Synth module required for trance tones

iamdavid01 · Post by **iamdavid01** » Tue Sep 28, 2021 3:37 pm

I'm looking for a good module, VA, or analog that can get good trancy tones. I'm looking for that sweet supersaw sound. Preferably should have a built-in sequencer, but not required. Here are the modules I have tried and didn't like, so suggest something besides these!:

Roland MC's- just don't like them.

Korg EMX-pretty flexible, but it's a little canned sounding and when using more than 6 parts at a time, the sound gets muddy to me.

The ones I am curious about:

MS2000 rack
JP8080
AN200
Nord 2x rack
Supernova
RM1x

I'd prefer it to be just a synth module, without drums but I know things like the AN200 have them so that's fine.
Gear: Korg EMX, Yamaha CS1x.

Post by **meatballfulton** » Tue Sep 28, 2021 4:01 pm

The JP8080 was the original "supersaw" synth. The AN200 uses Yamaha's PLG-150AN board inside. It has a good supersaw.

That's all I have to add

clubbedtodeath · Post by **clubbedtodeath** » Tue Sep 28, 2021 4:49 pm

Novation KS Rack might be worth a look. Used, it can be had for a bit less than a second-hand Nord Rack.

I have a KS4, the 4-octave KB version of the rack, and it'll do trance alright. You can create supersaws pretty quickly, and it's very easy to navigate around. The perf/prog/data knob can get a little sticky as it's the most used knob on the synth, but I solved that problem with a some contact cleaner.

It'll do much more than trance though, if you fancy. And if you get a KB version (KS4, KS5) then that works very well with aftertouch, which can be routed to to filter cutoff freq / volumne / modulation / etc. It has no sequencer, but it does have a usable arp. Sound-wise, I'd put it as less digitally harsh than a Nord Lead can be when pushed, but definitely capable of ballsy sounds nonetheless.

Bear in mind, though -- it is a 15 (16? 17?) year old VA synth, and so it will alias if you're not careful. I keep mine, because it'll do many sounds I can't easily recreate elsewhere, and I have a collection of go-to patches on it.

Here's a couple of sample tracks, almost all Novation KS apart from the drums:

Cheers

Post by **Ashe37** » Tue Sep 28, 2021 5:42 pm

the Roland System 1 and System 8 can both do the JP8k supersaw as well.

groy · Post by **groy** » Tue Sep 28, 2021 6:36 pm

An aside about the EMX sounding muddy… I found that too I think because it doesn’t have EQ per part like you’d have on a mixer. If you add a high pass filter somewhere clever in your effects chain so most of the synth parts can get it, it cleans things up. That said I still don’t like the way it sounds

Synth module required for trance tones

Re: Synth module required for trance tones

Re: Synth module required for trance tones

Re: Synth module required for trance tones

Re: Synth module required for trance tones