A decent digital synth (poly)

0BSRVR · 2013-10-12T02:01:43.000Z

I also have a Nord lead 2X. It is a great synth. The fact that it has no effects is both a weakness and a strength. If your a sound designer, this will help you really focus on your sounds. If your not so good at “rolling your own” then you might miss having effects. Of course if you already have an OT, that will cover the effects for you quite nicely.

mistakem · 2013-10-12T02:01:55.000Z

I’m on the same page - I have an A4 and MS-20 Mini, i’m thinking of buying a nord wave, it’s more expensive, though it gives you VA, wavetable, FM and samples with hands on control for all the parameters… Only downside is that it’s not multitimbral…

In the meantime I have been using Native Instruments FM8 - I have all the presets from all the famous FM synths - sounds terrific. I have no idea how to program FM though I want to learn… How good would it be if a company made a modern fm synth with controllable parameters?!

zfigz · 2013-10-12T02:03:20.000Z

I’ll chime in for the following:

blofeld (cheap/huge sonic palette)
tetra (cheap/analog/small footprint)
novation nova (it can be had for cheap/immediate control over all parameters)

p.s. the blofeld can be quiet, you just have to turn it up via the mixer. i always recorded using the mixer. i rarely could have more than 3-4 synths without it glitching because i used the modulation matrix on each instrument so much. the glitches were actually kinda cool though. i miss that synth a lot…

drone · 2013-10-12T15:08:33.000Z

And what do you think of the Yamaha DX200 ? A sort of groovebox with FM synthesis, very cheap and small. I’m also planning to buy a new gear to complete my OT and MD with a sequencer that I could tweak.

Or what about a simple korg electribe ?

The Blofeld seems to be attractive, but it has no sequencer. Thus, it will take one track on the octatrack, and I’m wondering if the OT can send polyphonic midi notes (can it play chords on the Blofeld?).

G0n35y · 2013-10-12T15:54:34.000Z

""drone"":

And what do you think of the Yamaha DX200 ? A sort of groovebox with FM synthesis, very cheap and small. I’m also planning to buy a new gear to complete my OT and MD with a sequencer that I could tweak.

Or what about a simple korg electribe ?

The Blofeld seems to be attractive, but it has no sequencer. Thus, it will take one track on the octatrack, and I’m wondering if the OT can send polyphonic midi notes (can it play chords on the Blofeld?).

It can send 4 midi notes per trigger though there are a few quirks (can’t add a midi note on a later trigger while holding the note from an earlier trigger if that makes sense for example).
I’ve never used a DX200 but have heard great things. Havent seen one for sale in the UK in an age though so seem a little hard to come by here anyway. Maybe different elsewhere.

nedavine · 2013-10-13T07:40:42.000Z

""mistakem"":

I’m on the same page - I have an A4 and MS-20 Mini, i’m thinking of buying a nord wave, it’s more expensive, though it gives you VA, wavetable, FM and samples with hands on control for all the parameters… Only downside is that it’s not multitimbral…

In the meantime I have been using Native Instruments FM8 - I have all the presets from all the famous FM synths - sounds terrific. I have no idea how to program FM though I want to learn… How good would it be if a company made a modern fm synth with controllable parameters?!

Yeah the wave looks sweet. Can’t find many demos that arent of electric pianos or bad trumpet emulations. It seems like the wave would be a killer synth from the spec. I’d save up the extra cash if I could hear a decent demo.

nedavine · 2013-10-16T15:14:43.000Z

Just found a TX802 for 19,000 yen. Thinking of grabbing it especially after seeing this demo…

This thing could be deadly with the OT not sure how much better than the TX81Z it is though

nedavine · 2013-10-16T15:19:42.000Z

Actually you know what? I think I might just spend a bit more time ith my TX81Z, check out this …

glaciertree · 2013-10-16T22:48:19.000Z

Ned, that tx802 demo was pretty cool. And I think you’re right, there a lot to get out of a TX81z if you have an OT. I have a DX11, which is basically the same thing with keys. I did some experimenting with a MIDI track in the OT and came up with more than I thought I could, given the slim MIDI CC options available.

nightfade · 2013-10-17T01:39:48.000Z

Get the TX802! The ability of the TX81Z to handle realtime control will be a barrier. Plus the difference in sound quality of 16-bit 6-op is worth the small investment.

Housecliche · 2013-10-17T02:10:43.000Z

^^ agree with this - the tx81z will very quickly choke on your real time midi streams

nedavine · 2013-10-17T03:21:33.000Z

I haven’t managed to automate anything in the tx81z yet ad I haven’t found a midi chart.

I may go for it, there’s a day left on the auction.

nightshift · 2013-10-17T05:51:26.000Z

I’d go for either a DX7 or ESQ-1. I would suggest an SQ-80 but the keybed sucks ass and it’s pretty ugly. ESQ-1 sounds GREAT. It was trying to be a digital synth back in the day but it’s really a hybrid, which gives it a really unique sound. Plus the keybed and build quality is really robust. It is multi-timbral and the built in sequencer is really easy, fast and fun to use. I currently have an ESQ-1 slaved to midi clock from an MPC2000xl and it is rock solid… and this is with the ESQ-1 using its own sequencer instead of the MPC sequencing it. Also, if you wanted to run the ESQ-1 in multitimbral mode sequenced externally, that’s easy to do. The sound is like a poor man’s fair light. Look up the sound “wavbel” and you’ll get the idea on how good this thing sounds. It’s probably a better sounding board than I am a programmer most of the time.

My other suggestion would be to go for a DX7. They are cheap and they are VERY good, VERY slept on. I treat mine as a sort of rompler as I downloaded like 10,000 patches at some point in time. Most of the time when you think of DX7 you think of those cheesy typical 80s sounds, however there are some VERY choice sounds to be had from this synth that have a lot of staying power over and over again in modern music. Plus with those thousands of patches you can find online, you will find more choice sounds that are just killer and you may use over and over again. I use two Whurlitzer piano patches all the time for instance. Plus the keybed has an excellent feel, probably the best synth action out of anything I’ve ever put my hands on. It’s got almost a semi-weighted feel going on; it feels and sounds like a REAL instrument. Get one of these for $200 and it’s a no brainer.

plusn · 2013-10-17T06:17:56.000Z

""nedavine"":

Anybody got suggestions?

Yamaha AN1x if it should be VA. An absolutely best bang for money pricetip or Yamaha SY22/35 or TG33 if it can go into Vector Synthesis territory.

And always…Waldorf Xtk or Q. Very cold and sterile but great sounding synths.

Rusty · 2013-10-17T06:59:44.000Z

[quote=““pulsn””]

nedavine:

Anybody got suggestions?

Yamaha AN1x if it should be VA. An absolutely best bang for money pricetip or Yamaha SY22/35 or TG33 if it can go into Vector Synthesis territory.

And always…Waldorf Xtk or Q. Very cold and sterile but great sounding synths.[/quote]
I’ll second the Waldorf XT (Keyboards can be harder to find) or the Waldorf Q (Be aware the Q Rack has shared controls for multiple sections, i.e. one set of knobs for 3x oscillators) and the mQ’s have limitations not shared by it’s brethen, and lacking in functionality that the Q/Q+ has.

The Bofeld may be worth a look, but not for me to comment on… brought one new (for live use) and returned it two days later due to constant glitches, skipping encoders, crashes etc, this was a few years back.

Novation? I’d go for older stuff like a Nova or better a SuperNova r even better a SuperNova II… mines 48 voices, 8 parts, 7 effects (admittedly some are crap) per part. Thing is a weapon, plenty of mofulation, and a great workhorse, but some don’t like the core oscillator sound.

Virus Snow? But then you might as well get a A/B/C or TI instead.

G0n35y · 2013-10-17T07:02:00.000Z

The TX81Z was one I was looking at purely due to the current UK second hand going rate. From what I’ve heard, it sounds pretty good. I get the impression though that Yamaha’s various FM synths all sound subtly (or quite) different from one another and at times opinions on certain models can be quite polarising. So getting a unaminous view is never going to happen!

If I had the cash and one was available I’m fairly certain I would re-purchase a Fs1R but in the meantime I reckon DX’s or equivalent models will more or less give you what you want. Have no idea about the Japanese markets but like I said above, the TX81Z goes quite cheap here as does the DX11.

nedavine · 2013-10-17T07:02:10.000Z

Think I’ll grab the tx802 and spoke premium effects, like can timeline or eventide h9 and then maybe down the line I’ll get a v-synth XT for sampling.

The tx81z coupled with the the tx802 should give me plenty of sonic variety to compliment my tetra and shruthi_1.

J0n35y, I got my tx81z last year and it cost me 3,000 yen. Crazy cheap. I never really used it when I got it as I had just got a blofeld and a shruthi_1 around the sane time. The only thing I don’t like about it is the hum the unit makes when you power it on. Sounds like an old computer.

G0n35y · 2013-10-17T10:58:59.000Z

You should hear the racket my A4000 makes! I thought there was something wrong with it when I first bought it but no, that’s the norm!!! Some great built in effects though and didnt cost much at all. And the included CD libraries are fantastic.

fewture · 2013-10-20T08:56:12.000Z

Definitely keep the TX81z, its a beast and does really good basses/pads/keys and leads. It needs exploring though and you need to go beyond the presets (with exception of lately bass of course). It can also get very gritty in a good way, amazing with effects.

I would also recommend a DX7 or TX7. Nothing can match this for its particular sound - it is what it is (the famous DX7 sound) and the 12bit converters make a real difference. TX7’s are particularly cheap and 1000s of patches online are unreal.

You can use CTRLR (Free) for controlling/editing the TX81z and TX7
Tx81z: http://ctrlr.org/yamaha-tx81z/
Tx7/DX7: http://ctrlr.org/yamaha-tx7-beta/

Ensoniq digital synths are superb.

Casio synths are underrated/cheap and will probably diversify your sound more than another Yamaha FM synth.

Ive heard amazing things about Novation’s Supernova 2 (but they can be expensive).

I also recommend the Waldorf Microwave 2 or XT (same engine, same sound). The new MonstrumWave editor for these is very good!

I would love to try all the cheap new digital synths (Ultranova/mininova etc) but can’t say I like any demos so far.

nedavine · 2013-10-20T09:28:02.000Z

""fewture"":

Definitely keep the TX81z, its a beast and does really good basses/pads/keys and leads. It needs exploring though and you need to go beyond the presets (with exception of lately bass of course). It can also get very gritty in a good way, amazing with effects.

I would also recommend a DX7 or TX7. Nothing can match this for its particular sound - it is what it is (the famous DX7 sound) and the 12bit converters make a real difference. TX7’s are particularly cheap and 1000s of patches online are unreal.

You can use CTRLR (Free) for controlling/editing the TX81z and TX7
Tx81z: GitHub - RomanKubiak/ctrlr: Ctrlr
Tx7/DX7: GitHub - RomanKubiak/ctrlr: Ctrlr

Ensoniq digital synths are superb.

Casio synths are underrated/cheap and will probably diversify your sound more than another Yamaha FM synth.

Ive heard amazing things about Novation’s Supernova 2 (but they can be expensive).

I also recommend the Waldorf Microwave 2 or XT (same engine, same sound). The new MonstrumWave editor for these is very good!

I would love to try all the cheap new digital synths (Ultranova/mininova etc) but can’t say I like any demos so far.

Thats awesome. I just installed it. can’t quite get it to work though as I am a midiot… get it?