I realise I’m a very lazy producer in that I prefer synths and drum machines that are all sweet spot. My ideal gear always sounds good but still needs me to dig in to find unique sounds. I’m talking about my DFAM and drum machines I’ve had in the past (Perkons, 808 and 909 clones). In terms of synths, my 303 clone is also just twiddle a knob and see what comes out, but it always sounds good. I find these sweet spot machines are what I needs for improvising as well, they allow me to get something going and then I start to find those unique sounds the more I learn them.
So, let’s hear what are your favourite ‘sweet spot’ machines?
Edit: I should add, my Swarm falls in to this category.
Single oscillator core stuff usually plays nice, no need to worry about such a wide range of gain staging. Sh101 is a classic, I did a diy of the edp gnat recently and it sound great, just a weird little thing, some how both aggressive yet tame.
It depends on the patch naturally, but I can always just grab my Yamaha Reface DX and immedietely be productive with it. It’s a really versatile and joyous synth to play with a surprisingly great keybed for being on the petit side. The on-board looper is easy and fun to use and the two assignable effects are like chili flakes and vinegar to whatever sound you’re crafting.
It’s just a shame that it’s not compatible with old DX7 patches like the Volca FM.
Regardless, the Reface DX has made its way onto more recordings I’ve made than any other synth or drum machine I own, I think!
weirdly the 0-coast. Even though obviously, like, semi-modular, so possible to make it totally silent or do something completely atonal. It just sounds great though.
All the Rolands I‘ve played as plugin or boutique so far (101, Jupiter 8, Juno) except for JX8P/JX-8.
It’s remarkable for a relatively complex engine as the Jupiter 8 in particular that I just always appreciate what the movement of each knob/slider does. Weirdly enough, I hate most of the demos and presets showing it off, but when playing around with it myself, I can leave these funky/80s pop territories so fast and get somewhere interesting.
.