
Bottom Ten Worst Synths of All Time
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Re: Bottom Ten Worst Synths of All Time
My Emulator II - because it is broken. 

- synthroom
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Re: Bottom Ten Worst Synths of All Time
You gotta get your EII fixed - it will be on your top ten list when it works!
Fairlight IIx (Mid-Life Crisis - cheaper than a Corvette!)
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Re: Bottom Ten Worst Synths of All Time
I am torn about the Monotrons. They have a great tone; all three of them. But they're basically impossible to play. But I keep them around because I use the filter input all over the place. So as a synth, they're not much more than a toy for FX, but as FX units, they're great--at least I really like them. And I like that dirty MS-20 filter character A LOT.Sweep wrote:3) I'm not sure whether to include the Monotron or not. Through suitable processing it was actually pretty good, and I even made a recording with someone from a name band with it. So far so good. Then the output socket came loose and actually fell off the board. I opened it up, assessed the situation, and ditched it. It's possible that build quality varies, and it did a good job during its short life, so there are pros and cons.
Walter Ego
seamonkey wrote:I nominate this for STUPIDEST THREAD ever in the history of the internez.
- synthroom
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Re: Bottom Ten Worst Synths of All Time
I can't claim it's one of the ten worst, but the FB-01 is the least favorite synth I've ever owned. I even bought it new in 1988. It had a couple of cool sounds, but it really put me off FM synths for a long time!
I love the strings on my Crumar Performer, yet I HATE the brass sounds it makes. But the strings are so good, I still love the Performer!
I love the strings on my Crumar Performer, yet I HATE the brass sounds it makes. But the strings are so good, I still love the Performer!
Fairlight IIx (Mid-Life Crisis - cheaper than a Corvette!)
Roland JP-8, D-50, S-50, S-550(2x), S-760(2x), JX-3P, JD-800
EII, Emax II, Minimoog, ARP 2600, P-5 Rev.1 (broken...), Pro-One, Crumar Performer, K1m, K5m, MS-2000B, Virus KC, a few other things.
Roland JP-8, D-50, S-50, S-550(2x), S-760(2x), JX-3P, JD-800
EII, Emax II, Minimoog, ARP 2600, P-5 Rev.1 (broken...), Pro-One, Crumar Performer, K1m, K5m, MS-2000B, Virus KC, a few other things.
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Re: Bottom Ten Worst Synths of All Time
I know! I'm terrible for buying new gear. instead of getting around to fixing what I already have....synthroom wrote:You gotta get your EII fixed - it will be on your top ten list when it works!
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Re: Bottom Ten Worst Synths of All Time
I can't say your opinion's wrong, but I really do need to make sure you've heard this though:synthparts wrote: For me the worst synth I have used is probably the "Oberheim" OB-12...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mQDx5iAgjg
This is a SPECTACULAR sounding synth, as far as I'm concerned!
- Hybrid88
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Re: Bottom Ten Worst Synths of All Time
hmm, I've got a few least favourite synths of all time but I don't know if I'd call them bad, just not my taste
Some of them are;
Ensoniq SQ-80 - hate it, sounds retro in a bad way. Don't care what people say this one is going as soon as I get it fixed up.
Stringers (including solina) - Disco anyone? Thought not...
Casio VL Tone - actually I love it just as much as I hate it, it's cool, but it's c**p. Mine's broken so it sounds even worse than usual, which kinda adds to the charm. haha
Yamaha Tyros - everything about it makes me want to puke. Except for the price, that one has me laughing.
Roland/Edirol Sound Canvas's & GM Modules - for obvious reasons.
Roland U-110 - some usable sounds, but fark this thing has so many artifacts you'd be forgiven for confusing it with an archeological dig. 80's technology baby, live it up.
Yamaha PSR's/Casio CTK's - I avoid these as much as possible.
Home Organs - These are in vast quantities locally and I give a shudder everytime I see one for sale.
There are others that don't exactly enthral me, but most synths have some useful sounds however limited that may be.
Some of them are;
Ensoniq SQ-80 - hate it, sounds retro in a bad way. Don't care what people say this one is going as soon as I get it fixed up.
Stringers (including solina) - Disco anyone? Thought not...
Casio VL Tone - actually I love it just as much as I hate it, it's cool, but it's c**p. Mine's broken so it sounds even worse than usual, which kinda adds to the charm. haha

Yamaha Tyros - everything about it makes me want to puke. Except for the price, that one has me laughing.
Roland/Edirol Sound Canvas's & GM Modules - for obvious reasons.

Roland U-110 - some usable sounds, but fark this thing has so many artifacts you'd be forgiven for confusing it with an archeological dig. 80's technology baby, live it up.

Yamaha PSR's/Casio CTK's - I avoid these as much as possible.
Home Organs - These are in vast quantities locally and I give a shudder everytime I see one for sale.
There are others that don't exactly enthral me, but most synths have some useful sounds however limited that may be.

- dustinh
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Re: Bottom Ten Worst Synths of All Time
I'll post now since the SQ-80 has been hated on and it's my avatar! I really don't care though. I love it but I can definitely see why some people wouldn't.
Anyway, korg ea-1 for me. I thought it was awesome when I was 17. I bought it when it first came out. But it got boring REAL fast. And the filter sounds downright terrible on it.
Anyway, korg ea-1 for me. I thought it was awesome when I was 17. I bought it when it first came out. But it got boring REAL fast. And the filter sounds downright terrible on it.
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Re: Bottom Ten Worst Synths of All Time
You know, I'm not gonna dispute that, but man, I have a PSR-48 anyway just for the baddest-a*s demo tune ever...Hybrid88 wrote:Yamaha PSR's/Casio CTK's - I avoid these as much as possible.
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- pflosi
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Re: Bottom Ten Worst Synths of All Time
Some amazing synths in this list you nitpickers 

- Black Tomorrow
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Re: Bottom Ten Worst Synths of All Time
I can certainly understand your sentiment. However, in spite of the fact that I've gotten instruments that I SWORE would replace it, my PSR-740 remains essential to my setup. It does less and less, but it's still useful.Hybrid88 wrote:Yamaha PSR's/Casio CTK's - I avoid these as much as possible.
I'd never buy one myself, but a friend gave one to me for Christmas a few years ago. Quirky and fun occasionally, but only for a few minutes. But yes, it would probably go on my "worst" list.Sweep wrote:1) Stylophone.
Also, the Poly-800. Okay, I've heard some great sounding stuff from it, but if I include only equipment I've used, I just don't have the patience for this one.
SHS-10. I'm baffled at the prices these go for. It was my first keyboard, and I still have it, but I have no real use for it.
I had Baldwin home organ that I found cheap at a pawn shop. Boring, but the one thing it had going for it was that it was tough. When a friend helped me move it in his truck, it flipped out the back at 50mph. Thankfully it didn't hit anyone, but after putting it back on and getting it home, it still worked! Looked like it survived a war, but it had no functional issues.
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Re: Bottom Ten Worst Synths of All Time
I would like to add Roland´s TR-505/626/MT-32 to my personal list, as well as the Siel Kiwi, the Roland Juno-106, Korg Poly 800, as well as the Kawai K4.
Yes, the CS80 is an overrated heap of dung.
Stephen
Yes, the CS80 is an overrated heap of dung.
Stephen
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- Hybrid88
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Re: Bottom Ten Worst Synths of All Time
See I have to disagree there, the Juno 106 is right up my alley, great synth.
And Pflosi if you want to hear me nitpick on some "amazing" synths, you better add the PPG Wave, Jupiter 8, Fairlight and Oberheim synths to my list of 'thanks but no thanks'. I am happy if others love them and I can definitely understand why, but personally I'm not keen to relive 80's music.

And Pflosi if you want to hear me nitpick on some "amazing" synths, you better add the PPG Wave, Jupiter 8, Fairlight and Oberheim synths to my list of 'thanks but no thanks'. I am happy if others love them and I can definitely understand why, but personally I'm not keen to relive 80's music.

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Re: Bottom Ten Worst Synths of All Time
Sure, go on writing the prices down
Quite a few synths on my wishlist mentioned here and that is even excluding all the high level stuff (and obviously a few posters were maybe a bit sarcastic...).
And do you really think all you can do with PPG, JP8, Fairlight and Obies is "80's music"?

And do you really think all you can do with PPG, JP8, Fairlight and Obies is "80's music"?
- Hybrid88
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Re: Bottom Ten Worst Synths of All Time
haha no I'm serious
I know they're nice machines but they're just not that useful for my style.
Put it this way, I'm yet to hear anything that really inspires or intrigues me regarding their usefulness in modern music that's not meant to sound retrospective. Believe me I've tried to like them, but it's just not happening. I'm always happy to be proven wrong.

I know they're nice machines but they're just not that useful for my style.
Yes, that's all I've heard them do really well.pflosi wrote:...And do you really think all you can do with PPG, JP8, Fairlight and Obies is "80's music"?
Put it this way, I'm yet to hear anything that really inspires or intrigues me regarding their usefulness in modern music that's not meant to sound retrospective. Believe me I've tried to like them, but it's just not happening. I'm always happy to be proven wrong.
