Post
by SciNote » Fri Jun 04, 2021 4:20 am
Let me offer an alternative choice. Now, I know you are concerned about size when considering a desktop synth. My suggestion is a keyboard unit, which obviously would be much larger than a desktop synth. But if you are also considering keyboard synths, then for something brand new in the $300 (US) range, you may want to consider the Yamaha PSR-E463.
Yes, this is a "portable home keyboard", but before you laugh, consider the following. It has well over 600 built-in sounds, from basic saw and square waveforms, to strings, brass, and yes, choirs. And unlike most home keyboards, this keyboard has a resonant filter and an A/R envelope generator for the volume (amplifier). Any two sounds can be combined -- similar to a dual-VCO synth -- and each sound can have its own filter and envelope settings. The volume and octave can also be set separately for both sounds, giving you a very wide range of sounds. Chorusing (including flanger) and reverb can be added (with the levels independently adjustable for both sounds), and there is also a DSP feature with selections like phase shifter, rotary speaker, and distortion. And also unlike most home keyboards, there are two assignable knobs that can be set to adjust the filter, envelope generator, or other settings on the fly.
On top of that, there is an arpeggiator with 150 settings, and a harmony/echo feature that can give repeating and echo type effects.
There are various drum kits available (where each key is assigned a different drum), as well as a built-in drum machine. A basic six track, ~19000 note sequencer is also included.
On top of all of this, the keyboard can be split, and an independent sound can be assigned to the left hand (the filter and envelope are not available here, but volume, octave, reverb level, and chorus level can be adjusted), or it can be used for auto-accompaniment back-up styles. There is also a "DJ" mode that includes around 35 dance/DJ style patterns.
Of course, this is a stereo keyboard, with panning adjustments available, and it has a velocity sensitive keyboard, as well as a pitch-bend wheel. There are 32 registrations available, which are equivalent to synthesizer patch memories that allow most of the main parameters to be stored in a memory.
It's not perfect. Other than the pitch-bend wheel, there is essentially no control over bending the pitch, in that there is no LFO-effect for pitch (like vibrato) other than what is pre-programmed into some of the sounds, there is no pitch envelope generator, and there is no portamento. Also, please note that the successor to this keyboard, likely to be called the PSR-E473, will likely be released sometime this year, which may have additional features. But still, the PSR-E463 may be worth a look. The main keyboard in my personal set-up is the PSR-E433, which is one of the predecessors to the E463. I am no beginner, as I have been playing keyboard for over four decades, and I still find this keyboard very versatile and with a great sound even after owning it for over seven years.
