| Author |
Message |
nobody
Joined: Mar 09, 2008
Posts: 1689
Location: Not here
|
 Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 12:08 pm Post subject:
Re: Alesis Micron |
  |
|
| laura woodswalker wrote: | 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.
|
I'm a synth geek and even I find the minimal physical control-type interface annoying. I'd also like to know what the designers were thinking. Srsly. I would gladly shell out an extra couple hundred if the only difference was more direct controls on the top panel. |
|
|
Back to top
|
|
 |
soundwave106
Joined: Nov 24, 2004
Posts: 301
Location: Elmo's Mud Wrestling Club
Audio files: 2
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 1:23 pm Post subject:
Re: Alesis Micron |
|
|
| laura woodswalker wrote: | | 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?? |
The designers were probably struggling on how to cut their Alesis Ion (which has many knobs, and as I understand it, is far easier to use) into a cheap package people would buy. 
For instance, the other new alternative to the Micron is the Microkorg -- I understand that it is as hard to program that, if not harder. If you desire a better programming experience (and more power to boot), you get a Radius. But it costs twice as much.
| Quote: | | If I sold it on Craigs or ebay, I wonder what would be a good replacement in the used market around $400-500. |
The Novation Supernova II perhaps? Actually I imagine the Ion is around that price now, too... *shrug*
| audiodef wrote: | | I'm a synth geek and even I find the minimal physical control-type interface annoying. I'd also like to know what the designers were thinking. Srsly. I would gladly shell out an extra couple hundred if the only difference was more direct controls on the top panel. |
Er... that *would* be the Alesis Ion. Unfortunately, that synth is no longer in production (where the Micron is, along with the all-analog Alesis Andromeda)... sadly, I guess not enough people shared your opinion.  |
|
|
Back to top
|
|
|
nobody
Joined: Mar 09, 2008
Posts: 1689
Location: Not here
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 7:06 pm Post subject:
Re: Alesis Micron |
|
|
| soundwave106 wrote: |
The Novation Supernova II perhaps? Actually I imagine the Ion is around that price now, too... *shrug*
|
Great machine! I got one of those. I got it 3 or 4 years ago for $900. I'm not sure if it would be cheaper or about the same now for one in excellent condition. Just about everything can be controlled from the top panel. There are a few special menus for the oscs and LFOs. Very nice sounds.
| soundwave106 wrote: |
Er... that *would* be the Alesis Ion. Unfortunately, that synth is no longer in production (where the Micron is, along with the all-analog Alesis Andromeda)... sadly, I guess not enough people shared your opinion. |
 |
|
|
Back to top
|
|
|
DETOX
Joined: May 22, 2008
Posts: 134
Location: Germany
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 1:49 pm Post subject:
|
|
|
i also thought about getting an ion or a supernova, but the next piece i'm trying to get my hands on (next year, not this year....i promise) is a small analog desktop synth such as the doepfer dark energy or the dsi mopho (i think it sounds quite fat). any other suggestions?
_________________
Korg POLYSIX/Korg POLY-800/Yamaha DX-7/Waldorf MICROWAVE II/Roland JV-1080 |
|
|
Back to top
|
|
|
Synthetical262
Joined: Dec 14, 2009
Posts: 19
Location: Palatine, IL
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 2:23 pm Post subject:
|
|
|
I would get a used Waldorf XT for around $400-$500. The sound you get out of this thing is very cool and deep.....it can make moog style basses vary good and awesome pads and textures
_________________
Chris F
http://www.fantasiarecordings.com
Synths used : P-08, P-VS, W-XT, R-JX10, R- Juno106, Novation SN 2, R-JD800, Nord G2X, NL3, Matrix 1000, Virus Indigo, Y-CS6x, Voyager, Xbase 999 |
|
|
Back to top
|
|
|
DETOX
Joined: May 22, 2008
Posts: 134
Location: Germany
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 4:53 pm Post subject:
|
|
|
| Synthetical262 wrote: | | I would get a used Waldorf XT for around $400-$500. The sound you get out of this thing is very cool and deep.....it can make moog style basses vary good and awesome pads and textures |
thanks for your reply but i already have a microwave 2 and except more knobs it's basically the same, isn't it? i am looking for REAl analog monophonicnes (i guess this word doesn't exist, eh?)
_________________
Korg POLYSIX/Korg POLY-800/Yamaha DX-7/Waldorf MICROWAVE II/Roland JV-1080 |
|
|
Back to top
|
|
|
soundwave106
Joined: Nov 24, 2004
Posts: 301
Location: Elmo's Mud Wrestling Club
Audio files: 2
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 5:26 pm Post subject:
|
|
|
| DETOX wrote: | | i also thought about getting an ion or a supernova, but the next piece i'm trying to get my hands on (next year, not this year....i promise) is a small analog desktop synth such as the doepfer dark energy or the dsi mopho (i think it sounds quite fat). any other suggestions? |
Depends on how much money you want to spend (eg Future Retro XS), or how long you are willing to wait (Tom Oberheim's new SEMs) |
|
|
Back to top
|
|
|
Synthetical262
Joined: Dec 14, 2009
Posts: 19
Location: Palatine, IL
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 8:08 pm Post subject:
|
|
|
| DETOX wrote: | | Synthetical262 wrote: | | I would get a used Waldorf XT for around $400-$500. The sound you get out of this thing is very cool and deep.....it can make moog style basses vary good and awesome pads and textures |
thanks for your reply but i already have a microwave 2 and except more knobs it's basically the same, isn't it? i am looking for REAl analog monophonicnes (i guess this word doesn't exist, eh?) |
My bad....yep it's the same thing....sorry I overlooked that....
Let's see..... I used to have an analog poly....a Roland JX8p ... which sounded pretty sweet... they're like $200-$300.....
I also have an Oberheim Matrix 1000...which packs 1000 analog sounds into a 1 U rack module..... Pretty good sounding...and not too expensive....
_________________
Chris F
http://www.fantasiarecordings.com
Synths used : P-08, P-VS, W-XT, R-JX10, R- Juno106, Novation SN 2, R-JD800, Nord G2X, NL3, Matrix 1000, Virus Indigo, Y-CS6x, Voyager, Xbase 999 |
|
|
Back to top
|
|
|
Keysandslots
Joined: Aug 18, 2006
Posts: 215
Location: Mississauga, Ontario
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 6:56 am Post subject:
|
|
|
Synthetical, that's quite the list of synths you have there. Do you have any photos of your studio? Out of all of those, is there 1 or 2 you could not imagine being without?
Randy
_________________
I've started tossing stuff on SoundCloud (http://soundcloud.com/piscione) |
|
|
Back to top
|
|
|
Synthetical262
Joined: Dec 14, 2009
Posts: 19
Location: Palatine, IL
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 9:56 am Post subject:
|
|
|
| Keysandslots wrote: | Synthetical, that's quite the list of synths you have there. Do you have any photos of your studio? Out of all of those, is there 1 or 2 you could not imagine being without?
Randy |
Thank You..... I 'm at work now and I do have an older picture....which I just looked at and realized that I forgot to add my MOOG VOYAGER to the list....lol..... It's not in this older picture but I will take some pics when I get home tonight and post them....
| Description: |
|
| Filesize: |
178.43 KB |
| Viewed: |
50 Time(s) |
| This image has been reduced to fit the page. Click on it to enlarge. |
|
| Description: |
|
| Filesize: |
178.43 KB |
| Viewed: |
57 Time(s) |
| This image has been reduced to fit the page. Click on it to enlarge. |
|
_________________
Chris F
http://www.fantasiarecordings.com
Synths used : P-08, P-VS, W-XT, R-JX10, R- Juno106, Novation SN 2, R-JD800, Nord G2X, NL3, Matrix 1000, Virus Indigo, Y-CS6x, Voyager, Xbase 999 |
|
|
Back to top
|
|
|
Synthetical262
Joined: Dec 14, 2009
Posts: 19
Location: Palatine, IL
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 10:04 am Post subject:
|
|
|
| Keysandslots wrote: | Synthetical, that's quite the list of synths you have there. Do you have any photos of your studio? Out of all of those, is there 1 or 2 you could not imagine being without?
Randy |
Tough decision.....I could not imagine selling the Prophet VS even though I barely use it just so it won't die, and maybe The waldorf XT and the Voyager.
Out of all of them I like the Prophet VS and Waldorf Xt sound the most
_________________
Chris F
http://www.fantasiarecordings.com
Synths used : P-08, P-VS, W-XT, R-JX10, R- Juno106, Novation SN 2, R-JD800, Nord G2X, NL3, Matrix 1000, Virus Indigo, Y-CS6x, Voyager, Xbase 999 |
|
|
Back to top
|
|
|
Keysandslots
Joined: Aug 18, 2006
Posts: 215
Location: Mississauga, Ontario
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 10:25 am Post subject:
|
|
|
Thanks Chris, appreciate your insight. That is a great looking studio, I'm envious.
Randy
_________________
I've started tossing stuff on SoundCloud (http://soundcloud.com/piscione) |
|
|
Back to top
|
|
|
DETOX
Joined: May 22, 2008
Posts: 134
Location: Germany
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 3:16 pm Post subject:
|
|
|
| Synthetical262 wrote: | | Keysandslots wrote: | Synthetical, that's quite the list of synths you have there. Do you have any photos of your studio? Out of all of those, is there 1 or 2 you could not imagine being without?
Randy |
Thank You..... I 'm at work now and I do have an older picture....which I just looked at and realized that I forgot to add my MOOG VOYAGER to the list....lol..... It's not in this older picture but I will take some pics when I get home tonight and post them.... |
mmmh, that's a nice studio ! i'd kill for it (where did you say do you live????  )
_________________
Korg POLYSIX/Korg POLY-800/Yamaha DX-7/Waldorf MICROWAVE II/Roland JV-1080 |
|
|
Back to top
|
|
|
Synthetical262
Joined: Dec 14, 2009
Posts: 19
Location: Palatine, IL
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 6:01 pm Post subject:
|
|
|
| DETOX wrote: | | Synthetical262 wrote: | | Keysandslots wrote: | Synthetical, that's quite the list of synths you have there. Do you have any photos of your studio? Out of all of those, is there 1 or 2 you could not imagine being without?
Randy |
Thank You..... I 'm at work now and I do have an older picture....which I just looked at and realized that I forgot to add my MOOG VOYAGER to the list....lol..... It's not in this older picture but I will take some pics when I get home tonight and post them.... |
mmmh, that's a nice studio ! i'd kill for it (where did you say do you live???? ) |
lol.... Far away from Germany.... but good point you brought up....
I do have it locked really good and have installed cameras inside and outside of the house that are recording and streaming live on the net so I can access with my phone...
I got paranoid like that now with the economy going down and everything... you can pretty much expect anything...so it's better to be prepared...
I put alot of that stuff on credit and still pay for some so I could not afford to lose it and then get it again....
_________________
Chris F
http://www.fantasiarecordings.com
Synths used : P-08, P-VS, W-XT, R-JX10, R- Juno106, Novation SN 2, R-JD800, Nord G2X, NL3, Matrix 1000, Virus Indigo, Y-CS6x, Voyager, Xbase 999 |
|
|
Back to top
|
|
|
nobody
Joined: Mar 09, 2008
Posts: 1689
Location: Not here
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 6:19 pm Post subject:
|
|
|
Chris, sweet studio! I totally relate to feeling paranoid and unable to replace stuff should anything happen. I don't have the cameras going, but I feel ok with my neighbourhood. It's a pretty much live-and-let-live 'hood (although I see people do some pretty dumb things around here sometimes).
Looks like you're pretty new here, so welcome.  |
|
|
Back to top
|
|
|
Rojo
Joined: May 10, 2005
Posts: 14
Location: Boston
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 11:05 pm Post subject:
Re: Alesis Micron |
|
|
[quote="laura woodswalker"]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. 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.[/quote]
For $600, a Roland JP-8000. Maybe it has more knobs than you want, but that might actually be a good thing for you - since all the sound editing parameters are physical and visible on the front panel, editing sounds is immediate and easy. The other features of that keyboard - including a nice arpeggiator - are very usable and hands-on as well. |
|
|
Back to top
|
|
|
Synthetical262
Joined: Dec 14, 2009
Posts: 19
Location: Palatine, IL
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 11:52 pm Post subject:
|
|
|
| audiodef wrote: | Chris, sweet studio! I totally relate to feeling paranoid and unable to replace stuff should anything happen. I don't have the cameras going, but I feel ok with my neighbourhood. It's a pretty much live-and-let-live 'hood (although I see people do some pretty dumb things around here sometimes).
Looks like you're pretty new here, so welcome. |
Thank You! ......Yea my neighbourhood is pretty safe too....plus I live 1 mile away from the police station so it should it fine.... but still I heard of a couple of reports of people breaking in around the area in the past few years.....to steal other stuff from people not studio gear ....so even if it's safe I still have that thought in the back of my head....
These thiefs they strike when you least expect it....
One other cool thing I thought of to do in the near future is, since I already have the cameras installed, I could also have setup in a separate room a regular older PC connected to the internet and with a micro controller connected to it as well. Now I could get a few motion sensors hidden around the studio area connected to the micro controller. If I connect one of those Magic Jacks to the computer (as a phone line through the internet for $20/year) ....I can have the micro controller programmed in windows to call my cell phone in the event the motion sensors are activated and then when I see the call I can quickly view the cameras and see if something is wrong and perhaps report it to the police.
This would be a very small investment I'd say no more than $100 to keep your eyes on your stuff at all times, especially when you're away.
I think it would be a good ideea for anyone with more than usual gear to research and implement something like this.....If you have a little technical knowledge I think it would be fairly east to do.....
_________________
Chris F
http://www.fantasiarecordings.com
Synths used : P-08, P-VS, W-XT, R-JX10, R- Juno106, Novation SN 2, R-JD800, Nord G2X, NL3, Matrix 1000, Virus Indigo, Y-CS6x, Voyager, Xbase 999 |
|
|
Back to top
|
|
|
Synthetical262
Joined: Dec 14, 2009
Posts: 19
Location: Palatine, IL
|
| Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 11:55 pm Post subject:
|
|
|
| Keysandslots wrote: | Synthetical, that's quite the list of synths you have there. Do you have any photos of your studio? Out of all of those, is there 1 or 2 you could not imagine being without?
Randy |
Hi Keysandslots,
Here is an updated pic of my rig.....
| Description: |
|
| Filesize: |
102.8 KB |
| Viewed: |
64 Time(s) |
| This image has been reduced to fit the page. Click on it to enlarge. |
|
| Description: |
|
| Filesize: |
92.33 KB |
| Viewed: |
63 Time(s) |
| This image has been reduced to fit the page. Click on it to enlarge. |
|
_________________
Chris F
http://www.fantasiarecordings.com
Synths used : P-08, P-VS, W-XT, R-JX10, R- Juno106, Novation SN 2, R-JD800, Nord G2X, NL3, Matrix 1000, Virus Indigo, Y-CS6x, Voyager, Xbase 999 |
|
|
Back to top
|
|
|
Keysandslots
Joined: Aug 18, 2006
Posts: 215
Location: Mississauga, Ontario
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2009 10:24 am Post subject:
|
|
|
Now I'm even more envious, thanks Chris. Out of curiousity, have you played with a Blofeld at all?
Randy
_________________
I've started tossing stuff on SoundCloud (http://soundcloud.com/piscione) |
|
|
Back to top
|
|
|
jksuperstar
Joined: Aug 20, 2004
Posts: 2423
Location: Denver
Audio files: 1
G2 patch files: 18
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2009 11:36 am Post subject:
|
|
|
| Synthetical262 wrote: | One other cool thing I thought of to do in the near future is, since I already have the cameras installed, I could also have setup in a separate room a regular older PC connected to the internet and with a micro controller connected to it as well. Now I could get a few motion sensors hidden around the studio area connected to the micro controller. If I connect one of those Magic Jacks to the computer (as a phone line through the internet for $20/year) ....I can have the micro controller programmed in windows to call my cell phone in the event the motion sensors are activated and then when I see the call I can quickly view the cameras and see if something is wrong and perhaps report it to the police.
This would be a very small investment I'd say no more than $100 to keep your eyes on your stuff at all times, especially when you're away.
I think it would be a good ideea for anyone with more than usual gear to research and implement something like this.....If you have a little technical knowledge I think it would be fairly east to do..... |
There's software out there that will do this for you! Since your cameras are all hooked up to a computer anyway, the software typically allows you to set deadzone regions for each camera (so a dog won't trigger it off for example) but then it simply looks for changes in the video feed. Most software will not only spool this to the web, send you an SMS/email, but also record the video while it detects the change, so you have a nice image of the perpetrator if needed. |
|
|
Back to top
|
|
|
Synthetical262
Joined: Dec 14, 2009
Posts: 19
Location: Palatine, IL
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2009 12:42 pm Post subject:
|
|
|
| Keysandslots wrote: | Now I'm even more envious, thanks Chris. Out of curiousity, have you played with a Blofeld at all?
Randy |
You're Welcome Randy ---- no I haven't had a chance yet. I've seen youtube videos and based on that I like....I have a friend who might order one in the near future so if I get my hands on it I can post more details of what i think of it..
Chris
_________________
Chris F
http://www.fantasiarecordings.com
Synths used : P-08, P-VS, W-XT, R-JX10, R- Juno106, Novation SN 2, R-JD800, Nord G2X, NL3, Matrix 1000, Virus Indigo, Y-CS6x, Voyager, Xbase 999 |
|
|
Back to top
|
|
|
Keysandslots
Joined: Aug 18, 2006
Posts: 215
Location: Mississauga, Ontario
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2009 12:51 pm Post subject:
|
|
|
I have a small wishlist for next year that includes an MPC1000, Blofeld with the sample memory and a semi-weighted controller. I'm tired of lugging the S90 to gigs, figured maybe the Blofeld could do double duty as a cool synth and a rompler.
Randy
_________________
I've started tossing stuff on SoundCloud (http://soundcloud.com/piscione) |
|
|
Back to top
|
|
|
Synthetical262
Joined: Dec 14, 2009
Posts: 19
Location: Palatine, IL
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2009 1:13 pm Post subject:
|
|
|
| jksuperstar wrote: | | Synthetical262 wrote: | One other cool thing I thought of to do in the near future is, since I already have the cameras installed, I could also have setup in a separate room a regular older PC connected to the internet and with a micro controller connected to it as well. Now I could get a few motion sensors hidden around the studio area connected to the micro controller. If I connect one of those Magic Jacks to the computer (as a phone line through the internet for $20/year) ....I can have the micro controller programmed in windows to call my cell phone in the event the motion sensors are activated and then when I see the call I can quickly view the cameras and see if something is wrong and perhaps report it to the police.
This would be a very small investment I'd say no more than $100 to keep your eyes on your stuff at all times, especially when you're away.
I think it would be a good ideea for anyone with more than usual gear to research and implement something like this.....If you have a little technical knowledge I think it would be fairly east to do..... |
There's software out there that will do this for you! Since your cameras are all hooked up to a computer anyway, the software typically allows you to set deadzone regions for each camera (so a dog won't trigger it off for example) but then it simply looks for changes in the video feed. Most software will not only spool this to the web, send you an SMS/email, but also record the video while it detects the change, so you have a nice image of the perpetrator if needed. |
Thank You....good info to know.....I will look into that as the software that my dvr card came with doesn't seem to have those features... I will look for some new software or a new DVR card with new software that can sms u ....
_________________
Chris F
http://www.fantasiarecordings.com
Synths used : P-08, P-VS, W-XT, R-JX10, R- Juno106, Novation SN 2, R-JD800, Nord G2X, NL3, Matrix 1000, Virus Indigo, Y-CS6x, Voyager, Xbase 999 |
|
|
Back to top
|
|
|
DETOX
Joined: May 22, 2008
Posts: 134
Location: Germany
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2009 5:10 pm Post subject:
|
|
|
| Synthetical262 wrote: | | Keysandslots wrote: | Synthetical, that's quite the list of synths you have there. Do you have any photos of your studio? Out of all of those, is there 1 or 2 you could not imagine being without?
Randy |
Hi Keysandslots,
Here is an updated pic of my rig..... |
still looks nice, the fat screen is impressive . what kind of mixing desk is that?
_________________
Korg POLYSIX/Korg POLY-800/Yamaha DX-7/Waldorf MICROWAVE II/Roland JV-1080 |
|
|
Back to top
|
|
|
nobody
Joined: Mar 09, 2008
Posts: 1689
Location: Not here
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2009 8:54 pm Post subject:
|
|
|
One other thing about thieves... not sure they'd go for synths. They're not something you can put in a bag and walk away with without attracting attention. Plus, I'm not sure they'd be interested in such highly specialized equipment.
But still, I totally understand wanting to watch out for my gear. |
|
|
Back to top
|
|
|
|
Forum index » Instruments and Equipment » General Discussion
FAQ
Calendar
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
Chat Room
