Geoff Grace Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 With fewer than four weeks remaining in the '00s, this is a good time to discuss and review the best keyboards and virtual instruments of the decade. Please share your opinions and insights below. Best, Geoff My Blue Someday appears on Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonksDream Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 Off the top of my head: Roland RD-700GX & RD300GX Omnisphere Ableton Live Garageband Nord Electro 2 Stylus RMX Instrumentation is meaningless - a song either stands on its own merit, or it requires bells and whistles to cover its lack of adequacy, much less quality. - kanker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timwat Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 Just thinking of what seems to be used widely and heralded. Perhaps: Ivory Voyager Motif Logic Virus +1 for GB and Electro. Steinway doesn't get a nod? Suggest a special category for Roland KC series amps...not sure what to call that category though. .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mogut Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 Hard to believe Motif was.... what? 2001? -Greg Motif XS8, MOXF8, Hammond XK1c, Vent Rhodes Mark II 88 suitcase, Yamaha P255 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timwat Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 Dunno. Almost every other player I know has one, they're backlined everywhere... .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mogut Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 Rhodes comeback with the mk7 too! -Greg Motif XS8, MOXF8, Hammond XK1c, Vent Rhodes Mark II 88 suitcase, Yamaha P255 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Benhamou Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 For me, Hardware: Motif ES for complete workstation with expansive soundset and arps Nord Electro 2 for simplicity, weight and in your face sound PC3 personal bias, but expanded vast, studio quality effects and best hardware strings and orchestral sounds ever V-Synth XT sound design power, innovative elastic audio technology, and ease of programming Oasys pricey, but it's as powerful as it gets RD-700 GX if only for the action and piano samples Prophet 08 for return to analog Muse Receptor better hardware alternative than Macbook, plus interface Software Ivory best piano sample library Kontakt industry standard sample playback. Nothing touches it IMO Mainstage makes using plug-ins live much more flexible and customized Scarbee, best EP samples imo Vienna Symphonic Library for me the only thing that could replace PC3 strings. Omnisphere, do i really need to justify? Ian Benhamou Keyboards/Guitar/Vocals [url:https://www.facebook.com/OfficialTheMusicalBox/]The Musical Box[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timwat Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 Crap. The GAS in me is thinking of turning this into a shopping list. .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kanker. Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 NE 2 Zebra A ROMpler is just a polyphonic turntable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floyd Tatum Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 Steinway doesn't get a nod? Wrong century - it was released in 1853. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfD Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 Hardware-Motif and OASYS. While the latter was really up my alley as a self-contained workstation, it was still a Korg. Software--Native Instruments Battery totally replaced the need to sample drum sounds. Thankfully, I've already got 2 of 3. No GAS for me. PD "The greatest thing you'll ever learn, is just to love and be loved in return."--E. Ahbez "Nature Boy" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GovernorSilver Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 Hmm... so many great products. I'll vote: Moog Voyager - Moog Music came back from the dead, and resurrected the monophonic keyboard synth with modern enhancements (presets, MIDI, touchplate, etc.). Ableton Live - Quite the game-changer this has been. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonksDream Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 +10 for Logic! Its insanely great value has completely changed what musos expect from, and will pay for, a DAW. Instrumentation is meaningless - a song either stands on its own merit, or it requires bells and whistles to cover its lack of adequacy, much less quality. - kanker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burningbusch Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 VIRTUAL INSTRUMENTS Piano: Ivory, QL Pianos and Garritan Steinway tie for me. All beautifully executed. Honorable mention goes to Digidesign's MiniGrand which comes with Protools 8--by far the best "free" piano included with any DAW. EPs: Scarbee and Velvet. Scarbee wins on detail. Digidesign's Velvet is an exceptional mating of physical modeling with sampling to give you highly customizable EPs that are still sonically accurate. B3: GSi VB3. Inexpensive and sounds great. General purpose synth: Spectrasonic Omnisphere. Loaded with tons of marvelous presets that are very usable in forward looking music. Honorable mention to Digidesign Xpand 2 which is included with Protools 8. Virtual Analog: There are SO many worthy candidates in this category. My favorite for pulling up ballsy sounds with little effort is Slyenth1. Orchestral: Vienna Symphonic Library. Fabulously detailed libraries or every imaginable orchestral sound. Their legato mode remains unrivaled. Drum Loops: Spectrasonic Stylus RMX. Drum Libraries: While I have more detailed libraries I tend to pull up EzDrummer when the need arises. DrumCore and BFD2 are both excellent though. Solo Saxophone: Sample Modeling Mr Sax T, A, B Solo Trumpet: Sample Modeling The Trumpet Bass: The Scarbee Basses and Spectrasonic Trillium. Guitars: Musiclab RealGuitar and RealStrat are outstanding for recreating strumming and other guitar techniques. Sampler: Native Instruments Kontakt 4.0. FM: Native Instruments FM8 Synth Creation Platform: Native Instruments Reaktor HARDWARE As I tend to use hardware as a controller I don't have huge favorites sonically speaking. The Korg OASYS is hardware synth of the decade for me with honorable mention to the original Roland V-Synth. Busch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marzzz Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 Andromeda Voyager Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MusicWorkz Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 Soft synths: Arturia Minimoog, Spectrasonics (Stylus, Trilogy, Atmosphere and Omnisphere); Garritan and VSL Hardware: Yamaha Motif series, Moog Voyager, DSI Evolver and Prophet 08, Roland 700GX and V-Synth G/XT, the Nords... Yamaha (Motif XS7, Motif 6, TX81Z), Korg (R3, Triton-R), Roland (XP-30, D-50, Juno 6, P-330). Novation A Station, Arturia Analog Experience Factory 32 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mogut Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 Guitars: Musiclab RealGuitar and RealStrat are outstanding for recreating strumming and other guitar techniques. Oh yeah, line6 PODs were also huge for this decade. Software versions of it as well. -Greg Motif XS8, MOXF8, Hammond XK1c, Vent Rhodes Mark II 88 suitcase, Yamaha P255 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yannis D Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 Nord Electro2 Nord Stage Logic (Mainstage) B4 II Arturia Minimoog Be grateful for what you've got - a Nord, a laptop and two hands Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denkom67 Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 For me, here are a few of my favorites: Hardware Yamaha Motif XS Moog Voyager Moog Little Phatty DSI Poly Evolver Synthesizers.com modular Software Scarbee Vintage Keyboard Collection Ivory Ableton Live Propellerhead Reason Knabe baby grand, Hammond A100, Leslie 251, Wurlitzer 200A, Clavinet C, Minimoog Model D, Synthesizers.com modular, Sequential Prophet 6, GSI DMC-122 and Gemini module, Kurzweil PC3-X Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanS Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 Soft: Spectrasonics Hard: Dave Smith Instruments What we record in life, echoes in eternity. MOXF8, Electro 6D, XK1c, Motif XSr, PEKPER, Voyager, Univox MiniKorg. https://www.abandoned-film.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GustavS Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 Microkorg anyone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OctaveDr Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 Alesis Andromeda Moog Voyager Mellotron M4000 Roland V-Synth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bosendorphen Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 With fewer than four weeks remaining in the '00s, this is a good time to discuss and review the best keyboards and virtual instruments of the decade. Please share your opinions and insights below. Best, Geoff I thought we had another year to go! The 2000s starting with 2001 (no year 0 in the Gregorian Calendar; no starting a month with day 0 and all that). Years are ordinal, not cardinal? USNO Unless you are using the Common Era calendar? I know, I obsess! It's a sticking point with me. Hi Geoff! But for hardware I'd have to submit the DSI Prophet 08 as a contender. Software.... hmm... Omnisphere? Toughie with so many great products out there. "The devil take the poets who dare to sing the pleasures of an artist's life." - Gottschalk Soundcloud Aethellis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mogut Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 I know, I thought the same thing at first. But since he said the "00's" I don't think 10 needs to be be included. Would you include 1980 if someone said the 70's? -Greg Motif XS8, MOXF8, Hammond XK1c, Vent Rhodes Mark II 88 suitcase, Yamaha P255 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Horne Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 My vote would go for the Hammond Suzuki New B3. It was introduced in 2002. No guitarists were harmed during the making of this message. In general, harmonic complexity is inversely proportional to the ratio between chording and non-chording instruments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midinut Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 Hardware: Oasys, M3, Motifs, PC3, Hammonds, Nords Software: Spectrasonics, Scarbee, Native Instruments, Korg Legacy Hardware: Yamaha: MODX7 | Korg: Kronos 88, Wavestate | ASM: Hydrasynth Deluxe | Roland: Jupiter-Xm, Cloud Pro, TD-9K V-Drums | Alesis: StrikePad Pro| Behringer: Crave, Poly D, XR-18, RX1602 | CPS: SpaceStation SSv2 | Controllers: ROLI RISE 49 | Arturia KeyLab Essentials 88, KeyLab 61, MiniLab | M-Audio KeyStation 88 & 49 | Akai EWI USB | Novation LaunchPad Mini, | Guitars & Such: Line 6 Variax, Helix LT, POD X3 Live, Martin Acoustic, DG Strat Copy, LP Sunburst Copy, Natural Tele Copy| Squier Precision 5-String Bass | Mandolin | Banjo | Ukulele Software: Recording: MacBook Pro | Mac Mini | Logic Pro X | Mainstage | Cubase Pro 12 | Ableton Live 11 | Monitors: M-Audio BX8 | Presonus Eris 3.5BT Monitors | Slate Digital VSX Headphones & ML-1 Mic | Behringer XR-18 & RX1602 Mixers | Beyerdynamics DT-770 & DT-240 Arturia: V-Collection 9 | Native Instruments: Komplete 1 Standard | Spectrasonics: Omnisphere 2, Keyscape, Trilian | Korg: Legacy Collection 4 | Roland: Cloud Pro | GForce: Most all of their plugins | u-he: Diva, Hive 2, Repro, Zebra Legacy | AAS: Most of their VSTs | IK Multimedia: SampleTank 4 Max, Sonik Synth, MODO Drums & Bass | Cherry Audio: Most of their VSTs | Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Grace Posted December 6, 2009 Author Share Posted December 6, 2009 I know, I thought the same thing at first. But since he said the "00's" I don't think 10 needs to be be included. Would you include 1980 if someone said the 70's? I thought we had another year to go! The 2000s starting with 2001 (no year 0 in the Gregorian Calendar; no starting a month with day 0 and all that). Years are ordinal, not cardinal? USNO Unless you are using the Common Era calendar? I know, I obsess! It's a sticking point with me. Hi Geoff! But for hardware I'd have to submit the DSI Prophet 08 as a contender. Software.... hmm... Omnisphere? Toughie with so many great products out there. Hi backatcha, Bosendorphin. I wondered if someone was going to bring that up; and of course, technically speaking, you're right. But culturally speaking, I have to agree with Mogut. When we refer to the '70s, we mean 1970-1979. We think of the '80s as 1980-1989, and so on. Of course, a lot of what we think of as the sixties actually began with JFK's assassination (1963) and ended with Richard Nixon's resignation (1974); but that's another ball of wax. Best, Geoff My Blue Someday appears on Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Muscara Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 Of course, a lot of what we think of as the sixties actually began with JFK's assassination (1963) and ended with Richard Nixon's resignation (1974); but that's another ball of wax. Yeah, and if you watch TV or movies from the early 80s or early 90s, they look like they're wearing the hair and clothes we usually associate with the previous decade. It's all pretty silly, really. It's a continuum. "I'm so crazy, I don't know this is impossible! Hoo hoo!" - Daffy Duck "The good news is that once you start piano you never have to worry about getting laid again. More time to practice!" - MOI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bosendorphen Posted December 7, 2009 Share Posted December 7, 2009 Oh I know, it really is a continuum. And yeah, it's hard to think of 1980 being part of the 70s, etc. It's my "anal-lytical" versus mass culture issue. My internal battle that will rage within me until 2011 when all the decade talk is forgotten. "The devil take the poets who dare to sing the pleasures of an artist's life." - Gottschalk Soundcloud Aethellis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
resigned Posted December 7, 2009 Share Posted December 7, 2009 Hardware: Yamaha Motif series, culminating in the XS. For sound quality, market domination and stage cred I don't know of anything else that matches it. It's everywhere and it deserves to be. Controller: Novation X-Station. The best Swiss-Army knife synth/controller combo. It's a great VA, USB audio interface and softsynth controller with real-world names on the functions and auto-mapping features for most major software. Add laptop, a mic and Reason/Record you have a studio to go. Good choice for newbies. Software: Reason. From V1.0 to the current versions, Reason has set standards (ReWire) and spawned cottage industries (Refills) while creating a virtual studio environment that even old-school musos like myself feel comfortable working in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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