Beginner synth

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BenHagerty

Beginner synth

Post by BenHagerty » Thu Dec 27, 2007 6:45 pm

I was thinking of getting one of these http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=702244
To just plug it into my computer to mess around with garage band and stuff I would just need http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=701379 right? And can I plug it into my amp and guitar into it? haha I am clueless with synths and keyboards and midi etc :)

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northern_dirt
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Re: Beginner synth

Post by northern_dirt » Thu Dec 27, 2007 7:23 pm

If you want to use Midi yup.. if you just wanna record audio nope..
'cleanest, best pleasure'

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Re: Beginner synth

Post by djetz » Thu Dec 27, 2007 8:03 pm

You'd be better off doing what I did - get a decent midi controller and use software synths. Some of the free soft synths are excellent, better than the commercial ones. And the commercial ones aren't hard to find.
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Re: Beginner synth

Post by northern_dirt » Thu Dec 27, 2007 8:30 pm

djetz wrote: You'd be better off doing what I did - get a decent midi controller and use software synths. Some of the free soft synths are excellent, better than the commercial ones. And the commercial ones aren't hard to find.
+1

I'm doing the same shizzel..
I got the Editol PCR-500 for around $300 or so..
You don't need to midi conversion box with it either, USB baby..
'cleanest, best pleasure'

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Re: Beginner synth

Post by djetz » Thu Dec 27, 2007 11:21 pm

northern_dirt wrote:
djetz wrote: You'd be better off doing what I did - get a decent midi controller and use software synths. Some of the free soft synths are excellent, better than the commercial ones. And the commercial ones aren't hard to find.
+1

I'm doing the same shizzel..
I got the Editol PCR-500 for around $300 or so..
You don't need to midi conversion box with it either, USB baby..
Yeah, mine's an Edirol PCR M50, slightly older model but basically the same thing. Now I feel guilty for trolling you in another thread.  :D

Ben - if you want I can I can make a list of free soft synths that I find useful, so you can check them out. http://www.kvraudio.com/ is a good site for info about VST effects and instruments, but there's a lot of information to process there.
-=264=-

BenHagerty

Re: Beginner synth

Post by BenHagerty » Fri Dec 28, 2007 5:50 am

Thank you for all the responses! I will check em out later  :)

BenHagerty

Re: Beginner synth

Post by BenHagerty » Fri Dec 28, 2007 6:01 am

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=702417

how about that? Would I still need that cable I posted above or would the USB cable that comes with it be all I need?

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Re: Beginner synth

Post by northern_dirt » Fri Dec 28, 2007 6:16 am

djetz wrote: Now I feel guilty for trolling you in another thread.  :D
Its all good, I don't take threads too personally off a message board.

And that list of free synths sounds like a cool idea :) haha
I have 3 arturia synths (moog, moog mod and Cs-80)
And am looking into the Komplete line of Native Instruments (Kontack, Guitar Rig 3 alone would almost cost me the same as the Komplete.. and I know I want those)..
'cleanest, best pleasure'

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Re: Beginner synth

Post by uvacom » Fri Dec 28, 2007 7:17 am

I agree, if you're mostly usign w/ a computer anyway, just get some softsynths and a MIDI controller. One tip though - all USB MIDI controllers have crappy action. It's some kind of unspoken law or something. Even the Novation remote SL series aren't mindblowing even though they have a fatar keybed, because they are housed in a cheap plastic case.

If you don't plan on doing anything very demanding with the keyboard, don't worry about it. But if you think you might actually want to play, you'd be better off getting a good used keyboard (a kawai K5000S is a perennial favorite for good key action at a cheap used price) and a MIDI interface.

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Re: Beginner synth

Post by djetz » Tue Jan 01, 2008 3:04 am

Free VSTis that I've found useful (or enjoyably time wasting)

4Front Bass Module
http://www.kvraudio.com/get/602.html

DS2 8 Pad Drum Sampler
http://www.kvraudio.com/get/1480.html

All the freeware versions from HG Fortune
http://www.hgf-synthesizer.de/

In Soviet Russia, software synthesises YOU!
http://y0u-file.narod.ru/
(I particularly like the Polyvoks Station)

Audiobulb - Sophia
http://www.kvraudio.com/get/1236.html

Super Spook Keys
http://www.kvraudio.com/get/2558.html
(to my ears the best Theremin emulator, free or otherwise)

Sun Ra
http://www.kvraudio.com/get/490.html

I like ambient soundscapes and drones, since I play melodies on guitar, so my list reflects my tastes.

For other opinions, KVR site user listing of favourite free software:
http://www.kvraudio.com/ratings/9.html

You can also search a list of ALL free plugs at KVR, which is time-consuming but worthwhile.
-=264=-

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Re: Beginner synth

Post by djetz » Tue Jan 01, 2008 3:16 am

uvacom wrote: I agree, if you're mostly usign w/ a computer anyway, just get some softsynths and a MIDI controller. One tip though - all USB MIDI controllers have crappy action. It's some kind of unspoken law or something. Even the Novation remote SL series aren't mindblowing even though they have a fatar keybed, because they are housed in a cheap plastic case.

If you don't plan on doing anything very demanding with the keyboard, don't worry about it. But if you think you might actually want to play, you'd be better off getting a good used keyboard (a kawai K5000S is a perennial favorite for good key action at a cheap used price) and a MIDI interface.
I really like the action on my Edirol. I'm no pianist, but I find the thing feels good to play (and I've dicked around on quite a few keyboards, so I have some knowledge for comparison.) I'm a hack on keyboards, my priority is guitar, so I'm perfectly happy with what the Edirol can do. Possibly a good keyboard player would find it crappy, but for my needs, it's great.
-=264=-

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Re: Beginner synth

Post by chrisjedijane » Tue Jan 01, 2008 6:15 am

Thanks for those, Djetz, that's a great list!
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BenHagerty

Re: Beginner synth

Post by BenHagerty » Tue Jan 01, 2008 6:35 am

Yes thanks, nice list I'll check it out

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Re: Beginner synth

Post by glimmertwin » Tue Jan 01, 2008 8:45 am

I think you should start out with something like the microkorg or better yet a used MS2000.  When I was a synth beginner I found that while very flexible, soft synths were too much of a mountain to climb.  There were just too many options to be had and I found myself having a hard time learning how to make sounds because tweaking was just so complex.  I found it easier to learn on a piece of hardware.  It could have been some mental roadblock, but it helped me...your mileage may vary. 
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BenHagerty

Re: Beginner synth

Post by BenHagerty » Tue Jan 01, 2008 8:54 am

Yeah, The micro korg looks really good. Do I need a speaker for it? Or can I just plug it into one of my old amps

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