Synthesizer Gear Porn ;-)

[BobM]

Reading a lot about the Roland FA 08 workstation that I like. Great Roland sounds, plus on-keyboard adjustments without requiring a laptop to edit. I like the versatility.

Though the Arturia Kelab 88 MK II does have some nice features too. Anyone have experience using both?

The Roland does not have sliders that you can use for tone wheel tabs on a Hammond sound, as far as I can see, but the Arturia is set up for this. How are their organs, and do they have a Leslie simulation?

[battema]

Their B3 software synth, does yes. This is a pretty terrible demo overall (very 90's builtin keyboard demo-esque), but the sound of the B3 is definitely there and a fair "quickie" overview of what it can do:

[Gizmotron]

...late to the party...there are quite a few great workstations out there. I would repeat the suggestion of the Kronos though. Absolutely killer.
Just get an 88 key version and be done.

[BobM]

The Kronos is awesome and I really liked the way it felt and played, but even used it was over budget. The Arturia has the same Fatar keys as the Kronos so I pulled the trigger on the Arturia Keylab 88 MK II. Buying it before Sept 30 gave me 3 additional Arturia sound bundles (Hammond, Rhodes and Minimoog), which are all essential in my mind but would have cost another $400 of so after market. So now I have 7000 sounds plus these other 3 and they threw in a stand, bench and sustain pedal for free. The local Guitar Center gave me the best deal and I have a local store to support me if something goes wrong.

[Rarebird]

The Kronos is awesome and I really liked the way it felt and played, but even used it was over budget. The Arturia has the same Fatar keys as the Kronos so I pulled the trigger on the Arturia Keylab 88 MK II. Buying it before Sept 30 gave me 3 additional Arturia sound bundles (Hammond, Rhodes and Minimoog), which are all essential in my mind but would have cost another $400 of so after market. So now I have 7000 sounds plus these other 3 and they threw in a stand, bench and sustain pedal for free. The local Guitar Center gave me the best deal and I have a local store to support me if something goes wrong.

Looks interesting. So you get the full instruments software? The Hammond also has some effects and an amplifiersimulation you can add, and I think the same goes for the Rhodes software. The Minimoog software offers the possibility to play polyphonic and offers some editingmodes, not available on the original instrument, like choosing modulationsources and destinations.
I have a very small Arturia keyboard myself and I really like it. Don't know what I should do without it.

[BobM]

There's going to be a lot for me to learn. Hours of fun and games, but first I have to get my chops back. It's been a long time since I played with any regularity. I feel like I have some kind of palsy when i sit at a keyboard these days.

[Gizmotron]

Congrats!

Your skills will one back. Just be patient.
And have FUN!

[hippypants]

BobM--yeah, it's always good to have a keyboard or some kind of instrument around for creativity. Good luck.

I thought this was an interesting comparison between these two synths:

[dropforge]

I forgot to suggest this keyboard as well, just released. Kurzweil PC4 88 at a great price. https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...er-workstation

That looks really nice. Surprised to see a new workstation that makes FM synthesis one of its main selling points. Feature-wise, that's one slick machine.

[Gizmotron]

That looks really nice. Surprised to see a new workstation that makes FM synthesis one of its main selling points. Feature-wise, that's one slick machine.

I am not.
It is still a wonderful type of synthesis.
The Korg Kronos has a great FM Engine included with its other sound Engines and they market that aspect. I love having it.

[Top Cat]

That looks really nice. Surprised to see a new workstation that makes FM synthesis one of its main selling points. Feature-wise, that's one slick machine.

The Yamaha Montage and most recently the scaled down version MODX7 really focus on the FM side of things. I've heard some really good demos of them both using the new OS just released, which really added some good new additions for creating sound.
I've always loved the Kurzweil sound, especially the K2000 which was the standard touring keyboard for a long time. I remember seeing one in Richard Wright's rig and it came as close to analog sounding as you can get with digital.
Unlike many other manufacturers who rely on China for manufacturing, the Kurzweils are made in Korea. It's good to see they've found a way to be competitive but maintain quality.

I am not.
It is still a wonderful type of synthesis.
The Korg Kronos has a great FM Engine included with its other sound Engines and they market that aspect. I love having it.

I love my Kronos, but can't help but wonder what Korg has up their sleeves for a new flagship synth. We've had the Kronos, Kronos X, and Kronos II, and I think they are about due to drop something really cool.
But I do feel the Kronos, which does so much, will be relevant for quite a long time.

[Gizmotron]

Good observations, Top Cat.
I really enjoy my older Kurzweil K 2500XS...innovative voices that just seems "different" from my Korgs and Rolands and Yammies.

But yes, I too feel that it is probably time for Korg to up the ante on things and go bigger than the KRONOS.

[battema]

So...random musings about MPE ( https://support.roli.com/support/sol...3-what-is-mpe- )

MPE is amazing, it's basically like MIDI+ and enables you to use multiple gestures per note played: pitch, velocity, aftertouch, and more. Lots of synths can do per-channel (for example, the mod wheel affects all notes played on that MIDI channel), a very select few can do polyphonic (per note) aftertouch, but MPE is a pretty next-level kind of beast.

This video from the good Mr Linn does a nice job of demonstrating what is possible in terms of performance with a MPE-capable setup. I'm lucky enough to own a few MPE capable devices, and they are really, really, excellent.

The Linnstrument in this video is a grid-type controller with a configuration not unlike a guitar fretboard (said config can be modified in a number of different ways). Folks with a background in guitars (normal or touch ala the Stick) might find this a particularly interesting little device.

[Gizmotron]

So...random musings about MPE ( https://support.roli.com/support/sol...3-what-is-mpe- )

MPE is amazing, it's basically like MIDI+ and enables you to use multiple gestures per note played: pitch, velocity, aftertouch, and more. Lots of synths can do per-channel (for example, the mod wheel affects all notes played on that MIDI channel), a very select few can do polyphonic (per note) aftertouch, but MPE is a pretty next-level kind of beast.

This video from the good Mr Linn does a nice job of demonstrating what is possible in terms of performance with a MPE-capable setup. I'm lucky enough to own a few MPE capable devices, and they are really, really, excellent.

The Linnstrument in this video is a grid-type controller with a configuration not unlike a guitar fretboard (said config can be modified in a number of different ways). Folks with a background in guitars (normal or touch ala the Stick) might find this a particularly interesting little device.

Damn you Sock Monkey! I had almost forgotten about this but you had to refresh my memory, didn't you? LOL

But seriously, it is a fascinating alternative controller that looks very intriguing.

[battema]

Using MPE can take some adjusting but once you get acclimated to how it works (and how it differs from normal keyboard playing), it's pretty damned remarkable what can be achieved.

[hippypants]

[battema]

I love when he is messing with the Minimoog but then says "ya can't buy this anymore, it's 15 years old, it's an antique" and moves on to the Waldorf. He might've underestimated things just a tad

[battema]

H O L Y M O T H E R O F G O D

https://synthandsoftware.com/2019/11...rd-synthesizer


I threw money at that so fast, it looks like it went backwards in time...

[Gizmotron]

Oh my, that looks very cool, John!
You get a fat discount by jumping in now.

[battema]

Yeah, this was a no-brainer for me. I am, at the heart, a keyboard player and a keyboard interface will always feel most comfortable to me. As much as I love the Linnstrument (and it IS wonderful), it will never feel as familiar as a more traditional piano-based layout.

As a small bonus with this new Expressive E beauty is that the synth engine is the EaganMatrix, which is also what lives in the heart of the Haken Continuum. Speaking from experience, frankly I'd pay a grand just for that synth engine. It's remarkable.

This video demonstrates some of the EaganMatrix sound potential, but also really shows how incredibly expressive this new synth is going to be. For example, the initial velocity isn't just binary anymore but gradual so your finger attack can essentially shape an envelope for the sound.

[Gizmotron]

I too would feel most comfortable on it (vs the Linn) because of my standard keyboard experience. But as you know from our chats, I still want to experience the Linn one of these days because of that unique approach. It would probably make me a better guitarist and bassist in the process.

And yes, that engine sure seems impressive. I like the integrated approach (having the engine on-board).

[battema]

I too would feel most comfortable on it (vs the Linn) because of my standard keyboard experience. But as you know from our chats, I still want to experience the Linn one of these days because of that unique approach. It would probably make me a better guitarist and bassist in the process.

A certain offer still stands

[hFx]

A winner or a dud from Behringer? Time will tell...

[Gizmotron]

A certain offer still stands

...and that wonderful offer is always on my mind, kind Sir!

Recently I've diverted my attention towards the re-set of my rather large drum set (Pearl Masters Studio, birch) but am pretty much done so I will return my gaze to sorting out the last 20% of the re-set of my stack of keyboards and modules so that I can get closer to being ready for the leap to looking at that lovely LinnStrument.

Thank you, John.

[hippypants]