Guitarist Thinking About a Synth

[akliner]

Why the {censored} are people suggesting a VA when this guy OBVIOUSLY wants a ROMpler...

 

What are you really thinking?

 

The Roland Juno D, Juno G, or the Korg X50 would be great for what you're after.

[ChristianRock]

Because he's a guitarist, hence he doesn't know what he wants

[akliner]

Right, so he should get something that sounds like EVERYTHING. He mentioned specifically, realistic piano and strings and versitility.

 

ROMplers are more versitile in that way than VAs.

 

(there's a such thing as synth SAMPLES, btw...don't lynch me )

[ChristianRock]

I don't think he means he wants all those things he mentioned. He was like, "I could do this... OR that... OR that...".

For some of the things he mentioned, he does need a VA. And I wasn't about to suggest an Oasys so he could have something to handle ALL his needs

[akliner]

I don't think he means he wants all those things he mentioned. He was like, "I could do this... OR that... OR that...". For some of the things he mentioned, he does need a VA. And I wasn't about to suggest an Oasys so he could have something to handle ALL his needs

 

Please show me in his post where a VA would be needed.

[ChristianRock]

 

Please show me in his post where a VA would be needed.

 

 

Dunno, the part where he said he wanted to do stuff like We Are Wolves maybe?

[akliner]

I have no idea what that is. I can, however, dial up a sine wave or triangle wave sample and add some overdrive to it on my ROMplers...

 

I cannot, however, accurately, reproduce realistic strings and a piano on my VA.

[ChristianRock]

I have no idea what that is. I can, however, dial up a sine wave or triangle wave sample and add some overdrive to it on my ROMplers... I cannot, however, accurately, reproduce realistic strings and a piano on my VA.

 

Lots of WaW songs have much knob tweakage of synth sounds, and that was his #1 thing he wanted to do, and he wants cheap, so I suggested a VA

[ElectricPuppy]

Agreed, he needs a cheapo rompler, not a microKORG.

[akliner]

Hi CR and Puppy!

 

Again, we find ourselves in this thread.

 

I feel good about this.

[ElectricPuppy]

Are you two following me?? stop it!

[akliner]

NO. I just got back from teh lunch.

 

Chipotle =

[Delicious Lamprey Problem]

If I could only own one synth, it would be a ROMpler.

 

Fortunately, owning just one synth is a very, very silly idea.

[ChristianRock]

If I could own just one synth it would be an Oasys

I honestly think I have the next best thing when it comes to an all-in-one synth.

[rovito]

I really like my X50. The handles on the end make it very easy to hang on to when moving it around. Get a good hard case for it and it should last. If you could swing the extra get the Korg TR61. Its the next step up from the X50 and includes a sequencer/recorder so you can prerecord parts to play on command as well as sampling option you can up grade to. The Roland Juno D was a let down for me. The sounds where not great and I found it a bit of a pain to use. If cash is a problem you may want to look at a Yamaha psr 540. The sounds ok. The recorder/sequencer works well and they are super cheap on Ebay. Good cheap first keyboard.

[AfroRouge]

Chipotle =

 

Pancho Villa's FTW. Get that McDonaldo wannabe crap out of here!

 

(in truth, I sympathize with your lack of decent Mexican. D.C. has terrible Mexican food.)

[Fine_Young_Fool]

Okay okay whoa whoa whoa. I leave for one day and look what you guys do.

 

Anyway... Yes. I am a guitar player. I am ignorant about synths. Haha. Make fun of me. HOwever, maybe I could lay out some more that'd help you guys.

 

First, price: I am a teenager. I don't jave TOO much money just laying around. Let's keep it at ~500. Kay?

 

Second: Distorted sounds are the priority. Do you suggest a fuzz pedal or just stock settings? Here is We are Wolves. http://wearewolves.net/

 

Here is One Day as a Lion.

http://www.onedayasalion.org/

 

There are songs on there. They should be what you need.

 

As for piano/violin... I don't need it to be that realistic. It's not a priority. I was just thinking as a looping intor to songs, ala 31Knots, (http://31knots.com/music.html).

 

All synths can loop stuff, right?

 

Third: I need it to be gig worthy, as I both plan to gig, and am very rowdy. Last I gigged I was kicking stuff over and on the floor, just nuts. Is taping the synth to the stand a good strategy?

 

Thanks for all of your help.

[enx]

Okay okay whoa whoa whoa. I leave for one day and look what you guys do. Anyway... Yes. I am a guitar player. I am ignorant about synths. Haha. Make fun of me. HOwever, maybe I could lay out some more that'd help you guys. First, price: I am a teenager. I don't jave TOO much money just laying around. Let's keep it at ~500. Kay? Second: Distorted sounds are the priority. Do you suggest a fuzz pedal or just stock settings? Here is We are Wolves. http://wearewolves.net/ Here is One Day as a Lion. http://www.onedayasalion.org/ There are songs on there. They should be what you need. As for piano/violin... I don't need it to be that realistic. It's not a priority. I was just thinking as a looping intor to songs, ala 31Knots, ( http://31knots.com/music.html ). All synths can loop stuff, right? Third: I need it to be gig worthy, as I both plan to gig, and am very rowdy. Last I gigged I was kicking stuff over and on the floor, just nuts. Is taping the synth to the stand a good strategy? Thanks for all of your help.

 

Sounds like the x50 and some good velcro straps are all you need, If $600 is too much, you could find one used or go for the MicroX, which is the same sound engine with only 25 keys (lame for gigging imo) that only costs $500

 

x50:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Korg-X50CF-61Key-Synthesizer?sku=703110

 

MicroX:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Korg-microX-Tabletop-Synthesizer-Controller?sku=702909

 

My next choice would definitely be the Alesis fusion 6HD, sooooo many features for $520 (blem)

 

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product?sku=474971

[AfroRouge]

Most synths don't loop stuff.

 

If you tape most synths to a stand, you better also tape down the stand if you're planning to kick it. If you're going to really obliterate your keyboard, get a really cheap controller and midi modules that you won't be kicking.

[picothinker]

Fine_Young_Fool: I have perhaps the two most important unasked questions.

 

1. What is your approximate level of keyboard playing skills?

 

2. How good are you at navigating menus? (AKA, on your favorite guitar sound, are you a stompbox or rackmount FX person) Be sure to factor in navigating tiny menus with bright lights in your eyes, assuming a live gig.

 

These answers can affect whatever you purchase.

 

EDIT: I just re-read this part:

Last I gigged I was kicking stuff over and on the floor,

 

You may need to play more gigs.

[moogerfooger]

You guys are actually tempting me to buy a MicroKorg.

 

yea -- I'm going out and buy 2 of them

 

and i thought the PP was a rough and tumble forum

[akliner]

Okay okay whoa whoa whoa. I leave for one day and look what you guys do. Anyway... Yes. I am a guitar player. I am ignorant about synths. Haha. Make fun of me. HOwever, maybe I could lay out some more that'd help you guys. First, price: I am a teenager. I don't jave TOO much money just laying around. Let's keep it at ~500. Kay?

 

So, yeah, all of these synths can be had for blem/B-stock/used for this budget.

 

Second: Distorted sounds are the priority. Do you suggest a fuzz pedal or just stock settings? Here is We are Wolves. http://wearewolves.net/

 

Most ROMplers (and synths in general, really) have a built-in effects section. You can dial up effects and put it on top of a ROM sample. Or, you can run your keyboard through a guitar effect / multi- effect processor.

 

Here is One Day as a Lion. http://www.onedayasalion.org/ There are songs on there. They should be what you need.

 

I'm not going to listen to that.

 

As for piano/violin... I don't need it to be that realistic. It's not a priority. I was just thinking as a looping intor to songs, ala 31Knots, ( http://31knots.com/music.html ). All synths can loop stuff, right?

 

I'm not going to listen to that either. Even though piano/violin is not a priority, I still think a ROMpler is a better bet than a proper SYNTH.

 

No, most synths CAN'T loop stuff. You want a sequencer, it seems like. Or, for cheaper, you can find an arpeggio in a synth or ROMpler, set the tempo, set it to "latch", and hit the desired chord for a synthy "loop".

 

Third: I need it to be gig worthy, as I both plan to gig, and am very rowdy. Last I gigged I was kicking stuff over and on the floor, just nuts. Is taping the synth to the stand a good strategy? Thanks for all of your help.

 

Gig-worthy is definitely a subjective term. Keyboards are basically computers. They have computers inside of them. No keyboard, regardless of construction, is going to survive too much abuse. Grow up, take care of your instruments, and let your music be what makes your band interesting...not your adolescent stage antics.

 

If you want to better secure your synth to a stand, I reccommend industrial velcro.

[Delicious Lamprey Problem]

Third: I need it to be gig worthy, as I both plan to gig, and am very rowdy. Last I gigged I was kicking stuff over and on the floor, just nuts. Is taping the synth to the stand a good strategy?

 

This is stating the obvious, perhaps, but keyboards are not guitars. A blow that will leave an impressive (but otherwise merely cosmetic) "battle scar" on a guitar, willl kill a keyboard. Keyboards are, comparatively, fragile.

[Fine_Young_Fool]

Ouch. Okay. I'll just take all that. Needless to say I don't plan on kicking it over, and I'm not sure why I really posted that.

 

Anyway, I realize synths can be expensive, and that I'll have to wait for a good deal. I can deal with that.

 

I have played piano for three years. So I'm not terribly inexperienced.

[akliner]

Seriously, Mr. Fine Young Fool, a Korg X50 would probably be your best bet.