groovebox vs synthesizer

[Guest harajukuken]

Hello fellow soundaholix!!!

 

Great forum. Been really helpful to me.

 

I'm a psytrance DJ in Tokyo but I want to make the switch to performer / producer. I love artists like Astrix, Talamasca, Parasense, Silicon Sound ... etc. and want to make that kinda trax (but twisted my way of course!!!)

 

I got a kickass computer and been playing around on Fruity Loops, Reason, Soundforge and Acid but wanna get serious and buy some hardware. I have a limited budget of about $600.

 

From other postings, it seems the Nord lead 2, SH101 and Juno are great synths for what I wanna do and if I buy them used they are in my price range. I also found a groovebox: E-mu Command Station PX-7 that is only $669 brand new!!!

 

What's the difference between this groovebox and the synthesizers for what I wanna do? Please help me.

 

And a lot of the auction sites and online music stores won't deliver outside of the US. Is there an easy way around this? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

Bom!

 

Ken

[Guest Psy]

I would go with the NordLead 2, I got the NordLead 3 and that one is pure magic..

 

Good Luck

[Guest Hyperlite]

any groovebox is crap

if you can , go with Nordlead

but if you don't wanna waste your money , just get a good soundcard, a pair of monitors nad download Cubase and bunch of VSTi's

that's all you need this days

[Guest knack]

Well, do you want to use much Hardware?

 

if you are into hardware I would suggest bying a synth like nordlead 2 and myabe from there go on getting other stuff like a sampler and good compressors and fx:s.

 

Even though a groovebox would seem like a good choice when you read the specs about all the sounds and stuff they have put in there it is not a good choice. Often the sounds are pretty boring and you will not be able to do many things with it and it will limit your musical intentions.

 

You said you got a good computer, right?

Then my suggestion would be a good sequencer like cubase or if you have Mac it is much better with emagics logic. Then get a bunch of software synths, like novation v-station, hydra (don´t remember the company that makes it), grmedia oddity and a good software sampler like halion or battery (or with logic the EXS 24). Also some good plugin effects can be nice to have. One good collection of effects is Waves, altough they can cost a little bit.

 

Here you have a good start. But, I would have to suggest to still by at least one good synth like the Nordlead 2 since it often is easier to feel creative when you create your sounds on a hardware synth (that´s my opinion that is) and easier to get more feeling in the music.

 

If you go this way, remember in the beginning it always takes some time before you know your way around the equipment to really be able to achieve the sound you are after. But when you have learned, you will have much more creative possibillities than with a groovebox.

[Guest knack]

Well, do you want to use much Hardware?

 

if you are into hardware I would suggest bying a synth like nordlead 2 and myabe from there go on getting other stuff like a sampler and good compressors and fx:s.

 

Even though a groovebox would seem like a good choice when you read the specs about all the sounds and stuff they have put in there it is not a good choice. Often the sounds are pretty boring and you will not be able to do many things with it and it will limit your musical intentions.

 

You said you got a good computer, right?

Then my suggestion would be a good sequencer like cubase or if you have Mac it is much better with emagics logic. Then get a bunch of software synths, like novation v-station, hydra (don´t remember the company that makes it), grmedia oddity and a good software sampler like halion or battery (or with logic the EXS 24). Also some good plugin effects can be nice to have. One good collection of effects is Waves, altough they can cost a little bit.

 

Here you have a good start. But, I would have to suggest to still by at least one good synth like the Nordlead 2 since it often is easier to feel creative when you create your sounds on a hardware synth (that´s my opinion that is) and easier to get more feeling in the music.

 

If you go this way, remember in the beginning it always takes some time before you know your way around the equipment to really be able to achieve the sound you are after. But when you have learned, you will have much more creative possibillities than with a groovebox.

 

Hope that it helped and good luck!!

[Guest knack]

Well, do you want to use much Hardware?

 

if you are into hardware I would suggest bying a synth like nordlead 2 and myabe from there go on getting other stuff like a sampler and good compressors and fx:s.

 

Even though a groovebox would seem like a good choice when you read the specs about all the sounds and stuff they have put in there it is not a good choice. Often the sounds are pretty boring and you will not be able to do many things with it and it will limit your musical intentions.

 

You said you got a good computer, right?

Then my suggestion would be a good sequencer like cubase or if you have Mac it is much better with emagics logic. Then get a bunch of software synths, like novation v-station, hydra (don´t remember the company that makes it), grmedia oddity and a good software sampler like halion or battery (or with logic the EXS 24). Also some good plugin effects can be nice to have. One good collection of effects is Waves, altough they can cost a little bit.

 

Here you have a good start. But, I would have to suggest to still by at least one good synth like the Nordlead 2 since it often is easier to feel creative when you create your sounds on a hardware synth (that´s my opinion that is) and easier to get more feeling in the music.

 

If you go this way, remember in the beginning it always takes some time before you know your way around the equipment to really be able to achieve the sound you are after. But when you have learned, you will have much more creative possibillities than with a groovebox.

 

Hope that it helped and good luck!!

[Guest knack]

oops, sorry, it read error when i sent the messages so you got kind of some more....

[Guest danne]

Hello! if you are looking for god deals on synth´s and other gear for music making chek out www.thomann.de it´s an international site that ships all over the world. Me my self bought a nord rack 2 for 700 dollars (new). I saw that they have reduced the price even ferder now... They have everything you ever need for a good price............

 

And I dont work there

 

danne

[Guest danne]

Hello! if you are looking for god deals on synth´s and other gear for music making chek out www.thomann.de it´s an international site that ships all over the world. Me my self bought a nord rack 2 for 700 dollars (new). I saw that they have reduced the price even ferder now... They have everything you ever need for a good price............

 

And I dont work there

 

danne

[Guest tWILIGHT zoNE]

Nordlead 2 used 599 Euros ....

 

It's in perfect condition....I don't know if buy it or not..mmmm....arrggghhh...

when I finish working today I will go to buy it! ....or not..... haaaa I can't get a decision...

Is it a good price in your opinion ?

[Guest tWILIGHT zoNE]

Nordlead 2 used 599 Euros ....

 

It's in perfect condition....I don't know if buy it or not..mmmm....arrggghhh...

when I finish working today I will go to buy it! ....or not..... haaaa I can't get a decision...

Is it a good price in your opinion ?

[Guest pzeffan]

Just wanted to add my two cents on the subject because I was in a similar situation a few years ago. I went through the groovebox crazy phase owning at first an mc 303, then an mc 505, then a yamaha remix something or another and finally korg electribes. I admitt they were fun as hell to play around on but I could never get any of those cool punchy and distorted synth sounds that I heard in some of my favorite stuff. When it comes down to it they are very limited in expressive control. Messing with frequency and resonance after awhile gets really boring if you don't have any cool oscillators or lfo's to mess with. Around a 1 1/2 years ago I traded in all my stuff and went 100% software. You can get everything you need for free off of Kazaa these days and start working practically overnight. Some examples of what I use: Synapse audio has provided an arsenal of kick ass sounds through their Scorpion, Junglist and Hydra synths. Reason makes some pretty good sounds as well. I don't use Cubase personally but from what I understand it has tons of vst plugins that all sound great. I have broke down and bought a yamaha dx 200 fm synthesizer because it sounds just absolutely grungy as hell and is fully automatable. You can get just about any sound out of that thing and they cost around only $300 new. I would love to have a Nord Lead anything as well but if your budget is tight you can always get one down the road. Just check out my sound at the following web page if your curious how these synths sound like.

http://www.mp3.com/ghosthunter.

[Guest BörlinGammler]

Of course u can go only with software...

 

but for me it makes a diffrence between turning a pc on and to turn a studio on =) to see blinking lights, have 10cm manuals lieng around in the middle of a hole of knobs and faders.

 

and for me hardware still sounds better...the distortion is just a little bit more agressive and the sounds seem to me more exiting (lebendig?!)

 

besides: buy a virus not a nordlead...but this is a thing of religion then get a small mixer and a midi interface for 30... and then u have everything to make a live act =D -> synth and bassdrum from the virus the other percussion from the pc

 

 

ah and dont buy emu synths ... they can only build samplers but the synth are crappy

[Guest psidomin]

I can only agree BörlinGammler...

 

I am a groovebox addict, love my electribes, and only waiting for cash to buy some more!

 

If you don't intend to play live, sure, you probably don't need any hardware and can get going with a pc/mac + software.

 

But if you (as i do) want to play live, there's nothing that beats tweaking the knobs on all your synths/grooveboxes. It's just looks silly when somebody just staring at the crowd, and from time to time just take a look att the computerscreen... bahh!!

 

As in the "what brand should i by"... Get your a** to an retailer and check out different synths. I love the Korg & Access (virus) synths. Nuff said!

 

peace!