Recommend me some synths

[(o)(o)]

Like many synths, eg DX7, can be 100% replicated in digital domain - except the analogue output stages

[gravy]

Like many synths, eg DX7, can be 100% replicated in digital domain - except the analogue output stages

You don't even need those on the virus

Was just making the point as bcass was awarding bonus points for analog suggestions which despite modeling an analog synth the Virus most certainly isn't.

All of that aside it sounds amazing and is unencumbered by practical limitations of analog; the number of voices, limited of no multi-timbrality etc

[(o)(o)]

Yes, analogue it is not. Seems harder to justify digital hardware synths these days when a computer plus controller can do the same job - approached my recent soft synth purchases with that view (mac dustbin + software cost less than an equivalent hardware implementation) - but, ergonomics, interfaces, integration, portability etc

I’m looking to a Thunderbolt interface maybe a Focusrite 8 pre or Presonus Quantum for that hardware-grade latency, the most compelling differentiating advantage of hardware imo

[bcass]

Kraftwerk went all-VST years ago didn't they. If it's good enough for them, I'm pretty sure it's good enough for anyone. Listening to their recent 3D-Catalogue albums, I would never have guessed that those were VSTs had I not already known. Having thought about it, I think I am heavily leaning towards the MatrixBrute. The interface looks awesome, plus it's designed by Axel Hartmann, and I think I want pretty much want everything that guy designs (he also did the A6 and the Neuron).

[gravy]

Kraftwerk went all-VST years ago didn't they. If it's good enough for them, I'm pretty sure it's good enough for anyone. Listening to their recent 3D-Catalogue albums, I would never have guessed that those were VSTs had I not already known. Having thought about it, I think I am heavily leaning towards the MatrixBrute. The interface looks awesome, plus it's designed by Axel Hartmann, and I think I want pretty much want everything that guy designs (he also did the A6 and the Neuron).

Awesome choice

[gravy]

Kraftwerk went all-VST years ago didn't they. If it's good enough for them, I'm pretty sure it's good enough for anyone. Listening to their recent 3D-Catalogue albums, I would never have guessed that those were VSTs had I not already known. Having thought about it, I think I am heavily leaning towards the MatrixBrute. The interface looks awesome, plus it's designed by Axel Hartmann, and I think I want pretty much want everything that guy designs (he also did the A6 and the Neuron).

Coincidentally

[bcass]

Haha, nice job. But WTF is that thing hanging out of his mouth? Is that an actual vocoder?

[gravy]

Nah, he's asthmatic

[RiK]

Haha, nice job. But WTF is that thing hanging out of his mouth? Is that an actual vocoder?

Doesn't make sense to have the speaker tube from a talk box in your mouth if you don't have a microphone in front of your face...

[RiK]

He's also playing chords at one point (0:45)

On a monophonic synth.

[RiK]

He's also playing chords at one point (0:45)

On a monophonic synth.

Actually, I take that one back, it's three-oscillator and presumably paraphonic.

[bcass]

So I am on the verge of my MatrixBrute purchase, when a Waldorf Wave appears on ebay:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Waldorf-Wave ... SwdBlaqVFI

I wonder how significant a repair job it would be. The two custom ASICs are identical to those found in the Waldorf MicroWave I, but those cost £800 each, and then who has the skills to desolder and reseat those chips? Just a pipe dream really, but having spent so much time watching youtube vids of the Wave (and the Blofeld), it would be amazing to get hold of one.

[gravy]

If you like those wouldn't a Waldorf Blofeld be something to look at it?

Or a studiologic sledge (Waldorf synth engine, different interface and form factor)

[bcass]

Yep, I've been listening to Blofeld videos on youtube all afternoon, and it sounds great. An amazing array of sound possibilities. For wavetable sounds, I'm gonna hang on to see what the Quantum is capable of once it's released. The demos I've heard so far have been hit and miss, especially considering the price. MatrixBrute still being purchased later this month though. I'm going to check out some sledge videos now.

[funkstar]

Coincidentally

Ha - I spotted a Yamaha Reface CS in the background.

I've just bought a CS to get into synthesis (and back into making music) after some DAW/soft-synth false starts convinced me that I needed an actual piece of hardware to learn on. I'd been agonising over which synth/groovebox to buy, since it really had to be battery-powered to fit in with the current life of wife&kids&work, have a suitable amount of knobs and buttons to be more than a complete toy, keys (piano player), preferably a sequencer of sorts, and so on. I've been so very close to ordering an OP-1 several times, but man, that thing is expensive. A Novation Circuit sure looks nice and Ableton-y for beat making, but I can't really learn about synthesis from it on the go. MicroKorg S - hell yes for the battery power and speakers, but it looks somewhat finicky to program, perhaps more of a performance instrument? The Roland JD-Xi has so much stuff crammed into it, but programming it looks decidedly painful, and there's no battery power. And so on and so on ad nauseum.

And then the CS showed up on sale for something like 185£, delivered (including Danish VAT @ 25%) - and I'm really happy with it. I've think I've learnt more about synthesis playing with the CS for a couple of days than I did making quite many (quite poor) songs in Reason back in the day - I just never got a really good feel for how to put a patch together, and often ended up tweaking presets rather than sculpting my own sounds. Even a few days in, I have a much better feel for how the instrument should respond when I fiddle about, and the ability feels much more internalized. It's limited yes, but in just the right way that I have great fun playing about with it.

Of course, I now have serious GAS: I don't exactly regret not buying a Reface YC, which was at the same price, but it sure looks fun. And I'll be in real trouble if the Reface DX ever goes on sale - I think I need to look into FM synthesis, too.