Rusty
41
[quote=““pulsn””]
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
42
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.
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
44
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
45
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.
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Thats awesome. I just installed it. can’t quite get it to work though as I am a midiot… get it?
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i’ve had a nova, korg radias, virus b… and i loved the nova the most by far…
so much i am waiting for a decently priced one to pop up on ebay to snag one for the OT. virus is good too but the nova just has this special sound… i just wish the supernova existed in a desktop module.
Daisuk
48
I love my Blofeld keyboard, using it’s arpeggiator with the OT is just bliss. I think you’ll have to dig pretty hard to find a more versatile polyphonic, multitimbral synth for the same price. Sure, it’s not analog, but who cares, this thing sounds beautiful! 
- Polyphonic
- 16 parts multitimbral
- Load your own samples, wavetables, combine them for new sounds
- Endless amounts of modulation options
- Cheap
- Great keybed with aftertouch
- Awesome editor coming pretty soon from Monstrumwave
It’s a no-brainer! 
Then you’d for sure be banging your head against the wall in frustration if you got an FS1R =)
Yeah I ordered a Monomachine instead. The tx81z is good enough for now.
If you’ve got Live with max - you might wanna try the free Opfour Tx81z plugin that is an emulator but also gives full control of the Tx from the plugin. Download from ableton site.
https://www.ableton.com/en/packs/classic-synths/
You’ll need this from the developer site to make the Tx comms work - scroll to page bottom:
http://audiooo.com/max-patches
Works really well and beats editing through the TX’s letterbox.
Actually i have that but havent tried it yet. I will give it a shot tonight as I couldn’t get the CTRL app to work (but then I am a midiot)
It’s a while since I’ve used CTRL but it may be that you have to click into the edit view/developer view to setup the midi channel… Might just be like a pencil or edit icon
Oh ok thanks. I’ll have a look when I get home. There was a midi options drop down menu that I used.
No you are right enough I just checked latest version and the midi drop down is as you say - that Tx81 editor looks great - tempted to dig out the little black beauty and give it a whirl
Do it dude. That synth is $40 of pure magic. Sounds so nice with a touch of dark reverb on it.
