Modern analog synths, recommend, please!

[Reptil]

you can look at the (semi) modular route:

cwejman
plan B
doepfer
analog solutions
analogue systems
cyndustries
Modcan
buchla

or
SE Electronics
Radikal Technologies (hybrid)
EMS

I'm sure there's a million more

[basscakes]

I would recommend the Waldorf Pulse for Arps and Bass. They are only Mono so not so good for pads, but great for bass.

[zebastian21]

Access Virus is one of the most versatile Synths in the market....it can preety much emulate it all...+ TI makes it work as vst

[xj32]

The Access stuff is not Analog though.

In this relm for modern you are looking at the new Moog stuff, Dave Smith and the Alesis Andromeda...but other than Midi / Upkeep issues, not sure what you would gain over what you have in vintage gear sonically.

Paul

[dsstudio]

Originally Posted by zebastian21

Access Virus is one of the most versatile Synths in the market....it can preety much emulate it all...+ TI makes it work as vst

I know somebody is going to say it...
So far only 4 model come to mind [Moog Voyage, little phatty, Adromeda and DSI poly evolver] Anybody using those and what do you like/hate about them?
Thanks

[analogbass]

Originally Posted by dsstudio

I know somebody is going to say it...
So far only 4 model come to mind [Moog Voyage, little phatty, Adromeda and DSI poly evolver] Anybody using those and what do you like/hate about them?
Thanks

The list of widely available current synths that might your criterion isn't that large; i'd just start comparing them in person.

[Tibbon]

I don't think that any of these modern synths are going to do all that much for you if the vintages ones you have are no good, and the soft synths are no good.

The main advantage that I see of somethink like my Minimoog Voyager is 1) Patch memory (but there's older moogs out there with that too..), and 2) sysex dumps into projects. The Minimoog Voyager still needs maintence. All analogue synths need maintence. It's not THAT big of a deal, but it needs done. Actually, still need to drive to Ashville for another tuning. The Voyager will need recapped some day, many years from now, as well. Sonically (appeal wise, not capability wise) it doesn't really have any different sound much from a Minimoog D.

Were I you, and was looking for something actually 'different', get a Modular, or try programming in an environment like kyma, max/msp, csound, etc...

I mean, there's only SO many filter designs, and for the most part otherwise you're just looking at various forms of subtractive synthesis. Try something else.

My other advice would be to get a CV sequencer, or two.

[Jazzpunk]

Originally Posted by dsstudio

I know somebody is going to say it...
So far only 4 model come to mind [Moog Voyage, little phatty, Adromeda and DSI poly evolver] Anybody using those and what do you like/hate about them?
Thanks

Little Phatty rocks! I'd also highly recommend that you check out Studio Electronics;

SE HOME: QUICK NAVIGATION

[Tibbon]

Originally Posted by Jazzpunk

Little Phatty rocks! I'd also highly recommend that youcheck out need to check out Studio Electronics;

SE HOME: QUICK NAVIGATION

Little Phatty rocks a lot more than I thought it would. I got to try one or two of them out at the Moog factory, and wow. Not bad at all. I don't believe they will last as long as the Voyager (in 30 years your voyager will just need a new power supply and recap, whereas the phatty will need all new pots, recap, keyboard is cheaper, ps, etc...), but for the price they are unbelievable. If you have a Moog MF-102 that you can output the LFO from (or any other CV synth), then it's really killer. They sound great.

I like having more modulation capabilities, but if you're just looking for bass and leads... get a phatty tomorrow! I like the 'other' noises my Voyager makes.

[Jazzpunk]

Originally Posted by Tibbon

Little Phatty rocks a lot more than I thought it would. I got to try one or two of them out at the Moog factory, and wow. Not bad at all. I don't believe they will last as long as the Voyager (in 30 years your voyager will just need a new power supply and recap, whereas the phatty will need all new pots, recap, keyboard is cheaper, ps, etc...), but for the price they are unbelievable.

Yeah, it's a hell of a synth for $1300. I would hope that the build quality on the Voyager would be better considering the price difference.

As far as the extent of your repair predictions that is just pure speculation on your part. My Phatty Tribute Edition is one solid little synth! If it lasts me the next 30 years, I'll be a very satisfied customer

[DrDeltaM]

Very happy with my Little Phatty too. Great sound, easy to program, exactly what I needed!

For analog poly, a Studio Electronics Omega6 or 8 is still my dream. For now I just have a Matrix1000 rack which is pretty cool for a preset pad box

[Meriphew]

My favorite modern analog synth is definitely the Poly Evolver. It's pretty amazing IMO. I tried to like the Moog Voyager, but a mono synth is pretty useless to me other than for basslines.

[Dave Peck]

A few questions -

Do you need a polyphonic synth, or is monophonic OK?

If you need poly, Studio Electronics Omega8 or CODE8 would be another choice in addition to the Dave Smith and Andromeda.

Do you need to use it live, with instant access to different sounds, or is it for studio use only?

If you don't need polyphony and you don't need instant access to lots of stored patches, consider getting a true modular. LOTs of good options these days and you can get exactly what you want at several different budget levels ranging from Doepfer and "dotcom" to Modcan and Buchla with lots in between. You can also easily expand it over time.

DP

[dsstudio]

I need poly, Pads are my favorite as well as Brass [something like Jupiter 8 which I am always dreamming to get one] My Jupiter 6 just not enough, I don't have Europa and don't have time to have it install, Midi is pretty basic, just note on/off ...not even a bender ...
So little phatty is not for me [monophonic], I think the list for me narrowed down to DSI and Andromeda. not sure about Studio Electronics Omega8 - any one know where I can get or try it in US?
Thanks!
Sonny

[gsilbers]

if u are in surthern CA u can go to analogueheaven and play with all of those synths for hours.

[Lucin Niega]

I have the A6. I think the strong point on this synth is it's ability to do pads. Very lush great sounding machine. It can get a little complicated though. It has a lot of parameters. So if your the type of person that has to know what everything does on a synth before you can get comfortable with it, it might take a while. Check out the dave smith too, if you don't mind the fact that the audio is converted internally, I think it still sounds awesome.

[kingofswing]

I own an Andromeda A6, and also picked up a Little Phatty Tribute (soon to be changed for a Stage edition) as well as a shiny new Virus Ti Polar.

The A6 sounds more unique to me, it has a sound about it - those who own one should know what i mean. The filters are excellent, especially when using both together. The pad sounds are very interesting from complex to simple static tones. The brass sounds are nice too. It's a powerful poly analog synth.

The LP is a great synth, it's a Moog. The bass and leads are obviously strong areas of this synth. The sound is definately analog and you can get some great sounds with very little effort. I have a Tribute version at the moment but it has some background noise issues due to it's hardware design. A great analog mono synth otherwise.

The Virus Ti is pure virtual heaven imo. It sounds like a dream to play, atmospheric is the word that best describes the sound. Compared to the A6, it lacks the analog feel in the sound, but it goes far beyond analog emulations. For me it's a perfect gap filler for all other sounds.

Although i do not own a Poly Evolver, i have tried one recently. It's got a great sound (a beast too), but i personally found the interface a little fiddly. The patch selection knob can be jumpy at times. I prefer my A6 over this.

[Farshad]

DSI Evolver or Poly Evolver! Sounds great and very flexible. thumbsup

[rids]

Well, if you are wanting a JP8, then the closest modern synths I would say without a doubt buy either the JoMoX Sunsyn or SE Omega 8. They're both as sweet as the JP8, they will definitely become the new classics. There's a Sunsyn on ebay right now!

I own a Sunsyn, but will never sell it. It's the sweetest synth I've played. The Moog Voyager is pretty nice, but mono, and still doesn't sound as sweet as the Sun. I think the Omega and Sunsyn are about as equally as sweet, but the Sunsyn has 2 VCOs and 2 RCOs (ramp controlled osc) with 250 digital waveforms. It's a weapon of a synth, so is the Omega.

I guarantee you won't ever regret buying one of these. The JP8 is nice, but scarey to think about if it goes down for a count. 1 2 3 4

[sweetjesus]

I just sold my Alesis Andromeda to make way for the purchase of a Rack Mount Voyager.

So far the Moog does little poo-poo's over the Alesis.

I think the moog is capable of a much more authentic range of sounds and would recommend it as a bass/lead synth over the A6.

The A6 had awesome polyphony which I used to do some amazing pads and chorded stuff and that's where I would say is it's speciality. The looping envelopes and dual filters along with polyphony allow for some really cool textures.

I needed a fat workhorse though and had to get rid of the A6. The tone of that machine bugged me (no joke). It felt like I was using an analogue machine through some form of nasal tone destroyer even with the temp tuning off and the effects off and using the voice-outs as opposed to main-outs.. however the sound design factor was second to none and id probably pick one of those over say a cheaper polyphonic alternative.

I wouldn't be so upset if I had 3 - 5 moogs to hold down some chords with :D

Originally Posted by kingofswing

I own an Andromeda A6, and also picked up a Little Phatty Tribute (soon to be changed for a Stage edition) as well as a shiny new Virus Ti Polar.

The A6 sounds more unique to me, it has a sound about it - those who own one should know what i mean. The filters are excellent, especially when using both together. The pad sounds are very interesting from complex to simple static tones. The brass sounds are nice too. It's a powerful poly analog synth.

The LP is a great synth, it's a Moog. The bass and leads are obviously strong areas of this synth. The sound is definately analog and you can get some great sounds with very little effort. I have a Tribute version at the moment but it has some background noise issues due to it's hardware design. A great analog mono synth otherwise.

The Virus Ti is pure virtual heaven imo. It sounds like a dream to play, atmospheric is the word that best describes the sound. Compared to the A6, it lacks the analog feel in the sound, but it goes far beyond analog emulations. For me it's a perfect gap filler for all other sounds.

Although i do not own a Poly Evolver, i have tried one recently. It's got a great sound (a beast too), but i personally found the interface a little fiddly. The patch selection knob can be jumpy at times. I prefer my A6 over this.

[dlmorley]

Omega 8

if it has to be poly, then that is it. Game over

[Strobian]

Studio electronics gear is fantastic, sometimes expensive, but great. Sell some of the half way gear like jupiter 6, I have an 8 and it kicks. You can always get the Super Jupiter MKS-80 with rack controller module if you are looking for the jp8 sounds. I have access to a "buyable" original with the early rev's before they limited the filter.

Jomox +1

[Tibbon]

Originally Posted by Jazzpunk

Yeah, it's a hell of a synth for $1300. I would hope that the build quality on the Voyager would be better considering the price difference.

As far as the extent of your repair predictions that is just pure speculation on your part. My Phatty Tribute Edition is one solid little synth! If it lasts me the next 30 years, I'll be a very satisfied customer

I actually got the information about the things that would likely need repaired from Amos at Moog, who does most of their repairs. I was asking him about the construction differences between the two, and what could be done to a Little Phatty to make it higher quality, and what was cut back a bit. He said they had a hell of a time sourcing Pots that would do what they needed for the price. I was very much concerned and asking him about what I could expect to go wrong with my Voyager in the future. Voice chips, etc... Basically he said there were a few things, but that it was built pretty much without too much spared. If you have a Electric Blue or such for example, your backlights will go out at some point and need replaced. Mine's a Signature edition, and has no panel backlighting.

Basically, he said they cut back on a few things, obviously (*I mean, it's not just a 2 oscilator, single mod bus voyager*) but that it was a pretty solid machine still.

[Jazzpunk]

Originally Posted by Tibbon

I actually got the information about the things that would likely need repaired from Amos at Moog, who does most of their repairs. I was asking him about the construction differences between the two, and what could be done to a Little Phatty to make it higher quality, and what was cut back a bit. He said they had a hell of a time sourcing Pots that would do what they needed for the price. I was very much concerned and asking him about what I could expect to go wrong with my Voyager in the future. Voice chips, etc... Basically he said there were a few things, but that it was built pretty much without too much spared. If you have a Electric Blue or such for example, your backlights will go out at some point and need replaced. Mine's a Signature edition, and has no panel backlighting.

Basically, he said they cut back on a few things, obviously (*I mean, it's not just a 2 oscilator, single mod bus voyager*) but that it was a pretty solid machine still.

Interesting...thanks for the info.

[MDM]

MOOOOOOOOOOOOOG!!!

stay away from Andromeda - Autch what an ugly sounding piece of junk.

[kingofswing]

Originally Posted by MDM

MOOOOOOOOOOOOOG!!!

stay away from Andromeda - Autch what an ugly sounding piece of junk.

I have heard of something sounding harsh or warm, etc, but not 'ugly'

Anyways, you obviously have a problem with the Andromeda A6. Maybe this beast was way too complex for you in the first place

[MDM]

Dont take it personal - I maybe shouldnt have said I think it's and ugly piece of junk, thats kinda not nice.Sorry.

I just really dislike its sound

also I dislike the sound of the Acces Virus.

I know people think these are great synths and thats cool.

I think they sound not nice. 'Harsh' is a good word for it, thanks! another description could be 'Cold', 'Without Soul'

[sweetjesus]

Originally Posted by kingofswing

I have heard of something sounding harsh or warm, etc, but not 'ugly'

Anyways, you obviously have a problem with the Andromeda A6. Maybe this beast was way too complex for you in the first place

it beats most digital synths hand's down and the sound sculpting capabilities are second to none but im gonna have to agree with MDM having owned an A6 and now having a Moog, there's no comparison if you disregard the polyphony.

[kingofswing]

Originally Posted by sweetjesus

it beats most digital synths hand's down and the sound sculpting capabilities are second to none but im gonna have to agree with MDM having owned an A6 and now having a Moog, there's no comparison if you disregard the polyphony.

I don't think it makes sense comparing a Moog to an A6.

I own a Moog (wow...can finally say that) and it differs to my A6 in a big way. The Moog makes me play it in that Moog fashion - snappy leads and throaty basses, not comparable to what an A6 can do polophonically. Those comples pads are not going to happen. The moog sounds fat when it comes to bass, but the A6 does some pretty cool bass and leads too. At the end of the day a Moog is what it is - its a fat mono synth, and that is why i bought one.

If i now want a nice phasey pad sound to cut through the LP's bass or lead, etc, the A6 can do it well and leaves it's trade mark at the same time (which i happen to like).

Compared to my Virus, the A6 sounds more interesting and more classic too. In a mix i could spot an A6 everytime, but a Virus sound may sometimes get mistaken for a good soft synth.

I have also compared my A6 to the Omega 4 voice version via lots and lots of high quality mp3 demos, and i do notice a difference. The Omega has a fatter sound overall, but is more cleaner and perhaps too clean compared to older analog synths that i have also heard out.

I am not saying that the A6 beats the Omega, because i really doubt that. But i don't think any synth beats the next one without a compromise elsewhere. If i had the money i would also pick up an 8 voice version myself, but would never replace my A6 - never.

The funny thing is, everytime i play back those cheesy mp3 demos of both the A6 and the Omega, myself and few other people around me always end up prefering the A6 sound. It has a distinctive sound that stands out in a mix (maybe it's that nasal quality, who knows?) - but i would not make a full album with just an A6, thats for sure.

For the price / performance ratio the A6 is a great powerful analog poly synth.