Recommendation for a vintage/warm/weird sounding synth?

fatrabbit · Post by **fatrabbit** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 6:00 pm

I look around, and I think to myself that the thing that is missing now is a good hardware synth.

I'm looking for a nice warm, maybe vintage sounding synth. I was looking at the Korg R3 (after looking at the MicroKorg, as the R3 is the new version yes?). Something of a nice price too!

I'm looking for synthy sounds (mainly complementary) similar to those heard from bands like Jaga Jazzist (for example tracks 'The Stix', 'Toxic Dart' and 'Reminders') or Tortoise (the sound that starts at 2.29 on their track 'Seneca' for example).

Most examples of videos/sound samples on synths end up showcasing their Tarnce potential, with horrible cheesy leads and basses. Obviously, i'm sure a lot of stuff can be programmed to get the sort of things i'm after, but it's pointless trying to get blood from a stone if it was designed exclusively for a particular cheesy lead sound etc.

I did do some searches of course for previous threads, and it's got to be said that the phpBB board search is pants.

Khazul · Post by **Khazul** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 6:14 pm

" nice warm, maybe vintage sounding synth."

Then avoid Korg!

Machinate · Post by **Machinate** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 6:15 pm

what's your budget? Are you willing to go analogue?

sparklepuff · Post by **sparklepuff** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 6:17 pm

Cloak and Dagger · Post by **Cloak and Dagger** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 6:18 pm

if you can afford it ($2000) take a look at dave smith instruments prophet 8....

http://www.davesmithinstruments.com/pro ... /index.php

fatrabbit · Post by **fatrabbit** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 6:21 pm

Dave Smith - obviously it has no effect on the sound, but... worst font use ever.

Anyway, his stuff is far to expensive for me right now. I was thinking in the couple hundreds (£s, so double for $s - in the range of the MicroKorg and R3).

The reason I ended up looking at the Korg stuff is because Jaga use an MS-2000, and the MicroKorg (and also the R3 I think) use the same DSP.

ultrasonyk · Post by **ultrasonyk** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 6:25 pm

doepfer a-100
moog modular
minimoog
electribe ea1

depends on the style of music you wanna produce...

Lux Libra · Post by **Lux Libra** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 6:55 pm

Nord Modular G1 or G2 (though expensive...)
i suggest, but it's all down to personal reverence.

Khazul · Post by **Khazul** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 7:16 pm

m:o wrote:Nord Modular G1 or G2 (though expensive...)
i suggest, but it's all down to personal reverence.

Hmm - yes - if you get the keyboard versions, but the engine (rack box) versions are quite cheap.

In reality allomost every digital subtractive architecture synth can sometimes have a sweet spot where it sounds vintage/warm etc by someones defination - ie it manages some vintage signature sound very well, but go out of that sweet spot and its a modern digital synth again.

Nord and Alesis are probably the best for targetting traditional analog synth sounds - that what Nord and Alesis were trying to do when they created those synths, and IMHO they whats they are best for (OK, so the Nord lead does some wicked modern FM stuff as well).

For warm in digital synth when you want it to be - personally my two favourite synth engiens are Access Virus and Novation Nova/Nova 2/SuperNova etc series and KS series.

The roland V-synth and SH-201 can sometimes take you back to an 80s analog synth type sound - again - you kin do fhit a sweet spot and you there, but not most of the time.

Waldorf - excellent synths - tgry them - maybe they are your thing - personally, like nord, I have never really gelled with their sound.

For price, I think there are two real contenders - Novation KS series (have to be second hand as they are discontinued) and the Alesis Ion. If second hand is being considered, then consider in Nord L2.

If you want new, then forget the R3 - great synth, but thin and cold IMHO like ther radias, its quite decent for very modern sounds, but its filters are rather anemic - the old MS2K was way way better.

So for new and cheap - Sh201 or Alesis Ion. Micron too except that its UI is horrible. The SH-201 sounds OK, but for vintage sounds - can be hard to find its sweet spot - filters just dont have enough character, unlike virus, ion and novation, nord and waldorf.

Another thing to think about - do you need polyphonic or will monophonic do? Real analog polyphonic and new means DSI P-8, Alesis A6, SE CODE4/8 - P-8 being by far the cheapest and simplest. For mono analog - there are loads of options - Moog LP being probaby the cheapest. Try ebay maybe for a second hand synth? Allways risky getting off ebay though - full of liars and scammers IMHO.

icedsushi · Post by **icedsushi** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 7:40 pm

CZ-101!

Warm (even though digital), weird, cheap, runs on baterries and you can program it on the sofa!

(just keep in mind, no filter sweeps and not velocity sensitive...)

Machinate · Post by **Machinate** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 7:41 pm

used virus 2 + analogue overdrive pedal.

adventurepants_ · Post by **adventurepants_** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 4:29 am

ultrasonyk wrote:doepfer a-100
moog modular
minimoog
electribe ea1

depends on the style of music you wanna produce...

i dont think the EA1 deserves to be mentioned in the same list as those others. (and i own one!)

fatrabbit · Post by **fatrabbit** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 4:01 pm

Thanks for the replies... but maybe it was obvious i'd get wildy varying answers.

Of course it would be nice, but I don't want anything expensive, modular or of a particular vintage nature that it requires maintenance every other day.

Poster · Post by **Poster** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 4:04 pm

Khazul wrote:" nice warm, maybe vintage sounding synth."

Then avoid Korg!

warm greetings from my MS-20 and Mono/Poly..

Machinate · Post by **Machinate** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 4:10 pm

Poster wrote:
Khazul wrote:" nice warm, maybe vintage sounding synth."

Then avoid Korg!
warm greetings from my MS-20 and Mono/Poly..

Poster, I would like to buy your MS-20 for 200£. No? Okay, then shut up