Quote:
Originally Posted by Barnelby
I am mainly talking about polysynths here, there are plenty of good monos it seems like.
I am beginning my research journey on a good polyanalog to compliment the virus, and I am a little let down by the current selection. I assume, though, I might not be looking in the right places.
When researching a digital synth, I easily gathered info on SO many digital analog synths currently being produced I STILL haven't gotten through all of it...
But when I look for poly analog synths currently being produced , it always seems like same thing:
the prophet 08.....the......prophet 08 .....desktop.....the....tetr4....
So that's basically one and a half synths.
And then of course there is the all reveled holy andromeda, which honestly I would LOVE to have, but I am not about to drop 40 ben franklins to play ebay roulette.
Then there is the studio electronics omega 8, supposed to be one of the best of all time, and I would hope that it is for FIVE GRAND (50 franklins). All the other Stud. electronics are supposed to be amazing, and I'm sure they are, but they are wacky expensive.
To top it all off, the prophet 8 has digitally controlled oscillators, envelopes, and some other stuff so that takes it down a notch for some people who criticize it for not being "true" analog due to this...
And of course everyone just says that it's only the vintage analogs that sound like the real thing...I think someday it would be AMAZING to own a memorymoog or prophet 05 or jupiter or whatever, but I'm not gonna be slingin' Franklins for something that I would feel scared to gig with/move at all and feel like I'm dealing with an antique (cause I am).
So why don't companies produce analogs like they used to? Or at ALL really for that matter? And I say this based on the simple fact that the digital analog to analog (poly) synth ratio being produced today is WAY skewed
I have read that there are concerns about parts that wear out over time or aren't quite as reliable for whatever reason, but having been a guitar player for a long time, I know a thing or two about tube amps and the upkeep involved. I feel like this is not something that would break a deal for me for the sake of incredible sound quality
So why not make something like they used to? Why keep making synth after synth that just get compared to the classic ones and not grow a pair and make something badass? There I said it.
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Hi Deadmau5 - if you havent done so already, I recommend you visit
http://www.vintagesynth.com/ and start reading about some of the cheaper analog poly's of the 80's.
Id like to clear up some of the misinformation going on here - 95% of the analog poly's of the late 70's and 80's were technically digital hybrids. Analog oscilators, filters, envelops, amplifiers, lfo's etc but with digital memory, digital tuning, midi, aftertouch. Jupiter 8, Prophet 5, Juno's, Polysix, MonoPoly, Synthex, JX-8P, JX10, Oberheim OBXa, OB8 etc all fall into this category. If you are looking for a completly analog polysynth you'd need to go right back to 1975 and look at the Oberheim 4 Voice, 8 Voice. Now, dont get hung up on this, all of these synths have a TRUE analog SOUND, its just that they contain microprocessors, memory, tuning etc. These dont effect the sound....just its functionality.
In terms of new analog polysynths - the market is a little light on choice....there is no denying that. Of the ones you have listed, the Prophet 08 is the best in terms of sound, simplicity, functionality and cost. I read in another thread you found the the VTI2 a little daunting (give it time) so stay away from the Andromeda A6. The price of A6's is seriously over inflated £2200+ and they are overly complicated to use and somewhat buggy. Given your situation, you really ought to consider some of the cheaper 80's alternatives - im talking about the Roland Juno 6, Roland JX3P, JX8P - these all used the same filter as the Jupiter 8 and cost under £500 + you'll get 6 note polyphony. If they fuck up, they are repairable.
If you can extend your budget to £1500-£2000 then you may want to consider the Roland MKS80 + Programmer. If you get the Mark 4 version your basically getting Prophet 5 oscilators running through a Jupiter 8 filter. The Mark 5 version uses Curtis Oscilators and Filter....effectively an 8 voice Prophet 5.
The alternative is that you sit and wait a few years for Moog to release their polysynth. I know some well connected people and been informed that R&D is already underway. The new Moog Voyager XL paves the way for a 61 note keyboard and the cabinet is there. Its just the electronics which need to be worked out. The market is not ready to receive a £5k polysynth...but I can tell you something....it will be the only analog poly you'd need to own.
I've been fortunate enough to own all the classic analogs - there is something very special about their sound and feel. Check out some of my Youtube vids...
Roland Jupiter 8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XxnPH5qahY
Roland Juno 60
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koWUu8GT_4o
Prophet 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_hxEQYIDKs
Visit my page at
http://www.youtube.com/user/DIGITALSCREAMS
Of all the VA's, the Virus is the most unique/best sounding.....enjoy it for what it is
DS