Advice needed-First synth purchase

[sweatner]

i need advice on what synth to purchase. I have been looking into the Waldrof Blofeld but would have to buy it used because My budget is maxed at 800. Iv also been looking into DSI Mopho. I think i like the Blofeld over mopho for these reason: (all based on reviews and others opinions) the keyboard feel of Blofeld is good with ability to play chords (im used to playing pianos). 1000 sounds, more digital sounding with ability to still get fat and gritty sounds, more arpeggiator options, and lots of versatility. But i am new to synths so little knobs is scarring me, I think i will learn easier with more knobs (but think i will be fine if the menu is easier to get around in, like the blofeld is suppose to be). So those things are whats important to me. I am not opposed to getting a desktop but would still need to get a controller as well (preferably with good feeling keys and knobs to work with) within the budget. so desktop synths + controller recommendation will help. I also would like to have after-touch and velocity sensitive keys. (So i have a question regarding that, If i am controlling say "Blofeld" desktop will i still have those functions??? I am opened to just about anything that meet some of these functions. and remember i am opened to buying used to get more functionality within my budget.. Thanks!!

[blinky909]

without knowing what you want from the synth other than to make some noises, it's really hard to say. i am not a fan of the limited desktop modules - that Blofeld is pretty complex and the menu bouncing is a PITA - i used to own a Pulse Plus years ago but found programming it was tough.

the Mopho desktop suffers the problem even more - programmable knobs and menus and, ugh, talk about confusing.

if you want to understand subtractive synthesis, my recommendation is a Nord Lead 2 - 20 voices of polyphony, 4 part multi-timbral, and every synthesis control has a button or knob. there is nothing to scroll thru, nothing to find hidden in a menu. in manual mode, what you see is what you get. the position of the knob or button is the current value. no guessing, not digging to figure out how to turn off the arp, and not need for a cheat sheet.

the Nord Lead 2 is cool because you can layer the 4 multi-timbral parts, just assign them the same MIDI channel and you can get some very complex pads that have a ton of movement to them. run that into an H3000 and that's your first album

[Teknobeam]

Blinky is right about confusing menu diving especially if you are new to synthesis. You want something that will allow you to grab a knob or a button and get a direct result and then be able to associate that with a function that is common to most synthesis such as a 'filter resonance" or "attack" on an envelope generator. this will help you start learning about the topology of synthesis. So.... you also need "polyphony" (the ability to play chords or more than one voice at a time). Budget is $800.00. You could find a Juno 106 for less than that and have some cash left over. It has a great sound and a great synth for learning synth architecture. Midi, polyphonic, and it will hold it's value if you decide to swap it out for something else later. My guess is you will probably keep it.

[blinky909]

Originally Posted by Teknobeam

You could find a Juno 106 for less than that and have some cash left over.

15 years ago i would have recommended the Juno 106 as a starter synth, but given the market today, for about the same money, the Nord Lead 2 seems like a solid starter synth, esp. in a MIDI environment. the Juno 106 and NL2 both send their controls as CC's so you can record knob movements.

the Juno 106 is a single DCO, a simple VCF, a single LFO, a single envelope, but it does have a great sound and that chorus, oh that chorus. you can over come the lack of two LFO's with some clever CC programming in a sequencer or use the pitch bender as a second LFO.

the NL2 has the upper hand for the same money given that it has two oscillators, 3 envelopes (an AD and two ADSR's) selectable filters, two LFO's, FM, ring mod, and velocity to the filter. times 4. it's a hell of an education for around $600.00, plus is sounds great.