Hmm, just heard the demo MP3 for the K-station...
It's mono-timbral, meaning only 1 patch at a time. Also the arpeggiator is limited (very few options) and the patches are not labeled.

I'm also ready to consider Roland, Nord, Waldorf... anything economical, cost-effective, and decent...

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download the v-station instead, it's almost identical to the k-station. i suggest you have a look around the web at hard trance producers studio's and see what they use and favour. if you get stuck you mite aswell get a virus C tho coz those babies are immense

in the mean time tho i suggest you get the v-station and vaz, save yourself a bit coin

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you think?

so buying a hardware synth wouldn't be such a milestone for me?

How about Korg MS2000 -- relatively cheap ($700), with a keyboard, and people rated it 9.1/10 on zzounds.com (which is rare)?
Look - http://www.zzounds.com/item--KORMS2000

Virus KC (w/keyboard) looks good, does it include drum kits and bass sounds (esp. harder ones)?

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Last edited by Eugene on Jun-10-2003 at 23:19

Hi Eugene, I seriously want to help you make your decision.

Ok, the K-Station as a lone hardware synth is a no-go. Like you said, it's monotimbral and there is a software version.

I would suggest not getting a Virus KC. Those are a lot of money. Much more than a grand.

Your best be would be a Virus B. Here's why: It doesn't have the polyphony of the C, but 24 voices is quite good. It's 16 part multitimbral. The Virus can make great basses, leads, and pads. You can pick one up on Ebay for $700 or so.

Another great synth is the JP8000 or 8080. I have done much searching on the JP vs the MS2000 and the JP was recommended much more often. The JP is great for leads and pads, and you can get some decent basses out of it, but of the two I would lead toward the Virus.

I would also recommend an outboard effects unit to complement whichever synth you get. Lexicon's MPX100 is terriffic. With the remaining $200.00 you could go to Guitar Center and get some good Alesis monitors (put down the $200.00) and pay the rest off on the credit card.

Just my 2 pesos.

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I wouldn't recommend a k-station mate. They are often very fragile. There have been problems with pitch and modulation wheels, problems with freezing and stuck notes. It might be a good synth to start on, but you are better off getting more of a powerhouse synth.

I have a virus and its great but it is often too overwhealming to use in a track. I find it hard to not make sounds fat and then they just don't fit in properly, although that's my problem, not the virus's.

I'd go for a JP-8080 and a midi controller. The jp is supposed to be pretty user friendly, and from memory, the 8080 has more features than the jp-8000. Although the 8000 has the keys, so it's up to you.

Have a look on ebay. And i wouldn't worry about getting a really expensive mic. Just get a decent one around $100 or so.

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I would definitly recommend a virus. Just got a Virus C desktop a week ago. Heres a sample of what ive been doing with it

http://www.geocities.com/xferone/virusSample3.mp3

hmmmm...

I realy want to say what i think about this.... i realy dont know much about hardware synths but this is my opinion..

you say yourself you are still.... realy a beginner... cause you even dont know how to work with synths (you say its too complicated and you use only presets). IMO getting a hardaware synth before you even know how to work with soft-synths is a mistake... :\
its alot of money...

i truly & deeply believe you should invest that money in GOOD MONITORS and maybe a good soundcard. you can create amazing stuff with softsynths and above all with the z3ta+ you are using. more and more artists use FRUITY LOOPS today and release tracks (even Psytrance which is maybe the style which uses the most complicated sounds). while you can create amazing sounds with various soft-synths, you still can not master your tunes proffesionaly without good monitors... so that what i think...

sorry if you dont like me calling you a beginner or watever, i still believe i gave you a good advice.

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keep in mind that without knowing anything about how to work a synth it'll take a long time before you can utilize a hardwaresynth fully...

I say get your hands on some good softsyhnths (like Vaz, z3ta+ and so on) and start with them, that way you can spare more money under the time your'e learning and then go for a Virus kC directly (I would say it's one of the absolutley best VA's out there today)


keep in mind that there are producers today not even using hardware...flutlicht, shokk and probably more that I don't know about

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quote:

Originally posted by davedresden i suggest getting the gabriel & dresden prog-a-minute. in 3 easy steps you too could change the face of dance music. batteries not included. - dave

quote:

Originally posted by Vizay keep in mind that there are producers today not even using hardware...flutlicht, shokk and probably more that I don't know about

indeed, i think they only have a midi keyboard!

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hi,

The acces virus would be a good choise but the waldorf microm q is also interesting I think because it is 16 part multitembral too and has quite a few voices available also. The micro q i cheaper than the virus I believe and it sounds great too. The micro q has some effects by the way, but some of them are not so very good. Don't know about the virus.

The're are some softsynths these days that have about the same quality as hardware synths. Vaz modular sounds great: http://www.software-technology.com (doesn't ask too much from your pc too), V-station sounds very good also: http://www.novationuk.com, and the Moog Modular is also very good: http://www.arturia.com And there is the polibit that sounds really fat and warm: http://www.bostreammail.net/ers/vstplugins.html
The V-station, the Moog, and the Polybit use a lot of cpu power though.

If you want you to make you're own drumsounds you can get Drumatic: http://www.e-phonic.com (free, and can be used to create 909 kicks etc) or the waldorf attack http://www.waldorf-music.com or the dr008 http://www.fxpansion.com

For drumsounds maybe the dr008 is most interesting because you can combine synthesis with samples with it.

A sampler would do all you want, you can have acces to every kind of sound like basses, pads, lead, drumsamples, and you can also create them yourself with it. And with professional quality.


There are some free softwaresamplers available: I think computermusic has a free one http://www.computermusic.co.uk and there is the sampletank free from ikmultimedia http://www.ikmultimedia.com
Maybe it's better to visit http://kvr-vst.com for softsamplers. I don't know much about them.
I use the exs24 wich sounds warm and is perfect for what you want.

About microfones: I have bought the rode nt1 today. I have heard from many people that it sounds best compared to others microfones that are in his priceclass. It is also the best sold studio microfone in the world. It's not expensive.

You have a bigger choise from synths if you invest in a fast computer I think. Softsynths are often cheap, and some are free. Í you buy a hardware synth or sampler maybe, you can combine it with the softsynths/softsamplers and can even use plugins/effects.

I would be a bit difficult to get all the things you want in hardware for $1000 I think.

Thanks to everyone for the replies and advice.

You've convinced me that I should hold off the synth for a while and start with the monitor, mic, and samples CD instead.

What monitors would be good? Right now in FruityLoops the "Monitor" indicator often maxes out for me, which makes the sound ugly. If I get a good monitor will that get rid of this problem?

musicmaker, how much does rote nt1 cost? Never heard about it...

What are good sample CD's that contain hard drums, hats, bass, effects, and maybe even leads? The most pressing issue for me at this point is drums and bass.

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