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buying synthesizers

hey im thinking of getting a synthesizer, but not for a lot, i dont have much to spend (max $700), so far the best options seem to be the microKorg and the Alesis Ion... any kind of suggestions or feedback would be appreciated...

you can get a used JP for that price.

quote:

Originally posted by allcentury18 you can get a used JP for that price.

Just what I was thinking...
I think you can get a Virus seconed hand aswell..or a Nord...

agreed, look into used Nord Leads or Virus's these are tested and true synths that are very capable and have a nice sound, you can't really go wrong here. Plus you'll appreciate having all the hands on control these synths have compared to the ones you were talking about. Might as well get software with that Alesis Ion. If you want hardware get all the benefits that come with hardware. Otherwise just spend the money on Albino 2, Blue, and the DiscoDsp Discovery, you might even be able to toss in the ReFx Vanguard if you find the right deals, for that amount of money.

Well you can save a couple hundred dollars to get the best used virus (or nord) possible (like C or something...). Once you get it, trust me software sound wont be as cool anymore and you will uninstall many VSTis... def worth buying a hardsynth if your at least semi-serious about music.

How about these

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Access-Virus-B-s...1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ACCESS-VIRUS-SYN...1QQcmdZViewItem

Do many big name producers (if any!) use soft synths alone?

Gabriel and Dresden do, I believe

quote:

Originally posted by DJ 00 Tommy Do many big name producers (if any!) use soft synths alone?

Only? maybe a small number...
Both? a lot!
Get into your favorite artist webpage and check the stuff he uses...
ie Armin uses Absynth and FM7...and I know that lots more do but I forgot the names atm...

Do not get a Norld Lead 2 for your first synth..you sill not appreciate it and most likely hate it...its a great synth but needs finess to get what you want from it. I mostely use it for bass and fx. I would do the Alesis Ion or a Virus..since its your first and only HW synth I guess then you will want something that is an allrounder(pads, leads, bass, ect..)


Limit Out!

if ur more into RAW and Analogue sounds then Alesis Ion and JP8000
are the best choices in that Price. iv Tested the ION myself ... u can get the Alesis Micron aswell (its the a smaller version of the ion with same soundengine) Costs less and has Amazing quality!

If ur into More types of Sounds like Funky Chunky and RAW at the same time Nord and Virus are Great...!

thats The Drill + -

Try to Compare in other places , and try to Get NEW Product instead of used one...dont rush!

Cheers , Maor

quote:

Originally posted by gr8ape def worth buying a hardsynth if your at least semi-serious about music.

To reply, I'd like to quote Armin from his recent interview:

quote:

"EB: I've noticed in your studio on your website, you have a wide variety of hardware and software. What do you find yourself using more often these days, for example on Shivers? Armin: Definitely more software. I think in general we are moving from a MIDI generation to an audio generation. Something that BT started with the birth of Pro Tools. I have a studio that cost me a lot of money in those times. Now anybody with a cracked version of Reason on their dad's laptop can make tracks that sound excellent, good enough for us to release. So it's a strange time, but it's also really good, because a lot of talent that doesn't have the money to buy equipment is now able to make really good music with really cheap software and it sounds amazing. I have these synths because I am used to them and I am a bit of a nostalgic guy. I'm a hands-on kinda guy. When I play a melody, I like to twist the knobs. I haven't really had the time to properly dive into all the soft synths. I mean I have bought everything, the whole Pro Tools thing, the whole Native Instruments pack. I have made some really cool inspiring sounds but there is so much that is coming right now that I need to just focus on one thing and really dig into that."

ive actually decided to just go for it and forget about the money factor, so now im looking more into the $2000 max range... so far the NORD lead3 seems like the best deal.... tell me what u think...

What style of trance do you want to make? Nords are classic psytrance synths with great FM capabilities. Used a lot by Yahel and Infected Mushroom for example. You won't be making Rank1 style pads on one of those. Just bear that in mind before you blow $2k on one! Otherwise, great choice!!

then what would u recomend for melodic, deep, dark trance...

thanks...

For melodic trance I'd say a Virus, JP8000 or Supernova. Anything else and you would be struggling to program the type of sounds that come naturally to these three.

Some synhts just do certain types of sounds better than others. For example, I have a microQ and its literally impossible to get a warm pad sound out of it. It just wont do it. The three I mentioned are classic melodic trance synths and are all pretty versatile for that style of music.

quote:

Originally posted by BOOsTER Gabriel and Dresden do, I believe

you are correct

quote:

Originally posted by serban ive actually decided to just go for it and forget about the money factor, so now im looking more into the $2000 max range... so far the NORD lead3 seems like the best deal.... tell me what u think...

DO NOT and I REPEAT, DO NOT SPEND THAT MUCH MONEY....you will be very disapointed...trust me!!! If I were you I would buy something cheap for now and not crazy priced like the Nord Lead 3(you will buy it and then a few montsh down the line it will be worth almost half the price!! Buy something thats been out for a long time so the price is basically in its maturity stage.

I would really recamend a Virus B...a extremely good buy for the price! and you get an allround synth for all your needs. I fI had to do it again probably would have got a Virus for my first synth. Use the extra money on a fx unit..trust me!!

what about the keys... virus b has no keys... woudn't that be limiting in what u can do with it... sorry im new to this, ive just been DJ'ing so far...

quote:

Originally posted by serban what about the keys... virus b has no keys... woudn't that be limiting in what u can do with it... sorry im new to this, ive just been DJ'ing so far...

If you have a MIDI keyboard then that's really a non-issue. You can get a cheap one for under $100; even the most expensive tend to run around $300-$400, which combined with one of those synths is still a hell of a lot less than $2000 or more.

Personally I'm not crazy about the Virus synths, but I'm not a trance producer... I'm going to start looking for a Waldorf Q soon.

kewl... now it makes a lot of sense, thanks man...

anybody know any online stores or other places to buy synths, especially the virus brands... thanks...

I found a few sites such as zz sounds but they don't seem to have any in stock... so prolly my best bet is Tom Lee on granville... They have the virus C for $1800 and the virus TI for $2500... the virus ti seems to be way too expensive for me, even the virus c is a bit pricey... i wonder if its worth paying the extra money... i doubt it, the features between the two are not too different... i dont rilly trust used equipment, even though my mixer and tables are used but ive had them for a year and theyre still going well... any thoughts on synthesizers and places to buy them would be welcome...

quote:

Originally posted by DigiNut Personally I'm not crazy about the Virus synths, but I'm not a trance producer... I'm going to start looking for a Waldorf Q soon.

the Q was my first synth and it i still my ultimate synth....it was probably one of teh most expensive things i ever bought. At one point I was thinking of selling it off but I'm so glad that I didn't. One thing to point out though is that if your going to buy a synth with a heavy programming curve make sure you learn how to use it...there are a lo to f very simple synths out there, but the complex ones are nothing like most of the softsynths out there. I haven't used a Virus but the Q is a very complex and versitile programming synth...the mod matrix alone is killer...but my Microwave XT's modmatrix is just insane!

quote:

Originally posted by serban I found a few sites such as zz sounds but they don't seem to have any in stock... so prolly my best bet is Tom Lee on granville... They have the virus C for $1800 and the virus TI for $2500... the virus ti seems to be way too expensive for me, even the virus c is a bit pricey... i wonder if its worth paying the extra money... i doubt it, the features between the two are not too different... i dont rilly trust used equipment, even though my mixer and tables are used but ive had them for a year and theyre still going well... any thoughts on synthesizers and places to buy them would be welcome...

Nova Musik is a place to try for new synths....I would suggest going the ebay route as you will pay much cheaper...Also I bought a few from SonicState, which is a very goo dplace to go. Almost all my synths are used with the exception of my k-station...which I got about 8 months after it was released.

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