Inexpensive Synth Thread

[mackerelmint]

If you've got a midi keyboard, you'd struggle to find a better way to spend your cash than on an Oberheim Matrix rack. Either the 6, or the even more affordable 1000.

I had a 1000. Sounds great. Just you try programming it, though.

Well you can't unless you hook up an external programmer via MIDI. but then that wasn't the point of it when it was sold originally..it was sold as preset machine with a 1000 presets. Programmability wasn't even built in to it.

Even these are raising in price now though.

It was and it wasn't. A lot of those presets are locked in, but some are programmable, and they certainly pointed that out when they were selling them. But boy, have you tried to do it? What crummy implementation.

The prices were on the rise even a few years ago when I sold mine, but some jerk lucked out and got a great deal on ebay. I'm never selling on ebay again.

Fortunately, there are some good OBX vsts. Some are free. I've got the matrix-12 vst and the sound is there as well as the programmability I never had with the matrix 1000. Still, I love obies more than any other make of synth and someday I'd like to get one of those new-fangled OB-6 jobs. Man, Oberheims just sound better than anything else to me.

[eggwheat]

OK I bought my matrix 1000 new thinking I'd get a taste of the Matrix 12.I never liked it that much and sold it pretty quickly. Turns out I'm actually not that keen on any of the matrix series tonally...I've since had a couple of xpanders..and whilst the flexibility, modular like matrix and crazy stuff like having 15 different filters to choose from is fantastic..the SEM/OB-X tone engine blows it out the water...if only they had put that sound together with the amazing flexibility of the matrix system.. anyhow I digress..

[mackerelmint]

OK I bought my matrix 1000 new thinking I'd get a taste of the Matrix 12.I never liked it that much and sold it pretty quickly. Turns out I'm actually not that keen on any of the matrix series tonally...I've since had a couple of xpanders..and whilst the flexibility, modular like matrix and crazy stuff like having 15 different filters to choose from is fantastic..the SEM/OB-X tone engine blows it out the water...if only they had put that sound together with the amazing flexibility of the matrix system.. anyhow I digress..

yeah, totally. I like the way the matrix series sounds, but I'll take a SEM/OB any day. I think Arturia did a good job with the Matrix 12, and while it's not why I got the V collection, I'm glad to play with it.

I could most probably just get an OB-6 and a Blofeld and maybe a volca keys and have all the synth I'd ever want.

[Telliot]

Very excited, I just got these:

Korg MS 20 (mini) and 1980 Moog Prodigy (CV/Gate mod, recently serviced, fantastic condition)




I found someone on Etsy making wood sides for the MS 20 and it really classes it up! A lot of Moog purists shit on the Prodigy but I think it's brilliant, and about a fifth the cost of a MiniMoog.




I also bought a Korg SQ-1 (sitting on top of the MS 20, above), mostly to use as a Midi to CV converter for older gear. I'm still trying to figure it out, and everything I've found on it is a bit cryptic, but I'm slowly getting the hang of it...I think.

[mackerelmint]

Super cool, Todd! That's a nice little key korner you have there. Nice preamp, too.

[eggwheat]

Nice, two great synths there. MS20 is one of the best mono synths ever and the Prodigy is great too..has that classic moog tone for sure.

[dezb1]

I have a microbrute which is excellent and a Volca keys for sequenced stuff.

[marqueemoon]

Can be had for $250 - $300 - warm analog strings and organ sounds, killer Roland chorus, plays nice with pedals. Small and simple enough to use for those who don't play synth as their main instrument. I submit to you...

Forgot about that one. These are indeed cool.

Stumbled onto this today. Not bad for $34, though I wish they could have made the thing $50 or $60 and put it in a 1590A enclosure with a 1/4" out.

http://www.openmusiclabs.com/projects/m ... index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[StevenO]

I have a Yamaha PSS-460 that sounds nearly identical to that Open Music Labs thingy. No joke. It's actually not too bad of a keyboard.

[dezb1]

I have a Yamaha PSS-460 that sounds nearly identical to that Open Music Labs thingy. No joke. It's actually not too bad of a keyboard.

I have the 470 and was thinking the same thing.

[StevenO]

I have a Yamaha PSS-460 that sounds nearly identical to that Open Music Labs thingy. No joke. It's actually not too bad of a keyboard.

I have the 470 and was thinking the same thing.

They're the same keyboard, just yours is black and mine is grey. Cool little lame FM synth keyboard.

[StevenO]

Also, speaking of inexpensive synths (since I started this thread and then promptly abandoned it)...

My brother has a Korg Monologue and, while I owned a polyphonic Minilogue for short period of time, I absolutely love it. It's a really great sounding bass and lead mono synth and my Juno loves it too. They both have a very similar "higher-fi" sound than, say, my Moog Prodigy or my Roland mono synth, which are smoother, creamier, and more "raw" sounding.

I have to say, for around $400 CDN, it's a GREAT musical sounding synth and quite inspirational. Love it.

[dezb1]

I have a Yamaha PSS-460 that sounds nearly identical to that Open Music Labs thingy. No joke. It's actually not too bad of a keyboard.

I have the 470 and was thinking the same thing.

They're the same keyboard, just yours is black and mine is grey. Cool little lame FM synth keyboard.

Was playing mine today - the bass is huge those little speakers don't do it justice.

[Singlebladepickup]

Is there an inexpensive synth I could use with my SFPR? I see Telliot's pic and guessing he uses one of them with the princeton? I know a keyboard or bass amp might work better, but I'd be more inclined to buy a synth if I didn't also have to buy another amp.

[StevenO]

I often play my synths through my SF PR and SF VR. It's fine to do so, just watch the low notes. Synths can really pump out low-end.