Synthesizer Gear Porn ;-)

[dropforge]

Rockin’ Good News, Jean-Michel, um…John!!

You mean Battemaro?

[battema]

[hippypants]

It looks like the offer one even for free.
https://cherryaudio.com/free

Thanks, I'll look into it.

[hippypants]

What midi keyboard would you recommend? I'm not a musician, just an enthusiast.

[Rarebird]

What midi keyboard would you recommend? I'm not a musician, just an enthusiast.

I'm not a musician either, just a composer, with a little bit of training on the piano. I love my Arturia Keystep, because it has aftertouch and I also have M-Audio Keystation Pro 88, which is weighted and has a piano-feel (which is perhaps not that good for synthesizers), but I think Battema could give you more advise on that.

[BobM]

You really have to go to a large music store and feel the keys for yourself. True, a non-pianist might find one with a typical spring loaded action just fine. Yes, your fingering will be quicker with that while a trained pianist will likely want one with a weighted piano action, it being better as an all around keyboard.

[Rarebird]

You really have to go to a large music store and feel the keys for yourself. True, a non-pianist might find one with a typical spring loaded action just fine. Yes, your fingering will be quicker with that while a trained pianist will likely want one with a weighted piano action, it being better as an all around keyboard.

You are right. Not really a trained pianist, but mostly I prefer a weighted piano action keyboard as well, though with soloing on a synthesizer, something lighter, preferably with aftertouch might be handy. But I think you should try for yourself.

[Top Cat]

I think going to a large music store is the ideal way to go, however many people may not have one near them. And I think a store that offers a wide variety of musical instruments will have a very small range of midi based controller keyboards to test out.

We have a Guitar Center and Sam Ash store located in Clearwater, about 15 miles from my home. When I was trading in some of my studio gear, I was very interested in the Yamaha Montage, and all they had was the MODX series, so I wound up ordering it with the option to return it in 30 days. I'm in love with it, the Anniversary White Edition, so it worked out, but my point is, as large as Guitar Center is, they had very limited range of popular synths, workstations and keyboards to chose from. You have to order them, and don't get the option to try them out.

I buy a lot of things from Sweetwater, have the same rep for decades now, and Sweetwater like many online stores, allows a 30 day return window.

Perhaps I missed something in the thread, but how many keys are you looking for? weighted? semi-weighted, synth action?
I think for the software that's included, quality and sex appeal(lol), the Arturia line of midi/usb keyboard controllers are the best bang for the buck. And I've read many people comment on how good the keybed feels. And I know Bob M has the 88, which he's commented on how much he likes it.

[Top Cat]

Cherry Audio teases new software synth release....oh my!!!!!

[hippypants]

Perhaps I missed something in the thread, but how many keys are you looking for? weighted? semi-weighted, synth action?

Well, I wasn't specific, more economical I guess. I took piano as a kid, but that was light years ago, and those were weighted keys, however, I've had synths too and those weren't weighted. I guess you get used to whatever you have around the house. It would be nice to have both, but I'm less into, I guess you might say, technical playing on the keys like a piano, though have thought about online lessons just as finger exercises. I saw a video on Youtube that was touting the new-ish Casio CT-X700, which would be nice too. Although it has upgrade sound chips, not as great as some might be, it's more a piano keyboard, and some of the rhythms are pretty cheesy, which I wouldn't mess with much. Though I do like the fact that with the Casio you don't have to go thru a computer to play it.

[hippypants]

I was also looking at this M-Audio Oxygen 61V USP and Midi. Pretty nice for the money.

[Top Cat]

Perhaps I missed something in the thread, but how many keys are you looking for? weighted? semi-weighted, synth action?

Well, I wasn't specific, more economical I guess. I took piano as a kid, but that was light years ago, and those were weighted keys, however, I've had synths too and those weren't weighted. I guess you get used to whatever you have around the house. It would be nice to have both, but I'm less into, I guess you might say, technical playing on the keys like a piano, though have thought about online lessons just as finger exercises. I saw a video on Youtube that was touting the new-ish Casio CT-X700, which would be nice too. Although it has upgrade sound chips, not as great as some might be, it's more a piano keyboard, and some of the rhythms are pretty cheesy, which I wouldn't mess with much. Though I do like the fact that with the Casio you don't have to go thru a computer to play it.

I was also looking at this M-Audio Oxygen 61V USP and Midi. Pretty nice for the money.

Thanks for responding, it helps a lot to know what you've been looking at, and price range.

M-Audio makes some great controllers. I had the Oxygen 61,years ago and it performed perfectly.
The keybed is synth action, a bit light, but I liked that and it didn't feel mushy.
I see this version comes with a huge sample library and also a Grand Piano. A lot of bang for the buck, plus you have the drum pad as well as your sliders can be assigned to various functions like filter cut off, etc for your sample sounds. This is very useful when using synths.

Don't underestimate Casio, they've come a long way since the 70's. The advancement in chips and technology allows high quality sounds at an affordable price.

You're right about the Casio having everything you need in the box, and not requiring a computer or software. I love using hardware because sometimes you want to sketch out ideas in your head before recording, or just want to relax and play.
The M Audio requires you to be connected to a computer to play sounds.
Both of these keyboards are a great choice, and I guess it comes down to being able to play without a computer, or connected to one.

[battema]

Hey hippypants!

Casios are just peachy for what they do. Unless you're planning to also record songs and things using the Casio, you could actually probably go with the CT-S300 which has most of the same features but in a slightly smaller form factor. Unless I've missed something, the CT-S300 has a pitch wheel that the X700 doesn't, so...bonus? It has 400 sounds (probably including the standard General MIDI library) and is USB-MIDI compliant...which means at some point if you wanted to expand into software synths, the Casio will be a perfectly viable MIDI controller.

Heh...down the road you might decide to invest in the Arturia V-Collection, and then you would also own the Casio CZ-1 virtual synth. So you could use an impressively-capable modern Casio keyboard to play a software version of an old impressively-capable vintage Casio synth and bypass the entire legacy of "cheesy" Casio keyboards

Good luck!!

[battema]

Also, just IMHO...I wouldn't start with just a MIDI controller like an M-Audio or Arturia keyboard. To be clear, I am a fan of both companies and use their products often...but I'm a massive woeful nerd who has spent the better part of 3 decades with his nose buried in synths, studio gear and various stuff. IMHO when just getting into (or back into) making music with a synth, the whole "here's everything in the world bundled with your controller!!" benefit can be more overwhelming than useful.

Not trying to make a definitive statement mind you I'm just an advocate for "one thing at a time" when one is getting started (or re-started as is your case)...just a synth with sounds to play, minimal extra hardware/software required. As long as the synth has MIDI or USB-MIDI, it can be incorporated into any expanding rig you may choose to pursue at some point

Hope this helps!

PS: nuts, we're all kidding ourselves...go splurge on a Schmidt synthesizer and make us all Kermit the Frog levels of green with envy

[Rarebird]

Also, just IMHO...I wouldn't start with just a MIDI controller like an M-Audio or Arturia keyboard. To be clear, I am a fan of both companies and use their products often...but I'm a massive woeful nerd who has spent the better part of 3 decades with his nose buried in synths, studio gear and various stuff. IMHO when just getting into (or back into) making music with a synth, the whole "here's everything in the world bundled with your controller!!" benefit can be more overwhelming than useful.

Not trying to make a definitive statement mind you I'm just an advocate for "one thing at a time" when one is getting started (or re-started as is your case)...just a synth with sounds to play, minimal extra hardware/software required. As long as the synth has MIDI or USB-MIDI, it can be incorporated into any expanding rig you may choose to pursue at some point

Hope this helps!

PS: nuts, we're all kidding ourselves...go splurge on a Schmidt synthesizer and make us all Kermit the Frog levels of green with envy

I agree. I love my soft-synths, but they can be a bit overwhelming. In the end nothing beats the feel of a real synthesizer, twidling real knobs, and/or sliders and buttons/switches.

[hippypants]

Thanks for the replies. Looking a synths & keyboards, and software can be way daunting! A lot of decision, and a lot of learning with all of it. So it's very expandable and as complex as one wants to go with it. I guess that's part of the appeal, but also intimidating. The Casio X7 does have a record feature that allows layering I could see using that. It would be fun, but yes, minus the pitch wheel. I don't know how much I'd use that, but worth considering. I was unaware of that Arturia V-Collection, but some great sounds in it for sure. Pricey though. I'm nowhere ready for that yet, if ever.

I love twiddling, pushing buttons and just exploring too. Maybe a Casio might be the right choice for my needs, mostly something to have fun with and expand with too. But yes, with MIDI for sure. Those Casio are good for learning with online courses and I think some come with lessons to get one limbered up.

So I have a question: What's the difference between an arpeggiator versus a sequencer? They sound about the same to me. Can that be explained in some simplified manner?

[battema]

Hmmmm...

An arpeggiator animates a chord that you play. If you play a C major triad, it could play C, E, G in order, based on a tempo you select. Usually arpeggiators can let you choose the direction of the notes: up (C -> E -> G), down, (G -> E -> C), both up and down (C -> E -> G -> E -> C), or it might even randomly pick notes from the chord. It's a cool feature, and some arpeggiators can do even fancier stuff like control the duration of each note, velocity, etc...but it's pretty much based on the notes that you press.

A sequencer plays back a phrase or pattern that you record in somehow. So instead of just animating a chord, you could play a short motif or chord progression, or drum part, and then loop that back while playing a part on top of it. Some sequencers are "step" sequencers where you select in advance all the notes/chords you want to play, and the order you want them to play in. It's like a very rudimentary recording mechanism.

An example of an arpeggiator would be the song Rio by Duran Duran. An example of a sequencer would be 95% of what Tangerine Dream did in the 70's and early 80's (specifically, they used step sequencers).

[Progbear]

I found an M-Audio Keystudio 49 at a thrift store for super cheap. It gets the job done, and I was surprised of the quality of sounds I could get from just freeware plugins. There was an especially excellent Hammond emulation. I need a better computer, though.

Heh...down the road you might decide to invest in the Arturia V-Collection, and then you would also own the Casio CZ-1 virtual synth. So you could use an impressively-capable modern Casio keyboard to play a software version of an old impressively-capable vintage Casio synth and bypass the entire legacy of "cheesy" Casio keyboards

There’s something delightfully meta about that!

[Munster]

Peter Zinovieff, the man behind the VCS3 synthesizer, died last month. His obituary ran in The Guardian yesterday. A very good read.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/20...vieff-obituary

[battema]

Yeah...same day we lost both Jon Hassell and Frederic Rzewski. It was a rough day for big losses for sure

[battema]

Chip shortages be damned...looks like it's time for me to start building a new PC for my DAW and soft synth stuff

Thinking it's time to switch back to AMD, see what the Ryzens can do for me. Not looking forward to moving all the random software licenses over; some of my stuff uses iLok, some is auth codes...always an adventure. Plus, the evil specter of Windows 11 is lurking on the horizon

[hippypants]

Thanks Battema, that sequencer vs. arppegiator answer makes sense, and I know Rio and the beginning of that song plus have a bunch of Tangerine Dream stuff. Off subject, one of the synth guys not mentioned too much, although popular, is Thomas Dolby. I still think The Golden Age is a pretty brilliant album, and although I haven't looked into him or his bio yet, I think he knew a lot about synths and layering, etc.

Thanks Progbear and others that offered advice.

[hippypants]

Munster, interesting obit about Peter Zinovieff. I wasn't aware of him or his name, but certainly watched Dr. Who, and heard some of the musicians associated with him. Thanks.

[battema]

Thanks Battema, that sequencer vs. arppegiator answer makes sense, and I know Rio and the beginning of that song plus have a bunch of Tangerine Dream stuff. Off subject, one of the synth guys not mentioned too much, although popular, is Thomas Dolby. I still think The Golden Age is a pretty brilliant album, and although I haven't looked into him or his bio yet, I think he knew a lot about synths and layering, etc.

Thanks Progbear and others that offered advice.

Oh yeah, Dolby is great, and super smart. He's got great tunes across all his albums.

[hFx]

Back to some p0rn