Starting to play with synths

[Baconfish]

Yo, so I'm looking at starting to mess around with synths. I've had a little Akai MPK mini for the last couple of years that's had very little use because I just can't stand the tiny tiny little keys. My question is, if I've no real experience with synths or ever keys to start with, am I better getting a decent controller [I'm thinking an Alesis VI49] and going down the software route, or am I better getting a second hand bit of hardware like a Roland SH-201?

[whisperit]

It makes sense to start with software, learn a bit about different types of synthesis, get familiar with sounds of different synths and then, if it's still something you want to pursue, go hardware.

There are quite a lot of resources online, check out Sound on Sound Synth School for example and youtube videos.

BTW, a decent controller will be useful for hardware too - for Korg Volcas, Arturia's 25-key synths or for some rack stuff which can be found for a decent price (Oberheim Matrix 1000, Roland JD-990, Moog Slim Phatty, E-mu synths etc).

[noisepunk]

Midi is certainly cheaper at the onset- that's the route I chose to go, but I also record more than I perform.

[Baconfish]

The thing that's making me want to stray in a hardware direction is that I can't bloody stand menu diving, and that usually includes messing with sliders on a computer screen.

[rexter]

I'd argue that a hardware analogue synth is a better place to learn the basics. Computer synths can sound great and sure you learn how synthesis works but like you say staring at a screen and changing parameters isn't the same as using a real synth.

I have an Akai MPK too, just cos it's small, but twisting those tiny controls on there doesn't feel half as satisfying or dynamic as playing around with my old Yamaha CS5.

My favourite soft-synth in terms of sound and simplicity is the Fab Filter One. I find it really easy to get good sounds out of as it doesn't try to do too much! The FabFilter Twin 2 drives me a bit crazy as it's so complex...

[Zork]

I think the Roland Gaia is a very impressive piece of gear and can be had for not too much money. I use a microkorg, a monotribe and a microbrute and feel like i have all my grounds covered. All of these have tiny keys though.

I definetely vote for hardware to learn to shape a sound because you don't get carried away by millions of useless possibilities. The Roland Gaia would be my choice because it's kind of old school in it's archtecture and control layout, still a modern and powerful workhorse. The recent Roland synth from the Aira series might as well be worth a look.

[noisepunk]

The thing that's making me want to stray in a hardware direction is that I can't bloody stand menu diving, and that usually includes messing with sliders on a computer screen.

Well, with the right midi synth you won't be doing a whole lot of messing with sliders on screen. I have an arturia keylab which behaves just like a hardware synth when you're using it's software. The downside is that programing it to work similarly with DAWs is time consuming and frustrating, and it's also one of the most expensive midi synths out there.

All that said, I often wish I had gone with my gut and grabbed a novation mini-nova instead.

[Pingu]

Well, with the right midi synth you won't be doing a whole lot of messing with sliders on screen. I have an arturia keylab which behaves just like a hardware synth when you're using it's software. The downside is that programing it to work similarly with DAWs is time consuming and frustrating, and it's also one of the most expensive midi synths out there.

You should try the Keylab with Bitwig, the integration is amazing.

[Baconfish]

I think I might have my eye on a second hand Dave Smith Mopho, seems like it might be what I'm after for learning.

[tmr]

if you hate menu diving you shouldn't look for a mopho, slow and painful editing especially without dedicated software.
consider one knob per function synths instead.

[Baconfish]

I mean the keyboard version, not the desktop unit.

[tmr]

oh, sorry, I meant the desktop one, I never tried the keyboard version.
anyway, I'd check these ones too

Bass Station II
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWIfDz_vYwQ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Minibrute
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7943bYSdVc" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Microbrute (tinier keys on this one)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1feSmaeZ1CY" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Baconfish]

I have been looking at the Minibrute SE [the one with the sequencer instead of the arpeggiator] over the last few days, but the lack of a memory bank [or whatever is the actual name for it] could be a minor niggle. I must say the Novation unit has never really seemed that inspiring.

[noisepunk]

Well, with the right midi synth you won't be doing a whole lot of messing with sliders on screen. I have an arturia keylab which behaves just like a hardware synth when you're using it's software. The downside is that programing it to work similarly with DAWs is time consuming and frustrating, and it's also one of the most expensive midi synths out there.

You should try the Keylab with Bitwig, the integration is amazing.

Yikes, it's pricey. Thanks for the heads up, I'll have to look into it.

[Baconfish]

This happened.