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-- What synths were popular with producers of the mid-late 90s?

What synths were popular with producers of the mid-late 90s?

I'm big on the sounds that were coming out during the 97-98 period before everything became saturated with cheesy supersaws. I'm possibly looking to add some more hardware/vsts to my collection. What were the go-to synths for trance artists at the time?
Cheers for any info!

My gear at that time consisted of a Roland Juno 106 * Yamaha Sy77
Used a Boss Dr. Rhythm for sequencing percussion
Loved those synths.

I wasn't making trance music back then, but, based on what I've picked up from people who were, Nord Lead 1, Access Virus A, Roland JP-8000, Novation (Bass Station/Drum Station), Waldorf Microwave, and maybe the Quasimidi Sirius seemed to be pretty widely synths used back then. Junos and Korgs from the 80s/early 90s seemed to get a lot of use, too.

ROMplers and samplers (e.g., E-mu Proteus, Roland JV-series, Akai S-series, Kurzweil K-2500) were used in a lot of 90s dance music, but I don't know how much they were used in trance.

what dave said but with a more condescending tone.

If you're looking to buy the hardware - what's your budget? I'd recommend maybe getting something like a Novation KS4 - great synth, lots of knobs, and relatively cheap compared to other "classics" like the Juno 106, etc. The KS4 is from 2003, but imo it sounds pretty damned good - I've been using it for my latest tracks, which I can link if you want to hear it in action.

Also, are you looking for analog or digital? The time period you speak of featured mostly digital synths - whereas the 80's (and the music of the early-mid 90's) featured mostly analog synths, which are now quite pricey.

I asked Ferry on twitter and he replied Roland JP-8000 which he says is great for massive leads and also basses.

quote:

Originally posted by Looney4Clooney what dave said but with a more condescending tone.

Plenty of discussion on this topic elsewhere but its not really about the instruments, its more about people wanting to make tunes rather than "productions" or super fucking loud "productions"

But everyone wants to get on Beatport so its all about people who dont care about that if you want to bring that sound back

have a read of this for gear used

https://www.gearslutz.com/board/ele...e-late-90s.html

quote:

Originally posted by Looney4Clooney what dave said but with a more condescending tone.

Lol.

The Roland JV series for sure, the Electribes and Roland Drum machines.

The EMU romplers such as the Proteus series were rampently used, as were the Akai S series samplers (although the samples can't really be defined that much as there were so many, the Akai build it FX became synonymous with Trance in the 90's).

Waldorf synths indeed and I would say the bass station and the Nova, SuperNova were used in the late 90's everywhere.

Not so sure that Access had much of an impact in the 90's - The Virus A was launched in late 97's and weren't really properly available until 1998/99 in the rest of Europe. It was really the B and C that made the massive impact and that was in the 00's.

The piano sound in the 90's was the Korg M1 but honestly, if I had to pick one piece of kit, it was probably the Akai S1000 that had the biggest use and impact.

Legend has it (as I've said before) Armin's Blue fear was produced start to finish on an S1000.

The Prodigy's early tracks replied heavily on a Roland XP-50 (which is really just a JV-1080 in workstation format). But yeah a sampler is essential bit of kit for 90s dance. And gloxstix. Don't forget the glowstix!

quote:

Originally posted by Mel David The Prodigy's early tracks replied heavily on a Roland XP-50 (which is really just a JV-1080 in workstation format). But yeah a sampler is essential bit of kit for 90s dance. And gloxstix. Don't forget the glowstix!

XP-50? Don't you mean W-30?

Roland SH-101

quote:

Originally posted by Mel David The Prodigy's early tracks replied heavily on a Roland XP-50 (which is really just a JV-1080 in workstation format). But yeah a sampler is essential bit of kit for 90s dance. And gloxstix. Don't forget the glowstix!

I supplied Liam Howlett with nearly all his cables when he moved studio.

The scary thing was, the first two albums form the Prodigy relied nearly totally on Behringer kit - i.e. nearly all the FX/outboard outside of samplers were crappy cheap Behringer stuff.

Yamaha dx7 Roland mc-505 groovebox!!

Casio SK-1

quote:

Originally posted by aquila XP-50? Don't you mean W-30?

Oh yeah you are right. I must have subconsciously wanted Liam to have used an XP-50, because that was my first synth.

quote:

Originally posted by DJ RANN I supplied Liam Howlett with nearly all his cables when he moved studio. The scary thing was, the first two albums form the Prodigy relied nearly totally on Behringer kit - i.e. nearly all the FX/outboard outside of samplers were crappy cheap Behringer stuff.

here lies Tom Rann

Supplied cables to Liam
His father was a Dalek
He lived a full life.

Still , I have no idea why your LinkedIn doesn't mention your dad being a dalek.

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