Hardware synths that can be automated in ableton

[sanny.verkissen]

Hi guy's and girls,

I'm looking for a hardware synth with analoge vibe that I can automate in ableton.

Any suggestions?

Thnx

[TLW]

Any analogue synth that’s MIDI controllable is automatable in Live.

There’s lots of them.

[sanny.verkissen]

Any analogue synth that’s MIDI controllable is automatable in Live.

There’s lots of them.

Well I was looking at the korg ms20 mini, but from what I read it's not possible.

[timday]

You can do a fair bit on a mini with a MIDI-CV converter (Korg's SQ-1 will do the job as well as being a decent sequencer) and even by sending audio signal into the ESP section and using the env out to control other parameters, but not everything on the mini is automatable (i.e. not everything has a patch point so things like PWM and enveope release you can't touch regardless of your DAW or other hardware). Converters also will generally only let you do a couple of parameters at a time as they are limited by the number of physical outputs.

So otherwise anything MIDI controllable as TLW wrote, and any parameter with a CV patch point via a converter.

You will likely also find that for many popular MIDI controllable synths someone has built a M4L device that will let you control it like a plugin rather than using clip envelopes, and the exceptions you can use things like control change 8 as the basis for plugin type control. I do most of my hardware control like this and find it a big advantage over other DAWs.

[doghouse]

Read the manual for the synth. In it will be a discussion of the MIDI features. It's often at the end of the manual in an appendix. Look for mention of sending and receiving CC (continuous controller) messages. Most mfrs have downloadable manuals on their websites.

The easy way to tell if a synth can be automated: does it have patch memory? If not, it most likely cannot be controlled by MIDI CCs or NRPNs. There are a few exceptions, like the Korg Volcas which have no patch memory but do support CC control.

What timday is describing is buying extra hardware to control a few parameters on an MS20 via patch cables. If you do not already own an MS20, you would be much better off buying something else.

[sanny.verkissen]

Thank guys, getting wiser.

Was looking at the moog minitaur and arturia brute at the moment.

[doghouse]

Mintaur can be automated. There are two M4L devices available that you can use for this purpose, you can record your knob tweaks while the Minitaur is being played or you can draw in CC automation manually.

Brutes can not be automated.

[Mark Williams]

Try the Deepmind 12 too.

[pottering]

Bass Station 2 and Circuit Mono Station

Peak too, probably. It is newer and seems kinda made for that.

[sanny.verkissen]

Thnx guy, this is what I was looking for.