Looking for new polyphonic analogue synth
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- kraku
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Looking for new polyphonic analogue synth
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?!?
I know the following manufacturers still make poly analogues:
Dave Smith Instruments
Studio Electronics
...and... that's it?!?
Misspellers of the world, unit!
Re: Looking for new polyphonic analogue synth
Does anyone really need anything beyond DSI? 

- Sir Ruff
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Re: Looking for new polyphonic analogue synth
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 iskraku wrote: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?!?

Do you even post on vse bro?
- b3groover
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Re: Looking for new polyphonic analogue synth
Seriously, what's wrong with those options? Just a few years ago NOBODY was making an analog poly synth.
-|- THEO - modern prog rock-|-
-|- In Memorandom - electronic/ambient solo CD -|-
-|- organissimo - jazz with soul -|-
-|- In Memorandom - electronic/ambient solo CD -|-
-|- organissimo - jazz with soul -|-
- pflosi
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Re: Looking for new polyphonic analogue synth
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
- 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
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Re: Looking for new polyphonic analogue synth
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.

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

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.
Misspellers of the world, unit!
- Villi
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Re: Looking for new polyphonic analogue synth
I think the demoon is entirely digital?
- meatballfulton
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Re: Looking for new polyphonic analogue synth
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.
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.
I listened to Hatfield and the North at Rainbow. They were very wonderful and they made my heart a prisoner.
Re: Looking for new polyphonic analogue synth
Stacking? It's possible to chain Dark Energys into a polysynth? How do you do that?pflosi wrote: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
Re: Looking for new polyphonic analogue synth
Are you talking real analog or are you including VA synths in your inquiry?
- kraku
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Re: Looking for new polyphonic analogue synth
Just real poly analogues please. No VAs. I've decided that my computer shall handle the VA stuff.
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Re: Looking for new polyphonic analogue synth
kraku wrote: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
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Re: Looking for new polyphonic analogue synth
With a polyphonic Midi-CV Interface.RD9 wrote:Stacking? It's possible to chain Dark Energys into a polysynth? How do you do that?pflosi wrote: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
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
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Re: Looking for new polyphonic analogue synth
Well, yeah, but a polyphonic Midi-CV interface can turn any stack of analog monos into a poly.pflosi wrote:With a polyphonic Midi-CV Interface.
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)"
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- pflosi
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Re: Looking for new polyphonic analogue synth
yep, otherwise I could have listed every modular 
