At the extreme end 'guitar' effect boxes can be a lot more imaginative and addictive than synths - I just got a devi ever 'bit mangler' and a dwarfcraft 'great destroyer' in one day! Both of these can really be electronic insturments in their own right as they'll chew into any dull old signal and ev...

The JP8000's keyboard is not its strongest point and I think you'll get some much nicer midi keyboards with aftertouch and square touch pads, better key action and whatnot for much less than the JP8000 costs, BUT it has a sound of its own that I think you'll find hard to replace, so I'd hang on for ...

I had a sh101, but never really liked it and don,t feel it's so special - just been used a lot. I'v still got a Mono/poly and while i agree it's hard to find a place for, its still a glorious and unique synth. Once you get into the glitchy poly function with the 4 oscillators firing on different not...

I,v got a 405, which is the large keyboard version of the mt65. This is a really great instrument because it has strong tones, which feed well through effect boxes (and good amps) . That,s what the funny little grid thing speaker is for - putting your effect box on top! A mini kaos pad is rather nic...

Dear Mr Tallowaters. Sorry but I feel bad if I infer people are calling me stupid. I'm sure you don't want to upset anyone. Anyway to the question in hand. You're probably right about trying harder. I'll try some more programming soon and use your suggestion about keeping the parameter sheet to hand...

Yeah I'll go for the RM1X - I'v got no problem with something like the DJX if its cheap - then its a fun toy. But the RM1X is serious. I used one quite a bit before my ears had got more tuned in to what a good synth sound can be like. Its just got wishy washy sounds in it. They aren't bad in themsel...

It's great but frustrating. Got a good sharp fat sound to it and a wonderful expressive keyboard - great aftertouch and two mod wheels = THE LOG. Yeah its a bass synth as its meant to be. But its built badly - the output sockets crackle and fail. And i think there's another major wear and tear issue...

I use an EPS quite a bit. But wouldn't say its got great filters. Not say compared to what you'd find in a Mono/Poly or SQ80. But that's not really important as the EPS really shines in other ways - its great for easy vocal sampling and using its capacities more fully creates some really evocative l...

I'm really enjoying the touchpad on my new JP8000 and also really like the mini kaos pad. I wanted to know more about these - how they work, what synths etc use them, stand alone touchpad midi things? and what other people thpought of them as a means of expression. Cheers!

The thread about which synths get abused, set me thinking about the frequently depressing thing where you buy an old synth and it has no user created sounds in it. This happens to me a lot. I like it in the sense that i feel like the first owner. But generally its a depressing thing. So what synths ...

I agree about the Roland thing. I notice here that there's a hype arround Roland synths - as in display the logo on stage. Some lucky synths get to spend their life in a studio and not part of a rock band tour. Also maybe the more complex the synth and if its orientated to recording rather than live...

I'm not good with interfaces - but as far as casio keyboards go.... run it through a mini kaos pad into a good amp.... ah! that's more like it. Also I discovered the ct6000 casiotone recently - has basic afertouch (volume swell) even and is the best of all the casiotones as far as I'm concerned. Ano...

The Sigma was one of the first synths i bought, and when i knew next to nothing. It must be one of the wierdest designs there is and at the time I probably thought, "ah cool! so this is what a synth is!" I must confess it doesn't get a great deal of use these days and I even thought of selling it, b...

That's a strong statement! Though I agree about the value of learning as much as you can about the architecture. But I'm quite prepared to go slowly and enjoy playing as i go. Its not like i have a test to pass on how VAST works. For me synths are two things - instruments to enjoy playing, and certa...

I'v been playing my new K2000 a lot the last few days - and managing to get to some nice places without the manual. I suppose I'm tweaking "by ear", and so far I'm happy. Though the negative comments from more experienced users worries me. My main quibble at the moment is that I'm getting tired of h...