transporting equipment - portable synthesizers

[Symatic Star]

Hi, I am not willing to take most gear out of the studio , analogue synths which are no longer built, big gear, etc so have been looking into buying an additional smaller synth that I feel safe to travel about with, but still quality........

Any ideas ?- So far I am thinking -Nord G2, or smaller midi controller and soft synth, hardware sampler and smaller midi controller..........

[paugui]

The G2 is no longer built, and in my opinion it is probably the best synth ever due to all the versatility it has.

It is pretty much the best new equipment you can get with a small number of keys.
Or a Nord Modular G1, but that one doesn't have the amazing MIDI functionalities nor the amazing interface the G2 has (but the sound seems to be warmer, despite I am yet to spend sometime with the 2 together to properly compare them).


A Novation Bass Station in keyboard or a Korg Prophecy could be nice choices too, as well as the Korgs R3 and MicroKorg.

In terms if MIDI keyboards, the Novation Remote SL would probably be the nicest choice, but unless you want to control a synth that uses sysex, I think you are likely better off using a Nord Modular G2.

[ark]

How about a Mopho Keyboard plus a Tetra? Five analog voices in a compact package. And you can skip the Tetra if you don't need polyphony.

[GovernorSilver]

Some folks in a similar boat (have large modular analog at home, don't want to take it out, etc.) were looking into using a Korg Microsampler for live gigs - record all the parts one doesn't intend to tweak too much into the Microsampler, and maybe bring along a small VA or real analog synth (Roland Gaia, Moog Little Phatty, etc.) for playing live parts.

I have a friend who does bring out his modular to shows, but it's a relatively small system (Fenix Modular) that fits into a case that is about the size of two briefcases. He complements the live modular with a CD player and CDs onto which he burned his backing parts.

[modulator_esp]

I'm in the same boat, and I use the Nord modular and/or Nord modular G2 for gigs, augmented by other small keyboards such as a Yamaha CS-01 or Yamaha VSS-30.

I'm also considering using my blofeld desktop for gigs, controlled by one of the Nords or a Yamaha CBX-K1 controller

[Symatic Star]

Hi Guys thanks for the replys so far much appreciated ,they are all good ideas and interesting seeing how you have all had some kind of challenge similar to consider regarding what equipment are you willing to travel with...

Any opinions on how much should I pay for a G1 top in US dollars? ( I live in Australia)

Hi Ark yes I have looked at both mopho and tetra but had not considered the combo that seems like an interesting possibility ( I do want polyphony ), though its hard to rate what I feel from both synths from limited number of vids available online, I would not be able to see either in the flesh before ordering.

The other thing to weigh in in this whole question is when not mobile with these synths ( which ever ones chosen for transport gigs ... ) is - how much do they compliment and add to my studio set up?

So with the korg micro sampler is it easy to sample a patch from a big analogue synth in my studio then off I go and play that at a gig on the little korg, how different would it sound? Is it that straight forward? pads leads etc... does it have ability to split the keyboard into different sounds I wonder?

Interesting topic I reckon!
CQ

[modulator_esp]

I've looked into the microsampler for playing back pitched sampled sounds, but I thought it was a bit too limited as the envelope is very limited and so is the looping

I ended up getting a Roland DJ-70mkII pretty cheap to do the job instead

[paugui]

If you are in Australia, I remember that some time ago, I saw that a store in New Zealand had some Nord Modular G2 for sale, and considering the exchange rate at the time, they were pretty cheap (less than 1000 euros).
I think the price was 1800$ (New Zealand dollars).

I don't have their website stored, but probably with some search you can find them.

And since you are in Australia, I think the postage cost will be much lower than from the States, no?

[GovernorSilver]

My friend who plays solo gigs with his small modular and CD player does a lot of advance planning/preparation. Obviously, the sounds that go on the CDs that he burns are the sounds that he does not expect to modulate or otherwise alter in live performance - so concerns about envelope control and all that don't really apply.

The quality of the recordings he puts on the CDs is so good that sometimes the only way I can tell what sounds are coming out of the live modular and which are from the CD player is by looking at his hands.

Some other ideas:

iPod Touch or iPad running an appropriate app, as a complement to a small live analog synth. The app could be Jasuto/Jasuto Pro (a virtual modular), RjDj (a platform for Pure Data synths and processors), NanoStudio (multitrack playback of recordings), etc.

Elektron Machinedrum with sampling option. Can function as a master sequencer. Cost quite a bit more than an iPad though.

[v-un-v]

Why not just get a laptop? A laptop could be dedicated to being a single instrument. There are some real bargains to be had right now too. (Tassman is still $99!)

[Keysandslots]

And now for something completely different, have you seen the Korg Microstation?

http://www.korg.com/product.aspx?pd=572

I've played with one, will probably buy it when it's a bit more available. The mini keys take some getting used to but it sure is easy to move around.

On a related note, v-un-v, I was talking to someone last night about the potential of buying a laptop and using a controller, do you have some ideas about a minimum laptop? I would rather stay with a PC rather than Mac because at least PCs sometimes go on sale. Also, my interface at home (Saffire Pro) is Firewire, and I have not seen any recent PC laptops with firewire interfaces.

Randy

[v-un-v]

Hi Randy

If you get a PC with a card slot on the side, then you can add a Firewire interface for about $20. Don't get HP though, because they are really shit! Acer are a very good make of Laptop, and fairly cheap too.

Macs are worth mentioning as well. I'm typing on a four year-old Macbook Pro which is still working beautifully. I've seen these on eBay for around the $400 to $700 mark. Even a G4 would run Tassman well and would cost next to nothing $200?

best,

Tom

[Keysandslots]

Thanks Tom, I appreciate the advice. I had thought I might be derailing this thread by asking Tom about the laptop, but maybe not. I'm in a similar boat. I got rid of a bunch of stuff and bought an old Kurzweil K2600XS. It is an amazing instrument but it did not come with two of the ROM blocks, which are nearly necessary. It also weighs over 70 lbs.

Rather than spending the money on the additional hardware for the Kurz, maybe I should just sell it and spend some money on a good controller and a laptop. I'd have something for gigs, a computer-based instrument I could easily update and I could use it in the studio as my main DAW instead of fighting for the family desktop PC. And, since it would be dedicated, I wouldn't have any 'net access and I could turn off all sorts of silly Windows interrupting processes that keep screwing up my DAW (Nuendo).

Randy

[Electrica]

In case you are still considering Tetra, here is a review I recently published with some sound samples as well:

http://en.audiofanzine.com/analog-synth/dave-smith-instruments/Tetra/editorial/reviews/a-tiny-devil-for-the-road.html

[DES]

I sold off most of my hardware synths and use primarily a laptop with a good selection of softsynths. It's not quite the same - but you can make some serious music that way. I still have an XP80, K2000 and Arp 2600 (it's disabled right now). I recently replaced the display in my K2000 - I feel like I got a new instrument now! It is heavy though for a 61 key keyboard.

If you are considering ANY new laptop - you have to be careful if you are thinking of using a firewire card (expresscard, etc.) The internal chipsets used to access the card slots are not always what they should be. For isntance, my MSI will not work with any firewire cards that I have tried. Fortunately it's on-board firewire works. USB might be a better choice if you don't need more then say 8 audio i/o ports.

[Symatic Star]

Thanks VERY Much for your tip - paugui

I followed it and am playing now

[paugui]

It's a great machine

Since I put that advice I got myself a second Nord Modular G2X and a MicroModular.
I think they are likely the best digital synths ever

Have fun with it

[modulator_esp]

[Symatic Star]

Yeah Jez thanks - I Love it and I have not even installed the editor yet!

[Symatic Star]

Of Course I've installed the editor now And WOWOWOW!