new analog synth from Korg

polar sky · Post by **polar sky** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 3:28 am

Seeya_Later wrote:It really is about how it sounds. But good build quality potentially gives it a longer life. My DX7 is from way before I was born, but it's built like a freaking tank.

Personally for me, it's about the sound. I don't care if it's got a lousy interface or menu diving.

I've decided that I'm not interested in anything besides real analog synths. Unless it's a true powerhouse like Access Virus. Otherwise money is better spent on legitimate analog (unless it's Moog, who almost definitely overcharge).
I even like using CV/Gate signals rather than MIDI.
I have very expensive dreams...

Yeah, I have a 1982 Roland Juno60 and a 1985 Korg DW8000 Analog Hybrid Synth, and the Korg MS2000R that I owned had nothing on them so I sold the MS2000R for $350.

Seeya_Later · Post by **Seeya_Later** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 4:32 am

I once almost traded a Korg Poly-800 for an MS2000R, but the deal never happened. I'm glad it didn't after all.

The Korg Poly-800 is very good at BoC sounds.

IanRedpoint · Post by **IanRedpoint** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 8:52 am

I'm torn between it being about the sound or the interface. Personally, I can't stand menu diving. It just kills the creativity for me and I would probably take something like an MS2000 over a mid '80s analog with just a bunch of buttons. Of course a VA would have to sound pretty good for me to even consider it. The SH-01 GAIA had loads of sliders but sounded terrible...

The Juno 60 may have some big limitations but it's fun to program and experiment with. Also helps that it sounds great. It's still the synth I use and enjoy the most.

There's one hell of a premium on the Moog name, but those filters sure do sound sweet.

Seeya_Later · Post by **Seeya_Later** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 9:09 am

I don't own a Juno 60, but I love the sound.
My dream synth would probably be the Oberheim Xpander or Matrix-12.

I like lush chorused analog synths.

IanRedpoint · Post by **IanRedpoint** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 11:35 am

Love that lush Oberheim sound. I'd go for an OB-8 purely for the simpler interface, but the Matrix-12 is a better, more complex synth.

Sounds like we have very similar taste in synths!

Seeya_Later · Post by **Seeya_Later** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 12:00 pm

indeed!

One thing that draws me to the Xpander or Matrix-12 are their multimode filters. I love keytracked bandpass filters with little or no envelope modulation. The way that sounds is magical. Especially when the filters have a particular musical quality. It's difficult for a VA to have that quality.

A modern equivalent would be a Studio Electronics CODE-8, but that's about $5k.

Tom Oberheim just came out with "Son of 4 Voice". Which is a modern remake of the Oberheim 4 voice with full MIDI support. It's about $3k.

Analog synths are so expensive.

The909Virus · Post by **The909Virus** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 12:06 pm

Can anyone suggest their favourite synths on the market? All the ones I want to buy aren't being made any more and can't find them anywhere

polar sky · Post by **polar sky** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 12:39 pm

IanRedpoint wrote:Personally, I can't stand menu diving. It just kills the creativity for me and I would probably take something like an MS2000 over a mid '80s analog with just a bunch of buttons

The DW8000 I have has a few sliders on it, but it is a monster when it comes to what it can do. And although it has buttons to access editing it's super fast to edit do to its few sliders and editing buttons, I thought I would hate to edit on it, but it's really a breeze. The MS2000R just didn't have the punch or rawness that I wanted, it was way too digital and thin imo. Plus it's only 4 voices. My Dw8000 is 8 and you can stack all 8 voices together on mono mode.

Plus the pads this thing produces sounds incredible. It can sound pretty much like a CS80:

Seeya_Later · Post by **Seeya_Later** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 12:41 pm

Here's a list of good modern analog synths I wish I had:
Dave Smith Mopho (or Tetra which is like 4 Mophos in one for half the price)
Studio Electronics ATC
Doepfer Dark Energy
Vermona Mono Lancet
Vermona Perfourmer
MFB Nanozwerg, Microzwerg
MFB Dominion

I know there's more... I'm just trying to think of them.

You could always build a eurorack modular system too.

polar sky · Post by **polar sky** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 2:15 pm

Seeya_Later wrote:Here's a list of good modern analog synths I wish I had:
Dave Smith Mopho (or Tetra which is like 4 Mophos in one for half the price)
Studio Electronics ATC
Doepfer Dark Energy
Vermona Mono Lancet
Vermona Perfourmer
MFB Nanozwerg, Microzwerg
MFB Dominion

I know there's more... I'm just trying to think of them.

You could always build a eurorack modular system too.

We have a Dave Smith Mono Evolver in the studio. Great synth.

Taken a bit ago before I sold the ms2000r.

Seeya_Later · Post by **Seeya_Later** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 10:33 pm

polar sky wrote:

I've got a Micron, but the power supply died and they cost like $60. I hate buying PSUs. My micron has literally not been on in 2 years because of it. I know it works though, because I borrowed another PSU from a friend, but I had to give that back eventually.

IanRedpoint · Post by **IanRedpoint** » Sat Apr 30, 2011 7:14 am

You always know that there's only about $2 of parts in that PSU as well. They never tell you exactly what rating it is so you can get a cheaper alternative either.

The modern synth I still want is a Prophet '08. Never played or even seen an Andromeda though...

Seeya_Later · Post by **Seeya_Later** » Sat Apr 30, 2011 7:16 pm

The Alesis Andromeda is finally out of production unfortunately though. How the mighty have fallen. I want one so bad. But I selfishly want a shiny untouched new one.

IanRedpoint · Post by **IanRedpoint** » Sun May 01, 2011 9:32 pm

Yes and going for around £3000 second-hand! I'm still hoping to have a play with one someday.

I've not even seen a Prophet '08 in the flesh yet. I like the purity of it not having built-in effects though.

Seeya_Later · Post by **Seeya_Later** » Mon May 02, 2011 3:40 pm

I doubt we'll ever see another analog as tricked out as the Andromeda. The Andromeda had 16 frikken voices for crying out loud! And digital effects!
The Prophet '08 has 8 voices BUT you can only run 4 different timbres at a time. The Andromeda could use it's voices in any configuration you wanted, you could have 16 monosynths if you wanted.
*sigh* I just don't think a company will attempt something like that again.
That's why I'm hoping Korg comes through for us in the future.

IanRedpoint · Post by **IanRedpoint** » Mon May 02, 2011 3:56 pm

The only thing in the ballpark for polyphony and versatility are the Access Virus Ti series... But they're not analogue obviously. Without doubt the best VA hardware I've heard though.

I still think the Andromeda would have sold better if the control layout had been a little more conventional. Something about the styling never made it quite look like the monster synth it was under the hood. In an alternative universe it would have taken the Oberheim name instead of the dreadful flaky OB-12.

Seeya_Later · Post by **Seeya_Later** » Mon May 02, 2011 5:47 pm

The Access Virus TI2 is the only digital synth I would even consider. I have a Blofeld and a Micron, they're not bad but they're not amazing and honestly I should've put that money toward real analog. I like my DX7 and TX81z because even though they're digital, they're not VAs.

I don't even have a virus but I watch the OS updates and drool at the new features. Virus users get like 10 new features a year for FREE. That, is customer service.

IanRedpoint · Post by **IanRedpoint** » Tue May 03, 2011 6:55 am

I made the same mistake in getting a Blofeld. I think there's a pretty good VA in there (and the PPG-like wavetable stuff is cool) but the lack of support from Waldorf, random crashes, no proper VST editor and half-baked midi functionality completely kill it for me. I use macs and I can't even transfer patches to and from the thing!

I've had more use and a lot more fun from the PPG Wave 2.V soft synth that shipped with it.

The Virus Ti is the only VA hardware that I've seen offer more than I can get from a good soft synth, which is probably why I'm so keen to see more proper analogue ones on sale.

I'd like to see Korg really go for it next time and produce something along the lines of a modern MS-20. It seems like the next logical step for them if they are taking analogue seriously.

Seeya_Later · Post by **Seeya_Later** » Tue May 03, 2011 9:38 am

When I had a mac, I had an app called SysEx Librarian that worked well with the Blofeld.
I keep emailing waldorf asking when the next update will be and they're so vague.

IanRedpoint · Post by **IanRedpoint** » Wed May 04, 2011 8:07 am

Thanks. I'll give SysEx Librarian a go with it. I've used that with a Moog LP Stage II and it worked a treat.