real synths

starfinger · Post by **starfinger** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 6:28 am

Anybody else out there using real hardware synths?

I just got a Moog Little Phatty, and it's really inspiring. The big problem is that it has all these CV ports, so I can't stop daydreaming about having an arsenal of moogerfoogers and other modular synth components to build some unholy beast. I think this is about the least cheap subhobby in the music-making world.

This is not my first or only hardware synth. It just happens to be elevating my enjoyment of it. Viva la analog!

(my pink ribbon is resplendent with little phatty, btw)

-craig

thehipcola · Post by **thehipcola** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 7:51 am

I sometimes employ a Roland JX3P, complete with wood sides and everything. Roland's first midi synth too, apparently.

If I could find one of those editor boxes to program it with, it'd be sweet. Accessing the parameters using the buttons is really clunky.

starfinger · Post by **starfinger** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 8:13 am

awesome. heuristics inc has a juno, and that has a great sound..

i didn't realize that DCO used to be used to describe oscillators like this.. (i thought it was just straight-up digital oscillators)..

-craig

HeuristicsInc · Post by **HeuristicsInc** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 8:36 am

yeah, digitally controlled oscillators... ummm i never really looked that up, but some old analog synths can have oscillator drift & need to be retuned, some drift as they're left on and such. this one won't. it's a juno 106. no wood sides. my first synth and still being used (it's on the gom song).

my other main synth is the access virus b, which rocks. so many sound possibilities! (it's also on the gom song) i also have this sequential six-trak but i don't use it that much (partly because it doesn't have a space allocated in the studio).

starfinger · Post by **starfinger** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 8:44 am

on the little phatty, the oscillator design is based on heat, so if the temperature in the room fluctuates, the pitch will too. the new OS that's coming out has an auto-tune feature, where it can monitor the oscillators frequency and adjust the input voltage to keep everything in tune.

it boggles my mind that they can claim 100% analog signal path on this, but then add new features with software!

-craig

ken · Post by **ken** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 9:11 am

Odd, why doesn't it monitor the temp and adjust from that?

I have the Alesis Micron which I love scrolling through the patches on until I find the magic one. I traded the Korg MS2000 for it because I realized I don't want to tweak knobs, I just want awesome sounds. You also can't go wrong with the Casio SK1.

Ken

starfinger · Post by **starfinger** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 9:18 am

ken wrote:Odd, why doesn't it monitor the temp and adjust from that?

That would involve a lot of variables, such as heat dissipation throughout the case. Also, it would require putting a thermometer in there. That would be funny. "it's getting hot in here. i must be playing good!"

What they did is probably more accurate, since it knows exactly what the frequency is and what it should be.. It's a nice tight control loop

-craig

starfinger · Post by **starfinger** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 9:22 am

oh and that alesis looks really cool, but i am definitley anti-menu

also.. do you find it weird to have the pitchbend on top like that?
-craig

Paco Del Stinko · Post by **Paco Del Stinko** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 9:59 am

I recently got the same Moog. It's on A Woman On Paper and Pink Ribbon. I'm a keyboard caveman next to most, but that thing's perfect for what I like to do. Makes me want to crank it up loud, too.

starfinger · Post by **starfinger** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 10:01 am

huzzah, a fellow phattymeister!

ken · Post by **ken** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 12:47 pm

starfinger wrote:also.. do you find it weird to have the pitchbend on top like that?
-craig

Wha? I'm pretty sure that is on the side. The sliders on top handle resonance and stuff. I usually set and forget or use it as a performance tool, so it is okay.

starfinger · Post by **starfinger** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 12:55 pm

it's this right:

http://www.audiomidi.com/Micron-P4758.aspx

the pitchbend is in a weird place on the oxygen 8 too.. i guess you just get used to it

-craig

irwin · Post by **irwin** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 1:50 pm

starfinger wrote:Anybody else out there using real hardware synths?

I've got a couple of Casio CZ-series synths that I fire up from time to time. In fact, my CZ-3000 can be heard doing a pad and solo in the Narcaloungers' Wedding Song.

I agree, there's something about playing the Real Deal vs. a software simulation.

ken · Post by **ken** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 2:05 pm

Yeah, that is it. In my mind, it is on the side where it should be. I guess you do get used to it.

Ken

Post by **Lunkhead** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 3:01 pm

I inherited a Roland SH-101 which I don't use often enough, or play around with enough.

Steve Durand · Post by **Steve Durand** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 10:02 pm

I've got an ancient, pre midi, Juno 6. It doesn't even have a sound bank. You have to set all of the oscillators & filters for each sound. It makes fabulous sounds but I have only used it on one Songfight song.

Steve

Rabid Garfunkel · Post by **Rabid Garfunkel** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 2:54 pm

Micron users, ho!

After seeing Ken Flagg in Santa Cruz, I really wanted a synth. Really wanted one. Picked up a used Micron (with the broken knob, so it was pretty cheap... Alesis sells the knobs and posts separately, thankfully) and damn but it's fun. Used it in my "You Get the Wiser".

Super-fun stuff.

starfinger · Post by **starfinger** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 7:39 am

Paco, did you see the new Tribute OS is out? it adds a number of great new features

-=craig

Paco Del Stinko · Post by **Paco Del Stinko** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 1:23 pm

I was not aware of that, thanks Craig. Although I must admit, I have yet to plug in a midi cable, as everything I've done has been by hand. I really dig that machine, though, it's a blast to play. I have a very under-used sequencer that has been whispering to me lately, and I'll have to give it a go. Thanks again!

starfinger · Post by **starfinger** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 5:12 am

it really is an amazing little synth

-craig

ken · Post by **ken** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 8:32 am

Hey Craig,

I'd like to see a pic of your synths. Do you just have a wall of them?

Ken

starfinger · Post by **starfinger** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 10:34 am

i wish!

The only hardware synths I have now are the moog little phatty, a yamaha an1x, and a Korg ER-1, but I have my eyes on a DSI Evolver, and I want to build a modular synth setup around the moog. I do have a bit of outboard midi gear and fx devices as well.

i have a ton of softsynths, which is what I have used mostly on recent recordings, but they don't take a very good picture.

-craig

real synths

real synths

Re: real synths