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[KimyReizeger]

Inspired by the gear thread in this forum.

How much money have you spent on synths?

I have a novation Xiosynth. It's pretty cheap as far as instruments go, around 250, but I've found it a good entry point and would consider myself pretty adept. I've also learned a lot more using a hardware synth than VSTi and can subsequently get much better sounds. I also think the sounds I can make are generally high quality, tonally speaking, not particularly / notably / remarkably worse than anything I've heard on records. So how does quality / features improve as the money goes up? Guitars for example, sound and play like shit before you breach the 400 mark (first-hand, high-street prices at least; and very often after you've penetrated that boundary - Ibanez for example).

[Tam o' Shantie]

I spent around 70 quid on a Yamaha CS01, eventually sold it on and bought a Moog MG1 for about 250 bucks.

[RockAustin]

I only played piano and my digi piano with various emulated keyboard sounds until about a year ago. After having a go of a JP 8000 and really liking it, found one for sale for £300. I really couldn't afford it at the time but had to have it, so I didn't eat/go out for a couple of months.

The last 6 months or so I've been getting deeply into it, and gets better the more I use it. The controls are really intuitive once you have worked out what they do and how they can interact with one another. It is great for live performance.

Considering (due to a much better job) getting a more up to date piece of kit that has more sound creating options in conjunction with computer.

Like you KimyReizeger, having used softsynths a few times, I prefer having the hardware. I think if you spend as much time with the software it can be as good an option, possibly even more versatile... better compared by someone who uses software regularly though.

Colin

[HairyScaryMark]

There is a reasonable amount of diminishing returns with all instruments.

However in the world of synths and keyboards, there are simply some features which generally don't exist on cheaper models (like aftertouch).

There is also some amazing synths like Access Virus TI which costs a lot of money. It is also amazing. There are cheaper options available and you rarely use a fraction of the posibilities with synths, from my experience but this doesn't stop the fact the Access Virus TI is an amazing instrument.

[betamax]

Cost is not proportional to synth goodness

My 3 favorite synths are:

Casio VL Tone - payed £8
Access Virus TI - payed £1300
1970s Moog Micromoog (in need of repairs) - payed £110 (plus impending repair bill)

No price relationship at all.

Some amazing sounding synths are really cheap. Some expensive ones sound shite.

Funcionality is what often comes at a price tho. More flexible and useable sequencing, control and programming options usually equals shitloads more cash. This is why God invented samplers.

Synths should look good too. That usually adds some $$$.

[Tam o' Shantie]

Originally Posted by HairyScaryMark

There is a reasonable amount of diminishing returns with all instruments.

However in the world of synths and keyboards, there are simply some features which generally don't exist on cheaper models (like aftertouch).

There is also some amazing synths like Access Virus TI which costs a lot of money. It is also amazing. There are cheaper options available and you rarely use a fraction of the posibilities with synths, from my experience but this doesn't stop the fact the Access Virus TI is an amazing instrument.

You are a fucking idiot. Answer the question posed in this thread, or shut up. Every post you make reads like something out of a textbook, with a line or two vaguely relating to the thread topic. It's driving me insane.

[KimyReizeger]

Originally Posted by betamax

Casio VL Tone - payed £8
Access Virus TI - payed £1300
1970s Moog Micromoog (in need of repairs) - payed £110 (plus impending repair bill)

No price relationship at all.

Some amazing sounding synths are really cheap. Some expensive ones sound shite.

.

That's pretty interesting. I mean, I was never suggesting expensive equipment has the exclusive bearing on sound quality, but it's difficult to get information or experience on this kind of thing in Aberdeen, where I'm pretty sure they simply don't sell synths as a rule.

Is that not absurdly cheap for a Moog?

[Stripey]

Moogs are overrated for what they actually offer compared to more cutting edge synths.

Obviously, the more money you spend the more features you are gonna get along with things like higher quality oscillators, more flexible and powerful routing/modulation etc.

As far as I'm concerned there is no advantage to learning how to program synths on hardware rather than in software, there are hardware synths around which are edited using software anyway! The hands-on argument is moot if you have a good midi controller with rotary encoders and so on, but using a mouse isn't a huge chore if you don't.

The advantage of learning with software is that it's a hell of a lot cheaper in terms of the kind of features (and sound quality) you can expect for your money, and you can get used to programming a wide variety of synths which operate in different ways (i.e FM, subtractive, wavetable).

The only synth hardware I have is a kawaii K1M module, which isn't hugely flexible and a bit of a chore to program. I mostly rely on a handful of (good) VSTi's. The best thing in the long run is to stick to 1 or 2 and learn them inside out.

[HairyScaryMark]

Originally Posted by Tam o' Shantie

You are a fucking idiot. Answer the question posed in this thread, or shut up. Every post you make reads like something out of a textbook, with a line or two vaguely relating to the thread topic. It's driving me insane.

You are mean

[KimyReizeger]

Originally Posted by Stripey

Moogs are overrated for what they actually offer compared to more cutting edge synths.

Obviously, the more money you spend the more features you are gonna get along with things like higher quality oscillators, more flexible and powerful routing/modulation etc.

As far as I'm concerned there is no advantage to learning how to program synths on hardware rather than in software, there are hardware synths around which are edited using software anyway! The hands-on argument is moot if you have a good midi controller with rotary encoders and so on, but using a mouse isn't a huge chore if you don't.

The advantage of learning with software is that it's a hell of a lot cheaper in terms of the kind of features (and sound quality) you can expect for your money, and you can get used to programming a wide variety of synths which operate in different ways (i.e FM, subtractive, wavetable).

The only synth hardware I have is a kawaii K1M module, which isn't hugely flexible and a bit of a chore to program. I mostly rely on a handful of (good) VSTi's. The best thing in the long run is to stick to 1 or 2 and learn them inside out.

What is your main softsynth?