meat and potatoes sound module... TR Rack?

[Dan DeTora]

ok fellas, i'm getting back into the beatmakin' biz again and i'd like some input re: the most usuable/versitile sound module for hiphop/rnb tracks.

so far, i'm set on getting a jd990 (cuz' i dig it's flavor) but i need something else to round out the sounds. i'm thinking a korg tr rack or a jvxx80 series. once upon a time i had a 1080, and while it had a good variety of instruments, each catagory was a bit sparse. then again, i didn't have any expansion boards...

of course, if money was no issue, i'd probably just get a triton extreme and be done with it. but i'm looking to spend about $1000 for both modules so i'm definitely on the used market here.

any opinions are welcome.

[Feinstrom]

You could try the Proteus 2000/2500. Try to get the "Protean Drums" expansion board.

That would be a contrast to your 990.

[MDM]

hey there

yeah ! JD 990 !! good choice - the best Roland module EVER

Dont get a Proteus - you will regret it ( sorry )

Get Yamaha Motif Rack ! really good quality ....

The JD 990 was my ONLY module for quite some time (my first Real module since proteus's dont count IMO)

Go for a fantom or MOtiff rack along with a z1

TRUST ME.

[cynic one]

Originally Posted by no ssl yet

The JD 990 was my ONLY module for quite some time (my first Real module since proteus's dont count IMO)

Go for a fantom or MOtiff rack along with a z1

TRUST ME.

you doing any custom patches on the z1? we should trade sysex files sometime...

can you edit sounds from within cubase/nuendo on the motif rack, or just the motif ES rack?

[rickrock305]

well its a bit above your budget, but a Roland 5080 is bread and butter. with some expansions of course

[Feinstrom]

Well, looks like I'm the only one that likes the Proteus.
I think it's great because of its raw, "semi-pro" sound. It's refreshingly non-hifi and (sorry if I repeat myself) a really in-your face contrast to the Roland/Yamaha/Korg stuff.

I have several bread-and butter modules, and I never use them in multi mode, but blend them together to get my sound.
The Proteus is the black sheep, but in a good way...

Try to get some really old ones, too (D-550, M1R). Cheap and full of surprises.
Or have a listen to the Yamaha EX5R.

But if you want to sound like everyone else, get a TR-Rack...

[djsmuv]

Absolutely , the TR Rack has been my meat and potatoes module for 5 years strong , Ill never part with it ; its such a well rounded box .Its quite clean , and the horns are irreplaceable . Its loaded with synths sounds that are still being used to this day - this unit is 9 years old lol

I just got a Proteus 2000 rack and , from what Ive made (roughly 30 tracks) , It is the perfect compliment , its gritty ; it plays well with the mpc and increases the depth of my tracks . the pizzicato's and worm are worth the $250-300 sticker . the horns are nice and well rounded .

The JV 10/2080 is cool , but its patches are starting to sound a little dated to me .
thats my take - back to whippin up some new music

[rickrock305]

Originally Posted by Feinstrom

Well, looks like I'm the only one that likes the Proteus.

no way, i love the proteus stuff as well. i just don't own one at this point so i can't say its my bread and butter

[halfguard]

anyone have any of the srx cards for the rolands? i have a fantom s and am looking at the orchestral card.

[azwun25]

Originally Posted by halfguard

anyone have any of the srx cards for the rolands? i have a fantom s and am looking at the orchestral card.

i ahve the Ultimate Keys srx and the Platinum Trax srx..both are stellar...i feel that the Ultimate Keys is a must have for any Roland synth that accepts the SRX.

[r0ck1r0ck2]

JoMox..

[rickrock305]

Originally Posted by halfguard

anyone have any of the srx cards for the rolands? i have a fantom s and am looking at the orchestral card.

absolutely. the orchestral card has loads of good sounds.

i would also agree that the ultimate keys is another must have.

[Feinstrom]

JoMox..

Yes, the JoMoX stuff is very good, and you could file the MBase01 (bass drum module) as "bread and butter".
You will use it in every track...

Not a synth module, and only one voice and one mono output, but there's smoke coming out of that one!

[filterayok]

Originally Posted by rickrock305

well its a bit above your budget, but a Roland 5080 is bread and butter. with some expansions of course

absolutely

[r0ck1r0ck2]

man...i just used my new mbase for the 1st time yesterday...
damn..
the engineer had me play all the presets for him for sampling..

we were both pretty blown away..

really a fumpin box..

again, Damn..

[octatonic]

Originally Posted by dtrax

ok fellas, i'm getting back into the beatmakin' biz again and i'd like some input re: the most usuable/versitile sound module for hiphop/rnb tracks.

so far, i'm set on getting a jd990 (cuz' i dig it's flavor) but i need something else to round out the sounds. i'm thinking a korg tr rack or a jvxx80 series. once upon a time i had a 1080, and while it had a good variety of instruments, each catagory was a bit sparse. then again, i didn't have any expansion boards...

of course, if money was no issue, i'd probably just get a triton extreme and be done with it. but i'm looking to spend about $1000 for both modules so i'm definitely on the used market here.

any opinions are welcome.

If you have a 990 then make sure you get the vintage board for it.
It is much better in a 990 than a 1080 as it gives you 512 presets and will reawaken your love of the 990.
No point putting any other board in the 990 as they are not able to play waveforms in reverse, like the 1080 (et al) can.
$1k can get a lot these days.

I'd suggest:

Alesis QSR (with vintage and rap/hiphop cards (severely under-rated synth- lacks filters but the tracker is amazing) will set you back $200 max

Yamaha SY77 - great DX7 and AWM synth- good digital filters. Should cost you $250.

Quasimidi Polymorph - great synth, wicked filter, tabletop design. Love mine to bits. Will be $400.

Ensoniq MR Rack- like the TR Rack but 5 years earlier. Great basic sounds, nice expansion options (at the time) and will cost no more than $200-$250.

For a grand you will get 4 versatile synths that not many people know about.
Or you can go the TR Rack, which loads of people have.

JR

[BigArt]

motiff

[RIZ Records]

richmondjames, do you know how many sounds the Ensoniq MR rack comes with? And the link to all the expansion cards it takes? Thx.

[octatonic]

Originally Posted by RIZ Records

richmondjames, do you know how many sounds the Ensoniq MR rack comes with? And the link to all the expansion cards it takes? Thx.

Found this:

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1996...niqmrrack.html

[Igotsoul4u]

i have been really impressed by the roland fantom recently. Very clear and rich sounds, especially the pianos.

[tekn0]

Originally Posted by Igotsoul4u

i have been really impressed by the roland fantom recently. Very clear and rich sounds, especially the pianos.

It's also a favorite of mine atm

[RIZ Records]

Thx richmondjames, i think i need some Ensoniq sound in my set-up right now.

[octatonic]

Cool... I don't have an MR Rack, but I am looking for one myself.
I had one back in the mid 90's but got rid of it when I went all soft synth for a few years.
I've come full circle now- hardware synths are as cheap or cheaper than many plugins and they will work regardless of software updates.
I realised this when Digi dropped HTDM and I can no longer use the Emagic HTDM bundle in PT. Not just synths- but software in general.
Koblo- same thing.
Lexiverb- same thing.
What happened to Vision.
At least when synth companies go belly-up you can still use the existing hardware- if anything breaks I can generally fix it myself.

I reckon I've spent about $2k in synths this year- now I have 20 in total.
All digital, analog modelled or analog with DCO's.
Next is to build an analog monster using the modules from synthesizer.com.

JR

[Dan DeTora]

thread back from the dead...

thanks to everyone who made recommendations. it certainly opened up many options i'd not thought of.

in the end, i copped a MOTIF 6 (classic) for $600. i'm still planning on an MPC of some sort. probably a 2KXL or even a 1K when budget permits. but the more i learn the MOTIF's convoluted operating system, the more i love it. so i might just stick with the motif as my main sequencer/sampler. who knows...

thanks again to everyone who contributed.

[SampleMan]

I Know im hella late but gonna look into a 990 thanks

[PopularDemand]

Originally Posted by MDM

Get Yamaha Motif Rack !

[SampleMan]

what makes this motif rack better than the others ...

[MERC476]

+1 On the TR-RACK and the Roland 5080. I don't know how the TR-Rack doesn't get as much love around here but i've had this thing for like 8 years now and the sounds in that thing are crazy. Like someone else said...horns are irreplaceable.

[MERC476]

DAMN!!!!!Just realized how old this thread is LOL.......