SE1X or CODE 4 OD (Omega)

[kingofswing]

Although i don't own any of them, i have been seriously considering an SE synth for the last couple of months myself.

For my poly analog needs i own an Andromeda A6. I also now own a Moog Little Phatty for the mono stuff such as bass and the odd leads, sweeps.

For bass and leads, i wanted more of a dedicated synth, so i was looking at the SE1X vs the Moog Little Phatty. Comparing both the specs and price.

The SE1X does have 3 oscillators vs the 2 oscillators in the Moog LP. But the LP does have an Overload button (Phat button as Moog call it), which adds a growl / bite to the sound. The Overdrive is optional on the SE1X, and it is supposed to be a nice touch as owners will tell you. The SE1X also has a 2nd 12db (as well as the 24db) filter over the single 24db moog filter on the LP.

Im sure some real users are going to chime in and give a better break down on the SE synths.

As for the Poly side, well i am saving my pennies right now for a Code 6/8 for later this year. I plan to use it along side my A6, which has it's own desirable character. The Code and Omega are both 2 Oscillator per voice synths (so is the A6). The Code does have a new Sine wave on oscillator 1, just like the newer SE1X, which should cover your bass needs perfectly should you decide on a Code.

And personally i prefer single oscillator basses anyday of the week, and both my A6 nd LP deliver very well. For leads, 3 Osc's allow for thicker sounds, but bass tones end up with that beating effect (cool for leads), which is why single oscillator basses are more solid and consistent.

What i am trying to say is, you may want to try out a Little Phatty and see what you think. It also costs less for a genuine Moog tone (if you like that). For lead sounds, the 2 oscillators do pretty well and if you record (or multiple layer) another stack of two oscillators (with perhaps different octave settings) you end up with 4 oscillator lead sounds - not bad for a little workaround. Bass is also a strong area for the LP.

[ghostdog]

HI

I am in same boat as you, have released many records over the years had loads of analog gear sold it all to buy a house and a computer, 10 years later I want to go back to hardware.( I still own a Serge Modular /Eurack Modular and EMS Synthi AKS :-)

I have been looking at the CODE 4 VOICE OD which has the quad filters SEM, ARP,CS30 and MOOG, plus the Overdrive Fuzz which is the option.

I am also looking at An Andromeda A6 as I listened to the PEK, Voyager and A6 and although the Voyager had a cleaner sound its mono and the CODE will do a better job, so I chose the A6...I should have that in a few weeks,,,,,but then it would be cool to get the CODE first 4 voice and look at adding voices in the future.

SE1X no why have one bass when you can have 4-8 :-)

[Strobian]

My friend has been using one extensively and at first he really liked it, but its a real dedicated piece and personally I would get a poly synth. for the money there are alot of pieces of gear out there. Its got a fat sound, but so does a juno 106 and its about $1200 cheaper. Anyway, its a personal preference type deal, but I think a synth that does a little more than the great basses would be better. monophonic is cool for some things, but after a while you might kick youself for not being able to play chords etc.

[sashbash]

Thanks for the replies so far.

I certainly agree that for bass, mono is really the way to go...no argument here. I have played around with the LP too and enjoyed it emensly (no idea how to spell that) and really liked the fact that it is not just a rack, although this is not too much of an issue for me. So the LP is something I have considered and not written off yet, I could see having a lot of fun with that piece of gear.

Concerning the CODE I would without question get the one with the OD option. Out of experience I have a Future Retro Revolution, and the OD button hardly ever is taken out.

The nagging voice in the back of my mind that doesn't go away is that if the CODE is used like an SE1X (making purely mono bass) and can achieve the same results, surely its worth saving up for the CODE, as I can do bass and more...Where I wouldn't want to be at, is getting the CODE, then realsing I could do with the SE1X.

For me bass is the priority. Chords etc.... is something that features in my music but generally I have not used synths for this timbre, whether I plan to or not, I'm not sure. I am much more inclined to keep it minimal, as concerning synths. Having said that my new found interest in synths is probably implies I may be going down this route more...into polyphony etc...

I also like the idea of filling my bass lines with a stereo image of a higher frequency sound that would give the bass a seemingly larger sound. The CODE i'm sure would do this for me, whereas the SE1X or the LP wouldn't (unless I layered sounds, but to me this might be a bit of a slow workflow???).

Never tried a Juno to my shame.

[xaos]

In my experience having had a Midimini (predicessor to se1x, but I believe was a repackaged moog with midi), jupiter 8, arp odessy, juno 106, the list goes on...I find the juno excels at strings but is fairly useless on most everything else. Way to slow for bass. The Midimini was pure magic on bass. Tight, fast, punchy as hell.

A truly great 8 voice synth is the Roland MKS-80 (the programmer is a must). I believe it was the successor to the jupiter 8 and is basically a jupiter 8 in a box. Having used all of the above side by side, the MKS80 had the most utility, stability, and has a ton of mojo and I found to be very good on bass. The Jupiter 8 is a tiny bit more muscular to my ear, but mine had tuning issues, wheras the mks was dead on.

If I had one syth (which I don't anymore) it would be the mks-80.

[sashbash]

Just to relieve your anticipation and the whole suspense of this fantastic saga, I have gone and bought the SE1X...........and a Moog Little Phatty.

I've a feeling this is huge bass overkill, but that is what my music is the about I suppose. The CODE looks and sounds absolutely fantastic, but I couldn't justify spending all that lovely money on a poly, when I rarely use them. I think the Moog is such a hands on piece of gear. Some pieces of gear I feel tired just turning them on at the mains, but this is certainly not one of those, which I really appreciate in musical equipment. The simpler the better. The SE1X, I've a feeling will have more of the sounds I'm looking for.....

I'm sure when the royalties come through again the CODE will be waving at me in some sexy pants.

[ghostdog]

hey i would be interested in your thoughts on the bottom end and general sonic comparison of Little Phatty and SE1X as I have played a LP but no CODES/SE1X in my country.
Did you ge the SE1X with filters etc

I found the keys on the LP to be a bit toyish in feel

[degas]

I wanna hear more about this.
What's prefered - The Little Phatty or the SE-1X?

[NWSooner]

Wow, a mid-2007 thread resurrected. I've played around with a Little Phatty pretty extensively and I have an SE-1X. They are not in the same ballpark. The Moog is much easier to deal with (plenty of knobs) but the SE-1X destroys it when it comes to the sound.

Seriously.

As far as the original poster (2 years ago) I went through the same process and decided on an SE-1X over the CODE, but not as an either/or. I still intend to get a CODE, probably a CODE-4. But I already had an Andromeda so I was more looking for something that could do big fat basslines (which the SE-1X has excelled at). If I didn't have a poly analog to start with I probably would have gone for the CODE first.

[cl516]

for the record, i didn't resurrect the thread!

Dunno if this helps but i put up some demos of the SE-1X, click here.

[degas]

Originally Posted by NWSooner

Wow, a mid-2007 thread resurrected. I've played around with a Little Phatty pretty extensively and I have an SE-1X. They are not in the same ballpark. The Moog is much easier to deal with (plenty of knobs) but the SE-1X destroys it when it comes to the sound.

Thanks for the input.
The LP sure is fun to play, but at the end of the day the sound is what counts.

Originally Posted by cl516

for the record, i didn't resurrect the thread!

Dunno if this helps but i put up some demos of the SE-1X, click here.

Very helpful - I wanna hear more clips!
The Voyager sounds pretty sweet.
Aaahh - angst!

[teamsterjim]

Studio Electronics Synths are great.
I can only suggest the SE-1 ( x ) because of the 3 Oscillators.
It's FAT, sits ina rack, and has the smoothest MIDI controls from any external controller.

http://forums.planetz.com/download/file.php?id=4279

SE-1 comes in for the climax.
I like the way it just takes command, and the extreme Tom Sawyer-ish Filter sweeps that come on the release of the note make this the ultimate 3 Oscillator mono synth IMHO.

The CODE 4 has a nice sound too, but it's lack of a 3rd Oscillator is something to think about.

[Derp]

Haven't used a Code but good god, is the SE-1 freakin' awesome!!!