Beginner home 'studio' gear

picur85 · 8th February 2012

Hi!

I'm forming a prog rock/metal band where I'll be the keyboardist and I'd like to switch from software instruments to hardware in the near future (next 1-2 years), but I don't have too much money to spend (max $1000-1200, maybe 1500, but not in one amount, $200-400/buy).

Since the budget is low, I'll almost exclusively go for used gear, except for the small things like cables, pedals etc. I have an M-Audio Axiom61 mkII and I'm quite satisfied with it, so I don't need another keyboard bigger than 25-37 keys.

The synths I'm considering (max $400-500 each):

Korg Wavestation, Microkorg, Micro X, Trinity Rack or Triton Rack
Yamaha CS2X or a similar module
Roland JV Rack series
Novation X-Station 25 or Xiosynth 25

Among these the Wavestation would be nice and maybe a rompler with more polyphony. A software editor and computer connection for transporting patches would also come in handy.

Other gear:

a cheaper mixer for only my gear - Behringer maybe?
a MIDI splitter box
control pedals - one for switching sounds would be essential
cables

Jan1973 · 8th February 2012

If I had to pick a synth for general purpose use, I'd probably try to get either a Roland XV-5080, a Yamaha Motif Rack (XS), or a Korg M3 (Xpanded) or Triton Rack. Or all of them :-)

picur85 · 10th February 2012

Thanks for the answer Jan1973, but these are way out of my budget, I considered even the Triton Rack as the absolute upper limit in spendings on one piece of gear, here in Hungary it costs around $700 which is more than the average monthly salary :(

But do you think it really worth saving up more for it? Or something else in that price range? Maybe, if I can find one, a K2500/2600R? Of course it could substitute more older modules which means less things to go wrong and carrying the gear would also be much easier.

boybianchi · 13th February 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by picur85

a cheaper mixer for only my gear - Behringer maybe?

No, no, no. :-)
Let's say you'd want to record a sound. Cheap behringer mixers will introduce relatively large amounts of hum and hiss. If you want to go cheap, try Alesis or Tapco or something.

taturana · 13th February 2012

i would say get a roland JV or XV and look for a wavestation rack .... i'd be (almost) done with romplers there...

Lex A · 16th February 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jan1973

If I had to pick a synth for general purpose use, I'd probably try to get either a Roland XV-5080, a Yamaha Motif Rack (XS), or a Korg M3 (Xpanded) or Triton Rack. Or all of them :-)

Yeas KORG m3 is one of my favourites...

ootini · 16th February 2012

The JV1080 can be had quite cheap and is a good all round rompler. Or possibly a Kurzweil K2000/2500r?

8th February 2012	#1
picur85 Gear Head Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 72 Thread Starter	Beginner home 'studio' gear Hi! I'm forming a prog rock/metal band where I'll be the keyboardist and I'd like to switch from software instruments to hardware in the near future (next 1-2 years), but I don't have too much money to spend (max $1000-1200, maybe 1500, but not in one amount, $200-400/buy). Since the budget is low, I'll almost exclusively go for used gear, except for the small things like cables, pedals etc. I have an M-Audio Axiom61 mkII and I'm quite satisfied with it, so I don't need another keyboard bigger than 25-37 keys. The synths I'm considering (max $400-500 each): Korg Wavestation, Microkorg, Micro X, Trinity Rack or Triton Rack Yamaha CS2X or a similar module Roland JV Rack series Novation X-Station 25 or Xiosynth 25 Among these the Wavestation would be nice and maybe a rompler with more polyphony. A software editor and computer connection for transporting patches would also come in handy. Other gear: a cheaper mixer for only my gear - Behringer maybe? a MIDI splitter box control pedals - one for switching sounds would be essential cables

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Five components to a successful location recording & much more (The Beginners Guide)	Remoteness	Remote Possibilities in Acoustic Music & Location Recording	28	5th August 2010 09:24 PM
Mics 101 - placement for beginners	boojum	Remote Possibilities in Acoustic Music & Location Recording	18	8th November 2007 03:34 PM
beginner adc question	pianoman	Remote Possibilities in Acoustic Music & Location Recording	0	18th February 2007 12:15 AM
Beginner PA setup 3K Budget	jbuntz	Remote Possibilities in Acoustic Music & Location Recording	6	24th May 2004 07:18 PM
Jazz Micing help for beginner	herbs97	Remote Possibilities in Acoustic Music & Location Recording	6	20th January 2004 05:53 PM

8th February 2012	#2
Jan1973 Gear nut Joined: Aug 2006 Location: Fernitz, Austria Posts: 142	If I had to pick a synth for general purpose use, I'd probably try to get either a Roland XV-5080, a Yamaha Motif Rack (XS), or a Korg M3 (Xpanded) or Triton Rack. Or all of them :-)

10th February 2012	#3
picur85 Gear Head Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 72 Thread Starter	Thanks for the answer Jan1973, but these are way out of my budget, I considered even the Triton Rack as the absolute upper limit in spendings on one piece of gear, here in Hungary it costs around $700 which is more than the average monthly salary :( But do you think it really worth saving up more for it? Or something else in that price range? Maybe, if I can find one, a K2500/2600R? Of course it could substitute more older modules which means less things to go wrong and carrying the gear would also be much easier.

13th February 2012	#5
taturana Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2006 Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Posts: 4,056 13 Reviews written	i would say get a roland JV or XV and look for a wavestation rack .... i'd be (almost) done with romplers there...

16th February 2012	#7
ootini Gear nut Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 110	The JV1080 can be had quite cheap and is a good all round rompler. Or possibly a Kurzweil K2000/2500r?