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Hardware

hi guys, im producing trance form software at the moment (logic/atmosphere, pro 53, albino etc..) but i am looking to get into using hardware, im just wondering if anybody could point me in the right direction, what to get, how to usew, general tips, etc,
cheers guys

As your first synth, you want to get a synth with meny multitimbral parts.
This is the number of different sounds you can play on it at a given time and high polophony (the number of notes that can be played at one time).
My first synth (the JP-8080) was great but simce it can only play two parts at any given time.....it really made my move into hardware slow.
I would recommend the Virus (even the new cheapper classic) or a Novation K-Station. If you get a module (i.e. no keyboard) then you must also get a midi controller, thats why I think the k-station is a great first synth coz it has a little built in keyboard.
Now.....you will also need a sound card with good ASIO drivers.
If you don`t have one yet, for starters I would go with the M-Audio Audiophile. Thats about all you need.

thanks for that, i am running the SB audigy platnum 2, hasnt let me sown for software amyway, would that work for hardware

quote:

Originally posted by eladla As your first synth, you want to get a synth with meny multitimbral parts. This is the number of different sounds you can play on it at a given time and high polophony (the number of notes that can be played at one time). My first synth (the JP-8080) was great but simce it can only play two parts at any given time.....it really made my move into hardware slow. I would recommend the Virus (even the new cheapper classic) or a Novation K-Station. If you get a module (i.e. no keyboard) then you must also get a midi controller, thats why I think the k-station is a great first synth coz it has a little built in keyboard. Now.....you will also need a sound card with good ASIO drivers. If you don`t have one yet, for starters I would go with the M-Audio Audiophile. Thats about all you need.

I've got some nice soft synths but I'm want to use some hardware too
I like to buy one or too hardware synth to start playing with,
and would it be better to buy Nord Lead 3 or Nord Rack for the start instead of K-Station cause K-Station has it's software analog V-Station 1.2 (and it's a very good softsynth)?

quote:

Originally posted by eladla As your first synth, you want to get a synth with meny multitimbral parts. ... I would recommend the Virus (even the new cheapper classic) or a Novation K-Station. If you get a module (i.e. no keyboard) then you must also get a midi controller, thats why I think the k-station is a great first synth coz it has a little built in keyboard. Now.....you will also need a sound card with good ASIO drivers. If you don`t have one yet, for starters I would go with the M-Audio Audiophile. Thats about all you need.

Thats quite contradictorial, you recommend a multitimbral synth and you say go for the k-station, which is mono (or bi) timbral and only 8 note polyphony as far as I know.

I'd say buy a novation nova, waldorf micro q or virus b cheap from ebay and you'll fall in love pretty soon

quote:

Originally posted by kaymak thanks for that, i am running the SB audigy platnum 2, hasnt let me sown for software amyway, would that work for hardware

It will work but I really don't like creative for producing, it's designed for gaming. From the moment you have the money get rid of it and buy a terratec, echo, m-audio or another semi-professional soundcard.

cheers, you'll have to bear with me as i am a hardware virgin, is hardware basically like a vst for automation within your sequencer, you program a synth then automate it normally or do you automate is manually.

quote:

Originally posted by kaymak cheers, you'll have to bear with me as i am a hardware virhim, is hardware basically like a vst for automation within your sequencer, you program a synth then automate it normally or do you automate is manually.

I didn't completely understand your question. On modern synths you can automate every single parameter, just look in the cc list in the manual and set the right cc.

quote:

Thats quite contradictorial, you recommend a multitimbral synth and you say go for the k-station, which is mono (or bi) timbral and only 8 note polyphony as far as I know.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking! I would stay away from the K-Station. It has to be one of the worst buys ever. 1 part mulitimbral, scant effects section. Lord, you could buy a Supernova for just a little more.

quote:

Originally posted by DeZmA Thats quite contradictorial, you recommend a multitimbral synth and you say go for the k-station, which is mono (or bi) timbral and only 8 note polyphony as far as I know. I'd say buy a novation nova, waldorf micro q or virus b cheap from ebay and you'll fall in love pretty soon

Hmm.....didn`t think of that .....your right I guess....my bad.
But the K-Station is still nice to start with coz it`s an easy synth to program and it doubles as a midi controller (and it`s cheap).
I still stand by what I said.....if your gona get just one synth, get one thats at least 4-parts (like the nord lead 3).
But if you only get the nord as your only hardware you`ll need the non-rack model unless you wanna program it all into the piano roll and not by playing on a keyboard.....it`s possible....but kills the mood for me.

quote:

Originally posted by eladla Hmm.....didn`t think of that .....your right I guess....my bad. But the K-Station is still nice to start with coz it`s an easy synth to program and it doubles as a midi controller (and it`s cheap). I still stand by what I said.....if your gona get just one synth, get one thats at least 4-parts (like the nord lead 3). But if you only get the nord as your only hardware you`ll need the non-rack model unless you wanna program it all into the piano roll and not by playing on a keyboard.....it`s possible....but kills the mood for me.

Do parts really matter if you are recording individually though?

es

Polyphony is definitely important, but I don't consider timbrality to be an issue. I run a virus C and I've never used it in multi mode. In a studio environment, I tend to do each sound by itself so that I can adjust it to fit.

As far as good synths go, the more popular are the VAs like the Virus, the jp-8080 and the nord and to a lesser extent the Waldorf Q.

I'm gonna take this thread a little off track, but I don't feel like cloging up the forums more.

You say polyphony is an issue, but is it worth $400 more or so to buy a virus C over the $1000 virus classic, to get 12 more polyphony? Or is 24 sufficient?

es

I think the only real diff between the C and classic is the minimoog style filters.....other than that.....I think that the classic is much more value for money than the C.

That is one of the differences, but the main difference is that the classic/b has 24 notes of polyphony, and the virus c has 32.

es

K...im taking a look here..

your situation now (topic poster) was exactly mine back when i first started buying hardware. I had logic, pc, shit soundcard etc etc. My first synth was a Novation Nova. I am SO pleased with it and couldnt hardly contain myself when i got it.

Don't get a JP. They are the worst synths to learn with because they have SHIT midi and really strange operation compared to other synths.

Also...jebus I see this alot around here. You don't HAVE to get a nord lead 3 because they are the newest lol You can still get a nord lead 2 ya know! Or GASP even 1

(just pokin a little light-hearted fun)

but dont get caught in that loop. I thought taht new synths were the only way to go, but shit I've bought most of my stuff used...just like the virus b i got on friday Virus b's are about 700 used, while the new classics are 1000 new. So its just comes down to how much money you want to spend.

But I'll say it again : with your exact setup, I LOVED my nova. I started with a Novation Nova, then bought an audiophile 2496 soundcard. Then bought a behringer mixer to mix parts. The one thing i regret is buying a behringer. It died in less than a year and i take REALLY good care of my gear. It was just a piece of shit (never buying behringer again).

cheers broken silence, that made a bit of things a little clearer, thanks guys for all ur replies

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