Microkorg + Waldorf Blofeld VS Virus TI Snow

[Gummo]

I can't make my mind up on whether I should buy those two smaller units or the new cute little Virus. What do you guys recommend? I've yet to try a Blofeld hands-on, what do you guys think?

[Phaidon]

To be honest all 3 of them sounds like a killer set-up!!!
I love all 3 of them!

Oh well...not much help,I know-I know...

[gsilbers]

id say the virus just cause of the plugin integration and the sound.

[alexp]

Your just going to have to get all three I think.

[wax808]

I would give some serious consideration to the Alesis Micron vs. the Microkorg.


It's a wicked powerful little machine. With it's minimalistic sequencer and layout it is damn near a groovebox. The things you can do with it are nuts.


The big reason for choosing the Micron over the MK was the fact that the Micron is multi-timbral.

[plaid_emu]

I just recently got the Blofeld and the Virus TI Desktop. They're totally different animals.

I prefer the huge LCD on the Blofeld more than the smaller one on the Virus. Even with the lack of knobs I find it's just as easy to program as the Virus. Not only does the whole interface seem more logically laid out, but those animated menus give you a lot of visual feedback which is very helpful. I can't imagine the Snow being as tactile as the Blofeld. If you plan on only using a software editor for the Blofeld or Virus Control with the TI then ignore the above comments.

The Virus is certainly killer when it comes to sound. It's got a presence that is undeniably powerful. The Blofeld is no slouch either. It sounds like it should be WAY more expensive than it is. Especially after the 1.02 update which hops the volume output 12dB. The thing is, they both have their strengths and weaknesses and have a very different sound character. That's why I'm keeping both.

(Excuse me a second while I put on my flame ******ant suit...........OK)

The MicroKorg blows. I don't care for the interface at all and the keys remind me of the little shitty Casio I had when I was 9. It amazingly somehow manages to look ******** and juvenile at the same time (especially with the reversed keys). It's definitely not something I'd bring on stage if I were trying to get laid. If you MUST have one of those little Korgs, get the R3. It at least has full sized keys and a better interface. The sound may be improved as well. I don't know much about it honestly.

As far as the sound goes on the MicroKorg (the most important part), it's OK. You could do a lot worse, but the Micron sounds twice as good for the same price IMHO. The interface sucks just about as bad, but at least you'll get 4 multi-timbral parts and an above average sound engine with many more possibilities. The sequencer is really icing on the cupcake.

I humbly suggest a polyphonic VA and an inexpensive analog monosynth rather than two VA's.

[wax808]

Tell us how you REALLY feel..... lawl




If you do any kid of live play the Micron can be really spectacular. The knobs are cake to assign and work great for live tweaking. Where it really shines is with it's phrase capture.

Here is how I use it: MPC1000 sonds the clock data to the Micron. On the micron I can play around until I find something I want to repeat over and over. Double press the PHRASE button, then play my phrase when I am ready. Click the PHRASE button when I am done. Then I press the same key I used to start the phrase capture and latch it. That phrase will repeat as long as I want it to. No MPC recording needed.


Compositions made on the Micron using it's little internal sequencer translate perfectly to the MPC later on. As long as the beat/time signature is similar, it's perfect. The only difference is that the MPC is providing the drums instead of the Micron.





The problem with the Micron is that it is basically an ION in a small case. I use a Korg MicroKontrol with 16 knobs and sliders to control every parameter on the Micron. It makes synthesis very easy. The only problem with this method is that you pretty much need to use software to translate the MIDI CC#'s to NRPN in real time. MicroZune works well for this.



When it is set up correctly the Micron is unmatched in it's price range.

[aidan]

well, to be honest, the sound of mkorg is far superior to the micron. if you've ever listened to an analogue synth you'll know what i'm talking about. it semms to me that the filter is almost analogue, although the self-oscilation is a bit digital at times. anyway, having owned both, i agree the micron has a groove but the mkorg sounds far more interesting

[wbelote]

They both sound amazing, especially if you get in and mess around. The Snow packs more power multi-timbrally, and has sound I have been wanting for years. Blofeld has the more elegant, performance oriented interface, and minus the simpler effects menu, the Blofeld has a somewhat deeper editing environment. They both offer lots of variety for oscillator shapes and have filters to die for.

I would think anyone would enjoy either one, and having both feels truly luxurious.

[mildheadwound]

~ and get the desktop unit. You just can't beat the hands on, and it's got more DSP power! Even the old desktop has more then the new snow. The blofeld is slick, especially that new keyboard model, but the virus sound is dynamic, and unreal!

[bbow73]

The Snow can produce some epic sounds, but the Blofeld is easier to program.
The Blofeld sound is very hi-fi and it's easy to get to a certain sound fast, I LOVE THE BIG LCD, but no audio in. The Snow has the atomizer and it's easier to get thicker/bolder sounds out of it.

I guess they both have the same amount of modulation routings, seems easier on the Blofeld, but the patches on the Snow demonstrate much more sophisticated programing.
The Snow looks cooler.

The wavetables on both are just okay, but it's easier and more fun to play with the wavetable sweeps on the Blofeld.

having said all that, I'm getting rid of both of them to get a TI desktop and an XT.
I'm lazy, I need more knobs.

[Simon Kaind]

Why the plethora of analog modellers? I'd be more inclined to go for a blofeld and some sort of analog to compliment it. Maybe a mopho? I reckon if you're gonna get 2 synths, make sure they're really different from each other. My microkorg has ended up being a bit of a disappointment, but that is largely because I have a Virus C, which murders it for programability. I prefer an analog modeller, like a virus and an analog synth. That way you have a wider palette of sound making material. Getting 2 analog modellers means that at some stage you're going to be wanting something fuller, and will spend countless hours trying to nail it on an analog modeller when the real analog is perfect for the job. Get an analog modeller for flexibility and a real analog for the simpler stuff...

[bbow73]

The things that I consider are:
#1 sound
#2 user interface
#3 features
#4 price
I have va synths because they have a lot of features, memory, midi, polyphony, stability and a lower price compared to a analog that offers the same things. Would you pay 5x the price for everything thing that a Virus does only to gain tone? I did at point in my life.

I had a Matrix-12 for a while, it had almost as many features as a Snow or a Blofeld, but it cost me a fortune... and I didn't like the sound of the filters. Would I still like to have a Sunsyn or a midified multimoog? hell yea. But with my budget I'm content with an analog that is simple, cheap and sounds good to compliment the more sophisticated gear.

I bought a DSI for just the reason that you said. I wanted something with the solid analog sound to balance out my va's. Looking back I should have gone with a Mopho or saved my money for a voyager.

[gregwar]

i hate to be a bitch here but the main difference between my virus c and ni massive is the tactile control, once you get rid of that or reduce it to a few knobs you might as well be programming a dx7 or korg O1w. the virus c is just a little more aggressive sounding i believe its because of the lower quality dacs on the back. thats why i like it because for a long time there was no good dirt in the box. also, its a polyphonic synth which is very expensive and difficult to find a synth as robust in the analog world (think ob-8, elka synthex, pro5 the super jupiter doesn't even come close to the modulation routings, etc.)

as for the microkorg i use a minikorg (1974) with the switches on the front. got it for $120 last year so there are still good deals to be had on real analog synths the sound doesn't even compare to the microkorg or micron for that matter. a blofeld and a mopho would be a pretty strong combo or a hybrid like a evolver desktop and juno-106 or something. once you get started you'll be breaking the budget on a regular basis...

[Tibbon]

Originally Posted by aidan

well, to be honest, the sound of mkorg is far superior to the micron. if you've ever listened to an analogue synth you'll know what i'm talking about. it semms to me that the filter is almost analogue, although the self-oscilation is a bit digital at times. anyway, having owned both, i agree the micron has a groove but the mkorg sounds far more interesting

Really?
I have a Voyager and a x0xb0x for analogue synths right now (and I've done my fair share of screwing around with real MS-10, 2600 and Moog 55s).

- Neither the Micron nor the MicroKorg sound 'like' an analogue synth.
- Both are competent synths, but I actually generally like the Micron better overall. (My friend has both side by side, and I've messed around a good bit with each).
-The MicroKorg's keyboard sucks. I basically think of it like a tabletop module (that happens to have some buttons on it to preview sounds). Using the keys to screw around really quick is good, but for playing its a joke. Use another keyboard for any serious playing or get the R3 instead (which seems to be a much better built machine overall).

To the OP: I personally really like the Virus. I didn't at first, but between their USB/plugin support, and the fact that their OS updates keep adding cool things... its really a nice synth. The Blofeld is neat too, and far different sounding, but I think I'd get the Virus first, and then the Blofeld. The microkorg only pick up if you see someone selling one super cheap. Not worth it compared to the other two.

[spunkadellic]

i think a better question would be -

blofeld+Mopho vs Virus TI

[Tibbon]

I saw a Moog Phatty go for $550 or so on eBay the other day. Hate to throw another option in the ring, but the Phatty + Blofeld would be an interesting combintion. Very analog and very digital.

In fact there's one on CL right now (near Boston) for $500. moog little phatty

[qtuner]

I've owned and used the blofeld, Virus TI and Mopho at the same time. I kept just the blofeld. I preferred sound of the blofeld to the TI and i found myself always preferring the blofeld to the Virus TI sonically. This is subjective so take it easy. I sold the mopho because I hated the knobs but like the sounds. I loved the analog sound tho, so in gearslut fashion i got an alesis andromeda instead. (damn guitar center credit card and christmas specials) Whether I have the andromeda on 12/13/09 remains to be seen. Having those 3 synths is a lot of synth to get know and a lot of manual reading. I suggest one at a time. After that experience my new rule is no new synths until i've gotten though all the ones I own.

[thafunki1]

ps microkorg sucks .... minikorg long live !!

..............ok lol i am partiularily interested in this little chat ..i just happen to own the snow,& ti desktop & mopho and very recently the blofeld ........as above stated the mopho sounds awsome but is impossible to work with ... the free editor is a joke and the screen is right out of the 80;s i never use it ( shift bank shift bank not for me ) but when i have i have gotten some pretty incredible sounds out of it ...mostly mono basslines ..pretty much in my mind thats all its good for ...... now when the mopho keyboard comes out thats a different story all them pots mmmmmm .... now for the snow ....... awesome !! love it just as much (almost) as my full keyboard .... has the same software and programabilty in your daw !!whats not to love ......
i'll tell you.. good luck maxing out the dsp on any of them that would be the craziest sound ever if u did actually it would probley be like 4- 16 completley different complicated sounds to even make it blink ...anyway the ti line is sick and a must have for any studio i oant care what anyone says ... vsts sound flat compared so my ti's or a blofeld or mopho for that matter ........ the blofeld is a awsome synth from what i have gathered this week easy to use well laid out big screen ( not the 42 in one my ti has on my comp )but nice enuf its >half the price of a snow and half as functional ... the power is in automation my friends and dsp no dsp in vst's no automation in the mopho or blofeld.... in my opinion the ti wins but they all are great if you put time into them .. or lots has to do with personal preference and the sound you are trying to achive ...

[murphythecat87]

I had the blofeld, sold it, the editor on cubase wasnt workin, and to skip between menus was worse that using a plug-in for me, the sound was fine, but it didnt blew my mind.
On the other hand, the ti virus is a monster. the integration on your daw is a big plus. I love the sound of it, and honestly, with all the filters type, the wavetable, the hypersaw, the grain tables, the really good effect, the TI was a no-brainer for me, you can make mostly anything, i use it more than my andromeda. I just started using my Ti snow as an effect processor (filters and effects) and honestly, the snow is the best thing I have bought so far, so versatile.

[Ben F]

Originally Posted by spunkadellic

i think a better question would be -

blofeld+Mopho vs Virus TI

That blofeld + Mopho combo should cover most bases! Get the PE knobs for the Mopho though.

Edit: PE = (potentiometer edition) knobs

[///OSS]

The TI that's for sure. blofeld falls short and the Microkorg cant hold it's ground next to the other two. No way on the Mopho either. rather have a LP than a mopho.

a LP and a TI are a seriously powerful combo if you want a couple of current gems.

[Chris Jenner]

I agree. That is what I have, and they work beautifully together. The Phatty adds a nice compliment of full raw analog to the Snow's digital bliss. I would say the Snow beats the Blofeld as well. I bought the Blofeld desktop , and the Blofeld does have a nice clean sound, but after about 45 minutes of playing with it, I plugged my Snow back in, and that's when I realized exactly how good the Snow was. I returned the Blofeld the next day.

[kilon]

Originally Posted by Gummo

I can't make my mind up on whether I should buy those two smaller units or the new cute little Virus. What do you guys recommend? I've yet to try a Blofeld hands-on, what do you guys think?

I used to own a Microkorg, the sound was very nice but the polyphony , annoying limited. I own a Blofeld, its cheap, but its an amazing synth, also the presets it has are rather unique even though quite harsh as the designer though a good idea to overuse fm and disortions on them, but no harm done, it just take a minute to fix each sound.

Snow is also a great choice, but personally i hate the preset's they are extremely boring. But as people said, if you are going to use an editor then Snow will be a more valid choice.