Any *hardware* synth recommendations for UNDER $US 500

[aizo]

I vote for a JP-8000! or a jp8080 if you already have a controller

[hps909]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/190580038412?ss ... 1555.l2649

I need a new pic for this

I used to have the CS1x then CS2x years ago, I'm not sure what the an1x is like, but I'm not sure I'd recommend them as a hardware option, mainly because I don't think it offers enough of what I'd want hardware for now days - ie lots of immediate knobs to twiddle and real analogue sound.

I think they were ok for the price, but had a very digital sound and there was too much fucking around in the LCD screen to change things, which isn't really any advantage over VSTs IMO.

AN1x looks the same but is a completely different beast .. they were my favourite of the early VA's

[mikemc]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/190580038412?ss ... 1555.l2649

I need a new pic for this

it looks like i missed out on this, somebody got a good deal

[mikemc]

Thanks for all of the suggestions: I saw a nice demo video of the M-Audio Venom, any thoughts about this one?

[Muzik 4 Machines]

Roland Alpha Juno's can be picked up for less than £500. Great sound, stable oscillators. Only problem is the lack of knobs on the front.

alpha junos and mks 50 without a programmer are under 100$ (usually 50-60$ max)

[evangelink]

Roland Alpha Juno's can be picked up for less than £500. Great sound, stable oscillators. Only problem is the lack of knobs on the front.

alpha junos and mks 50 without a programmer are under 100$ (usually 50-60$ max)

In the UK they go for around £150-£200. Clearly they're much cheaper in the US, which makes them even more of a bargain then.

[d-track]

8 pieces of korg monotron?
in daisy chain.
like never before

[trevox]

8 pieces of korg monotron?
in daisy chain.
like never before

Ha! I have two monotron's. Intended on modding th fuck out of one of them but haven't got around to it yet. At $50/60 for a proper analog oscillator, filter and ribbon controller, you really can't go wrong.

[willdahbe]

Thanks for all of the suggestions: I saw a nice demo video of the M-Audio Venom, any thoughts about this one?

It's poop, If you play a chord and try to do a filter sweep or something of the sort, it won't update the sound in real-time. Also I hear it's supposed to have pretty bad aliasing.

[klmns]

K-Station (in combination with V-Station a nice hybrid)

[Schmidi]

stay away from the Venom! it actually sounds alright, but the cpu is WAY underpowered, it CAN'T be edited w/o a computer attached, and it is crap for realtime tweeking.

better alternatives:
Virus B/Classic
Roland JP8000/JP8080
Novation Nova/Supernova (Might even find a used Ultranova for your budget)
Alesis Micron (Or better yet, Akai Miniak)

[razorblade]

Another vote for a used desktop evolver.

[kc2ine]

I think akai miniak now for ~270$ new is a steal, great sound.

[freshdrumma]

don't like the venom at all, had a try at a local store, it just impress you, but i felt like you never end up using it's sounds in a production, or you do and damn yourself at the mixing stage.
if you can go for an old roland do it, juno 106 is superb, i miss mine everyday but alpha juno 2 sounds goof to, just a little less editable

if you are looking for a newer thing go for a korg ms 2000, an electribe from the first series or a roland jp8000 those things sounds good!

[3dot...]

you knew this was coming...
4 oscillator(stereo)mono synth... doubles as a SICK fx unit