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Choosing my first hardware synth...


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I'm very torn right now as to what to purchase as my first hardware synth. I've been using software for some time now (Absynth, Battery, Reaktor, various freebies) and finally have all the basics so that I can get my first hardware synth. I have the sound card, monitors, software, MIDI interface.

 

Question is, I don't have a lot of cash to throw around - $600 USD would be the absolute max (eBay most likely). I don't forsee having enough money to buy any new synths for at least several months. I compose mostly Ambient and downtempo/chillout psy. I would rather not have a rack to start off with, but I do have an Oxygen 8 =

 

Here are some ideas I've been looking into:

 

Roland Juno-106 :Nice fat basses are the sounds I have the hardest time with in software so an all purpose bass synth might be a good first choice.

Roland SH-101 :I've pretty much scrapped this one. I love the sound but it really isn't a great first synth, too specialized. Plus I would need a converter.

Roland JP-8000 :I've hard very mixed reviews of this. Some people love it, others think its a toy. Any thoughts?

 

I'm pretty in the dark about others. I've read all the reviews, looked at virtually everything out there and it seems nobody can agree on a decent synth under $1000. Another option I've considered is buying a Mackie 1402 mixer buy I figure I may as well get a hardware first so I can play with that instead of having a mixer barely being used until I get enough money for some hardware.

 

Any ideas?

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Additions:

 

Sorry for the bad grammar in a few places, tired. =

 

Has anyone heard of a Nord 1 or 2 rack or keyboard going under 600?

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my first synth was a Juno 106 and it is a great machine to learn on and if you do not have a midi key board it will work as one oppening up a new world of sampling.

 

If you already have a midi keyboard, get a rack version of a nord lead, virus a, or jp 8080 (i also hear mixed reviews on this one).

 

You should be able to ebay one of these for around $600. Save up a little bit more and there should be no problem.

 

If you do not have a mixer I would get this before anything. A mixer is key to chunking up the synths (Absynth, Battery, Reaktor, various freebies) coming out of your computer and making them sound more real. you will also need a mixer to get a Juno 106 to sound as good as a Juno 106 can.

 

Good luck

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