what synth next ???

sizone · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 5:16 pm Post subject:

ChucK could be used as a sequencer of sorts (check the ChucK forum), Csound too I think. Both are free, but both are also programming language/environments and not dedicated sequencers so there's a learning curve. The microwave has a user definable and fairly powerful arpeggiator. It's also really easy to set up sustatando patches with it that will sound like they're sequenced. So while you may not be able to sequence a cover of Axel Foley on it right away, you'll be able to get a ton of sound to play with until you get your sequencing setup squared away (or learn how to ChucK). Re. the bcr, I don't know offhand, but using a daw mixer as a step sequencer is a -really- -really- good idea and I wouldn't be surprised if someone has hacked something together to do just that. That may be a good subject to do some research on.

DETOX · Joined: May 22, 2008 Posts: 134 Location: Germany

damn ! either my microwave does not work properly or the power supply i use for it doesn't supply enough power. the voltage needed is 12 volts, thats okay for the universal power supply i have (the original one did not ship with the unit) but it only can supply 200 mA insted of aprox. 1000 mA needed.

when i turn the synth on it instantly makes strange noises (like an lfo driving a filter - popping or klicking) and when i'm shutting the supply off thereÄs a sweep even without pressing a key. BTW: the display, all buttons, knobs and even the midi status led seem to work as they should.

is there a way to set it back to factory condition? i might have pressed any buttons or changed any settings causing this problem...

helpme,pleaaaase.

maybe (hopefully) it's just a matter or amperes, so it miht work wih a different PS but it could also be a short or something in the osc section, right?

Blue Hell · Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 3:58 pm Post subject:

You cant expect a 200 mA supply to work for a device that needs 1000 mA ... the synth will try to go on and then the power will collapse ... you'll have to get a proper one, and then it will work ok probably.

nobody · Joined: Mar 09, 2008 Posts: 1689 Location: Not here

My understanding, and I once asked my electrician sister about this, is that the voltage must be exactly correct and the current density can vary - but only somewhat. So Jan is right, you'll need to get one at least close to the correct amperage. I'm guessing some devices are more exacting than others, though, so close still may not do it.

xjscott · Joined: Apr 25, 2007 Posts: 190 Location: Appalachia

Get a proper power supply and stop messing with the 200mA. Using a 200mA wall wart for a 1A device is just going to burn out the power supply, and the fluctuating erratic brown out voltages you are feeding it as a result can destroy the device.

DETOX · Joined: May 22, 2008 Posts: 134 Location: Germany

allright, thanks for your replies !!! i hope it works, will buy a new power supply
tomorrow.

but my original question is still up to date: what synth next? my current status of gear is:

Yamaha DX7
Korg Poly-800
Korg Polysix (yet broken but hopefully repaired soon)
Waldorf Microwave II

as i already mentioned, i might get a virus synth or a nord modular g2 (engine) but i stumbled across the studio electronics atc-1 and i am now quite interested in this unit.

REPLYYYYYYYYYY

kkissinger · Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 11:23 am Post subject:

I use Cubase SX3 and have been very pleased with it.

sizone · Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 2:45 pm Post subject:

You're fine with what you have. In answer to the question of "what synth next?" Be satisfied with what you have for the time being. Get a proper p.s. for the mw 2, get a battery and some replacement ram chips for the polysix so you have some knobs to twist, figure out what you're going to use for a sequencer, start patching and playing. Between the Korgs, the dx7 and the mw you already have enough polyphony and varied sound sources to produce some awesome stuff. Focus on learning your way around them and squeezing what you can out of them.

DETOX · Joined: May 22, 2008 Posts: 134 Location: Germany

yeah, finally i was able to break my daily lazy-after-work routine today and bought some universal power supplies. the mw II works and sounds grrrrrrrrrreat !!! yeah yeah yeah !!! i might buy another synth for now, a roland jv 1080 or 2080, hehe !

DETOX · Joined: May 22, 2008 Posts: 134 Location: Germany

ok ok ok, i somehow got addicted to synth collecting.....the result is a jv 1080 bought 1 minute ago....this will be the last synth for some months now...will buy a pair of monitors, an audio interface and a computer next.....okay, stop me from buying more synths Very Happy

.

DETOX · Joined: May 22, 2008 Posts: 134 Location: Germany

well, i finally recieved the synth and i have to say it's something else than i expected but a nice synth anyway, haha.

laura woodswalker · Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 1:47 pm Post subject:

nobody · Joined: Mar 09, 2008 Posts: 1689 Location: Not here

laura woodswalker · Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 3:30 pm Post subject:

laura woodswalker · Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 3:44 pm Post subject:

Antimon · Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 3:50 pm Post subject:

Just in case you haven't figured - the Ion is just a Micron with fewer effects, more keys and a couple more knobs. I say "a couple more knobs" because everything isn't editable by using them, and you need to enter the menu system quite a lot if you want to patch up modulations etc.

Curiously and sadly, my take on the perfect newbie synth is one of those big expensive ones that gives you loads of knobs. You have a kind of instant effect of wondering what something does, tweaking it and finding out immediately. The DSI Evolver comes to mind (I have a PEK which is loads of fun).

I almost thinking of recommending something like a Roland JP8000. Soundwise it's primitive (being a 90s VA, meaning it's like a PC from the 90s compared to a PC from the present), but it has that big interface and it should be pretty cheap on ebay (even if these machines have started to acquire nostalgy-fueled prices). I haven't tried it myself, mind, just thinking aloud, judging it by its looks and talk elsewhere. There may be similar machines out there that are more suitable.

(Just noticed the new reply - this may just be off-topic rambling. I'll post anyway Smile

/Stefan

xjscott · Joined: Apr 25, 2007 Posts: 190 Location: Appalachia

Antimon · Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 3:55 pm Post subject:

Hm, yes the latch feature. Curiously, these things aren't focused upon a lot by synth makers, I think. I agree that that kind of stuff holds a lot potential.

/Stefan

nobody · Joined: Mar 09, 2008 Posts: 1689 Location: Not here

nobody · Joined: Mar 09, 2008 Posts: 1689 Location: Not here

nobody · Joined: Mar 09, 2008 Posts: 1689 Location: Not here

laura woodswalker · Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 9:22 pm Post subject:

xjscott · Joined: Apr 25, 2007 Posts: 190 Location: Appalachia

Well, when the 25 key keyboards came out I thought they were ridiculous and silly and wondered who would buy them since obviously nothing much can be played on only two octaves.

But I now have a 37 key controller because it sits next to my typing keyboard on my desk, and I can access it easily, and also drag it around since it is lightweight. Also, works to carry easily around to places, and can be powered by a laptop's USB. It also has knobs with programmable LCD labels, aftertouch, a joystick, and an x/y touchpad, I had not had a touchpad before and wanted one and it is useful. And also has release velocity, and is the only controller I have that has that. So for me, it has its uses, and 3 octaves with easily accessible transpose buttons is pretty reasonable to do a lot of things. I still don't understand the 25 key ones.

I still have my various 5 octave synths I have accumulated over the decades, and really how many of those do I need. All of them are too big and heavy to fit on the desk with the computer. Would have been nice if one of them was a 6 octave model though.

Although my controller is a controller and not a synth, I can see the advantage of the small synths. They don't take up a lot of space, but you still have a keyboard to mess around with and get sound out of it. For other work it is assumed you have a studio with a larger keyboard for more serious work. The little standalone modules by themselves with no keyboard at all are slightly inconvenient when one has to do work because you have to turn on a bunch of equipment to do anything at all. With a small keyboard, things are happening after pressing only one on switch.

Muied Lumens · Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 6:34 am Post subject:

Just a few comments on the Micron/Ion/Miniak issues:

The Miniak is exactly the same as the Micron on the inside. The Miniak has a couple of outer enhancements, one being that the flimsy sliders on the Micron is replaced with wheels on the Miniak. I think the mic is included on the Miniak too.

The Micron does a lot more than 8 parts! It can do up to 26 parts including drum parts, but it still has the same 8 voice polyphony like the Ion, and programming these will be a pain.

Also, the Ion does not really have a sequencer, but an arpeggiator. Maybe a later update has sorted this, and the missing reverb too?

There are a number of software editors out there for the Micron if you get worried about the wear of that knob. I imagine these would work with the Miniak, although I have not heard anything of the sort on the web. Some are free/donation based, some are cheap.

http://midictrl.com/

http://www.hypersynth.com/ion-editor.html

http://mysite.verizon.net/retroware/

http://www.bizune.com/

...these are just of the top of my bookmarks - there are a lot of Micron editors out there.

laura woodswalker · Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 10:56 am Post subject: Alesis Micron

Yeah, about the Micron.

After owning one for about a year I'm starting to think it's not for me. Mainly it is just too clumsy to use. Having one knob to set every parameter for every oscillator...what were these designers thinking?? I can't even figure out how to set stuff like Filter sweeps. It is a synth for geeks.

If I sold it on Craigs or ebay, I wonder what would be a good replacement in the used market around $400-500. A few I was looking at a few years ago: the Juno D, the Korg x-50. (I think that is the one you can pick up with one hand?) I would want some of the basic filters and a latch/pattern feature, but I don't need the whole menu of modulation that the advanced synths have.

Yeah, the latch feature would be hard to find. In fact, the latch is what made me want the Micron in the first place.