1

So… I think what my tracks lack the most are proper pads and strings. As much as I love the A4, I haven’t been able to make the kind of pads and strings I like with it.

I was thinking about building an Ambika, but they won’t sell the complete kits until December, and I don’t like the idea of sourcing the parts myself.

That was my #1 choice, but since it’s out of the question for a year what other options do I have?

Preferably of small size, but a keyboard is not out of the question.

Analog, digital, can even be a banjo, I’m not a purist.

Shoot me with ideas!

Musical references lie in Detroit, Chicago and New York of the late 80’s and early to mid 90’s.

2

JX-8P, JX-10, MKS-70?

And a read through this: http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/Mar03/articles/synthsecrets47.asp

OR…sample some strings into the OT?

OR…Blofeld desktop?

[I’ll keep adding here as I think of them]

3

Don’t leave out the Yamaha FMs. A PreenFM2 translates DX7 patches and plays them iirc.

4

Good news - I’m selling my Ambika. Just had it made in November by one of the trusted builders on the MI list, but I haven’t been using it enough to warrant keeping it. Hit me up with a PM if you’re interested!

5

Synthoma Elkorus if you like the vintage analog stringer machine sound.

6

given your influences, how about a cheap casio or yamaha routed through the A4 for warmth?

roland paraphonic 505 is awesome and versatile (pricey and no midi) http://youtu.be/m6MdSc8H8_g

korg micro x (small, versatile)

but my fave is roland sh-32 i got iit just for my octatrack. check out this vid. it’s not me, but it shows what the sh32 can do: http://youtu.be/4GrYCHzEj58

fm is a good suggestion, but it’s not for everybody. and even after you detune the voices, you’ll need chorus, delay and reverb to bring out the real magic (yes, i know how to create chorus, delay and reverb via fm programming tricks, but outboard gear gives bette stereo width and depth and space.)

7

Ok, Smashing Pumpkins is a band from Chicago and used Mellotron in their great 90s album Siamese Dream.

I play viola and electric violin and thus suffer from HIB (Home Instrument Bias). I dislike every string patch I’ve heard on every synth, except those that cop Mellotron string sounds.

So if money is no object, I’d vote for a Mellotron or the M4000D Digital Mellotron, which has polyphonic aftertouch, or the just-announced rack version of the M4000D. :heart:

8

Roland JV1080… A long time ago as I was getting into synths I aas given a Crumar Orchestrator and all it did was was string and pads… Very lush analogue one trick pony of a synth… Build quality was not the best…

9

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I appreciate them.

However, I found an Ambika for sale in Sweden, and bought it.

Also will buy a Strymon Big Sky to complement it.

And it’s my birthday!

10

HBD! Good, because it’s always better to go with the gear you know will fit the bill rather than a convenient substitute. Let us know how you get on with the Ambika.

11

Good times