Synth recommendation

DJ Life & Community General Discussion
1

Synth recommendation

I really want to get some proper hardware synths, something i can really get hands-on with a feel, but they’re obviously not cheap, so can any recommend a synth, I’m a beginner so something that I can hook up to my Allen and heath Zed 10 mixer and use with iMac and Logic.

Budget is around 250-300. Preferably keys, but if there is a good module im open to that too.

I’m into House and Techno, and Funk. So you know, Moog, Juno, Jupiter, Prophet, all sounds that I love.

Is a Novation Bass station MK2 worth getting?

got my eyes on a few, which arE:

Roland JU-06 (£229
Roland JP-08 (£229)
Waldorf Pulse 2 (around 350 ish)
Novation Bass Station MK2 (200-300)

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BS2 is a helluva synth for the price.

The new Roland’s might fit the bill for you as well, if you can handle the mini keys.

Don’t discount the idea of the Mini/Microbrutes. It will open you up for some semi-modular stuff.

Not sure the going rate on the MS-20 Mini these days, but I’m guessing you could score one used. I love the sound on those dual resonant filters, and you also get the semi-modular thing with it. (mini keys again)

For Moog - you could go Werkstatt, or perhaps a Mother-32 if you can find one for the right price, but the Mother-32 is a single oscillator, so not something I’d recommend for starting out with hardware. I think you’d get bored. Keep your eyes peeled for a used Minitaur as well for bass duties.

And don’t forget the Yamaha Reface stuff as well if you can do mini keys. The DX has gotten quite a bit of love as actually being an FM synth that’s not a major pain to program.

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I alwys loved (and currently miss) my Korg Triton Workstation.

4

novation circuit looks a funky little groovebox

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Minitaur is soooooo good. Check the vst interface u can use for saving presets etc. Adds proper analogue weight to any production and that filter is sick! Love it.

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The Bass Station 2 is a beast. Total control over all parameters. Plus you can really crank out some sick sounds.

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Thanks for your replies guys, please keep 'em coming - i’m really trying to find the best, affordable one.

I’m leaning towards the Bass Station 2 a lot, but of course its just bass, i could get a synth that does bass, chords, and other things, just trying to get the best i can right now.

I would definitely prefer something with keys than a module, as it’s just all there ready, instead of swapping midi cables from my midi keyboard to different things, as i have 2, one for midi controlling maschine, and then my main midi keyboard, for Logic , and also my TB-3.

I’m really ‘umming and arring’ on the Roland Boutique synths, would most likely get the JP-08, Jupiter replication. But i dunno, they seem a bit toy-ish, i dont know, i’m not a synth expert so forgive me if i sound rude..

I want something with a fair amount of control/knobs and stuff, something that will generate sounds that suit my style, House (not commercial), Techno, mainly. But i love p-funk, (think George Clinton/Funkadelic). I want some good sub bass, wobbly lfo stuff, dark basslines, etc

So, is the Jp-08 fully suited for that? Or will i get good use out of the Bass Station.

Don’t wanna get something that i could easily get a plugin version of, you know.

Help :thinking:

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Watching a demo for the MicroBrute.. sheeeesh, does sound nice…

BS2 can do the same?

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I just don’t know if i should go with something that’s just a bass synth, or something that i can get many different sounds out of…

Really close to getting the BSII though…

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The BS2 isn’t just a bass synth, whereas the Minitaur really is. BS2 can do leads just fine - but it is a mono synth, so playing chords is a no go unless you track each note separately. (multiple note capabilities are really only necessary for pads/stabs IMO) It gives you control over everything, and really seems to tick all of your boxes - great sub, great for basses for techno, great for tweaking knobs/levels, etc. although it does share the same set of levers for each osc.

The brutes are more of a dirty type of sound than the BS2 IMO. But they’re also single osc. if I remember correctly. (you do get a sub, but I don’t really consider that another osc) The BS2 gives you two oscillators as well as a sub - and multiple options of sub waves. I’d say the brutes have a dirty sound similar to an MS-20 Mini, but you get a bit different functionality with the MS-20. (no velocity control, multiple oscillators, no sub)

I don’t know about the JP-08. They are small, and toyish feeling, but apparently put out some very good sound, doing a good job of replicating the originals. The big thing these have that the BS2, MS-20 Mini and Brutes don’t have is they’re polyphonic - only four notes, but you could do simple pads/stabs on these in addition to bass/lead-type stuff. Just watch out for note stealing if you’re doing pads or quick stabs since it’s only four note poly.

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Thanks for replying!

Okay that’s cool to hear about the BSII, I’m really thinking about it.. They’re about £300 ish, but ive found one basically brand-new, for £245.. So I’m thinking about just getting it. Definitely want something that has weird and cool sounds down the line though. I have a Roland TB-3, so would it be pointless in getting the BSII if i have a TB-3?

How is the BSII with working with a DAW, I use Logic Pro, does it hook up to that easily? I have a Allen and Heath Zed10 mixer.

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I went a bought it didn’t I…

£245, used once, comes with all packaging, literally brand new. £15 postage, get’s here 17-18 Dec.

Sweet. Wish it was sooner though :smiley: just before i break up for christmas at work though, so all good.

If I don’t get on with it, sure I could always sell it for at least £250..

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I still have yet to use my Microbrute fully. I’m pretty sure I’m retarded when it comes to hooking it up via Live since it’s a monosynth and get’s weird with the inputs and playback knob etc etc

Hate my life

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I believe it’s got a balanced output, so TRS out from BS2 to a TRS input on your Zed, if you have one. If not and you have XLR in on the Zed, get a TRS → XLR cable, since they’re both balanced.

You’ll also want USB from the BS2 to your computer for MIDI in/out, assuming the Zed doesn’t have MIDI USB ins/outs other than potentially mixer to computer. (I know some of the Zeds have this for mixer → computer, but doubt many mixers would have USB input/output other than that)

The BS2 may come with the USB cable - in fact, I think mine did if I recall correctly. TRS → XLR or straight TRS though it will not I don’t think.

Once you’ve got them connected, it should run the driver installs - you may want to check for firmware updates.

Your final signal from BS2 → DAW will be BS2 → Mixer → Mixer output → interface → DAW (unless your mixer is your interface as well, then skip the mixer output step)

It’s pretty easy to integrate it with Live once Live recognizes the MIDI for the BS2. (not sure about other DAWS, but will be similar based on what you have at your DAW’s disposal) Just use external instrument on a track, send the MIDI to BS2, record the audio on the correct channel and voila - unless you’re playing the BS2 live, then just create an audio track and record the proper input track from the mixer/interface. (@Kwal, same goes to you and your microbrute in the above paragraph)

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I don’t know wether or not it’s balanced, but it’s got the Mono Line 1/4" Output on the back, so that will go straight into my A&HZ10, the Zed 10 has 4 Mono channels, and 2 Stereo. Using both Stereo channels at the moment, for TB-3, and Roland 505.

I am using the mixer as an audio interface yeah, so BS2 > ZED10 > iMac > Logic. As for using it in my DAW I’ll try both ways you mentioned, I use an audio track to record my TB-3 into logic.

Only problem I’ve been having is, my Zed10, when i plug the TB-3 and/or 505 into the mono channels of the Zed10, there’s a horrible humming noise.. which get’s louder as i increase the volume.. It’s really shitty :disappointed: as I would prefer to have the TB-3 mono, and the 505 as well… Hope the BS2 doesn’t sound like that when i plug it in.

Not sure what’s happening. Tried both TS and TRS patch cables, no fix…

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I’ve been composing for a few decades, so my path has been one that included hardware synths as a mandatory element (if you’re making electronic music). I’ve owned a handful of very cool, very fun synths, but at this point, the only piece of kit I really love and still have use for is my Yammy WX-5 Wind Controller… a MIDI Saxophone. Fun fun fun. Other than that, my hardware synths just lack the flexibility to get the sounds that I am aiming for, and are pretty much just keyboard controllers at this point.

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Word - fyi you don’t have to keep swapping midi cables with a desktop model synth. well my minter runs off usb, not a usb cable in sight and just works flawlessly with my Axiom controller keyboard (also USB).

Just got em all plugged into a hub yo. Minotaur is dark!!!

Check these vids for real

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Right, got the Bass Station!!!

Have a question though - maybe it’s just me being a noob with my first real synth but, when i move knobs on the synth while playing keys, i can not get the sound to go back to its original state after i move the knob back to its original position… for example:

Im playing with patch 0.. the first one that loads up, im pressing keys, i move the frequency knob halfway up, sounds sick, but then when i move the frequency knob back all the way left to basically 0, the effect stays there and i cant hear the same sound that i could before i turned frequency kob up, you get what im saying?

It’s as if once i move that knob, that’s it, the sound will stay liek that until i reload the patch again, wat’s happening?

It’s not like it with all knobs, distortion isnt, it just adds distortion while i move the knob and when i move the knob back down (all the way left) to 0, the vanilla/dry sound is back there when i press the keys, but for some, the wet/knob effect stays..

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I have an Access Virus TI2 polar, and love it. If I were to get another one, it would be the DSI Prophet 12. I’m currently considering getting into modular, as you can’t come close to the flexibility and freedom they provide. That said, I also have wife, kids, and full time job, so the learning curve and monetary investment might not work out that well for me right now.