small synth with arp?

giorgio · Post by **giorgio** » Thu Apr 07, 2011 6:44 pm

I'm looking for a small synth to use live. my requirements are few:
-small: it has to be small to fit in my violin case next to my MPC1000
-midi: has to have midi so the MPC can play it
-arp: has to have an arpeggiator that syncs to midi clock
-controls: has to have at least some controls. best would be arp controls and maybe decay time for the filter envelope at least. no computer will be available to program something like a nord micromodular.
-pots, not encoders: encoders no thanks. otherwise I'd just get a mopho and call it a day
-cheapish: i can probably spend around $300 (or less??)

EDIT: needs to have a control for gate time, percentage of clock or whatever. MS-2000 has a knob, but CC would be okay if all else fails.

analog or digital is okay, mono or poly is fine (poly is better so notes can overhang when needed) a kit is fine

so far the only thing I have found is the Shruthi-1, which seems fit for the challenge. the mopho seems to have encoders, I don't think I can program the micromodular even at home given the OSX computer I have.

anyone have any other suggestions?

edit: not looking for a keyboard. looking for something tabletop, not rackmount, and small like the shruti-1 or as big as the sh-32 but no bigger or else it isn't worth getting. I'm trying to get smaller gear for live shows.

nuketifromorbit · Post by **nuketifromorbit** » Thu Apr 07, 2011 8:00 pm

giorgio wrote:I don't think I can program the micromodular even at home given the OSX computer I have.

anyone have any other suggestions?

There is a free third party editor for the modular g1 series called nomad that should work with osx. Keep in mind the g1 series do not have a true arpeggiator.

giorgio · Post by **giorgio** » Thu Apr 07, 2011 8:06 pm

nuketifromorbit wrote:
giorgio wrote:I don't think I can program the micromodular even at home given the OSX computer I have.

anyone have any other suggestions?
There is a free third party editor for the modular g1 series called nomad that should work with osx. Keep in mind the g1 series do not have a true arpeggiator.

oh word thanks. I'll probably have to skip the nord then. I think the SH-32 might have my name all over it though

Hugo76 · Post by **Hugo76** » Thu Apr 07, 2011 8:06 pm

How about a second hand Novation Nova desktop?

giorgio · Post by **giorgio** » Thu Apr 07, 2011 8:15 pm

Hugo76 wrote:How about a second hand Novation Nova desktop?

looks cool but I think it is too wide. I should have mentioned in my original post that anything approaching rackmount width is just too wide. otherwise i'd pick up a cheap MS2000R. thanks though

nogginj · Post by **nogginj** » Thu Apr 07, 2011 8:38 pm

was going to suggest sh-32.

bear in mind, while it does use real pots, the filter definitely steps if you pay attention you can hear it.
in the mix, i doubt it would be noticeable, but that's for you to decide.
sh-32 is really a lot of bang for your buck.

Hugo76 · Post by **Hugo76** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 12:41 am

giorgio wrote:
Hugo76 wrote:How about a second hand Novation Nova desktop?
looks cool but I think it is too wide. I should have mentioned in my original post that anything approaching rackmount width is just too wide. otherwise i'd pick up a cheap MS2000R. thanks though

Hmm, as I remember from the one I used to own, it wasn't very wide. SH-32 is probably also great for your needs, but you probably should take another look at the Nova.

krushing · Post by **krushing** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 9:19 am

Doepfer Dark Energy? I haven't touched the arp on mine, though - it seems a bit fiddly and I sequence it from Live anyway so can't say anything about that. Otherwise it seems to fit the spec pretty well...

zoomtheline · Post by **zoomtheline** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 11:13 am

What about a Waldorf Pulse? might just be small enought to fit it the neck of your violin case.

TheKeytarist · Post by **TheKeytarist** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 12:11 am

Novation A-station? Even smaller than the Waldorf pulse...

giorgio · Post by **giorgio** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 12:16 am

i think if I am gonna go rack width I will just use the ms-2000R. i gotta be able to put this on a table (keyboard stand with board probably) for live. I think i am gonna stick with the MS-2000 i have for now since I like it and realize that the arp gate time control is important to my workflow.

nuketifromorbit · Post by **nuketifromorbit** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 5:03 am

krushing wrote:Doepfer Dark Energy? I haven't touched the arp on mine, though - it seems a bit fiddly and I sequence it from Live anyway so can't say anything about that. Otherwise it seems to fit the spec pretty well...

Getting the arp to work is a bit tricky and involves using midi program change. I can't believe no ones mentioned the micro korg yet.

Post by **Stab Frenzy** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 6:18 am

nuketifromorbit wrote:I can't believe no ones mentioned the micro korg yet.

It's not small enough and the arpeggiator doesn't sync to midi clock properly.

giorgio · Post by **giorgio** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 6:29 am

Stab Frenzy wrote:
nuketifromorbit wrote:I can't believe no ones mentioned the micro korg yet.
It's not small enough and the arpeggiator doesn't sync to midi clock properly.

It doesn't? Not the I'm getting a microkorg again but that is odd seeing as the ms-2000 syncs perfectly to midi clock.

Post by **Stab Frenzy** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 7:06 am

MS2000B does, the original one doesn't.

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