Not a synth but a yamaha su10 great for mangling sounds, also the frostwave resonator technically a filter but it turns into a synth when you control it with a midi/cv converter like the kenton pro solo.
Sammich SID, based on the SID chip of C64 (Elektron´s Sidstation has a somewhat similar concept)
As well as Sammich FM, which is a 4 voice FM synth (same format as SammichSID), quite flexible in a small setup,
but far from sounding huge á la SEM, microcon, minitaur
So basically I created this thread because I'm looking for a very small (no bigger than some of the bigger guitar stompbox pedals) great sounding synth that is knobby enough to program on the unit itself AND has patch memory, to complete my live setup. Analog or digital doesn't really matter, neither does polyphony since I'll be using it for mono sounds, it just needs to sound good.
Am I dreaming?
It seems like the available options have either one of these features or the other - synths such as the Mopho desktop, Tetra, Nord Micromodular rely on computer software to be programmed, while some of the other analog offerings such as the Minitaur, Vermona Mono Lancet, MFB synths etc. have no memory.
I have a Shruthi-1 which comes closest to what I'm looking for but I wouldn't call the interface exactly intuitive or fun. I own a Slim Phatty which I use live as well but I don't want to lug around another one, it has to be smaller.
I'm wondering - since the Moog Minitaur offers digital control over every parameter, can a MIDI sequencer recall entire patches on it? That would be perfect!
Location: The Lagrange point between Jupiter and Io
Posts: 1,676
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gil missFlag
I'm wondering - since the Moog Minitaur offers digital control over every parameter, can a MIDI sequencer recall entire patches on it? That would be perfect!
It has software you can download from Moog that allows you to save patches.
SEM ... Nothing comes close. Nothing is quite so wonderfully HUGE sounding and so warm and ANALOGUE. Not many options for a discrete analogue either ..
I'm wondering - since the Moog Minitaur offers digital control over every parameter, can a MIDI sequencer recall entire patches on it? That would be perfect!
The Minitaur DOES have the ability to save patches or snapshots with a computer attached, I have it, although to tell you the truth, the software is barely better then a beta now, and maybe even worse in that it is completely unreliable. The good folks are moog though are working on it though supposedly (albeit at a glacial pace), and it does add value to the unit. There are lots of functions in the synth you can open up in the "under the hood" section, like note re-triggering filters and oscillators etc... pretty cool, but again, dodgy in use. It "says" it saves a snapshot of your patch, it just doesn't always "do" it. Kind of like the Seinfeld episode where they take the reservation for the rental car, they just don't actually reserve the car...
The Minitaur DOES have the ability to save patches or snapshots with a computer attached, I have it, although to tell you the truth, the software is barely better then a beta now, and maybe even worse in that it is completely unreliable. The good folks are moog though are working on it though supposedly (albeit at a glacial pace), and it does add value to the unit. There are lots of functions in the synth you can open up in the "under the hood" section, like note re-triggering filters and oscillators etc... pretty cool, but again, dodgy in use. It "says" it saves a snapshot of your patch, it just doesn't always "do" it. Kind of like the Seinfeld episode where they take the reservation for the rental car, they just don't actually reserve the car...
Thanks. I'm wondering how the software transmits the patch data to the synth though? Is it purely MIDI CCs, or sysex?
This synth definitely sounds good, but I keep hearing about MFB's shoddy build quality. Just glancing at the comments for that video, I see a number of unhappy users with defective units.
For an extra synth for live, maybe consider a DSI Tetra.
It's small and can do a lot and sounds great... leads, strings, percussion, and yes bass... some of those stacked 4 voice unison basses on it sound awesome.
And you can do basic editing with the 8 front panel knobs, you don't need the software editor unless you are doing major editing with the onboard sequencers, etc. And if needed it can be put into multi-timbral mode for even more sounds at once (although don't try editing in multi-mode... a major pain). If you are using it as a 4 voice poly synth and avoid the tricky multi-mode... the Tetra is pretty much rock solid and very versatile.
For an extra synth for live, maybe consider a DSI Tetra.
It's small and can do a lot and sounds great... leads, strings, percussion, and yes bass... some of those stacked 4 voice unison basses on it sound awesome.
And you can do basic editing with the 8 front panel knobs, you don't need the software editor unless you are doing major editing with the onboard sequencers, etc. And if needed it can be put into multi-timbral mode for even more sounds at once (although don't try editing in multi-mode... a major pain). If you are using it as a 4 voice poly synth and avoid the tricky multi-mode... the Tetra is pretty much rock solid and very versatile.
Thanks, I'm definitely considering the Tetra. Can all parmeters be accessed comfortably from the panel other than the sequencer?
Thanks, I'm definitely considering the Tetra. Can all parmeters be accessed comfortably from the panel other than the sequencer?
the software for it completely sucks it basically wont detect the tetra...
but if you have another full synth its possible to midi to synth keyboard and use the knobs for modulations. i connect mine to nord lead 2x.
the modulations on other keyboards might be a bit asymmetrical unless you can memorize all the menus/knobs without labeling.
overall it is hard to get away from the brassy mellow sound of the (prophet type synths), but when changing the base pitch it is possible to change. a lot of the sounds are muppety or clinky because an old washed up guy designed them.
its fine with effects.
its just definetly not the deepest most electric sound.
Thanks, I'm definitely considering the Tetra. Can all parmeters be accessed comfortably from the panel other than the sequencer?
Well, you have four dedicated knobs to cutoff, res, attack, release, and four user assignable knobs, which are already assigned to different parameters depending on the patch chosen, but you can overwrite the assignments to whatever you want and re-save the patch, or just make/load your own.
8 knobs is sufficient for tweaking a patch unrecognizable, but for designing a patch from scratch you'd have to menu dive quite a bit more or try to use the editor. So it depends on your needs: if you set it up in advance, it could be a great versatile workhorse for live stuff.
As for the sound of it, IMO it's slightly aggressive/harsh in some ways but beautiful in others. If you want mellow/melodic type sounds it can do them, but you have to find the sweet spot with the filter.
New Reply 
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
