Synthesizer Gear Porn ;-)

[Rarebird]

Here's some more pictures The 23 best high-end hardware synths in 2020.

If you could get one for free which one would it be? I'm still looking.

Me too. So much attractive stuff.

[battema]

So in my ever-growing quest to nudge people into exploring MPE...here's comes the affordable pitch

I picked up a Sensel Morph recently for a variety of different utility chores around the studio...but I also got the Piano and Buchla Thunder overlays. The short version: for less than $300 you can get a Morph with a piano overlay and get a fully-MPE enabled keybed to explore. But it also can do hot-swapping with a variety of different overlays for different purposes, like a MID control surface, drum pads, the Buchla overlay, even things like video editing and more. Super easy to setup and use, and works out of the box with most DAWs.

Here's a cool video that ends up showing the potential of not only the Morph but also the Hydrasynth.



Oh...I also recently came across a pretty cool free VST synth called Surge, which also does MPE but also does plenty of good old-fashioned synth stuff too, for the exorbitant price of nothing at all

https://surge-synthesizer.github.io/

I've only just started experimenting with it, but so far so good.

[hippypants]

Thanks Battema, I'll have to watch that more than once to absorb it. But those touch sensitive keys reminds me of some of the things synthesis Richard Lainhart was experimenting with at one time (he's since passed). He was on that documentary, I Dream Of Wires. I had a friend that saw him in a concert up around NYC and said he was very interesting, and personal. At any rate, the set up that he had is probably old technology now compared to the Sensl Morph. I still think the Hydro Synth would be a cool instrument to have.

[battema]

What's kind of interesting is that Buchla themselves have embraced the Sensel Morph and it can be bought in a bundle with their (otherwise not even remotely inexpensive) systems like the Easel Command.

Due to form factor, the Morph doesn't do CV out of the box...but the Hydrasynth does. So some of this COULD be integrated with older systems.

Gosh, I own the Wires documentary but haven't watched in a while...thanks for the nudge, I think I'll add it to my watch list for this week

[Rarebird]

So in my ever-growing quest to nudge people into exploring MPE...here's comes the affordable pitch

Oh...I also recently came across a pretty cool free VST synth called Surge, which also does MPE but also does plenty of good old-fashioned synth stuff too, for the exorbitant price of nothing at all

https://surge-synthesizer.github.io/

I've only just started experimenting with it, but so far so good.

Downloaded and installed it, but though I see it in Cubase, I can't find it as a stand-alone module, to use it without Cubase.

b.t.w. What is MPE?

[battema]

Surge is a plug-in only...there's not a standalone version, I'm afraid

MPE is MIDI Polyphonic Expression...next generation MIDI expressive control. When you play, each note is sent on a separate channel and therefore each note can send it's own velocity, aftertouch, and pitch information, plus whatever other gestures are specified.

The most immediate use case is vibrato: on a normal synth you usually introduce vibrato via the mod wheel sending MIDI CC1. It works fine, but it's static usually: the LFO rate is predetermined and even if you modulate the rate, it's applied in a very uniform way across all notes.

With MPE you don't do mod wheels; instead, you create vibrato with your finger just like on a violin. And each note can have it's own vibrato, or glide between notes. The same extends to other gestures too; instead of programming an ASDR envelope in advance, your finger pressure or the speed of your initial touch can cause a sound to strike quickly or fade in gradually. In more advanced synth engines like the EaganMatrix, those gestures aren't just about raising/lowering volume but actually change the timbre of the sound...the sound of striking a bell on a quick hit, or the sound of a finger rubbing the side of the bell with a slower touch.

For me personally, MPE elevates MIDI capabilities to something almost akin to an acoustic instrument in terms of gestures and expressive playing. Like any instrument, it also means learning new skills -- the first time I played an MPE keyboard I was laughably out of tune ALL the time -- but once you get the hang of it, it really can be an amazing capability.

The Morph is, to my knowledge, the hands down most affordable MPE capable device on the market right now. Combined with it's versatility by having so many different overlays available, it's a pretty amazing little device.

[battema]

[Gizmotron]

So in my ever-growing quest to nudge people into exploring MPE...here's comes the affordable pitch

I picked up a Sensel Morph recently for a variety of different utility chores around the studio...but I also got the Piano and Buchla Thunder overlays. The short version: for less than $300 you can get a Morph with a piano overlay and get a fully-MPE enabled keybed to explore. But it also can do hot-swapping with a variety of different overlays for different purposes, like a MID control surface, drum pads, the Buchla overlay, even things like video editing and more. Super easy to setup and use, and works out of the box with most DAWs.

Here's a cool video that ends up showing the potential of not only the Morph but also the Hydrasynth.



Oh...I also recently came across a pretty cool free VST synth called Surge, which also does MPE but also does plenty of good old-fashioned synth stuff too, for the exorbitant price of nothing at all

https://surge-synthesizer.github.io/

I've only just started experimenting with it, but so far so good.

Thank you, John! As always, your recommendations are excellent.

[hippypants]

Any advice or tip on what to use to clean knobs or sliders on a synth or other ways to clean it? I heard this CRC cleaner was good for knobs: https://www.amazon.com/CRC-Contact-C...3423296&sr=8-2

[Top Cat]

I've heard great things about the Detoxit brand for electronics, and I think it's the brand of choice for Electronics Repair shops.
I had an old 8 channel analog mixer I used with my Fostex A8 reel to reel, that eventually had scratchy sliders. I used this F5 and it helped, but some pots and sliders on equipment need to have the lube sprayed directly into the tiny little hole in the body, or it's not going anywhere. That usually involves removing a face cover, which can become even more involved. The Fostex was really bad, even when I opened it up, they had other panels over the sliders and I could not get to the holes themselves. It required a complete break down which I didn't feel comfortable disassembling.

But for most jobs, I believe this will work fine. Most of the reviews are positive.
One thing about the Detoxit line is they have different sprays for different applications, so research is good beforehand.

https://www.amazon.com/DeoxIT-Fader-...s%2C830&sr=8-4

[hippypants]

^^Thanks Top Cat, I'll check into it.

Here's something I found on YT lately.

[Gizmotron]

Help!

Wasn’t it on this thread that we discussed the options for keyboard weights (weights that keep a key depressed so that one can tune and fiddle with the sound)? I tried searching but cannot seem to zero in on which page it was.

Anyone?
Thanks in advance!!

[battema]

I honestly can't remember far back it was...but I remember I suggested a stapler

I suspect any small set of weights would work. Apparently some folks use wedge mutes as well.

[Gizmotron]

I honestly can't remember far back it was...but I remember I suggested a stapler

I suspect any small set of weights would work. Apparently some folks use wedge mutes as well.

Thanks, John!

I finally googled enough...The “Key Dog” is the one that caught my attention when it was mentioned:

https://kvgear.com/products/key-dog-...b-cb3c45220505

KVgear doesn’t seem to make them any more but I found a vendor on Reverb that still has some (in orange).

[battema]

Oh cool! I saw the Key Dog and almost sent a link, but couldn't find anywhere with stock...glad you found someone on Reverb

[dropforge]

Klaus Schulze used (uses?) small lead weights.

[Top Cat]

I think Keith Emerson had the best idea.
keith Emerson.jpg

[Rarebird]

I think Keith Emerson had the best idea.
keith Emerson.jpg

I also thought of knives, but they might case some damage inside a keyboard. I wouldn't risk it.

[interbellum]

Help!

Wasn’t it on this thread that we discussed the options for keyboard weights (weights that keep a key depressed so that one can tune and fiddle with the sound)? I tried searching but cannot seem to zero in on which page it was.

Anyone?
Thanks in advance!!

from post #952 I remember because I included a video from Dave Stewart with Bruford.

[hippypants]

The 20 best bang for the buck in 2021, cheaper synthesizers from Music Radar. Korg Minilogue XD is #1.

[battema]

Some cool picks in there, although I personally would have included any of the Modal offerings too

[BobM]

I guess if you are up on stage and playing live you need a hardware synth or two or three, and preferably with enough presets for your set, but personally, in a home studio, I think software synths give me more freedom and options to work with within my DAW. Those beasties, both old and new, sure are pretty to look at though and who wouldn't want a Prophet 5 or a Juno or whatever sitting on a rack next to your desk?

[Rarebird]

I guess if you are up on stage and playing live you need a hardware synth or two or three, and preferably with enough presets for your set, but personally, in a home studio, I think software synths give me more freedom and options to work with within my DAW. Those beasties, both old and new, sure are pretty to look at though and who wouldn't want a Prophet 5 or a Juno or whatever sitting on a rack next to your desk?

Nothing beats fondling real knobs and wires, instead of virtual knobs and wires.

[Gizmotron]

Nothing beats fondling real knobs and wires, instead of virtual knobs and wires.

I sure prefer hardware.

I enjoyed the article mentioned a few posts above. So as far as the Minimoog sound, am I correct in assuming that the Roland SE is preferred over the Beringer?

[battema]

I have a Voyager so....never thought to compare those two