Synth musings & wish list (kinda long)

[coyote]

I'm just reflecting on my decision process in purchasing my JP-8000, and what I see in the market now. As a first-time owner I wasn't gonna spend many thousands, but I wanted functionality - my models being the Minimoog & Prophet-5 (with which I already had some familiarity) and therefore scoped out all the VA & analog options, with nary a thought for button/submenu-driven boards.

 

I found the interface on many boards intimidating. The Andromeda & SupernovaII are just overwhelming! Even now that I've been playing w/ the JP for a few months I still get the willies looking at those boards. The Korg MS2000, w/ all that printed stuff on it, gives me the same feeling (who's gonna read all that fine print during a performance?)and I just don't like its overall layout. I suppose I might feel differently in a year, but to me none of those synths invite you to just play the way the JP does. The Nord looked & felt pretty good overall but the JP's ribbon & joystick felt more natural to me than the Nord's strange wheel and finger-thing. The Oberheim wasn't bad either but neither felt as good as the JP.

 

Of course I'm just an inexperienced geek http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/smile.gif That said, here's what I'd like to see in an analog-style synth and why.....

 

1. Inexpensive (do I need to explain why? LOL)

 

2. True analog. I love the sound of the JP but I hear a diff between it and real analog.

 

3. JP-style interface. As an inexperienced synth player who wanted that 'classic' feel and easy usability, this is what I think is closest to my ideal. It would have these changes:

a) an additional octave of keys

b) an additional (long) ribbon controller along the top of the keys

c) move the filter control module more toward the left!

d) more voices, and vocoder capability (from JP8080)

e) more waveforms in OSC2 and LFOs

f) More patch-routing capabilities - though these need not be surface controls. They can be buried in submenus.

 

4. Something between fixed knobs & continuous control. It's sometimes disconcerting to grab a knob or slider and find your physical starting point far different than your programmed point. OTOH, continuous control gives you no visual reference! So how about some sort of LED around the knobs (& perhaps next to the sliders) which indicates where you're at?

 

5. It would be nice if, after all is said & done, it still fits comfortably atop my Hammond A100. OK - I'm done rambling http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/smile.gif

 

This message has been edited by coyote on 04-20-2001 at 11:10 AM

[Dave Bryce]

That said, here's what I'd like to see in an analog-style synth and why.....

 

1. Inexpensive (do I need to explain why? LOL)

2. True analog. I love the sound of the JP but I hear a diff between it and real analog.

 

That's kinda like saying that you want an inexpensive actual Porsche. http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/wink.gif

 

Real analog costs money. That's probably the main reason that most manufacturers do VA synths. Look at the pricing of the real analog synths currently on the market:

 

Studio Electronics Omega-8: 8 voices, rack-mounted, $4800

JoMoX Sunsyn: 8 voices, rack-mounted, ~$3400 (don't know it's exact price

Andromeda: 16 voices, $3495

Moog Performance Synth: 1 voice, $1995

 

Like many things, if you want the good stuff, you have to be willing to pay for it...but the good news is that it's frequently worth it.

 

dB

[sbrock1san.rr.com]

What if Roland re-released the MKS-80 (Super Jupiter) analog synth module. Would the cost of components be prohibitive for them, or have they come down in price ? My feeling is that they would clean up in the marketplace with a synth like that.

 

This message has been edited by SteveRB on 04-20-2001 at 11:28 AM

[coyote]

Nah, I'd rather have an inexpensive actual Lotus Esprit. (A guy can dream can't he?) http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/smile.gif

 

I wouldn't anticipate true analog coming in at nine hundred bucks. I wasn't really addressing price anyway; I'd (obviously) expect true analog to cost significantly more than VA. And perhaps after playing another year or two I could justify that kind of purchase! PEACE

 

Originally posted by Dave Bryce:

> 1. Inexpensive (do I need to explain why? LOL)

> 2. True analog. I love the sound of the JP but I hear a diff between it and real analog.

 

That's kinda like saying that you want an inexpensive actual Porsche. http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/wink.gif

 

Real analog costs money. That's probably the main reason that most manufacturers do VA synths. SNIP

 

Like many things, if you want the good stuff, you have to be willing to pay for it...but the good news is that it's frequently worth it.

dB