard version but I would be intersted in the rack version for live touring.
how many euros do you want ?

PS.: explore the modulation matrix of the microQ, you may reconsider selling it.

all the best and stay groovy

dpel
Posts: 628
Joined: Tue Aug 13, 2002 9:27 pm
Location: LA
Contact:

Re: Should i sell my Hardware Synths?

Post by dpel » Sat Apr 09, 2005 5:38 pm

xpl2003 wrote:Thinking of definately selling the following:

Waldorf Micro Q - Never ever used it since purchase - people say its really good but the interface is kinda hard to master and doesnt seem to produce anything amazing compared to alot of soft synths i have heard.

Novation KS Rack - Same as V-Station VST - I purchased it mainly for the hands on control but again not really used it much and the Vstation sounds VERY similar in quality etc.

Bare in mind i also have a Supernova/Virus A and soft synths.

Would you seel these or keep em?

Any advice would be great.
If you haven't used it in 6 months, sell it.
i've already begun the pilgramage to the "Great SoftSyth/Software Universe" i'm selling the farm!

i have yet to sell:
ASR X Pro
Yamaha 01V
EMU E 4XT Ultra
any takers?
Dave Pelman Music
http://www.davepelman.com

xpl2003
Posts: 63
Joined: Sun Mar 13, 2005 6:01 pm

Thanks for all the comments

Post by xpl2003 » Sat Apr 09, 2005 6:16 pm

Thanks for all this great feedback.

The main thing i was hoping to achieve when i first bought the Hardware synths was easy access and workflow - i.e hands on control with kobs/sliders etc. And also to learn how synths work and achieve effects.

I do feel i have accumulated quite alot of VA Hardware synths which i think may all produce similar sounds.

I tend to now use the soft synths more with mouse control and sometimes assign my remote25 to midi cc's such as cut off and resonance.

I will keep the Virus A rack (think it was the first one released), The Supernova does sound great and has 8 part multitrimbal and fab presets bank, i cant sell my Korg MS2000B because i wouldnt get half the price back but it does take up alot of space. I also have the electribes which are pretty cool :)

I have a Kenton Control Freak which i got cheap but never connected that up yet lol.

I quite fancy things like the behringer bcr/bcf and M-Audio Trigger Finger.

It does seem the Softsynths are getting great now and ableton is so ace to work with.

PC side of things are good too : XP2600, 1.5gig ram,dual monitors, MOTU 828 mk1 which rocks compared to M-Audio soundcards!

jeskola
Posts: 1856
Joined: Wed Dec 01, 2004 1:04 pm

Post by jeskola » Sat Apr 09, 2005 11:48 pm

i o expert on this and cant comment on =your bits there... i bought a junoD and have to say i never go back to soft synths, for £359 i have 800 patches that are all editable, i can create my own, i have 49 effexts --- all theses patches efx etc are controbally from a "vst" window within ableton like a soft synth, .... i fuck*n love it !!!!!

AdamJay
Posts: 4757
Joined: Thu Mar 11, 2004 7:17 pm
Location: Indianapolis, USA

Post by AdamJay » Sat Apr 09, 2005 11:52 pm

sell em bro.
for me there are only a few pieces of hardware left out there that would be worth owning. (elektron and clavia gear mostly hehe)

Also, consider the new Virus TI for replacing the waldorf and novation.
its hardware that can also act as software in your host as VST/AU plugin.
I wish more companies would take this Virus TI hardware/software hybrid model and run with it (elektron?)

Angstrom
Posts: 14987
Joined: Mon Oct 04, 2004 2:22 pm
Contact:

Post by Angstrom » Sun Apr 10, 2005 12:31 am

If you need money sell stuff you never used, sure. You should let someone buy it who will use it / obsess over it.

Though, I havent used my Korg MonoPoly for a couple of years but it would still be like selling my mother!
The DP4 is a lovely box and well worth keeping, great stupid phaser noises. I also have an SY85 and have never managed to get soft synths to reproduce what my SY old patches do. It's well made too, so I wouldnt sell that as I wouldnt get what it is 'really worth'

Hypomixolydian
Posts: 812
Joined: Wed Jun 16, 2004 9:54 pm

Post by Hypomixolydian » Sun Apr 10, 2005 2:00 am

I prefer soft synths by far for convenience and ease of use. Frustrating though when you run out of CPU. If you can get a similar price for your hardware sell. If I could get a good price for my stuff I would sell too, but seeing I won't get a reasonanble price I decided to keep them. As I said in an earlier post, actually playing them again after a long absence was fun!!

redrabbit
Posts: 29
Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2005 2:48 am
Location: inside your computer, snappin wires like Chuck Norris snaps bones.

Post by redrabbit » Sun Apr 10, 2005 2:42 am

It sounds like you have not invested the time to really learn how to use them.
This is not a bad thing, it happens to most of us. I have a few VSTi's that I know I could possibly use more, but I haven't the time to learn, or , my priorities lie elswhere.
Here is what I do if I really want to learn outboard equiptment.......I create a different setup, away from my main rig. Just headphones, synth and the manual, maybe a midi controller too. You might try this, and give it two or three nights of hard reading and tweaking, so you can decide if the units will help you in ways you don't yet know.

=RR=
Asus P4C800e-deluxe "imagine sexy model pic here" P4 3.0c desktop / 2gig / 3 Hdrives / Matrox 650p / RME hdsp9632 / Tango24 / XPhome Sp1 / CubaseSX3.1 / Wavelab4 / LIVE 5.03 / etc.....

aka Freq Band

Hedroom
Posts: 749
Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2005 12:23 pm

Post by Hedroom » Mon Apr 11, 2005 3:10 pm

Heh...

I seem to be moving in the opposite direction at the moment and buying bits of analogue equipment I previously wouldn't have been able to afford. I think they sound wicked and are a lot of fun to play with.

I guess it's a slightly different kettle of fish to VAs and the like though. In fact, sold my a-station with no qualms - what's the point introducing real-world noise to a recording when when there's the identical v-station?

Post Reply