Ye old analog synth - the real thing

theshaggyfreak · Post by **theshaggyfreak** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 9:26 am

So, after reading these forums here for about a week, I see that there are plenty of folks here with hardware synths. For years I've been wanting some sort of true analog synth even it if it something basic. I've been on the search for a long time now, and I'm wondering what my best bet is. These are things that I've come across starting with the cheapest:

The Sonosaur This guy makes these tiny synths and sells them on ebay for about $100. He makes a midi module that you can connect to it for another $40. The downside is that you have to put these things together in some sort of housing. Still, not bad for a 2 oscillator synth. I've heard an mp3 of it and it sounds pretty good, but I'm not sure I have the patience for putting it in some sort of box.

Technosaurus Microcon II - This is about $300, but is only monophonic. While it does sound good, I'd would rather have something that has 2 oscillators.

Dave Smiths Evolver - This is about $550-600, but I think many here are familiar with it.

That's about all I can come up with that are in what I think is an 'affordable' range. I'm not looking for a huge amount of sounds from a synth, but I would like something. I have some great software synths, but it's still not close to the real thing. After playing with the ARP 2600 we found buried in our schools studio, I've been itching more than ever to get a hold of something. Even though I can solder, I don't have the patience to build something from a kit. I'd love to get one of the starter synths from Synthesizers.com, but I really don't think I can spend well over a grand on something...at least not for a few years. Maybe I just need to be patient and wait.

sweetjesus · Post by **sweetjesus** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 10:04 am

sh-101, waldorf pulse

arctic ranger · Post by **arctic ranger** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 10:12 am

a friend of mine has this thing called a maxi korg....its freakin huge, we call it the "beast". Anyways its great to sample from and easy to use.

You just cant get all the de-tuning quirkieness and nastyness no matter how much you spend on software.

Anyways, it pays to have something around that has substance and weight around to fool around with.

Anything like that will also make a good door stopper

grok · Post by **grok** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 10:24 am

I have an mono evolver and I'me very pleased with it . His modulation matrix is far out.When he plays together with software sounds he jumps out of the mix

. You can make him mumble and you can make him scream. Also the building quality is very solid.

leonard · Post by **leonard** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 10:25 am

you'll never get one if you spell it like that.

Michael-SW · Post by **Michael-SW** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 10:27 am

Although the Evolver is only semi-analog (2 Oscs. the VCA and the LP filters are analog, but they are part of a digital signal chain) it is a great synth at a great price. And the step sequencer is friggin cool.

Although many demo sounds are weird noises (I like that!), it is perfectly capable of good classic synth sounds. If you demo it, bank 4 has the most useful sounds.

funk313 · Post by **funk313** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 10:30 am

next on ma list is THE VOYAGER rack

snowtires · Post by **snowtires** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 12:24 pm

every day i wake up, hoping that the voyager has come down in price by $2000. i don't know about that 'lil phatty' synth. first off, how do you go from names like prodigy and voyager to lil phatty? what, did they ask one of their kids to name it for them? obviously it was named after bob died, i have a feeling he wouldn't have signed off on that one. the name alone makes me not want it, i'd be embarrassed to tell people the name. plus it looks more like a george foreman grill than a keyboard. it sounds alright, but it's no voyager.

rikhyray · Post by **rikhyray** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 12:44 pm

snowtires wrote:every day i wake up, hoping that the voyager has come down in price by $2000. i don't know about that 'lil phatty' synth. first off, how do you go from names like prodigy and voyager to lil phatty? what, did they ask one of their kids to name it for them? obviously it was named after bob died, i have a feeling he wouldn't have signed off on that one. the name alone makes me not want it, i'd be embarrassed to tell people the name. plus it looks more like a george foreman grill than a keyboard. it sounds alright, but it's no voyager.

When I tried at the messe I thought it`s name is "Bob Moog" and it is kind of tribute. Damn,I would have told them straight in the face that it is ridiculous and indeed I may not buy it if they do not change that idiotic name. BTW. it looks fine in reality, but that name....

Angstrom · Post by **Angstrom** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:20 pm

If you are any use at all with a soldering iron you could get a kit.

something like the
http://www.paia.com/fatman.htm
for around $200

look here for the Soundlab kit
http://www.musicfromouterspace.com/

or if you feel confident in future finances ... buy a modular synth module-by-module

http://www.synthesizers.com/system-entry1.html
althought thats $120 a month for 12 months so it may be out of your price range.

mcconaghy · Post by **mcconaghy** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:37 pm

rikhyray wrote: When I tried at the messe I thought it`s name is "Bob Moog" and it is kind of tribute. Damn,I would have told them straight in the face that it is ridiculous and indeed I may not buy it if they do not change that idiotic name. BTW. it looks fine in reality, but that name....

The synth was named by Bob himself before he died.

rikhyray · Post by **rikhyray** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:42 pm

mcconaghy wrote:
rikhyray wrote: When I tried at the messe I thought it`s name is "Bob Moog" and it is kind of tribute. Damn,I would have told them straight in the face that it is ridiculous and indeed I may not buy it if they do not change that idiotic name. BTW. it looks fine in reality, but that name....
The synth was named by Bob himself before he died.

OK out of respect, I shut up.Sorry Bob.

ishimaru · Post by **ishimaru** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:43 pm

SH101. Get the midi to CV going .. acidlines ... MMMMM mmm like Aunt Jemima cooking pancakes on a sunday morning!

rikhyray · Post by **rikhyray** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:48 pm

Angstrom wrote:If you are any use at all with a soldering iron you could get a kit.

something like the
http://www.paia.com/fatman.htm
for around $200

look here for the Soundlab kit
http://www.musicfromouterspace.com/

or if you feel confident in future finances ... buy a modular synth module-by-module

http://www.synthesizers.com/system-entry1.html
althought thats $120 a month for 12 months so it may be out of your price range.

What about a kit that I could built in SL, since I want to swap my SL 25 for 37 there will be enough space. I just want phat mono moog type sound for basses and solos. Is it realistic , difficult, what kit would you recommend ? I might even approach the Novation service in Germany , they are vintage specialists and did good job rewiring the pads of my SL., it might be cheaper then asking some inexperienced friend. Still I should find good module to built in.

leonard · Post by **leonard** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 2:36 pm

Angstrom wrote:If you are any use at all with a soldering iron you could get a kit.

something like the
http://www.paia.com/fatman.htm
for around $200

look here for the Soundlab kit
http://www.musicfromouterspace.com/

or if you feel confident in future finances ... buy a modular synth module-by-module

http://www.synthesizers.com/system-entry1.html
althought thats $120 a month for 12 months so it may be out of your price range.

it's all good until something goes wrong.
and you spend hours upon hours trying to figure out why the fuck that piece of shit aint making the sound that's posted on the website. all the bits are in place, all the fuckin' polarity's right there, but the damn fuckin' thing aint doin what the fuck it's sposeder.