Tools and toys

[Idk Probly]

hi all, great forum. i'm sure these are regarded as toys by many synth heads, but i really love the Korg Monotrons. Not just the price or the anyone-can-do-this simplicity of them but the portability is key. Two AAAs, fits in your back pocket. i especially like playing the Duo (which is better for melodies) with one hand, through the Delay (controlling the effect with my other hand) while using my mouth on the Delay's speaker (for that wah wah, cheap talkbox effect). You can really put a lot of musicality and soul through these things,
But i know that with that low price, i can't expect a long lasting build quality. and maybe i should just buy two fresh trons and baby them. i want an instrument that will last a while: If i wanted to spend a little more, and didn't mind a little soldering, could i explore the playing style i mentioned above with something like a Shruthi? Something portable but more durable? What about the LittleBits synth kits that korg is coming out with soon? Any advice would be welcome

[ColorForm2113]

korg volca? monotron size with loads more flexibility and midi

[Walter Ego]

Also, form factor wise, this may be totally OT, but I just noticed that the footprint of the Volcas is only millimeters away from the Boss DR-110. Very convenient, as they play nicely together.

[Idk Probly]

thanks. the volca keys was already at the top of my list, maybe the bass too

[groy]

Shruthi-1's neat for sure, but you would need an external controller or sequencer to play it with. And IIRC you would have to go it your own to get it to power from a battery as that's not part of the kit.

[Percivale]

Dubreq Stylophone S2?

[Idk Probly]

yeah, i'm intrigued by that Stylophone S2 as well. Has a unique look and seems to be built like a little tank, too. But at that price, i''m looking at a Minibrute (probably a Micro first, maybe end up with both). But that's a different conversation. if i could plunk down $470 on this type of unit it definitely would be the S2. looks fun.

[Ashe37]

I really like my Volca Bass... which can do leads just fine, too

[Jay944]

I love Monotrons too ! This is the kind of things I like to do with these :

Monotron Duo & Strymon Timeline



Monotron and daw effects

[Psy_Free]

Teenage Engineering OP-1.

[genshi]

There are so many great choices these days... The Stylophone S2 can be a great synth when paired with the right gear. Here is a quick little video I did with my S2 running through the Waldorf MiniWorks 4-Pole Filter (because the S2 Filters on their own are kind of weak.)



If you have more then $500 to spend though, I too recommend the OP-1, best all around bang for the buck synth under $900 - 8 synth engines, 2 samplers, 4 types of sequencers, 4-track "tape" recorder, several effects, and an FM radio... all while being battery operated! Can't beat that!

[Idk Probly]

i have definitely been researching both the s2 and the OP 1. s2 wins on price, seems very tough built and fun to play with (although most of the demos i saw of people tweaking parameters, the different settings all sounded very similar). i like acid-y saw wave sounds, but i also want some clean triangle wave sounds too. maybe it has more than i saw. Need to do some more research.
the OP 1 i was ready to write off completely. Looks awesome, but the price... But actually after researching it some more i'm giving it some serious thought, and i think i might want one. the only thing bothering me is whether or not it makes sense in my setup. Rather than a DAW on my mac, i use the MV 8000, (which covers sampling, sequencing, drum programming, multitracking, and has analog modeling bass synth). So the OP 1 might seem a little redundant, maybe? OR maybe it would be a good addition for me, as a way to get into some of the grainy, digital, FM, glitchy lo fi 8 bit crush sounding stuff and import it right back into the MV.
Plus i miss my old Tascam 4 track, and the OP 1 reminds me of it. Sweden 2... UK 1.