What's your favorite brand of synthesizer?

kogmachine · Post by **kogmachine** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 6:35 am

I'm well aware of the popularity of Moog brand synthesizers, but I've never had the honor of playing on one much less seeing one in the flesh. I own two Korgs... an N5-EX and a microkorg and two Alesis synths... an Ion and a QS 6.1. I've played with Rolands, Yamahas, Kurzweils, Sequential Circuits, and an Ensoniq. I have to say that I like the Alesis brand best. Good sounds, solid constuction, value pricing and the name has a nice ring to it too. I'm sure many out there would disagree with me, but I haven't been able to try most of the synthesizers available. I'm looking to get an Access Virus and a Waldorf Q+ someday as well as the Alesis Andromeda and Yamaha SY-99. My point is I'm considering getting rid of my Korg synths due to a sudden lack of space and I'm not a fan of rack synths with fewer controls and tiny lcd displays. I planned to keep every keyboard I've purchased but it's not feasible now.

Post by **wiss** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 6:56 am

Roland Pre-1985 followed by SCI

uncle silas · Post by **uncle silas** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 7:02 am

I kick myself every time I think of the moment I dropped $1600 on my QS 8.1. Don't get me wrong it's a decent midi controller but that's a serious wad to blow on that kind of tool.

Sure, it was years ago and I was dumb and there was no such thing as the internets and so on...but still. wtf didn't I get a Yammy?

Sadness.

For the record I'll probably never own a rack synth. I figure I'll just use a computer if I'm going to go that route.

jupiter8 · Post by **jupiter8** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 8:18 am

Have'nt met a Roland analog i did'nt like yet and i've tried most of them. Sure some are fairly limited but they sound really good.

Post by **aeon** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 8:34 am

Roland from 1976 to 1981.

You could build a kickass studio around gear of that time, my god. The sounds!

Five Golden Years of Roland.

cheers,
Ian

8bit9bot · Post by **8bit9bot** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 8:37 am

my favorite brand is yamaha by far... im a huge fan of dx fm synthesis... the first synth i ever had was the dx-21... i got it when i was 4 and it was brand new - i also love the sounsd of their various chips in arcade games, cell phones, and the sega genesis - gotta love fm

in 2nd place i'd say ppg/waldorf... im a big digi fan (no pcm samples tho please)

hinotori · Post by **hinotori** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 8:51 am

depends on the style of music im making that day .

have to agree that all the rolands ive tried have an incredible sound . we can talk about the subjectivity ofsound preference and all that . but for me . roland = great sound .

another day, id say yamaha .

both brands have released a huge diversity of instruments . i guess most of us here own something by one of them (guess) .

id love a sq-80 though . then i could say ensoniq .

SWAN · Post by **SWAN** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 10:06 am

I think my favorite brand would have to be Benson and Hedges around the 1998 period - the way they were made back then.......something about that gold packet and the taste behind the science school during break time......

Strangenono · Post by **Strangenono** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 10:11 am

Oberheim (from obx to matrix12), Roland ( especially from jupiter 8 to d50) and Yamaha (from dx7 to ex5)

JJQ · Post by **JJQ** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 10:28 am

Roland up till 1986 or something. aeon +1 and wiss +1

Alphacode · Post by **Alphacode** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 11:35 am

Definitely Moog and Roland D50 all time favourite.

MikeHorn · Post by **MikeHorn** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 12:33 pm

Roland.

Post by **meatballfulton** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 12:45 pm

Ensoniq, RIP

They really don't get much credit for all their innovations.

Post by **braincandy** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 1:01 pm

I've owned 9 Roland synths, but I don't have a favorite brand. I'm more a fan of individual synths rather than manufacturers.

Edit: I've stated a couple of times here and elsewehere my admiration of Waldorf and being a bit of a fanboy (the MicroQ was one of my favorite synths), but when it comes down to it, I'm still more of a fan of individual synths than entire companies.

premieklovn · Post by **premieklovn** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 1:59 pm

Vintage Roland is probably my fave.