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-- Alan's List of Favorite Trance Hardware Synths
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I just noticed that Turnkey have put the price up on the NL2X keyboard. It's �100 more than it was the last time I checked. Tha fack?
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| Originally posted by Derivative I just noticed that Turnkey have put the price up on the NL2X keyboard. It's �100 more than it was the last time I checked. Tha fack? |
Gonne buy myself a virus c tonight. TI is a tad too expensive for my taste allthough it's control plugin is awesome. Anyway, glad to have it back. I used to own a virus b a couple of years ago but at the time it was to complex for me.
Right now buying the virus c is more or less an experiment to see how it software and hardware work together. Unlike a couple of years ago I think I now have to proper gear to make them work together very well, also I know a lot more about synthesis as I did back then, pretty important since the virus isn't the easiest of all synths. Time will tell. 
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| Originally posted by Storyteller pretty important since the virus isn't the easiest of all synths. |
I can imagine
But as I sad, the TI a bit too expensive for my taste right now
I'm proud owner of a Access Virus C now
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| Originally posted by Storyteller I'm proud owner of a Access Virus C now |
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| Originally posted by alanzo The shitty US dollar wouldn't explain that since Clavia is Swedish... |
I just want to comment on the Novation synths:
You say avoid A/K/X stations at all cost, because they sound identical to the V-Station. Well I can't really comment much on that, but what I can comment on is the latest generation of Novation synths, namely the KS and what I assume has an identical sound engine, the XioSynth.
I have a KS4 and I just love it. I have A/B'ed it with the V-station and it just sound wayyyy smoother, actually, almost too smooth for some of the sounds I want to make. The filter overdrive is just liquid, it's very creamy and not harsh at all, while the V-station is alot grittier. I've thought about selling it, but decided that I have too much invested in it (presets that I often use), and that the V-station could in no way fill its shoes. That said, I was totally stunned that there was such a big audible difference, they're both just digital machines and all, but Novation have definitely made some improvements to their algorithms since the 'Stations came on the market
The KS took me in a different musical direction. While the V-Station has trance written all over it (for me at least) the KS with its *massive smoothness* got me more into ambient, old-school electronic sounds. Alot of pads, soft leads that fade out, stuff you might rather expect to find in music by Kr�der & Dorfmeister or even Speedy-J and Monolake kind of sounds, that was really pleasant for me as it opened up a new realm of creativity. I want to dump the keyboard some day and get the rack version since I like the layout better, but until I get my hands on a TI keyboard, its staying on my desk
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| Originally posted by Beyer It's really hard to fine tune the settings, that's a definite drawback. I have been really annoyed by this, but it's one of those quirks that give this beast it's charm - if you will.  I usually tweak by ear, not by eye - and most of the times I don't need to have an EXACT value, so a close setting usually does it.There's no editor, as far as I know of that will make you be able to fine tune it via your computer, and as far as OS goes - there will never be an update I'm afraid. It's got it's flaws, and problems - but in the end it's the sounds that matter the most imo. And I think it's got a beautiful tone. It can be what you want it to be. I have only had mine for a few months, and haven't had the time to really dig into the capabilities yet. But it's vast, and complex. Yet, it's layout is quite intuitive I think. Many people tend to compare it to the older analogs, like prophet and moog. But it's not fair imo, as it never was meant to be a new moog or a jupiter. It's got it's own sound, and either you like it or you don't. Some say it's not as "analog" sounding as a moog, but I just don't get that. It IS 100% analog signal path, and you don't buy a synth to get "analog" sound, you buy a synth for it's sound - may it be digital or analog. I heard demo samples from this, and saw pics of it, and just knew I had to have one. I originally ordered a virus ti, but canceled at the last minute in favour of the andromeda. There is just something about it's sound that attracts me, making the ti sound pale in comparison IMO. /rant |
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| Originally posted by alanzo It's a lot easier with the software interface... that way you go through different pages rather then menus to get to everything. I know the Virus|Control interface like the back of my hand.. but I have no idea how to use the actual hardware... it sits under a dust cover at all times |
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| Originally posted by Low Profile but Novation have definitely made some improvements to their algorithms since the 'Stations came on the market |
I've added an audio demo for the nord lead 3 since the only one I know of is the Vengeance one...
hey whats that miditrack at 3:30 again? airbase? damn i cant remember
just like any production n00b, i have my sights set on an access virus synth (hopefully i'll EVENTUALLY get the cash for one...)
i was just wondering basically what the differences are between the B, C, TI and polar varieties, whether they're types of sounds, hardware-software interfaces, or... what??
just if anyone has some time, sorry if this is a re-post,
Cheers
Between the B and C, the main differences are the C has a bit more voices, the Moog emulation filter, and EQ.
The Ti has the VSTi interface, a bunch more voices, wavetables, hypersaw, grain and formant synthesis, reverb/delay per part (could only have either reverb or delay on the C and it was shared for the whole synth), and now a bit more FX like tape delay.
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| Originally posted by alanzo (could only have either reverb or delay on the C and it was shared for the whole synth) |
...
@Subtle --- Am I incorrect?
I've only owned two hardware synths...the first being the Novation Xiosynth, which was a huge let down, to put it lightly. The second would be the Virus TI, which would be the polar opposite. Pun. Seriously though, it's a dream to work with, whether through the actual hardware or the VST controller. I feel like I've barely scratched the surface of what it can do, and that's a good feeling to have with any synthesizer.
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| Originally posted by alanzo ... @Subtle --- Am I incorrect? |
Supernova II is cheap sounding? You couldn't be more clueless...
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| Originally posted by spolitta Supernova II is cheap sounding? You couldn't be more clueless... |
I do miss my Supernova. Not as much as my miss my Nord 2X, but I do miss it and may pick up a SNII at some point. [sheds a tear] 
On the other hand, I've got a DSI Poly Evolver, Moog Voyager RME, and DSI Mopho en route to their new home, so I don't think I'll be missing either of those synths for long.
How ya' digging your PEK, alanzo? I've already started holding my breath for the Alan-M PEK/PER patches.
Well, It's sometimes hard to get a really good sound out of the Supernova but the beauty of this synth is that it can sometimes sound like a Nord 3, Virus or a Vintage Analog but it still has it's own character as well. If I could only keep one synth without a doubt it would be the Nord 3 but Supernova is right on top with Nord and Virus, don't let that nasty reverb turn you off. Bottom line is if you have a Virus and Nord you should probably get something other than the supernova because you're already covered in that area, so a Dave Smith synth, a Moog or a Jupiter is a better buy if you already own a Virus and Nord.
Re: Alan's List of Favorite Trance Hardware Synths
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| Originally posted by alanzo So, I've realized recently that I've owned A LOT of synthesizers in my day. Here is the complete list in chronological order: Novation A-Station, Access Virus Rack, JP-8000, Virus|Powercore, Nord Lead 1, Novation Supernova II, Access Virus B, Access Virus XL, Access Virus Classic, Nord Lead 3, Access Virus TI, DSI Prophet '08, Nord Lead 3 (again), Waldorf Blofeld, DSI Poly Evolver, Alesis A6 Andromeda. Currently I own the last six. It also occurred to me that some might like to know what I thought of each one... so here they all are in order of most to least favorite: I recently purchased the Blofeld, Evolver, and Andromeda. So I may update this in a few months after I learn those three instruments. I'm going to be updating my YouTube channel with audio demos, so check there once a month or so : http://www.youtube.com/user/alanmarcero Currently own: 1. Nord Lead 3 (audio demo)--Definitely the best sounding and the FM, Unison, and Stack capabilities are EPICLY awesome. 2. DSI Prophet '08 (audio demo)--Although it isn't very capable sonically, what it can do sounds amazing. Fat analog basses, detuned saw leads that sound great with just 4 OSCs, and everything has such a nice vintage vibe. My favorite aspect is its ability to layer two patches together to form a single 4 OSC patch. Dual/Multi-timbrality would be nice. It can certainly do this as it has eight voices and two stereo outputs. DSI did this with the Poly Evolver which can act as four seperate Mono Evolvers or a mix n' match, each with their own stereo output. It would be nice if the Prophet '08 could at least act as two seperate four voice Prophets. Their tech support said this 'may be in a future OS update'. Get a DSI MoPho if the Prophet '08 is too much $$. 3. Access Virus series (audio demo)--TI is preferred, but from the B on up, they're all great. This gets #3 because it's a versatile work-horse, but it just doesn't sound nearly as good as my other instruments. Sold long ago: 4. Novation Supernova II--Personally I didn't like its gritty sound. The OSCs and sound engine are also somewhat weak. But it's on the top of my "sold long ago" list for a reason. Maybe I'll purchase another some day, but I doubt it. A 'par for the course' virtual analog would hardly find a place in my studio. 5. Nord Lead 1--Sounds pretty good.. but it was meant to be a 'modern' Prophet 5. The original Nord Lead is much cheaper than a poly analog, and sounds pretty close to one, but I'd recommend skipping a step and going for a DSI Prophet '08 instead. 6. JP-8000--SUPERSAW!!!... but that's about it. The synth is kind of useless for anything else. Its lack of variable unison is VERY limiting. Note that the JP-8080 does have UNISON, more voices, and a distortion effect. If you must get one of the two, go with the JP8080... but I still think the sound of the JP80x0 is dated... any modern VA can run circles around it. 7. Novation A/K-Station--Avoid at all costs - Novation's V-Station is nearly IDENTICAL to both of them and is 5x easier to use, cheaper, and just as awful sounding. I've heard the X-Station has some improvements over V/A/K-Station... Other thoughts: One synth I do not own but advocate for frequently is the DSI MoPho. It's a one voice Prophet '08 with added sub oscillators for a price that can't be beat ($400 new). It's VERY simple to program your own patches. You would be amazed what you can do with a mono synth when the OSCs are that FAT. The Nord Wave is a $3,000 disappointment. I'm sure it's WAV capabilities are great but they took out the BEST innovations of the Nord Lead 3... namely the Unison/Stack and the NL3's awesome knob interface. At least they kept the NL3's great FM synthesis but they completely ditched the Unison/Stack. It's as if they took the design for the NL2, threw in a WAV osc, grabbed the FM from the NL3 and replaced Unison with shitty onboard FX. Lame. Well, that's it... I would have put this only on my blog, but no one reads it. |
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