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Your favorite Trance hardware and what you think I should grab

I only have the novation sl 49 but I was thinking about buying the Novation Nova. Anybody want to share their 2 cents on what's hot and not hot? I ask this question because I'm looking for something solid but reasonably priced to help me make some wicked trance


http://www.vintagesynth.com/novation/nova.shtml

is there such a thing as trance hardware?

the nova is okay but nowhere comparable with the virus TI. You can do a lot more with V-station and a decent computer.

actually there's no synth (sw and hw) which is focused on trance only. you can do "trance" sounds on every synth. it's about the skills of the sound designer.

usually these days software synths are sounding just as good as hw VAs.

but here's a list of hw synths you'll find in a lot of trance producer studios:

- Access Virus
- Clavia Nord Lead
- Roland JP-8080


but like i said you can use any synth for trance.

If your serious about buying hardware what you should do is goto a music shop and try them all and see which one you prefer.

I did a pretty detailed thread about this :

http://www.tranceaddict.com/forums/...threadid=471441

I need to update it as my list has grown quite significantly since then.

Re: Your favorite Trance hardware and what you think I should grab

quote:

Originally posted by Stephen Wiley I only have the novation sl 49 but I was thinking about buying the Novation Nova. Anybody want to share their 2 cents on what's hot and not hot? I ask this question because I'm looking for something solid but reasonably priced to help me make some wicked trance http://www.vintagesynth.com/novation/nova.shtml

Hey Stephen - what's your budget? I've used a Nova, but never owned one. I did own a Supernova at that time, but was actually pretty surprised and impressed with the Nova's sound and its capabilities in comparison to the SN. But, if you can afford to go with the full Supernova, I think you'll be much better off. In the same price range as the Supernova, you could check out the Virus B, Nord Lead 2, and Waldorf Q. When it comes to these four synths, some people will tell you to buy this one, or avoid that one, but the reality is that there are far more similarities in these virtual analog subtractive synths than there are differences and they're all very capable synths for trance.

One other thing I'll mention is that I just picked up a Waldorf Micro Q on a whim because I got a steal on it (but not planning on keeping it) and I'm pretty blown away by its sound - it's essentially the same as the full Q, but with lower polyphony ("only" 25 voices) and minimal front-panel controls. You can probably find one of these used for under $400 and it sounds killer for trance. Has one of the best and most usable arps you're going to find in that price range. But, the sacrifice you make is that it only has four front panel control knobs, so it's not the easiest to program/tweak.

HTH.

Nova was my first virtual analog synth. I loved the sound and its layout but unfortunately one day it never powered on again, luckily it was still under warranty and I remember Supernova II just came out so I paid the difference and upgraded to Supernova II keybaord which I'll keep forever.

z3ta+
V-station
Albino 3
Sylenth
Gladiator

planning on getting nexus2 and spectrasonics omnisphere eventually

When you get the Viru- *cough cough* i mean z3ta..what else do you need?

quote:

Originally posted by djsphere is there such a thing as trance hardware?

must be the JP

quote:

Originally posted by cronodevir When you get the Viru- *cough cough* i mean z3ta..what else do you need?

A lot. z3ta sounds like ass.

whos able to have control over 8 oscs anyway?

quote:

z3ta sounds like ass

+1

The synth has quite a few capabilities. But it just sounds plastic imo.

Well, it's not *that* bad. But it's certainly no Virus. I'd take a Virus A over Z3ta any day.

Z3ta doesn't sound like ass, people just like shiny useless crap, so they buy omnisphear and other synths that don't require programming and literally have a "make me sound good" button. Same with Absynth and a few others...

Anyone who says a synth 'sounds' crap simply cannot program well.

quote:

Originally posted by cronodevir Anyone who says a synth 'sounds' crap simply cannot program well.

z3ta is not easy to program. 6 fucking OSCs and Filters? I don't even know what those extra 3 filters do. The most ANY synth I've ever used had was 3 and they each had their own purpose, Filter, Amp, Assignable.

That's its largest short-coming. The sound itself isn't terrible, a little gritty and 'low-quality', but not unusable.

Somehow this guy managed to figure it out and made a pretty good audio demo out : http://www.adamszabo.com/mp3/Adam_Van_Baker_z3ta%2B_Soundset_Preset_Demo.mp3

I am talking of the pure tone of the synth. It sounds very thin and cheap. Obviously you can get usable sounds if you want to spend a large amount of time tweaking it's overcrowded parameters. 2 oscs of a nord lead 2 sounds thicker and more pleasing to the ear than all 6 of the z3ta.

Well, I usualy fix that qith EQing myself. I suppose i'm such a z3ta zealot because ive been using it nearly forever. Used to use synth1 alot, but not so much these days.



Though, I generaly like those thin sounds. So i'm a bit biased. For bass I use even simpler stuff, like 404 or something.

That audio demo is nice.

quote:

Originally posted by alanzo z3ta is not easy to program. 6 fucking OSCs and Filters? I don't even know what those extra 3 filters do.

Z3TA+ only has two (stereo) filters.

I don't understand why everyone on this forum has a hard time comprehending how to program Z3TA+. It's about as dead simple as any other subtractive VA out there. The parameters are all right there in front of your face. Each oscillator, filter, LFO, envelope, and even the mod matrix are right there in one of the simplest interfaces on the market. Every parameter has a dedicated control. Click one button and you're on the FX page - likewise, every effect has it own section, and dedicated controls. Click one button to get to the simple X-Y and waveform shapers (they even open in their own window).

Someone please explain the difficulty that TA users have with understanding this synth (aside from the fact that you may not personally like its sound), and I'll happily explain it to you.

Actually..I do have a question.

Your z3ta looks vastly different than mine... Maby I should upgrade?

No need to upgrade (unless you're not using the latest version). Just go to:

http://forum.cakewalk.com/tm.asp?m=1445157

And get a bunch of free user-contributed skins. The "Nord-ique" one is fantastic! That designer must be an awesome graphics artist. But, seriously, the Freuby skin is pretty cool, as is the Snow skin (in my post above).

quote:

Originally posted by cryophonik Z3TA+ only has two (stereo) filters.

I meant it has 6 envelopes. The interface is just weird. Having to change a page for each OSC and such. I'm not even sure how to assign the envelopes. I guess it's with the mod matrix. To be fair, I only gave it a try and quickly deleted it.

Hrm..6 oscs...6 EGs...maby they are already linked?

The last EG is the overall EG and the first one is who knows what, never heard of PEG before.

quote:

Originally posted by cronodevir Hrm..6 oscs...6 EGs...maby they are already linked? The last EG is the overall EG and the first one is who knows what, never heard of PEG before.

PEG is the Pitch Envelope Generator - it is obviously hardwired to pitch. The Amp Envelope is hardwired to the overall shape of the sound. The other 6 envelopes are freely assignable to any destination using the mod matrix. Like the oscillators and LFOs, you don't have to use all 6, just use the one(s) you want, ignore the rest. Very simple.

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