I need a dirty, nasty sounding synth.

[Alien Tech]

I'm looking for a synth that I could use to make some really nasty, evil, straight out of Satan's mouth type sounds.

I was at guitar center a couple weeks ago looking for drum stuff (I'm a drummer), but I happened to start messing around in the keyboard section of the store and fell in love with all the knobs and buttons on the synths there (I think it was a Virus Polar that I was playing with).

Anyway, even more recently, I've bought myself a Macbook Pro, Logic Studio, NI Absynth 4 (recommended by a friend) and Arturia Moog Modular (because it was there for cheap, and I had played with a real Moog system in my audio engineering class).

Anyway, I love Logic, and the plugins that I got are awesome (I'm still learning them), but I think I want a hardware synth with knobs to tweak and a sound that would rip the face off the statue of liberty.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

This is my first post, by the way.

[chrisso]

Hi.
Question one = budget?

[Alien Tech]

Price is no issue...but cheaper is better

[brian_delizza]

For what it is, and if you have a midi controller the new virus tabletop is cool (and not that much $.)

It's multi-timbral and it can load up any of the virus TI series patches, and its a TI so you can run it straight into logic.

The new Dave Smith Prophet 08 is pretty cool as well, you can get some wicked sounds out of it.

my $.02

[chrisso]

Originally Posted by Alien Tech

Price is no issue...

My favourite dirty, nasty synth is the Arp 2600.
More affordable?
Anything by Metasonix:
YouTube - Metasonix TX-1 vs Roland TR-505
YouTube - metasonix wretch machine lofi

[Alien Tech]

Thanks for all the replies. I had been looking into the Neptune, and it seemed like it could get pretty dirty, especially if I threw a few effects pedals on it. And as for the Arp 2600, the college I go to has one in their storage that I have messed around with a bit. The audio engineering instructor actually said I could keep it at my house indefinitely if I just go pick it up and take it off their hands.

I've been reading a lot of threads praising the ARP, and will most likely go get it tomorrow. It didn't seem that dirty when I was messing with it, but I'll definitely spend some time with it.

Edit: I just heard the wretch machine. Matt...wants....badly.

[chrisso]

Grab the 2600 it's an AMAZING synth.
The nastiest aspect is the audio input. The distortion is incredible. You can feed any of the synth section sounds back through the audio input, or use it for processing your drums.
It has a nasty spring reverb, plus Ring Mod, which is always good for nastiness.
The Metasonix stuff is the ultimate in nasty/dirty IMO.
Unfortunately, that's all she wrote.
So for more versitility you'd want to check out a normal synth that could get nasty if need be.
Some of the Metasonix stomp boxes are reasonably priced though, and could turn any normal synth satanic in an instant.

[Alien Tech]

Awesome, i'll go get the 2600 in the morning. I just saw the price tag on that thing and nearly crapped my pants when I realized I was pretty much getting one for free.

[Alien Tech]

Originally Posted by DivineChemical

Yeah, forget the Neptune and the Virus. Just grab the 2600, quit school, and go live in your parent's basement for the next few decades while taking the 2600 to it's limits. You won't be disappointed.

You give excellent advice. Ever thought of guidance counseling?

Seriously though, I'll probably spend all day tomorrow jamming with the ARP. Ill try to get some tracks up so you can hear the results.

[chrisso]

Pick up half a dozen mini jack cables for the 2600, although you can use it without.
It's semi-modulaar.

[Alien Tech]

Will do.

[DSD_Mastering]

I just saw an Oberheim OB 8 posted for $950, which includes the midi option. I love this synth!thumbsup

[James Meeker]

The following are pretty rude synths in the right hands:

Sequential Circuits Pro-One
Korg Polysix
Waldorf XT or Microwave I
Yamaha TX81
Korg Prophecy
Polivoks

[edit machine]

Originally Posted by DivineChemical

Spectral Audio Neptune II: $600 Three VCO, analog filter, analog distortion and analog fuzz circuit, spectacular FM modulation... it's a filthy beast.

http://audio-kinetic.iswiz.com/vacstuff/neptune.mp3

woah, that recomendation just caused me to buy one...so...awesome...wow

[Dirty Halo]

It's been suggested, but yeah... various distortion, effects and ANY guitar pedals turn any and ALL your synths into a new animal!

Try a Big Muff on any synth and it's NAAAAAAASTY, oh so good nasty!


-andrews

[SWAN808]

Future Retro XS is pretty nasty

Future Retro XS Overview

[Space Station]

Soon as you got the Artp 2600 for free that means you've still got some money to buy something else...

Get a Sequential Pro-One....it's a nasty uncontrollable beast.

[cosmos]

1 Hardware Synth (prefferd Analog)
1 Sherman Filter Bank (preffered version 2)
3-4 patch cables

you got Nasty.

Anyway around get that ARP 2600, no matter what.

[dietrich10]

2600 might take some time to get the right patch but that is one nasty synth.

the DSI Evolver with the modulations and the output hack can get interested.

[O.F.F.]

Assuming you get the ARP (it'd be foolish not to) and you still want more nasty after a while with it, try some of Metasonix stuff. They are taking great pride in the nastiness of their stuff.

[O.F.F.]

Come to think of it and since it seems you get the ARP for free (I hate you so much right now!;-) ) why not use the money you saved to get a Doepfer (or other) rack and gradually fill it with filter modules from the likes of Doepfer, Analogue Solutions or Analogue Systems?

[jsrockit]

Metasonix S1000
DSI Evolver
Elektron SidStation

[TJR]

Which 2600 does your school have?

Chemical Brothers used the crap out of it with their latest album and I believe previous albums all because of the distortion so crank that up and some heavy frequencies should start pouring out.

As far as newer synths, the Virus Polar TI is recommended. It can sound very dirty and heavy plus you have the option of tweaking all the parameters in computer via "virus control" or use it like a midi keyboard and tweak all the controls by hand. I've had a few bass oriented vintage monosynths and the virus wins over them for ease of use and the ability to dive deep into sound manipulation but it can sound like a powerful vintage monosynth. Just keep in mind most vintage gear is cv/gate or very early stage midi and most times, no patch memory.

[aeonlux]

Clavia Nord Mod G1/MicroMod

All kinds of nasty if you wish - with the control needed to deliver the nasty you want that suits your music.


cheers,
Ian

[Alien Tech]

Got that ARP about an hour and a half ago (its the 2600P V 4.0 i think), and it is pretty kickass so far. Aside from some really dirty sounds, I've also got some really pretty sounds out of it.

I was thinking about starting to put together a modular. The thought of making a synth thats perfect for me is kind of making me drool a little. I've played with an old Moog system at my college, but had never gotten any really practical sounds out of it (besides variations on simple subtractive synthesis), but I have heard other people get that thing to sound awesome.

I've heard that modulars are the crack of synthesizers, but it seems like too fun of a project to pass up.

How many of you guys use the Nord G2. Is it a good alternative to a real modular? It seems like it would save a lot of space.

[Reptil]

Originally Posted by O.F.F.

Come to think of it and since it seems you get the ARP for free (I hate you so much right now!;-) ) why not use the money you saved to get a Doepfer (or other) rack and gradually fill it with filter modules from the likes of Doepfer, Analogue Solutions or Analogue Systems?

+1
doing the same with Axxes.

here's a dude with more on the 2600

i posted it before, it's useful, but you might've missed it

[shadowfac]

Originally Posted by Alien Tech

How many of you guys use the Nord G2.

I do, and I love it. It's one of the best and most fun digital synths out there. It can do practically anything that is not sample based (but it can do some sample-based stuff as well). It's great for sound designing, but it's also a great synth for live stuff. In fact, some of the live-oriented stuff I'm doing these days is done with only the G2 and a couple drum machines (Korg ER-1 and Boss DR-770).

However, the G2 is very digital-sounding (a nice digital sound, that is). It's not impossible to make it sound warm and phat, but it's certainly not its speciality. The first-generation Nord Modulars sound much more raw and less refined than the G2.

Is it a good alternative to a real modular?

IMO, it is not, at least sound-wise. The G2 sounds are almost in the opposite side of the spectrum with respect to real analog modulars. And that's why I also have a small synthesizers.com modular. And I wouldn't trade one for the other.... they both have their place and get along just fine. Actually, there are a few people who use their G2 to control their analog modulars using a MIDI to CV interface.

[bluemoon]

two came to mind

moog little phatty
future retro XS

those are two dirty mofos

[Feinstrom]

RozzBox One V2.
They don't come nastier than that...

[x2mirko]

Originally Posted by Feinstrom

RozzBox One V2.
They don't come nastier than that...

absolutely true. Have just been testing out one a few days ago and its pure dirt (in a good way )