Modern Analog Synths- The Elektronauts List

RyanElektric · 2013-10-08T10:00:31.000Z

""teevee"":

Analogue Solutions - Leipzig
Analogue Solutions – Telemark
Analogue Solutions – Vostok

Dave Smith Prophet 12

Got the 1st 2. Vostok is technically modular so it isn’t on the list.

The P12 only has digital oscillators so, as I explained in the heading of the list, it doesn’t make the cut (I own one- doesn’t need them =).

@nightfade-

Just added the missing Studio Electronics, Metasonix stuff as you were posting. Adding the GRP A4 and XBase 888. Already had the the Buchla, and the Prophet '08 is not longer being manufactured.

Also, to my knowledge the Studio Electronics ATC series are analog stereo filter banks, not synths

Thanks for the help everyone! The list is looking pretty comprehensive!

Might have to include a section for hybrids and modular standalones like the Vostok and Tinysizer.

mantiwhore · 2013-10-08T11:08:55.000Z

How about this weirdo synth – Pigtronix Mothership? I am pretty sure it can operate standalone.
http://www.pigtronix.com/products/mothership/

nightfade · 2013-10-08T11:17:15.000Z

[quote=“” RyanElektric""]
Already had the the Buchla, and the Prophet '08 is not longer being manufactured.

Also, to my knowledge the Studio Electronics ATC series are analog stereo filter banks, not synths
[/quote]

The ATC-Xi is indeed a two oscillator synth, I had no idea about the Prophet '08 though!
What about the Ekdahl Polygamist? The list is looking great btw

namnibor · 2013-10-08T11:19:12.000Z

The Korg Volca Bass is actually 3 oscillators–just rec’vd it.
Technically, the Minibrute has an all important separate sub oscillator…and the Minibrute only sounds way over distorted because people tend to have the oscillator levels, drive, way too high…magic happens below 45%.
Nice list.

Also, the DSI Prophet 08 IS NOT discontinued. Only the Special Edition Run a while back of 300 was. The DSI Poly Evolver WAS just discontinued as well as the DSI MEK-Mono Evolver Keyboard.

See here from DSI:

RyanElektric · 2013-10-08T12:09:23.000Z

""namnibor"":

The Korg Volca Bass is actually 3 oscillators–just rec’vd it.
Technically, the Minibrute has an all important separate sub oscillator…and the Minibrute only sounds way over distorted because people tend to have the oscillator levels, drive, way too high…magic happens below 45%.
Nice list.

Also, the DSI Prophet 08 IS NOT discontinued. Only the Special Edition Run a while back of 300 was. The DSI Poly Evolver WAS just discontinued as well as the DSI MEK-Mono Evolver Keyboard.

See here from DSI:

Ah, well that makes sense, considering that the other two flagships are much more digital. Fixed.

@nightfade

Before today I knew almost nothing about Studio Electronics except that the SDE-1 is a pretty good replacement for a Minimoog. I guess all the filters on the ATC-Xi could bring out a lot of range- but meh. The new Boomstars are $500 less and sound better.

@mantiwhore- while I may lose sleep over not completing the list, I have a responsibility to all the analog rookies not to steer them towards anything less than a respectable synthesizer!

poonti · 2013-10-08T13:47:31.000Z

""nightfade"":

Buchla Music Easel
DSI Prophet 8
Grp A4
Jomox XBase 888
Metasonix D-1000
Metasonix S-2000
Studio Electronics ATC X
Studio Electronics Code 2/4/8
Studio Electronics SE1X

If I’m not mistaken, I believe the Jomox 888 is no longer available/in production. The 999 is (which has been listed as well in the bigger list).

EDIT: scratch that … it’s available at the Jomox web shop, so … yeah, n/m

RyanElektric · 2013-10-08T13:54:48.000Z

""poonti"":

[quote=“nightfade”]Buchla Music Easel
DSI Prophet 8
Grp A4
Jomox XBase 888
Metasonix D-1000
Metasonix S-2000
Studio Electronics ATC X
Studio Electronics Code 2/4/8
Studio Electronics SE1X

If I’m not mistaken, I believe the Jomox 888 is no longer available/in production. The 999 is (which has been listed as well in the bigger list).

EDIT: scratch that … it’s available at the Jomox web shop, so … yeah, n/m[/quote]
I thought the same thing and didn’t list it at first, but someone told me to put it up and I went and checked at Jomox’s site.

KlangFang · 2013-10-08T14:16:35.000Z

Nanozwerg only 1 OSC

RyanElektric · 2013-10-08T14:24:30.000Z

""KlangFang"":

Nanozwerg only 1 OSC

Fixed.

guga · 2013-10-08T14:54:44.000Z

well done ryan, really useful. will this be available as a file as well? (i know, dumb question…someone should have asked )

RyanElektric · 2013-10-08T16:06:24.000Z

""guga"":

well done ryan, really useful. will this be available as a file as well? (i know, dumb question…someone should have asked )

Refer to the original post for a very special message! =)

monoman · 2013-10-08T16:46:37.000Z

Jomox XBase 888 is out of production. That’s what Jürgen Michaelis said on the phone.

RyanElektric · 2013-10-08T16:59:24.000Z

""monoman"":

Jomox XBase 888 is out of production. That’s what Jürgen Michaelis said on the phone.

Just a lot of overstock I guess! Tell him to make a smaller analog drum machine with 6 analog voices an 2-4 sample tracks (no need for tons of storage and RAM- just enough for a single shots or one loop quantized to the sequencer…WHICH should be 64 steps so we can actually show off the amazing rhythmic variation that can be achived by dropping a few semi-tones here and there and retrigging a sample or two. Add in some performance functions like reverse and fill, and we have ourselves a drum machines I would pay $1,200-1.,300 for, A a little freeze break on the sequencer would be great (if it held the pattern playback and started it again when you released- EZ transitions with the actual look and feel of live performance vs. just another midi sequence! Freeze function should play real nice with the CCs sent but the OT fader! A drum machine with responsiveness to time stretching would be KEY.

pre55ure · 2013-10-08T17:57:09.000Z

1 more thing, the DSI evolver is not paraphonic.

And I’ll jump in with these short reviews.

Future Retro XS
Used :$1000
Great synth for snappy basses, really fast envelopes, nice filter (reminds me a little bit of the MS-20 filter but with less grit- not in a bad way-) Lot’s of modulation routings and semi modular. Can be controlled by both Midi and CV so it pairs well with OT and A4. Additionally, A4 can also make use of a lot of it’s modular patch points- individual osc outs, filter and osc mod inputs etc… This is my current “Go to” synth. Super quick to dial in, good range of timbres , and almost always sounds great.

DSI Desktop Evolver
Used $465
Very unique synth, great for strange noises, evolving sequences, interesting sounds etc… Has 4 onboard sequencers that can be used to modulate almost anything and that sync to external clock. The sequencers are similar to Elektron’s P-locks in that they can allow almost all parameters of the synth to change on every step. Overall has a very gritty digital biting texture to most of what comes out of it. (Reminds me a lot of early skinny puppy). Not as good at doing “normal” synth sounds. Filters are ok but not great, envelopes are a little slow. Overall, it’s great if you use it towards it strengths- but not the best “all rounder”.

Feel free to edit or cut these down as desired.
hope this is what you were sort of looking for.

Needles_13 · 2013-10-08T18:19:28.000Z

@ Prints: You know, now that you ask I don’t think I did…

Here’s the response from MFB to my email query:
We can ship one to you in 2-3 weeks. The price is 750 Euro, shipping included.

Also recently picked up a Grendel Drone Commander on C-List for $275. Score.

Prints · 2013-10-08T18:50:40.000Z

""Needles_13"":

@ Prints: You know, now that you ask I don’t think I did…

Here’s the response from MFB to my email query:
We can ship one to you in 2-3 weeks. The price is 750 Euro, shipping included.

I’d keep my eye out/be prepared for a customs fee; I’ve heard of people receiving them months later. How did he have it shipped? I know that Fedex and UPS will charge some sort of fees… also, I heard your state can tax it as well.
I’d buy it in a hearbeat, if all I had to pay was the 750 euros ($1,020) and nothing else… I’m scared of there being an extra > $150 in customs/VAT/tax blah blah.

RyanElektric · 2013-10-08T19:10:29.000Z

""pre55ure"":

1 more thing, the DSI evolver is not paraphonic.

And I’ll jump in with these short reviews.

Future Retro XS
Used :$1000
Great synth for snappy basses, really fast envelopes, nice filter (reminds me a little bit of the MS-20 filter but with less grit- not in a bad way-) Lot’s of modulation routings and semi modular. Can be controlled by both Midi and CV so it pairs well with OT and A4. Additionally, A4 can also make use of a lot of it’s modular patch points- individual osc outs, filter and osc mod inputs etc… This is my current “Go to” synth. Super quick to dial in, good range of timbres , and almost always sounds great.

DSI Desktop Evolver
Used $465
Very unique synth, great for strange noises, evolving sequences, interesting sounds etc… Has 4 onboard sequencers that can be used to modulate almost anything and that sync to external clock. The sequencers are similar to Elektron’s P-locks in that they can allow almost all parameters of the synth to change on every step. Overall has a very gritty digital biting texture to most of what comes out of it. (Reminds me a lot of early skinny puppy). Not as good at doing “normal” synth sounds. Filters are ok but not great, envelopes are a little slow. Overall, it’s great if you use it towards it strengths- but not the best “all rounder”.

Feel free to edit or cut these down as desired.
hope this is what you were sort of looking for.

Yes! Thank you that’s perfect. We’re going to have a nice community resource.

RyanElektric · 2013-10-08T19:45:19.000Z

I’ll work on it some more later- I’ll figure out the layout. It isn’t easy formatting a document in an online discussion forum.

Needles_13 · 2013-10-09T03:16:04.000Z

@Prints - arrived via USPS.

monoman · 2013-10-09T04:32:41.000Z

""RyanElektric"":

[quote=“monoman”]Jomox XBase 888 is out of production. That’s what Jürgen Michaelis said on the phone.

Just a lot of overstock I guess! Tell him to make a smaller analog drum machine with 6 analog voices an 2-4 sample tracks (no need for tons of storage and RAM- just enough for a single shots or one loop quantized to the sequencer…WHICH should be 64 steps so we can actually show off the amazing rhythmic variation that can be achived by dropping a few semi-tones here and there and retrigging a sample or two. Add in some performance functions like reverse and fill, and we have ourselves a drum machines I would pay $1,200-1.,300 for, A a little freeze break on the sequencer would be great (if it held the pattern playback and started it again when you released- EZ transitions with the actual look and feel of live performance vs. just another midi sequence! Freeze function should play real nice with the CCs sent but the OT fader! A drum machine with responsiveness to time stretching would be KEY.[/quote]
Yes, exactly! That would be the Holy Grail of all analog drum machines
But he did say the last years were too drum focused. So maybe he is planning something new…an affordable analog synth???