Looking for a first proper VA/analog synth

[pneuman]

Hi all,

I'm just getting back in to music production after a bit of a hiatus -- looking at dark-ish ambient stuff with beats (think perhaps early Aphex Twin with a bit of an industrial/EBM bent). I've got a Yamaha CS2x, but I'd like to complement that with a nice little analog or VA hardware synth. I've played with softsynths and I like the results, but my options are limited (I'm running Linux), and I'd really prefer to have something physical with real knobs to twiddle that I can program without relying on my PC. Budget is around $400-500US.

The options I've considered so far are:

1) Get an Evolver desktop for leads and basses, and rely on the CS2x and/or softsynths for drums, pads, etc.
2) Get a Blofeld, which should have enough grunt to cover just about everything, though perhaps without some of the Evolver's character and features
3) Sell the CS2x and get an X-Station 49 or 61. It's monotimbral, but it's still a hardware VA, and a better controller for softsynths than the CS2x (aftertouch, more knobs, etc.)

What do you all think? Any other suggestions?

[stephen]

Hi,

I run linux too. I use Reaper under wine, and have a few commercial softsynths - impOSCar, Sylenth1, Phoscyon, Drumazon and Nepheton. I do run linux software too of course. Hydrogen is great for drums, and Aeolus is another favourite (alongside zynaddsubfx).

I use an AN1x both as a synth and a midi controller.

[Hugo76]

pneuman;
Of the options you list, I'd go for the Blofeld. Of course if you do need the extra keyboard features the X-Station offer, maybe you should consider this seriously. But for me it's a no-brainer; the Blofeld offers so many cool features it's truly mouth watering.

[pneuman]

Thanks Stephen -- good to see others here using Linux as well! I actually found your blog a few weeks ago through some Googling, and it's been great to be able to read over it and see what has and hasn't worked for you. I've been using Rosegarden as a sequencer, so I've played around with the various DSSI softsynths (xsynth, Whysynth, hexter, nekobee) and a few free Windows VSTs via dssi-vst, and I've also played with using Hydrogen for drums alongside Rosegarden.

Being able to run Windows VSTs and Reaper on Linux sounds very cool, and I'll have to give Reaper a go, but I'm not sure I'm ready to spend significant cash on Windows apps that could become the victims of compatibility issues in the future. I may go down that path in the future, but I'd like to get at least one solid, flexible hardware synth first.

EDIT: Looks like that's one vote for the Blofeld!

[Hugo76]

Let me also just state that Reaper is a wonderful prog I use it as my main sequencer.

[stephen]

Thanks Stephen -- good to see others here using Linux as well! I actually found your blog a few weeks ago through some Googling, and it's been great to be able to read over it and see what has and hasn't worked for you. I've been using Rosegarden as a sequencer, so I've played around with the various DSSI softsynths (xsynth, Whysynth, hexter, nekobee) and a few free Windows VSTs via dssi-vst, and I've also played with using Hydrogen for drums alongside Rosegarden.

Being able to run Windows VSTs and Reaper on Linux sounds very cool, and I'll have to give Reaper a go, but I'm not sure I'm ready to spend significant cash on Windows apps that could become the victims of compatibility issues in the future. I may go down that path in the future, but I'd like to get at least one solid, flexible hardware synth first.

EDIT: Looks like that's one vote for the Blofeld!

Hi,

Thanks for that. I don't update the blog as much as I should, but if I find anything that works nicely I'll post it there. Yes, the dssi synths are fun, and I use Rosegarden myself, mostly for analysing midi files. As an aside, the AN1x editor program works OK under wine, so it's an easy way to back up my patches.

The blofeld does look cool though. I think the keyboard version has just come out too.

[pneuman]

I ducked in to the local music shop yesterday -- they had both the Blofeld and the Evolver, but neither were hooked up. They did have an Evolver Keyboard ready to go, though (along with the Poly Evolver, Prophet 08, and various other beyond-the-budget toys , so I had a play around with that and loved the sounds I could get out of it. I know the Blofeld will be more of a "workhorse" synth, though, so I'm leaning that way myself, too.

There aren't many cheap Blofelds around so I think I'll just save my cash for now and grab one when I have enough, unless I spot a cheap second-hand Evolver in the meantime

[pneuman]

Just a quick question -- would it be worth looking at a Micro Q? I might be able to get one second-hand for about AU$500, compared to AU$800 for a new Blofeld.