Newbie to synths, help needed please

bazk · Post by **bazk** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 8:24 pm

Hi

I’m new to synth keyboards and would like to start experimenting with them but i don’t really have a clue on which one will be best for me, the Alesis Micron looks interesting and was wondering would it be a good keyboard for a beginner, i like the music from dark 80’s films like blade runner and am a fan of Aphex Twin, so will be looking to try and create the same sounds.
I notice that the Micron can store over 1000 patches, does that mean it can store samples from software programs like NOSTALGIA (ZER0 G)?

I Probably sound like a tool for knowing nought on synths but help would be appreciated

Cheers

Baz

Post by **Maschinengeist** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 8:57 pm

When starting out, I preach that grab something affordable yet powerful (ie flexible). The Micron is an excellent choice IMHO.

And no, the patch memory is only for the sound programmed with the micron (on it or with an editor). You cannot import patches created elsewhere with other synths. The technical term is SysEx (=system exclusive).

bazk · Post by **bazk** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 1:07 pm

Thanks for the reply, i was wondering could you record and connect the Micron to a pc or Laptop and if so what software program would you need to do this?

Post by **Maschinengeist** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 3:52 pm

Sure you can.

I don't have time to go in details but here a link that will help you: http://www.homerecordingconnection.com/ ... t&cat_id=5

ndkent · Post by **ndkent** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 9:20 pm

No, the Micron doesn't store samples. Nostalgia is a sample based software instrument for a computer. You can use the micron keyboard to play a software based instrument on a computer. So you could combine the two sounds with an audio mixer or just turn the audio of the micron down.

As for a choice really the main downside of a micron is, as you might already have noticed, it doesn't have a large number of knobs. You can still make up your own sounds, but some people like synths (over other kinds of keyboards like samplers, electric pianos, most organs, etc.) because you can adjust the sound in many different ways at any time because of all the knobs. There are still ways of adjusting the sound, it just may not be as imediate if you only have a couple knobs. If you have the room and money you might consider the Ion. Same sounds with more keys and controls.

elmosexwhistle · Post by **elmosexwhistle** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 10:29 pm

yeah ION is good, so is An1x, they will let you create some very cool sounds for around £300 uk

as for the aphex twin stuff, a virtual analogue synth will give you some cool idm like sounds, but for the beats >>> thats gonna require a computer sequencer and something like recycle or intakt, as he cuts up lots of loops and mangles them with effects, and the simplest way to do this kind of stuff is with a software sequencer, like cubase or fl studio, i even think there's a free vst beat slicer now...you whack in a loop, mangle it, play it in a new order, mix it down, cut it up/mangle it even more...etc, i guess idm/gltchtronica requires quite a bit of technique and can seem ver dubious to the uninitiated...x

Altitude · Post by **Altitude** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 12:31 pm

You may want to browse over to http://www.kvraudio.com/, they have a large selection of freeware/shareware virtual instruments, effects, sequencers which will give you a decent idea of whats out there in the wild

Newbie to synths, help needed please

Re: Newbie to synths, help needed please

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