Daedalus
User
Joined: 24 May 2003
Location: Behind You
|
 Posted: Sun Apr 24 2005 16:08
Synth for live performance. Sugesstions needed. |
 |
Hello everyone,
It's not really MadTracker related but it is audio related so I hope you don't mind me posting this question here. I'm looking for a nice, not too expensive synth for live performance. The most important thing for me is that it can produce a wide variety of sounds and that you can tweak 'em any way you want. I'm not sure about the amount of keys it should have, but more is better. Can anyone suggest a few synths or at least give me an idea how much a synth matching my description will cost? |
No sig yet...... |
|
 Back to top |
|
 |
|
|
Mephi
User
Joined: 22 Nov 2004
Location: oslo, norway
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Daedalus
User
Joined: 24 May 2003
Location: Behind You
|
Posted: Mon Apr 25 2005 06:50
|
|
Looks amazing indeed, but also very expensive.
A quick google search taught me it's between the 2000 and 3000 dollar 
I'm looking for something cheaper. |
No sig yet...... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
xiphiuz
Beta-Tester
Joined: 08 May 2003
|
Posted: Mon Apr 25 2005 09:57
|
|
why donīt you check the slimmeddown version of it:
the fantom Xa!
half the ROM (64mb), no aftertouch, no colorscreen and no velocity drumpads.
very good value for `justī 1250 euroīs |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
RainyDave
Registered User
Joined: 19 Jan 2005
Location: Dublin, Ireland
|
Posted: Mon Apr 25 2005 14:17
|
|
I bought a Novation K-Station a few months ago; it's only got a two-octave keyboard, but it is brilliant for tweaking.
It's a virtual analog, 8-note polyphonic, with three oscillators, two LFO's, two separate envelopes, vocoder with aux input, arpeggiator, onboard chorus, reverb, delay and distortion, and currently is going for about 350 Euro, new.
There's a pitch-bend wheel and a mod-wheel, and the keys are velocity-sensitive.
It's quite nice to play; the only thing I don't really like is the velocity sensitivity isn't very sensitive - you have to hit the keys quite hard to get much of a variation in response. Maybe my fingers are just weak  Apart from that, the keys are reasonably sturdy, and full-size, so it should be fine to play live. Of course, make sure and try one out yourself, if you can!
Here's a link to a K-Station review, which should have some more detail:
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/Apr02/articles/novationkstation.asp
If two octaves isn't enough, they also make a KS-4 with four octaves, seems to be 415 Euro at the moment, which has 16-note polyphony, and is multitimbral (though you mightn't be too worried about those when you're playing live). You get loads of features for your money, either way.
Here's a link to a KS-4 review, in case you're interested:
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/Feb03/articles/novation.asp
Happy choosing! |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Daedalus
User
Joined: 24 May 2003
Location: Behind You
|
Posted: Mon Apr 25 2005 15:11
|
|
two octaves isn't enough and aftertouch would be nice....
so... I'll keep the KS-4 in mind, thanks
Anyone have any other suggestions? |
No sig yet...... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
xiphiuz
Beta-Tester
Joined: 08 May 2003
|
Posted: Mon Apr 25 2005 15:12
|
|
I had the K-station.
My opinion: nice starter synth if you want to learn things about virtual analog subtractive synths.
but not very good for all sounds: like acoustic sounds.
the KS4 is allready much better
because it has not only the standard osc waves: triangle/saw/square but also wavetables (10+).
and the filter is not only a LPF (low pass filter) but the ks4 has also bandpass and highpass filters. it also 4 part multitimbral and has 4 seperate outs.
With the wavetable oscs you can EMULATE piano sounds f.e. but it isnīt as real as a Roland Fantom Xa or Yamaha Motif (Korg Triton is oldfashioned, the roland and yamaha synths sound much better (better samples))
Good luck with your choice... |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
RainyDave
Registered User
Joined: 19 Jan 2005
Location: Dublin, Ireland
|
Posted: Mon Apr 25 2005 15:41
|
|
| xiphiuz wrote: |
I had the K-station.
My opinion: nice starter synth if you want to learn things about virtual analog subtractive synths.
but not very good for all sounds: like acoustic sounds.
|
Good call. But who needs a piano sound when the K-Station can give you a great big pipe organ!! 
You're right: the KS-4 is much more well-rounded. I didn't actually read the review; I just assumed it was a K-Station with more octaves. All the details are in there, anyway.
It's certainly not a Motif, but it's a lot cheaper!
The two-octave keyboard is admittedly irritating; I use it for little more than keying in notes in MadTracker. Not that that isn't an essential task  |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Daedalus
User
Joined: 24 May 2003
Location: Behind You
|
Posted: Tue Apr 26 2005 06:49
|
|
Anyone know of a simmilar synth with 5 or 6 octaves?
My MIDI keyboard has 4 octaves and with some, mostly classical-ish, pieces 4 isn't enough. |
No sig yet...... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
xiphiuz
Beta-Tester
Joined: 08 May 2003
|
Posted: Tue Apr 26 2005 07:24
|
|
thereīs also an KS5, same as KS4 but with 5 octaves!
dunnow if itīs still in production.
otherwise a yamaha an1x could be a great starter synth.
loads of filters, 2 part multitimbral, aftertouch, 5 octaves etc. 1 problem, no realistic sounds. should sell for 350 on the 2nd hand market. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Daedalus
User
Joined: 24 May 2003
Location: Behind You
|
Posted: Tue Apr 26 2005 07:43
|
|
Realistic sounds are also quite important I think...... I'll need a realistic piano sound at least..... |
No sig yet...... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
xiphiuz
Beta-Tester
Joined: 08 May 2003
|
Posted: Tue Apr 26 2005 09:27
|
|
As i said before
Look for an Roland Fantom Xa, big bargain!
no aftertouch (you can use it via its D-BEAM controller though) |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Daedalus
User
Joined: 24 May 2003
Location: Behind You
|
Posted: Tue Apr 26 2005 15:42
|
|
Roland Fantom Xa is about 1200-1300 euro. Still a bit expensive..... |
No sig yet...... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
xiphiuz
Beta-Tester
Joined: 08 May 2003
|
Posted: Wed Apr 27 2005 11:56
|
|
A roland rs series then maybe?
or Korg Triton LE 61? (sound quality is less of both) |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
xiphiuz
Beta-Tester
Joined: 08 May 2003
|
Posted: Wed Apr 27 2005 15:33
|
|
Or you can Try the discontinued xK series of EMU
PK is the proteus2000 with keys.
You also have a orbit with keys etc.
Or you can buy 2nd hand  loaaaads cheaper |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Home/News
About
Download
Plugins
Tutorials
Register
Registered Users
Community
Music
Compo
Links
Forum
Synth for live performance. Sugesstions needed.
Log in
Profile
FAQ
