That's right; I'm seriously asking for rompler advice on a synth-geek site. I have standards, of course: even though I'm looking for something based around presets, most-if not all-of its parameters must be editable and it must have some realtime knobs for filter and envelope control...my price range is around 700 USD. 61 keys and nothing older than the mid to late 90s.
The ones that have seemed the most appealing so far:
Korg N5
Korg KARMA
Korg M50
Roland RS-5
Roland Juno-D/Di
E-Mu PK-6 Proteus Keys
Yamaha MX61
Thoughts?
Recommend me a good ROMpler
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synthroom
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Re: Recommend me a good ROMpler
Roland JD-800. It's got a few more knobs and sliders than your minimum requirement.
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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Ashe37
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Re: Recommend me a good ROMpler
Korg Triton
Roland Juno G (not Gi)
Roland Fantom or Fantom S
Roland Juno G (not Gi)
Roland Fantom or Fantom S
Re: Recommend me a good ROMpler
I used to have a Yamaha cs6x which was quite good. Expandable as well.
I think I would try o find a cheap Korg Triton, though, if I were you
I think I would try o find a cheap Korg Triton, though, if I were you
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rhino
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Re: Recommend me a good ROMpler
Welcome to the board!
I'm a fan of the old Alesis QS series. Nice sounds, good effects, able to split and layer, etc.
I've seen QS6.1s go for under $300.00.
I'm a fan of the old Alesis QS series. Nice sounds, good effects, able to split and layer, etc.
I've seen QS6.1s go for under $300.00.
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silikon
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Re: Recommend me a good ROMpler
Quasimidi Sirius. You forget it's a rompler; it's quite fun to use and the sequencing and core soundsets are really well done.
Korg Karma. Expandable, predictable soundsets, but expandable, and has a wealth of shaping options that were and still are quite interesting.
Korg Karma. Expandable, predictable soundsets, but expandable, and has a wealth of shaping options that were and still are quite interesting.
echo 1 > /dev/awesome
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Ashe37
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Re: Recommend me a good ROMpler
I'd go with a Triton over a Karma simply because of the sampler ability.silikon wrote:Quasimidi Sirius. You forget it's a rompler; it's quite fun to use and the sequencing and core soundsets are really well done.
Korg Karma. Expandable, predictable soundsets, but expandable, and has a wealth of shaping options that were and still are quite interesting.
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meatballfulton
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Re: Recommend me a good ROMpler
Yamaha MX61 is editable but only with software. I'm not crazy about that approach, I have owned hardware that outlasted the computers needed for editing! It's plastic with a very light key action (no aftertouch), good if you need something light for gigging but feels "cheap" compared to some others mentioned here. It does have USB audio/MIDI interfacing which older machines don't, useful for home studio or gigging with a laptop.
If you look at used machines you can probably find used Motif (original), Motif ES or MO for $700 all of which have better build quality, better keyboards and can be fully edited without a computer. The sound engines though are of an earlier generation than the MX, which has the sound engine of the Motif XS.
Reasons to buy Yamaha: pianos, e-pianos and acoustic emulations are much better than competition, more/better real time control features.
Reasons not to buy Yamaha: weakest synth engine in terms of modulation options.
If you look at used machines you can probably find used Motif (original), Motif ES or MO for $700 all of which have better build quality, better keyboards and can be fully edited without a computer. The sound engines though are of an earlier generation than the MX, which has the sound engine of the Motif XS.
Reasons to buy Yamaha: pianos, e-pianos and acoustic emulations are much better than competition, more/better real time control features.
Reasons not to buy Yamaha: weakest synth engine in terms of modulation options.
I listened to Hatfield and the North at Rainbow. They were very wonderful and they made my heart a prisoner.
Re: Recommend me a good ROMpler
Me too. Plus you can always get the Karma for Triton software if you really want this functionalityAshe37 wrote: I'd go with a Triton over a Karma simply because of the sampler ability.
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Ashe37
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Re: Recommend me a good ROMpler
(and its on sale, or at least was)Hugo76 wrote:Me too. Plus you can always get the Karma for Triton software if you really want this functionalityAshe37 wrote: I'd go with a Triton over a Karma simply because of the sampler ability.
(KARMA for Triton dopes not work on current OSX)
Re: Recommend me a good ROMpler
That is definately something to consider when it comes to software.Ashe37 wrote: (KARMA for Triton dopes not work on current OSX)
Personally, though, I'd prefer having dedicated arp's in the synth, instead of Karma.
Triton has dual arp's
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meatballfulton
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Re: Recommend me a good ROMpler
Of the Korgs in your list, definitely M50 because it is the newest/has the most up to date sound engine.
I listened to Hatfield and the North at Rainbow. They were very wonderful and they made my heart a prisoner.
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Ashe37
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Re: Recommend me a good ROMpler
Hugo76 wrote:That is definately something to consider when it comes to software.Ashe37 wrote: (KARMA for Triton dopes not work on current OSX)
Personally, though, I'd prefer having dedicated arp's in the synth, instead of Karma.
Triton has dual arp's
Its a matter of personal preference. KARMA can do so much more than an arp... but has a little less immediacy. (as a note, i have owned a KARMA keyboard and now have an M3)
Re: Recommend me a good ROMpler
So do you have a QS6 yourself? I have a QS7, but have done very little with altering the presets. I kind of prefer to just use what is there and do most of my synthesis on something else. Nice keyboard, I agree. I might try hooking it up to my laptop sometime, but that requires buying a serial cable to USB.rhino wrote:Welcome to the board!
I'm a fan of the old Alesis QS series. Nice sounds, good effects, able to split and layer, etc.
I've seen QS6.1s go for under $300.00.
Re: Recommend me a good ROMpler
I must admit I haven't really had the time to understand how to program the Karma engine. But afaik it's not really doable on the M3 itself, it must be done via the software - which I don't like. But I'll give it another go latr this summerAshe37 wrote: Its a matter of personal preference. KARMA can do so much more than an arp... but has a little less immediacy. (as a note, i have owned a KARMA keyboard and now have an M3)