#164

I have my components sorted, ready to go, just waiting for the REV 2 boards to come out.

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#165

I can only speak for what I own, but my Digitone is an incredibly capable and gorgeous sonic powerhouse. It rewards experimentation, is playful, and yet still accessible/approachable. And it’s very oriented towards performance / live tweaking too - nearly everything you need is a button press and/or a knob turn away, there’s virtually no menu diving unless you’re doing some of the “organizational” stuff rather than musical actions.

And, I second all of the positive comments about the Sequential Prophet Rev2… it’s utterly stunning, engaging, and gorgeous sounding.

4 Likes
#166

I love the old “Vanglis” sounds of the Yamaha CS’s, but doubt I’d ever want to own one, as there are so many things to go wrong!

A friend has an amazing Juno 60 that just sounds “right”.

I play a little Yamaha CS reface live, because it’s great fun to play pads on one hand playing chords, the other constantly tweaking parameters.

But other than listing gear, what I’ve enjoyed reading here is what people think makes a good polysynth.

For me it’s got to be:

Flexible filters, HP and LP if possible.
Noise or natural sounding distortion
Tweakability.
Harmonic interest.

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#167

I’m going to second the Deepmind; I have the 12 voice keyboard version, and I think it’s incredibly versatile and immediate. If you’re a person who loves more keys, then the desktop version is probably more to your liking, but most of the time I’m running it in the mode where it doubles up the voices (so, 6 voice but now essentially 4 osc per voice) and slightly detuning, so having fewer keys suits me just fine. But it really is immediate, especially the way they thought out how to incorporate the modulation matrix assignments. I personally don’t mind the button shifting for the envelopes, partially because I tend to use the three envelopes for the same purchases between each patch. I think one thing that is worth mentioning too is that it’s super portable, the size is probably what drew me in the most.

I would also add my vote to the Blofeld. I had the desktop version for a few years, did that typical thing where I sold it and now regret it a little. I do wish it had more knobs, but I guess that’s what MIDI controllers are for!

#168

Just a note for people who care about this sort of thing: Behringer sued DSI for calling their cloned products “knockoffs” among other things:

Behringer has never and will never see a cent of my money.

Please note: I don’t judge other people for buying their products, but some of you might want to know what you’re sponsoring when you do. So don’t take this comment personally: it’s meant for general information out of concern for a hopefully more moral marketplace. Vote with your dollars and all that…

11 Likes
#169

Speaking of Vangelis, I wonder if anyone will attempt a modern attempt at an analogue paraphonic/divide down string synth?

It would sort out some of the limitations of 4 voices that many people have mentioned with the Minilogue etc. and might be a cheaper option for manufacture than a full 8 voice poly.

I know they have been derrided as being ‘cheesy’ for years… but then again so was the DX7!

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#170

Behringer is supposedly going to release a ‘clone’ of the Roland VP-330 at some point, though it’s not really a ‘modern’ attempt since its just replicating the old schematic and adding USB and MIDI. I think the string synth sound may just be too niche to warrant a lot of attention, though I have a Roland RS-09 that I like a lot.

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#171

exploring the filter CV input that my beloved Juno has- I think a lot of people don’t realize it’s there and responds to modular CV just fine. today using envelopes generated by striking Optomix. Vactrol-controlled Juno! :nerd_face:

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#172

I picked up a Korg Kronos earlier this year. It’s dreamy. Unless you’re specifically going for analogue, I can’t think of much that it leaves to be desired. Great feeling, fully weighted keybed, 9 synth engines, comprehensive effects, multi-sampling, a full featured song sequencer, flexible routing, Karma for algorithmic pattern generation, a well thought out and capable control surface for hands on, superb sound quality, lots of I/O… I think I’m officially past the honeymoon period and still not finding anything not to like.

The learning curve on it is quite extensive - it’s so deep. For me that’s a plus though. Plenty to keep exploring for years to come. The MOD-7 waveshaping phase mod synth in it is otherworldly, and the filter in the MS-20 synth emulation - my ears don’t believe it’s not analogue.

2 Likes
#173

Uhhh did NOT know that. HUGE. Is that a 106?

#174

nope, it is a Juno-6! There’s a filter cv input designed for expression pedals, but it responds to other CV signals as well!

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#175

I have a Mopho x4 that I absolutely love, but I really need to get something with more voices. I think I’m going to try out some softsynths before looking into hardware for several reasons. I have the demo version of U-he’s Diva–sounds great, but my PC is no slouch and it chokes on the thing if I get above 4 or 5 voices going, and it’s a bit on the boring side as it’s just a virtual analog.

Considering Bazille since it would be really fun to have a poly with a modular interface and it sounds great (also been playing around with the demo version), or Kaivo since I love physical modeling and it gets waayyyy out there into weird territory.

Any other soft poly’s folks here would recommend trying out? Preferably something that goes beyond the normal subtractive or FM voice architecture, but also something that is more limited than those super-synths where you just drown in settings.

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#176

Arturia’s Buchla Easel is excellent. And I think Aalto fits into this category?

#177

i just found a yamaha fb-01 for real cheap and it’s awesome! you need some app if you want to edit patches but the presets are lush and cute and i think useful for a lot of vibes. and it’s a 1/2 rack size :cool:

Yamaha FB-01 Image

also apparently this was among the FM synths that hiroshi yoshimura used

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#178

maybe it’s on that boring spectrum, but I think u-he’s repro-5 sounds astonishingly good

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#179

I picked up an Access Virus-KB in a trade and have found it to be a surprisingly flexible and lush sounding synth. The interface is also very easy to understand. And it feels kind of amazing to just lay my arm across a dozen or so keys and have all play at once.

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#180

my favourites:

Juno106
Oberheim Matrix 6
Sequential SixTrak
MKS80+MPG80

related, i just discovered (& ordered) the Stereo Ping Synth Controller CE-1 which is a small MIDI controller which can be ordered with faceplates for SixTrak, Matrix 6 (and many others) and provides 16 knob access to otherwise hidden parameters (ie hidden behind buttons and a data slider) - I never knew this existed and still wouldnt except I saw a SixTrak up for sale with the CE-1 included

https://stereoping-shop.com/themes/kategorie/detail.php?artikelid=33&kategorieid=19&source=1&refertype=9&languageid=2

2 Likes
#181

What app are you using for your FB-01? I’ve had mine sitting in the closet for a while, but I’ve been meaning to drag it out after falling in love with the DX21 my dad gifted me. I do remember really liking some of the presets though. Maybe the Harp setting?

DX21 would benefit from app editing as well, memorizing button combos and tweaking the singular slider can get quite tedious!

#182

i don’t have the app, i just know there’s is one. i think it might cost as much as the synth haha. i will stick with the presets cuz i really like a lot of them and those sounds are basically what i would want from this kind of synth anyway. harp is good and some of the melodic percussive instruments, also the electric piano sounds.

#183

I need to experiment with some effects on mine, I ran my DX21 into one of those looping DOD/Digitech delays (PDS2000 I think?) and the character of the pedal really made a pretty bland piano sound very cool.

I’m moving to a house in November and I’m very excited to set up a more “permanent” studio space.

1 Like