Sound module for cold wave sound

[F-DurMacher]

Hello everybody,

I am totally new in synths, and I'd like to get post-punk sounds for my band. Firstly, the purpose is live music, even though we might get to have to record some material.

The kind of sound I'm looking for is cold emulation of strings, such as what can be heard in bands like Joy Division, Magazine, The Teardrop Explodes, Echo and the Bunnymen and so on. To be clear, I do not mean to sound exactly like that, but this is basically the way.

I already have a keyboard, i.e. a Yamaha DX 21 with a MIDI out, so I am just looking for a sound module to put between the keyboard and the amp or the mix table. A large choice of sounds would be great, as we're not only into cold wave. For instance, Farfisa-like or Moog-like sounds would also fit according to the songs. As for the Hammond-like sound, it is okay : we already have an Oberheim OB3.

My price limit is around 200€-250€.

Sorry for my English, and for asking hardcore-newbie questions, and thank you very much for answering.

All the best

F-DurMacher

[Ashe37]

Roland Juno or JX3P/8P

Edit: oh, you said "module"-

MKS-30

[monolith]

I'd definitely check out the Akai SG01v vintage sound module, It has a lot (128 or 256) of sampled synth sounds - moog bass and leads, Prophet 5 Pads, ARP etc.
It also has string samples from the ARP Omni, the keyboard used by Joy Division on Love Will Tear Us Apart
You'd just have to plug in your DX21 and you're set. Apparently there's also a software editor so you can change things up a bit too.


You should be able to find one fairly cheap, I got mine for free.

If you cant find any demos of it, PM me, and I'll try sort something out for you.


Edit: Here is a List of most of the patches - With Demos!!

http://www.synthmania.com/sg01v.htm

Bank 00 Patch 110 is the Omni..

[F-DurMacher]

Thank you very much to all for replying so fast !

These modules look interesting, indeed. Seems like it will be a big time finding one of these in France, since it is no recent material. I saw some products abroad, but I didn't find any with international postage yet.

I guess I will need a good sound card to transfer the patches to the module, right ?

Thank you

[krzeppa]

I like the options that were listed so far myself. If I'm not mistaken, I think that Joy Division might have used an Yamaha SK10, but that doesn't do you any good because it has keys.
I was thinking maybe checking out the Yamaha TX802, Roland U220, or the Evolution EVS-1. They can do strings, pianos, etc. The kind that the Bunnymen and Joy Division used.

[F-DurMacher]

All right, I'll take a look, thanks.

By the way, what about Alesis Nanosynth ? I saw a good review on VSE's synth finder. Would it fit for cold wave sounds ?

Thank you

[krzeppa]

All right, I'll take a look, thanks.

By the way, what about Alesis Nanosynth ? I saw a good review on VSE's synth finder. Would it fit for cold wave sounds ?

Thank you

It can do piano, organ, and strings; which to me would be the types of things you would looking for to make that style of music. You could give it a shot as it is a very inexpensive little module. Plus, I have always liked Alesis. They seem to make really good synths, effect processors, mixers, etc. all at a very reasonable price.

[F-DurMacher]

All right, so the only one I can find that can be shipped to me is a Roland U-220 with an additional fx-card. The price is 115€ so I guess I'll go for it.

Thank you again, everyone, for all the information.

[krzeppa]

All right, so the only one I can find that can be shipped to me is a Roland U-220 with an additional fx-card. The price is 115€ so I guess I'll go for it.

Thank you again, everyone, for all the information.

Good Luck, and I hope you enjoy it!

[F-DurMacher]

Hello again,

Well, I received my Roland U-220. How is it possible to transfer new sounds from a computer ? Like with a MIDI-USB cable. Do you know where I could find various sounds on the internet ?

Thank you

F-DurMacher

[blavatsky]

Try looking on yahoo for the user group for the roland u-220 for patches.
To push the patches out you will either need a librarian/editor specific to the u-220,
or more likely something called Midi-OX, which is a general purpose midi program you run on your computer.
Usually the patches will be in a .mid file or something similar (don't know what roland used for that) and you basically just run or play that file to your synth which (hopefully) will be in a state to receive it. There is a lot of info on midi-ox online, i've used it with all kinds of gear.

[F-DurMacher]

Hello,

Thank you for the information Blavatsky, I knew theosophy could come in handy for Midi programmation. I'll take a look at the Yahoo group, and especially at Midi-OX. Then I may get some Midi-USB cable.

Thanks.