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A little halp hurr?

Mourning Would

By Mourning Would
in The Keyboard Corner

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Mourning Would

Mourning Would

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Hello, first of all I would like to say I'm sorry if I post this in the wrong section, I'm new and all and don't know the layout of this board too well. Now let's get started.

 

I am new to the whole synthesizer thing. I have messed around with the KORG DS-10, and found it fun but would prefer a real thing. Doing research I have come down to four synths that are in my budget ($100-$300). The Korg poly-800, Yamaha DX7, Casio CZ101 and Alesis Micron. I was able to find the Alesis pretty easily for around 299.99 used since it is a newer model but the other three are impossible to find! Is there some site I don't know about, other than ebay?

 

I am just looking for a fun hobby to do with this, but it does have a possibility to turn into something serious. I would also just be using it hooked up to PC speakers at first, until I get a keyboard amp.

 

So basically, are these 4 the type I am looking for? Am I missing something? Is there a great site that has all kinds of vintage synths? etc

 

And again, sorry if I am posting on the wrong board.

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Sven Golly

Sven Golly

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I am new to the whole synthesizer thing. I have messed around with the KORG DS-10, and found it fun but would prefer a real thing. Doing research I have come down to four synths that are in my budget ($100-$300). The Korg poly-800, Yamaha DX7, Casio CZ101 and Alesis Micron.

 

Allow me to cut to the chase; get the Alesis.

 

Is there some site I don't know about, other than ebay?

 

Craigslist (you'll have to select your location, assuming you're in North America)

 

So basically, are these 4 the type I am looking for?

 

Only you can answer that question, eventually; for example, what style of music do you want to play? Are there specific goals that you want to accomplish? None of those boards are going to help you learn to play piano, for example, but the Alesis is a good board to learn classic subtractive synthesis on.

 

Am I missing something? Is there a great site that has all kinds of vintage synths?

 

Oddly enough, yes... VintageSynth.com. :thu:

 

(there are a LOT of other sites, but that one seemed to be the most aptly named, based on your question. ;) )

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Mourning Would

Mourning Would

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Finally, a response! And I just like messing around, making noise and all that. So the Alesis is the best bet? Do you have personal experiences with it? I found one for $150 that needed a little bit of repair, but it already got bought up :/

 

And I don't want to learn piano, just synth. But they kind of go hand in hand, dont they?

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ProfD

ProfD

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And I don't want to learn piano, just synth. But they kind of go hand in hand, dont they?

Not really. One can become a proficient synth programmer with little or no interest in piano.

 

Of course, knowledge in both areas opens a wider range of possibilities. For now, cop the synth and make some noise. :cool:

PD

 

"The greatest thing you'll ever learn, is just to love and be loved in return."--E. Ahbez "Nature Boy"

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Sven Golly

Sven Golly

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And I don't want to learn piano, just synth. But they kind of go hand in hand, dont they?

Not really. One can become a proficient synth programmer with little or no interest in piano.

 

Yep... this is a piano player:

 

http://orangedaises.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/lang-lang-adidas-originals-gazelle-1.jpg

 

...these are synth programmers:

 

http://www.amoeba.com/dynamic-images/blog/kraftwerk-1.jpg

 

This is what happens when the two collide:

 

http://i398.photobucket.com/albums/pp64/DrumminDan69/keyboard_cover_large.jpg

 

:thu::wave:

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AUSSIEKEYS

AUSSIEKEYS

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hi new guy, Welcome, incase my joking above appears too flipant after everyone is being so nice,here's my take on it.. I have owned The Korg poly-800, Yamaha DX7, Casio CZ101 and although great in there time stick with the modern one to start with...less will go wrong being almost new..

 

When you get proficiant at synth you can add to your collection, vintage synths...then you can make the decision whether you will pull it apart yourself to fix it or pay someone to fix it.

 

There is always the daunting prospect of old gear dieing....not as often as some make out,but more chance than with the newer one.

 

so its the alesis..... Ion away.

 

edit: but dont get one that needs repair.

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AUSSIEKEYS

AUSSIEKEYS

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ps

 

these older keyboards although fine synths are not knob driven...ie they are mostly button pushing and scolling

 

get yourself a knob covered synth, where you get to see what happens with each intuitive turn of the knob...

 

I am not familiar with the Ion but looking at its photo it appears to be knob driven...this is the easieast way to understand what each parameter does when it instantly reacts to a knob turn.

 

not to say the button type wont do well enough to learn you synth but trust me when a knob is in your hand its....ummmmm heaven.

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Mourning Would

Mourning Would

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Sorry if I sounded rude, its just that I posted on a different synth forum yesterday and still no response haha. And thank you everyone, I will come back here if I need some more halp : )

 

Edit: Maybe I should add, I like sounds similar to what LORD GOLD does in HORSE The Band, and the guy from Crystal Castles (the videogame-esque sounds). Does this require any type of hardware mods, or is it all doable with the programs?

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AUSSIEKEYS

AUSSIEKEYS

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Edit: Maybe I should add, I like sounds similar to what LORD GOLD does in HORSE The Band, and the guy from Crystal Castles (the videogame-esque sounds). Does this require any type of hardware mods, or is it all doable with the programs?

 

?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????//

 

man you already lost me with halp!, not to mention "hurr?"

 

I said not to mention hurr!

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Sven Golly

Sven Golly

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Sorry if I sounded rude, its just that I posted on a different synth forum yesterday and still no response haha. And thank you everyone, I will come back here if I need some more halp : )

 

Well, here's some "halp"... the word is "help". :thu:

 

Edit: Maybe I should add, I like sounds similar to what LORD GOLD does in HORSE The Band, and the guy from Crystal Castles (the videogame-esque sounds). Does this require any type of hardware mods, or is it all doable with the programs?

 

I have no idea what either of those sound like, and while I'm sure I could hit YouTube and find out, I'll leave the legwork to you. ;) Go to the VintageSynth.com site I linked above, find the 4 synths you are considering, and each should have links to audio demos. Check those out, and pick the one that sounds closest to you. :thu::wave:

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Sam Mullins

Sam Mullins

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ps

 

these older keyboards although fine synths are not knob driven...ie they are mostly button pushing and scolling

 

get yourself a knob covered synth, where you get to see what happens with each intuitive turn of the knob...

 

I am not familiar with the Ion but looking at its photo it appears to be knob driven...this is the easieast way to understand what each parameter does when it instantly reacts to a knob turn.

 

not to say the button type wont do well enough to learn you synth but trust me when a knob is in your hand its....ummmmm heaven.

 

I agree with this. I learned on a Micro Moog (I know I'm dating myself.) and the physical layout really reinforces the thought process (in addition to being easier)

 

Other options for lots of knobs for cheap: a used Novation X-Station or a used Korg Ms-2000

Yamaha CK88, Arturia Keylab 61 MkII, Moog Sub 37, Yamaha U1 Upright, Casio CT-S500, Mac Logic/Mainstage + plugins, iPad Camelot + plugins, Spacestation V.3, QSC K10.2

www.stickmanor.com

There's a thin white line between fear and fury - Stickman

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Bridog6996

Bridog6996

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I'd recommend getting the DX7 only so you bury it deep underground where it won't be a danger to humanity anymore. You'd be doing the world a solid.

 

I'm only slightly kidding. :wave:

 

Seriously, though, the Micron is the probably the best of the 4 you've listed, although I'd say you'd want to find something with a more straightforward interface if your goal is to learn how synthesis works. Some options semi-close to your budget are the Roland SH-201 or the Roland Juno 106. The Juno has been long out of production, though, so you'd have to track one down, but it's a classic synth.

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Chris Link

Chris Link

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man you already lost me with halp!, not to mention "hurr?"

 

 

For some reason, I thought of Gene Wilder with his face wedged in the rotating bookcase that reveals the secret passage in "Young Frankenstein". He sounded a bit like it would have come out "A little halp hurr?"

 

"Put... the... candle... back."

 

 

aka âmisterdregsâ

 

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