Seek a sunflower and play russian roulette with its petals. Or do what your heart tells you. Let the wind carry you.

But yah. VST's + Midi Keyboard and Controller is the way to go. Akai recently released a MPC/MIDI keyboard combo, worth looking into. MK49 is the model. Waiting for some more user reviews, thinking of getting me one of those. Plenty of good VST's out there to use. For Virus type sounds, get Arturia MiniMoog, Moog Modular V, Arp 2600, z3ta+, or learn how to make your own with Reaktor.

thanks heaps

appreciate it. i figure its cheaper to go VST as well, and the quality of sound is rather similar to.

thanks again

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Originally posted by Energy_3 thanks heaps appreciate it. i figure its cheaper to go VST as well, and the quality of sound is rather similar to. thanks again

Cheaper, but Virus C or any other well built hardware synth sounds noticeably better. But with the software you can probably get more out of it because its ease of use and faster workflow. Over time you can build sound design skills to mask the quality difference between Hardware and Software. Overall its a much smarter investment to get started with a good software environment, until you can afford better hardware.

yeah i see what you mean, i had TI keyboard a while ago and had an indigo II as well. I have been looking at the Akai you mentioned thinking of going that way, and using ableton 6 to sequence and then run all the VST's etc. I want to do it cheap as possible so to speak but stil maintain the quality of sound.

but then when you look at the cost of some of these VST's i think ther as much as some of the older rack units anyways... thanks again. i think im gona go the akai tho, and maybe get a second hand access classic rack or desktop, and fish around for those VST's you mentiond

cheers

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Originally posted by LionsLair Cheaper, but Virus C or any other well built hardware synth sounds noticeably better.

Its funny you mention that because I think the Virus sounds like ass most of the time. I pretty much only use mine for spacey effects and lush pads. I find it useless for lead sounds because the oscillators are so *weak* and the inbuilt distortion and overdrive is pants.

Its a beaut to program but I wouldn't buy one hoping that it can do powerful monophonic leads ala Minimonsta or impOSCar because it will sound weak.

yeah it is one of those things, i think at the end of the day if you have an ear for good leads then so shall it be also. I havent really used much other equip except a novation ks-4 n 5. And, i found that nice. the software side of things im yet to experience but its my next venture when i get it happening again.

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