Sorry- Another 'What should I Pick Thread' Albeit Researched

[Paul00]

Hello Eveyone,

Well I'm sorry to annoy you all for advice, but have done alot of reading on this site and others and am still undecided.

Anyway, I'm interested in playing 80s synth-pop type stuff like: Depeche Mode, Human League, Numan etc etc. I also want something which I won't get bored with programming after a week. I am completely new to synths, but have a musical background.

So I have found a guy who is selling all of his equipment which has been sitting in his home studio for the past 10 years or so. Everything is in good condition and has original manuals, nothing gigged etc etc. My options are pretty much as follows:

(Australian Dollars)
Yamaha DX7 - $495
Korg Poly 800 - $375 ($425 reverse keys)
Roland Juno 1 - 475
Roland JX-8P - 575

I was initially going to go for the DX7, I had a fiddle with this for about an hour and was pretty happy, but I've read that it's a little thin sounding. I then decided upon the poly-800, but I'm not sure if it's worth the asking price. Both the Rolands sound good, I haven't fiddled too much with them, but have read that changes made whilst programming don't occur instantaneously, making them quite tedious to program.

If anyone is from Australia, what do you think of the prices? I don't think you can just convert these prices into US to compare as the market for second hand synths is quite small from my experiences. I know I'm paying about $100-$150 more with these than I would on an Ebay auction, (even more for the poly800) but I know these synths definitely work 100%.

Anyway I don't have tons of money to spend (am a student) and want to get something that's fun, sounds good and will be a good introduction into the wonderful (I hope) world of synthesizers.

Any advice would be much appreciated, thanks.

PS - I read here that guitar amps aren't well suited to synths. This is all I've got at the moment, so if I use one, will it sound like complete s**t?

[cartesia]

it'll be ok while you just use a guitar amp, but any synth patch you program will sound different on a different amp or speaker system, because the guitar amp colours the tone..
eg your amp might make things sound bassy, so if you play on a system that is 'neutral' it will sound like your patches have no bass, because the bass was coming from the amp's 'interpretation' of the synth, not the synth patch itself.

[i_watch_stars]

I'm assuming you mean the Juno 106?

Although you say you had fun while fiddling with the DX7 (this could mean you have some sort of talent with FM), I would go with an analog subtractive style synth for your first. Besides, this is mostly what comes to mind when I think of the artists you mentioned. You can always go to the dark side of the force later on, because FM synths are basically given away.

I would skip the Juno 106. You WILL get bored "programming" the Juno 106 after a week, a gaurantee you; its about as simple as they get (but supposedly sound fatter than the JXs, the VCO vs DCO arguement). The JX and the Poly are two good synths to choose between and will give you those 80's analog sounds. A lot of people on this board go nuts over JXs so get ready.

Good luck..

[Stab Frenzy]

I'm from Melbourne and those prices are a bit on the high side, even high by ebay standards. Poly-800's regularly go for $250-$300, DX-7's $300-$400.

You mean the Alpha Juno 1 right, not the 106? I haven't seen many for sale but that looks like an OK price for one.

If you had fun playing with the DX then get that. Screw what you read on the internet, maybe you have a different idea of what thin is. Maybe you aren't one of those people who think that fatter is better. If you liked it, then go for it. Don't end up one of those vintage nuts that j**k off over wooden endcheeks and the letters V-C-O.

Buy a synth you like and play it, start a band, play at peoples parties and get free booze.

i watch stars: the 106 is DCO not VCO. Have you actually played one? If not then maybe think twice about offering advice.

[CS_TBL]

A DX7 is as thin or as fat as it is programmed. Hook it up to an effect device and you could have instant fatness. Disable effects in alternative synths (chorus, detune with another osc, echo, reverb etc.) and see how much remains.. thin'ness and fatness are up to the sounddesigner.

And $450 is way overkill!

[Stab Frenzy]

And $450 is way overkill!

Things have different prices in Australia, and we use Australian Dollars, which aren't worth the same as American Dollars.

[nathanscribe]

My first proper synth was a Juno (6) and I did most certainly NOT get bored programming it. Even after 17 years, I still love the Juno sound and interface. They were very popular with 80s acts, the Juno series, and though there are some notable differences between the models, any one of them should provide you with good a synthpop palette.

The DX would also do the job nicely, though programming any FM synth is more involved and requires a different mindset to analogue subtractive.

Having never used a JX, I can't comment on it, but I do have a Poly 800, and although it's got a different sound to the others, it's less interesting than them, and that money could be better spent elsewhere.

Having said that, listen to Stabs - trust your ears, your hands and your own opinion.

[CS_TBL]

And $450 is way overkill!

Things have different prices in Australia, and we use Australian Dollars, which aren't worth the same as American Dollars.

Even then, according to xe.com 450 Australian dollars equals 272 euros, I payed 180 for mine, some years ago, and I certainly don't think it's worth 180 today. No matter the name and fame it has, musictechnology has advanced, I'd rate it between 100..150 euros, depending on the state.

[Paul00]

Thanks for the advice guys.

CS_TBL:

I don't think you can just convert these prices into US to compare as the market for second hand synths is quite small from my experiences.

[Paul00]

And it's a Alpha Juno 1 not a 106, sorry.

[crystalmsc]

I'm interested in playing 80s synth-pop type stuff like: Depeche Mode, Human League, Numan etc etc. I also want something which I won't get bored with programming after a week. I am completely new to synths, but have a musical background.

for some additional consideration, actually out of those selection, the JX8P got my vote for what you are looking. it have a nice 2 oscs subtractive engine which can be flexible enough and easier to program than FM, specially when you got the PG-800 later. For those price, you want to try your luck if the deal is including this controller or not. Also, I remember that Human League used to be a fan of the JX series (specially the JX-10 which actually a double JX-8P) and it also being used by Depeche Mode and Gary Numan. at least for that price make sure that it's in a perfect condition.

Anyway I don't have tons of money to spend (am a student) and want to get something that's fun, sounds good and will be a good introduction into the wonderful (I hope) world of synthesizers.

with a pc editor or a PG-800, again the JX would be a good introduction to the synthesis. Also with the analog VCF filter, it could be easier to nail that warm and fat/unison sounds of the DCO synth of the 80's. plus the keyboard have an aftertouch.

I was initially going to go for the DX7, I had a fiddle with this for about an hour and was pretty happy, but I've read that it's a little thin sounding. I then decided upon the poly-800, but I'm not sure if it's worth the asking price. Both the Rolands sound good, I haven't fiddled too much with them, but have read that changes made whilst programming don't occur instantaneously, making them quite tedious to program.

But if you really like the DX-7, get it. it have so much banks collection on the net that it's almost worth to get it as a preset synth whenever you need a breath from the FM programming. the other two synths are also good synths. but I'd opt for the JX over both as I'm a MKS-70 huge fan.

[MrFrodo]

I've never played a Poly-800 or an Alpha Juno, but I've used both the JX-8p and the DX7. I'd flip a coin. Each gives an independently pleasurable experience.

[OriginalJambo]

I must say that none of those synths are good for learning subtractive or even FM synthesis. Not knobby enough for a newbie really.

However if you are after the sounds and not a hands on synth the DX7 and JX-8P are worth a good look. The DX7 is bright and sort of metallic sounding a lot of the time but is capable of a vast range of sounds. Remember there's a huge library of sounds online that you can download for free.

The JX-8P I haven't played but hear good things about. Should be lush analogue and the strings and pads in particular are supposed to be excellent.

Play both and compare to be sure.

Still couldn't you buy a decent VA like an Ion or MS2000? That'd probably make your first experiences with synthesis a lot more rewarding.

[MrFrodo]

Yes, the JX is lush. And if you get it with the PG-800 programmer, it actually CAN be a good teaching tool. Anyway, that's how I learned how to tweak a VCF.

I'd think that if you're looking for an educational FM instrument, the only one that ever existed was the Crumar GDS with all those programming sliders and knobs. (Unless there's a cheaper one out there.)

[JSRockit]

I'd think that if you're looking for an educational FM instrument, the only one that ever existed was the Crumar GDS with all those programming sliders and knobs. (Unless there's a cheaper one out there.)

The Yamaha DX200 has alot of knobs as well.