Looking for new polyphonic analogue synth

[kraku]

I'm planning on buying a new polyphonic analogue synth. The only problem is that there doesn't seem to be many companies who still manufacture such beasts. What are my options?

I know the following manufacturers still make poly analogues:
Dave Smith Instruments
Studio Electronics
...and... that's it?!?

[RD9]

Does anyone really need anything beyond DSI?

[Sir Ruff]

I'm planning on buying a new polyphonic analogue synth. The only problem is that there doesn't seem to be many companies who still manufacture such beasts. What are my options?

I know the following manufacturers still make poly analogues:
Dave Smith Instruments
Studio Electronics
...and... that's it?!?

So if you've identified what you want, and the companies who make it (you forgot the alesis andromeda)... Not sure I see the issue (unless you want a VAST amount of choice that is )

[b3groover]

Seriously, what's wrong with those options? Just a few years ago NOBODY was making an analog poly synth.

[pflosi]

some more bizarre options:

- gotharman demoon
- vermona perfourmer
- stacking doepfer dark energy
- stacking voyagers

depends a bit on how many voices you want really. My favorite is the A6, no brainer. Though it's production has stopped now... another recently discontinued poly is the mfb polylite, which could be found 2nd hand too... and the jomox sunsyn of course

[kraku]

The reason I didn't list Alesis Andromeda A6 in the list (even though it sounds fabulous to my ears) is that they aren't manufactured anymore. I can't get a new one

Even though the DSI and SE poly synths are very capable, theres something in their sound character which doesn't please me enough to buy them. I think that the SE oscillators sound too "Moogish" to me. There's something in the DSIs filters that just doesn't inspire me enough I can't put my finger on it what it is, but it's there none the less.

That Vermona Perfourmer seems to have quite an interesting sound character which I like. My only concern is that if I want to play pads on it, do I have to program the same sound four times separately for each of the playing sounds? Can the synth go into some kind of "poly mode" so that I can just tweak one set of knobs and the tweaks will be replicated to the other playing sounds? I want to use this synth mainly for pads and such, so I want the sound editing to be as easy and fast as possible.

Stacking of mono synths isn't an option for me since it makes designing pad sounds a slow process.

[Villi]

I think the demoon is entirely digital?

[meatballfulton]

The Perfourmer is not a good choice to use as a polysynth. It has lots of limitations compared to the others you are looking into.

Not only do you have to program and tune each voice individually, it has very limited modulation options (less than a Juno for pete's sake) and no patch memories.

I've owned two, but always used them as multiple monosynths. The poly functionality is like a bonus feature, not the main thrust of the unit.

[RD9]

some more bizarre options:

- gotharman demoon
- vermona perfourmer
- stacking doepfer dark energy
- stacking voyagers

depends a bit on how many voices you want really. My favorite is the A6, no brainer. Though it's production has stopped now... another recently discontinued poly is the mfb polylite, which could be found 2nd hand too... and the jomox sunsyn of course

Stacking? It's possible to chain Dark Energys into a polysynth? How do you do that?

[AnalogKid]

Are you talking real analog or are you including VA synths in your inquiry?

[kraku]

Just real poly analogues please. No VAs. I've decided that my computer shall handle the VA stuff.

[paugui]

The reason I didn't list Alesis Andromeda A6 in the list (even though it sounds fabulous to my ears) is that they aren't manufactured anymore. I can't get a new one

Are they really out of production or are the new ones only coming around christmas like in last year?

I was thinking of buying one when the next batch comes, but if there is no next batch... I might think of another option too...

[pflosi]

some more bizarre options:

- gotharman demoon
- vermona perfourmer
- stacking doepfer dark energy
- stacking voyagers

depends a bit on how many voices you want really. My favorite is the A6, no brainer. Though it's production has stopped now... another recently discontinued poly is the mfb polylite, which could be found 2nd hand too... and the jomox sunsyn of course

Stacking? It's possible to chain Dark Energys into a polysynth? How do you do that?

With a polyphonic Midi-CV Interface.

http://www.doepfer.de/A1115.htm

Last application example on that page, all the way on the bottom...

Someone on here did a 3-voice voyager once, with 2 RMEs. I think it was CZ Rider... With midi it's no problem, obviously...

[pricklyrobot]

With a polyphonic Midi-CV Interface.

Well, yeah, but a polyphonic Midi-CV interface can turn any stack of analog monos into a poly.

The Dark Energy specifically has a feature that allows you to chain 2 or more of them together (without any additional gear) and achieve polyphony.

From the Dark Energy page: "cascading of several units via internal Midi Out/Midi In connection, because of shortage of space the unit has no Midi Out socket available this connection has to be established internally, for this the metal case has a hole on both sides so that the Midi Out/In connection can be made via this hole provided that both units are mounted to one another, the Midi Out has Midi Thru function with one exception: the signal does not include the Midi note messages that have been processed already, consequently polyphonic cascading (all daisy-chained Dark Energies on the same Midi channel) or monophonic cascading (different Midi channels) is possible, it's possible to connect only the first unit to USB and pass on the Midi data via the internal Midi link to other devices)"

[pflosi]

yep, otherwise I could have listed every modular