Monophonics

immigrantboy · Post by **immigrantboy** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 5:34 am

I'm starting to ask those deep questions about synthesizers...

Do you find monophonic synthesizers more appealing? And if so, why? I notice when I play keys, I usually only hit one note at a time, especially when I'm tweaking something. It totally works for me since I mostly do basslines anyway. I think a mono would work better for me. Usually when I'm finding my sound and setting my headroom level, I only play one note, then when I play a chord, the sound gets too loud. Do you guys find anything frustrating about monophonic instruments, or polyphony?

Its a good thing I'm getting a mono (Korg Micropreset)! Can't wait :)

9mm · Post by **9mm** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 6:04 am

i never really got this question. mono vs poly? analogue vs digital? do you like the sound or can you use whats there?
only reason i see to get a monophonic synth is if i like the timber of that PARTICULAR synth. otherwise, i can just play my polys with one finger , viola! mono!

immigrantboy · Post by **immigrantboy** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 6:05 am

I can't. My fingers are too clumsy >.> I try though

9mm · Post by **9mm** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 6:12 am

mine too. thankfully a sequencer can make my stuff half listenable

GeneralBigbag · Post by **GeneralBigbag** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 6:44 am

immigrantboy wrote:I'm starting to ask those deep questions about synthesizers...
Do you find monophonic synthesizers more appealing? And if so, why?

It's more about instruments in general.
I find I prefer monophonic instruments (or instruments that are generally played monophonically) to polyphonic ones. I think it's harder to put a lot of expression into a chord. It probably goes back to the idea that instruments are intended to copy of the expressiveness (not the sound/timbre necessarily) of the human voice as instrument.

Post by **Stab Frenzy** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 6:45 am

I have a monophonic synth (MEK) and a poly (V-Synth). I really like the Evolver but it's because of what I can do with it and how it sounds, not just because it's a mono. However, because it's got real analogue oscs and filters I can afford the mono version but not the poly, so I like the mono cause I could afford to get one.

I think a lot of the patches I make wouldn't work too well if played polyphonically, but sometimes I wish I could use some of them to play chords. I can live with it though.

With the V-Synth I use it in mono mode sometimes, like with a couple of bass and lead patches that don't work polyphonically. Mono mode means I don't have to worry about the tail of one note clashing with the next one, which is better than just playing a polysynth with one finger.

So there are aspects of monosynths I find appealing (Real analogue synths need a lot of components per voice, so a mono version is cheaper) but as 9mm said it's about the sound of the synth more than the fact that it's mono.

Tyler2000 · Post by **Tyler2000** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 8:52 am

I like monos (or mono mode polys) with knobs/sliders because you just play differently then. It becomes much more expressive with one hand on the keys and one of the controls. That's not to say polys don't have thier place, but if I had to pick I would go mono.

crystalmsc · Post by **crystalmsc** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 10:47 am

I like both but a fan of a decent mono synth. they usually designed for sounding best like that. from the craftmanship, electronic component, interface, etc..are designed specifically to optimizing that single voice.

hageir · Post by **hageir** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 12:37 pm

the worst synths in history are mono;
the SH-101
the TB-303
the Minimoog
etc.

(bringing the prices down, 24/7, since 1998)

OriginalJambo · Post by **OriginalJambo** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 1:38 pm

There's no denying that mono and poly synths have a different feel to them. Polyphony is useful, but so is a good analogue mono - of course a classically trained piano player may disagree.

pricklyrobot · Post by **pricklyrobot** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 4:22 pm

GeneralBigbag wrote:
immigrantboy wrote:I'm starting to ask those deep questions about synthesizers...
Do you find monophonic synthesizers more appealing? And if so, why?
It's more about instruments in general.
I find I prefer monophonic instruments (or instruments that are generally played monophonically) to polyphonic ones. I think it's harder to put a lot of expression into a chord. It probably goes back to the idea that instruments are intended to copy of the expressiveness (not the sound/timbre necessarily) of the human voice as instrument.

Poly-synths aren't just about playing chords though, sometimes it's nice to have some controllable overlap between notes when you're playing a melody or bassline. Then again, the note cut-off effect you get on a mono when you hold down one and then another key can be quite useful as well, and impossible to duplicate on a poly that doesn't have a mono mode.

So yeah, each has it's uses and their uses aren't always just monos for one-fingered/one-handed playing (I frequently have all ten fingers on the keys of a mono) and polys for chords.

immigrantboy · Post by **immigrantboy** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 7:43 pm

True. Sometimes when I stretch my pinky I hit two notes by accident. The overlap on polys is kind of annoying when I try to play monophonic, but more subtle than the retrigger of monos.

I guess I just ask because it seems parallel with the whole analog/digital debate (which makes sense considering alot of the early poly analogs had DCOs). But I ramble.

ned-ryarson · Post by **ned-ryarson** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 6:24 pm

this is really obvious. but the main advantage i get from monos is being able to have the release on the amp env as long as i want and still being able to play fast leads because the notes dont sustain on top of one another, it keeps the melody tidy.

for me, monos are crutial for leads and bass

Johnny Lenin · Post by **Johnny Lenin** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 8:01 pm

GeneralBigbag wrote:I think it's harder to put a lot of expression into a chord.

I'm not sure I understand your reasoning -- could you explain?

In any case, polyphonic instruments play more than chords. I mean, it's hard to play counterpoint on a monophonic instrument.

Post by **Solderman** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 9:12 pm

For the studio environment, I think alot of the choice of poly versus mono has to do with how many notes you can keep track of vertically in your head and also be able to play in multi-tracked sessions.
If you can handle the note tracking mentally, you can treat chords in the same way monophonic orchestral instruments play them, or play them all at once for convenience and time's sake. Most people do not possess this gift though, and must play out the harmonies simultanesouly, thus need at least one polyphonic instrument.

Playing live, even for basslines and melodies, I think duophonic is a better compromise, as you sometimes still need harmony for emphasis or transitions.

Monophonics

Monophonics

Re: Monophonics

Re: Monophonics

Re: Monophonics