Expertise needed on finding a Synth

[Mrraggaton]

Hey guys,

I produce electronic music and am fairly new to hardware. My live set is currently; Microkorg XL, Yamaha CP & a SP-404. Iv'e been hunting for a larger synth (61 Key preferably) to be the workhorse in my live set, I tried my friends the Juno 106 but it felt a little too dry and didn't particularly suite my sound.

I've been looking at a lot of Dave Smiths recently and was wondering if anyone knows a cheaper alternative? or maybe a hustle/spot where I can get one for less than the huge price tag everywhere online.. lol.

It's this sound in particular (YouTube Video) I am desperate to find/re-create.



Please help

[ItsMeOnly]

Question #1: The demo presented here covers... ummm... about 98% of synths available on the market - both S+S, VA and analog, too. What is that you're really after?

[meatballfulton]

And...what's your budget?

[ninja6485]

It felt dry? Like, it didn't have effects dry?

[Mrraggaton]

Question #1: The demo presented here covers... ummm... about 98% of synths available on the market - both S+S, VA and analog, too. What is that you're really after?

I thought it was quite a simple sound lol, apologies I'm new. Literally nothing to flash, 61 keys, bread and butter synth. Onboard FX would be nice but not essential. Cheap but will still be strong and do the job, under £1000 if possible.

[Mrraggaton]

And...what's your budget?

Under £1000 if possible (will stretch if its the "one")

[Mrraggaton]

It felt dry? Like, it didn't have effects dry?

Kind of. I hooked it up with a verb pedal and some other s**t, but it just didn't give me the sound I wanted.

[micahjonhughes]

What about the lower end Sequential synths? A Prophet 600 might be at the top of your price range. It is a nice synth with the teensy upgrade. I've owned, but never been a big fan of, the MultiTrak/SixTrak/Split-8. But you might like them. They are all analog, but only one osc per voice and not the best user interface. If you consider the MultiTrak/SixTrak/Split-8, look at the Akai AX60 and 73, same voice architecture and the AX60 has a nice interface.

Other traditional alternatives to the Juno 106 are the Roland JX-3P and JX-8P (probably not a big enough sound difference for you) and the Korg PolySix.

[ninja6485]

If you're looking for a workhorse, I don't know if vintage analog is going to be the best choice. I relatively modern VA with a good keyboard is probably going to be your best bet.

You need a synth with at least two envelops, and basic velocity assignment and performance controls to recreate that patch the way they do in the video, which actually isn't too much to ask for in a modern VA. Will it sparkle and shine the way the P-6 does: maybe not, but you could do a pretty damn good job of nailing the sound, and get pretty close!

Look for the Alesis ion, the ultra nova, the Gaia maybe, possibly a virus if you can afford it, the radias, the JP-8000, or almost any other VA in that class. Again, pay attention how many envelops you get, and what kind of routing options you have.