Studio Electronics

[d1rtynyc]

I am gonna make a purchase in 20 days or so and I am condsidering a few things, but the thing I need your help on is this.....
I was looking at the Studio Electronics ACT Xi Quad or the SE1x Red Eye.
My understanding (please correct me if I am wrong) is that the SE1x is a bit smoother, while the ACT Xi has a techy-er sound. What other things beside the 3rd ocillator would be the difference.

My musical tastes are definately leaned to the techno, electro and minimal styled sounds, but I do allot more. I have a huge array of VI stuff but I want the analog leads and basses. I've also considered the Poly Evolver.

I cannot demo these, because there are no decent NYC synth shops that I know of.

I know this is allot to consider that is why I asked the Slutz.
Any insight & help would be great!

[cl516]

manhattan guitar centre might have the DSI stuff, i've seen evolvers in there before.
twice i've seen them have 'used' atc-1's. but that was long ago.
about the se-1x, where is the fm on that... don't think there is.
p.s. bring headphones

[d1rtynyc]

Anybody else?

[d1rtynyc]

Originally Posted by DivineChemical

Question: What other gear do you have?

Lot's of soft synths (that's why I need a fat lead & bass) all the NI stuff, all the Arturia + loads of others & FX, Logic, Live, Reason, ect. w/
Jomox Xbase 09, Quasimidi 309, Alesis Pad Control, Axiom 61, some rack delays & distortion boxes..
I really need a fat synth.

[d1rtynyc]

Originally Posted by DivineChemical

Question: What other gear do you have?

Oh yeah & a Virus Classic I am getting this week.

[Jazzpunk]

Originally Posted by d1rtynyc

Anybody else?

If it's simply a choice between those two models, I'd just call them up directly;

CONTACT S.E.

Cool guys and very helpful.


Also here's a list of some dealers in your area;

DEALERS


Always nice to try before you buy!

[teknosmoker]

I was in your shoes, went with the ATC-Xi Quad and love it (I do mostly techno). If you're going for a more old-school "creamy" sound I'd go for the SE-1X. If you want a more modern cutting sound (which can still do the creamy Moog-ish stuff, just not as well as a 3 OSC synth) with a greater sonic palette, I'd recommend the ATC-Xi Quad.

IMHO - the SE-1X seems more geared to people who want a "tweakable preset box", while the ATC-Xi seems more like a programmer's synth.


Off the top of my head, here are the major differences:

ATC-Xi Quad
-Sine wave (not on SE-1X)
-External input & output jacks for the ring mod (not on SE-1X)
-4 different filters: Moog, Oberheim, TB-303, Arp (SE-1X only has Moog & OB filters)
-Analog Distortion circuit (not on SE-1X)
-2 completely different amps - one is smoother (SE-1x style), the other is more snappy/techy. There is a dedicated switch on the front to move between the 2 amps (not on SE-1X)
-512 user locations for patch storage

SE-1X
-LCD display (ATC has a 3 digit LED)
-396 presets & 396 user locations for patch storage
-3 OSC's (ATC has 2)
-Dedicated knobs for many of it's functions, though there is still some menu diving involved (ATC-Xi Quad has membrane buttons & 1 rotary knob that sends MIDI - get a BCR2000 for $100 if you want 32 knobs for your ATC)
-4 envelopes, 2 assignable (ATC has 3 envs, 2 are assignable)
-3 LFOs (ATC has 2)




BTW - the presets on the ATC-Xi aren't the best (all hip hop/r&b stuff - lots of sub basses and worm leads).

[audiovisceral]

there are endless mp3s of the se1x and omega (gooooooorrrrggeous!!!) online, but i haven't found any for the atc besides
http://www.studioelectronics.com/ass...-X-Chestra.mp3

any help?

[Beermaster]

" If its bass you're looking for.."

Then SORT your BLOODY life out and stop wasting money on synths !

It makes me mad when people talk about how good BASS is on a synth Y as opposed to synth X - its like saying Will an acrylic set of COLOURS make a darker black than a OIL based Paint ? - WHO GIVES A POO ! - Black is Black - What you do with the colours is what countsl

Drunken shouts asside, I strongly feel that for the big price tag of SE gear you can get yourself a universe of sonic options in both Vintage or the modern alternatives

( don't even get me started on SE's DUMB down to neanderthal PR speak on their site )

[lhm1138]

I used to have the og ATC and the ATX-xq. They're great synths, kind of like a Moog Source. They're all good IMO. Didn't care for the 303 and SEM filters though, I pretty much only used the Moog and ARP filters.

[Jazzpunk]

Originally Posted by Beermaster

Drunken shouts asside, I strongly feel that for the big price tag of SE gear you can get yourself a universe of sonic options in both Vintage or the modern alternatives

( don't even get me started on SE's DUMB down to neanderthal PR speak on their site )

I love my Omega to death and have no qualms recommending their kit but I'm with you on the website, it's just horrible.

[Jazzpunk]

Originally Posted by teknosmoker

Off the top of my head, here are the major differences:

ATC-Xi Quad
-Sine wave (not on SE-1X)
-Analog Distortion circuit (not on SE-1X)

Just to make his choice even more difficult, it appears that this version of the SE-1X has the sine wave option as well as the distortion;

http://www.novamusik.com/search.aspx...rd=3310&mid=38

[lowkey]

Originally Posted by lhm1138

I used to have the og ATC and the ATX-xq. They're great synths, kind of like a Moog Source. They're all good IMO. Didn't care for the 303 and SEM filters though, I pretty much only used the Moog and ARP filters.

hmmm...i prefer the SEM filter myself, followed by the moog and then 303 [dont have the arp] on my original atc-1.
sem is a bit nastier sounding to me.

boy their range of synths are very confusing to see the differences...and who does their graphic design? they are muchuglier and look way more complicated than my original version

[Jazzpunk]

Lowkey,
Nice tunes on your myspace. I'm diggin' on 'Ultra Hi' right now!

[rids]

If you want fat, you want a SE-1X. It's more similar to the Moog sound. More techy is the ATC-Xi. And the Evolver is completely different and has mod sequencers at it's core, but I love it's digital waves. I don't think you would be disappointed with any of them, the Evolver has more a learning curve with it's sequencers, but can be used as a sound module if you choose. BTW, the filters on the SE products are better.

[teknosmoker]

Originally Posted by Jazzpunk

Just to make his choice even more difficult, it appears that this version of the SE-1X has the sine wave option as well as the distortion;

Nova Musik- The Electronic Musician's Wonderland.

Didn't know the "Red Eye" version had those 2 feature of the ATC. Thanks for the correction Jazzpunk.

[d1rtynyc]

Thanks everybody!
I think it is the ACT Xi Quad that I am going to grab.

[lhm1138]

Originally Posted by lowkey

hmmm...i prefer the SEM filter myself, followed by the moog and then 303 [dont have the arp] on my original atc-1.
sem is a bit nastier sounding to me.

boy their range of synths are very confusing to see the differences...and who does their graphic design? they are muchuglier and look way more complicated than my original version

Yeah, the new designs are atrocious. Hard to hear the synth over the loudness of the front panel. Come to think of it, I did like the bandpass mode on the SEM, very useful.