Monosynth For Lead & Bass (Fusion, Alternative Hip Hop)

[xanderbeanz]

In that price range without keys you have many options, mopho, doepfer dark energy, mono lancet, all have a variety of waveshapes which should give you fat basses and nice thin leads

[Equalizer]

Thanks for the comments.
Can someone comment about the issue of live gigs? Wouldn't it be harder for me to take a MIDI keyboard (MPK49) in addition to the rack module? What is your experience with modules in live use?

[SWAN808]

you are looking for a studio electronics ATC synth of some variety...

[Yoozer]

Let's say you pick an SE1x - the problem is mainly in the sense that it's not really ergonomic to put a bigger rack unit on top of a MIDI keyboard. It's light-weight, compact, portable, and also not really friendly to carry with you. A desktop module would be a better idea - mostly because several MIDI keyboards may have generous space on one of the sides to put such a module on - but would not fit easily in a rack again.

Otherwise, module versions are generally constrained in their controls (this does not always have to be the case) because they're meant to be tucked away somewhere below and controlled remotely in full.

What did you already try from the modern offerings (e.g. Slim Phatty?) What do you consider bad-ass?

[solipsynth]

In that price range with keys included, I would consider a Mopho keyboard, a used Little Phatty, or possibly a Minibrute (if you're ok with its bass).

[Equalizer]

Originally Posted by Yoozer

Let's say you pick an SE1x - the problem is mainly in the sense that it's not really ergonomic to put a bigger rack unit on top of a MIDI keyboard. It's light-weight, compact, portable, and also not really friendly to carry with you. A desktop module would be a better idea - mostly because several MIDI keyboards may have generous space on one of the sides to put such a module on - but would not fit easily in a rack again.

Otherwise, module versions are generally constrained in their controls (this does not always have to be the case) because they're meant to be tucked away somewhere below and controlled remotely in full.

What did you already try from the modern offerings (e.g. Slim Phatty?) What do you consider bad-ass?

Thanks for the informative reply.
I think I meant desktop module to begin with.
From all the synths in the world, I think I only played a Juno (don't remember which.. It was a vintage one) and a Lil' Phatty. The Lil' Phatty was WAY cool. I don't really know that much about synthesis, just a keyboardist trying to pave my way to it. So the Lil' Phatty sounded really good to me..

[Equalizer]

Originally Posted by solipsynth

In that price range with keys included, I would consider a Mopho keyboard, a used Little Phatty, or possibly a Minibrute (if you're ok with its bass).

Does the Mopho sound good for lead and bass sounds?
I heard demoes of the Minibrute and really dug it.. The only problem I have with it are no patches and no MIDI-controlled parameters (as far as I could gather)

[solipsynth]

Both the Mopho keyboard and the Phatty are very capable for both lead and bass. However they have different sound character, so you need to demo both for yourself. If you really dig the Phatty already, I say go for it.

[marino]

Studio Electronics SE-1
DSI Mono Evolver Keyboard
Creamware Minimax ASB (not mono, not real analog and difficult to find, but it sounds good! )

All "modern" stuff, no vintage.
If you don't mind buying used, all three could be found within your intended budget.

[Equalizer]

The Mopho layout seems to be unintuitive.. Is it a simple synth or is it a manu-diving type?

[NAWAX]

Look for the Mopho keyboard instead of the desktop. It's pretty straightforward and easy to carry.
As it's going to be your first synth, you need an army of knobs.