Vintage Synth Explorer Forums

Hi everybody! I'm thinking of my first synthesizer, but I have no idea which one will be the best for me. My budget is limited, so it has to be one of these new micro/minisynths like Korg MS-20 Mini, Microkorg, Novation Bass Station II, Arturia Micro or Minibrute, one of the Roland Boutique, Waldorf Pulse 2 or Moog Mother-32.
The last ones are modules, but it's no problem, I've got the keyboard controller.
I'm a 20 plus year person, but my favourite music is the old good Berlin School: Tangerine Dream from the Ricochet and Rubycon era, Klaus Schulze etc.
My goal is to get the sounds they made, at least at the beginning. The problem is I don't even know, whether my first "hardware" synth has to be mono or polyphonic. One thing is for sure: I'm not a good keyboardist, will be playing at home, not live on stage and gonna use some DAW extensively.

When I think of Berlin School, I think of monophonic sequences through a delay/echo. So for your first synth, I'd get one with a built-in sequencer. The Mother 32 will probably get closest to the big Moog modular sound. I've got the MicroBrute which has a very unique sound - different than Moog stuff.

You definitely want to also pick up a delay pedal to run the synth through and get that "moving" sound. Typically set the delay time to dotted eighth notes.

You might also want to go for two Doepfer Dark Energy synths with two Dark Time sequencers. That should have your basic sequencer needs covered. Prices of course do vary greatly, depending on where you are located.

Don't forget an Elka or Farfisa string synth (which would cost more than the four Doepfer units combined), and a Mellotron, of course.

Stephen

PS: Your request instantly reminded me of myself some 25 or 30 years ago...

Doepfer, Mellotron... Stephen, my budget is maximum $846/£699...

Beat Step Pro
Moog Minitaur or Moog Mother 32
Wampler faux tape echo

mmpingo wrote:Doepfer, Mellotron... Stephen, my budget is maximum $846/£699...

Emu Vintage Keys and/or Roland JV/XP with Vintage Expansion board is your friend. Mellotron and strings covered.

wiss wrote:Beat Step Pro
Moog Minitaur or Moog Mother 32
Wampler faux tape echo

This also goes beyond the budget mentioned above, I'm afraid.

Maybe the polyphonic Behringer Deep Mind synthesiser would be an option, once it has been made available to the public?

Stephen

Hi

Any more ideas about the topic since the releases of all Behringer clones maybe?

Very interested in Berlin School gear as well

well, their Crave, MS-1 or TD-3 would serve the purpose pretty well (i mention these three because they have onboard sequencers)

their Odyssey clone does as well.

I already got their Model D and their VC40, love those strings with a nice reverb

Very tempted by the Odyssey I confess...