if there was only one keyboard?

[ovnis7yahoo.com]

i'm a wanna be Dj at a intermidiate level and i truly want to start exploring my creative side, as far as software i know what i want...my main intrest is trance/progressive house and i've been reading every article concerning top keyboards, i've come across; such as roland jp 8000, access virus, korg ms2000, alesis andromeda a6, waldorf q, etc...i know it's probably imposible; w/ all the choices out there, to narrow it down to the one perfect keyboard,(for dance/techno) but if you had only one choice and about $2000.00 which keyboard would you suggest? p.s. ...give me 2 more choices if possible..,

[teemudeepone.org]

What do you want the keyboard to do for you, that's the main question. If that is going to be your only sound source then you need a sample-based synth, otherwise you won't be able to get all the sounds you need (like drums for example). A Roland XV5080 might suit you or maybe one of the new Emu boxes, both with expansion boards of course. And a keyboard...

 

If you have something for drums already (a software sampler?) then you probably should go to virtual analogue route. There are millions of choices though so it's hard to know what advice to give. How much polyphony and multitimbrality you need? What else?

 

So, please, be a bit more specific. There are many types of synths for many applications, it's impossible to say which is the best if you don't know what you want to do with it.

[Jonathan Hughes]

For you, I would suggest something in the Novation Nova/Supernova line. The sounds really lend themselves to trancey stuff, and they have alot of voices and individual effects for each voices, so you could feasibly do complete tracks on one. The keyboards you mentioned are all good possibilities (although the Q iand Andromeda are well out of your price range).

 

The Access Virus would be my next choice, but in general, it's got a harder sound than the novations.

 

The JP8000 is a lovely keyboard (I've got one), but it's only got 8 voices and two parts, so I wouldn't want it to be my only synth.

 

The MS2000 is only 4 voice polyphonic if I recall correctly, so you're not going to get much out of it at once.

 

Of course, if you're planning on recording your songs track by track (rather than sequencing) you could do a lot with the JP or MS. But if you want to sequence and be able to hear all your parts at once, I'd say the novation stuff will be the best bet.

 

You might also dig the E-MU Extreme Lead XL-1 module (of course, then you'll need a controller keyboard, but you could get the XL-1 and cheap controller for about $750).

 

Jonathan

[Jeebus]

I suggest the Access Virus line. The Supernovas are powerful synths too, but definitely not my first choice.

[djwayne]

If I were limited to only one keyboard, but could have any, without concern about cost, or space, or noise disturbing the neighbors, I'd ditch the synths, and get a Steinway Concert Grand.

[Markyboard]

(although the Q iand Andromeda are well out of your price range).

If we're talking US prices I think he's there with $2000 ( at least on the Andromeda).

 

I'd ditch the synths, and get a Steinway Concert Grand.

A DJ with a Steinway might be worth checking out. Especially if he can get one for $2000.

[Lee Tyler]

i'm a wanna be Dj at a intermidiate level

I don't think you will be needing a Kurzweil synth/workstation. One less to consider there, champ.

[RABid]

I agree with Teemu, with one and only one keyboard you need a workstation ROMpler. But as also stated, for that type of music you should consider one of the Emu Command Stations with some expansion ROM's. That leaves you plenty of money for something like a Novation KS4 keyboard to cover the VA side. Sometimes it is better to hold off on that "one special keyboard" until you have the basics covered. An Emu XL-7 and Novation KS4 will take you a long way in dance music.

 

Robert

[Synthguy]

Another suggestion which I'm surprised wasn't mentioned earlier is a Korg Karma, and I would add to that a MOSS synth board, and possibly the Vintage Archives expansion rom. That would set you back approximately $2100. The Karma has an unfair advantage in that it has a real time music generation and modification system called curiously enough, KARMA. It's very powerful, and the synthesis engine is the same as the Triton, so it sounds excellent, with very good effects. The MOSS board gives you some mind boggling sound power on top of that with six more voices of virtual analog, physical modelling, and several other good sounding types. In addition, the sequencer is very potent and can hold up to 200,000 notes.

 

If you merely want a synth to make sounds with and don't care about acoustic sounds, the Alesis Ion is wonderful. It only has eight voices, but the synthesis engine is supposed to be very high definition, with models of several synthesizers. Everyone who hears it lusts after it almost as much as an Andromeda. And it's only $800 US.

[Mark Zeger]

What is up with all the ancient threads getting bumped up? This one is nearly 3 years old.

[RABid]

Oops. Never noticed that. Looks like Jeebe is playing games again.

 

Robert