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Buying synths...


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Guest Jonas Josefsson

Hello all,

 

I'm getting some new equipment and I would like to get some advice on how to use my money.

I recently sold my Roland Jx-305 Groovesynth (shitty plastic synth...) and now I've got some money to spend, I've got some saved to.

Now my setup consists of:

E-MU ESi-32 Sampler (fully expanded)

Roland MKS-50 Module (a Juno-2 in rack more or less)

Behringer Virtualizer Pro

Behringer 1604A mixer

Athlon 900MHz running Cubase V5 and Pro52 soft synth

+some guitar pedals (dist, fuzz, phaser)

 

No I'm thinking I either buy a Korg Z1 which can be find rather cheap nowadays. Or, I buy a Korg Wavestation and a Juno 106.

 

Has anyone had any experience with the Z1 in psytrance composing?

And is the Wavestation strictly a Pads and acoustic synth or can you edit it to scream and growl like an analog? =)

 

Thanks,

 

Jonas Josefsson aka Rheostat

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depends on how much u want to spend, but if u really want to make kicking-ass psytrance save money and something between virus, nordlead or jp8080... killer synths!!!!

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Guest etherdesign

The Wavestation has no resonant filter, so you really can't get any growling screaming stuff out of it, but it is still an excellent synth for what it does.. good pads, weird sequences, drones, etc.. it is really a unique synth.. the Z1 is quite good, especially as a master controller.. I love mine and I would never give it up, but I wouldn't really say it's an all around synth for psy trance, the feel of the keyboard is excellent, but the filters are a bit off.. they are good, but they cut off quite a bit of sound and self-resonance comes in way too early with high resonance.. normally synths only self-resonate when the resonance is turned up all the way, but you can hear some self-resonance (digital) when the filter on the Z1 is turned to maybe 75% sometimes when you'd normally expect a nice squelchy tone.. the only other complaint about the Z1 I would have is the poor multi-timbral performance.. there is no dynamic voice allocation, so you can't really set as many programs to play as it provides without alot of programming (ie most voices monophonic: basslines, percussion, mono leads, etc); but enough Z1 bashing, it is a seriously powerful synth, it can produce some seriously crazy sounds, and since you already have a sampler and a MKS-50, and a good computer.. I would look into it alot more since it looks like your are lacking a good controller synth.. I'm happy you decided to sell your JX-305, Roland really hasn't produced anythng good in the last 10 years except maybe the V-Drums, I guess the MC-303 and 505 make good live sequencers, that's the only thing I would ever use them for..

 

Maybe off topic a bit, but if you don't already have a good sound card and good monitor speakers, I would look into them first before buying a new synth.. IMO talented people have made some good stuff with much less than you already have, but a good soundcard and good pair of monitors can do wonders for your sound.. for a good deal I would especially recommend a Event 20/20bas monitors, I have them and I swear I cream my pants whenever I really turn them, monitors and a good sound card are key..

 

I have an Echo Mia connected by (balanced! not alot of cards offer that) 1/4" jacks directly to my Echo 20/20bas speakers, absolutely no noise at all.. all the mixing is done in my computer (logic, gigatsudio, vaz modular), or outboard (behringer 1608 mixer.. waldorf microwave xt, korg electribe A, R, poly-800, Roland sh-101, juno 106, tr-606, yamaha tx81z, spectal audio nepune)..

 

If you have a good mixer, you only really need one set of inputs, and if you do a good mix, you only need one set of outputs unless you do editing outside your computer (why?)

 

Well @!#$ you probably knew all this already blah blah.. I can wholly recommend the Z1, but if you decide against it.. look at some older analogues.. roland sh-101, sh-09: korg polysix, ms series) and of course the much loved clavia nord series, and the access virus.. fyi, I would look at www.sonicstate.com and check out the classifies ads for some good deals, from my experience, the people that advertise there are all very friendly and honest and won't screw you.. even if it's a newer model synth I would look at the second hand market, I mean who cares if it's not pristine, if it worrks how it is supposed to it's a good deal..

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Ok... I know I'm being counterproductive here.... but I've been having dreams about the Waldorf Q ever since I heard it. I wake up in a cold feverish sweat mumbling, I have visions... A mirage off in the distance.... something yellow.... something whispering my name, beckoning for me to charge it on my credit card...... if.... only.... my car was already payed off.... If only... I didn't have to commute for an hour to work everyday... *sigh*

 

Has anyone got a job offer for a C++ programmer at a decent salary?

 

I'd REALLY like to buy my Q.

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i'm a big fan of the virus+nord for VA, but that being said, i ridiculously hate va(it makes me feel like poo :( ...), the nord lead can get you that wicked dark soho sound, and if you get the modular you can have a lot of power and versatility!... the z1 is nice, but i find it very weak for 1 osc sounds, osc per osc i think the virus, jp800 and nord lead smoke it, nord lead smoking the z1 more off, nord lead is bloody ballsy! but very digital sounding...:)...i want another nord lead! heheh... there's also an andromeda if you've got some money to throw around, i just picked one up(it's arriving tuesday), and it seems like it can do some great darker psy sounds:)...! I can't wait to load up a fast attack arpeggio! sh101 style! *droolZ*... hey if you want the Q but can't afford it get a micro Q they're like $700, like $500 cheaper than a Q and the only bugger about it is it's missing a few various features+not all those knobbies!....well back to the z1, if it wasn't mentioned before it's horrible for multimode, no multi outs and sets up all weird...makes a great controller...very cold sounding...also very weak single osc! and most goa/psy sounds are single osc sounds...i love using it's vocoder tho! and assigning velocity+aftertouch to it! boy does that sound evul! heheheh:)

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Guest etherdesign

Hey.. Roland stuff is good, as long as it was made before 1985 =)

As for the grooveboxes, they make good (expensive) sequencers for controlling outboard gear.. like the Korg Electribe-A.. I use it's sound once in a while, but I use the sequencer all the time..

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Guest Elysium Project

Jonas buy something from your own country (sweden I guess).....

 

If you can afford it buy the new Nordlead or Modular.....They kick ass....

 

Go and check them out on this site:

 

www.clavia.se

 

I have now used them on my last 2 albums........

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Guest Jonas Josefsson

Thanks for all the answers.

 

I think I'll go with a Wavestation and later on buy a nice analogue rack.

 

Can't afford more for the moment...

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Guest Thomas STubbs (Complexz)

I´ve just bought a Virus KB Access Synth!!!!

www.access-music.de

 

I love my Virus!! You can goto this site and d.load samples! from the

synth and songs too!.

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