Members letsgocoyote Posted December 31, 2007 Members Share Posted December 31, 2007 Hey All, Normally a guitarist but I have interest for all things musical. Anyhow, I'd really like to buy a small synth for my wife for her birthday, and I'm leaning towards A MicroKorg (preferably a good deal on a used one) but I was wondering if you guys knew of any other good bang for the buck synths to get. Preferring something small like the microkorg, and more analog looking/controls but can jsut be digital. thanks again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members albiedamned Posted December 31, 2007 Members Share Posted December 31, 2007 The other obvious candidate is the Alesis Micron. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members letsgocoyote Posted December 31, 2007 Author Members Share Posted December 31, 2007 Certainly that one as well, but I'm jsut wondering if there is somethign in the used/out of production market to investigate? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mildbill Posted December 31, 2007 Members Share Posted December 31, 2007 Small synths with keyboards only became real popular recently. I can't think of too many older ones besides the minimoog and the korg prophecy (which isn't all that old). I'm sure there were a fair amount of other ones, but I can't think of them now. Anyways - if you can deal with the minikeys on the microkorg, I'm sure you and your wife would have a lot of fun with it. I like the Micron better tho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members letsgocoyote Posted December 31, 2007 Author Members Share Posted December 31, 2007 also looking at the Novation Xiosynth 25 which i jsut realised exists. 1 less octave but more affordable. any cons to this one? basically i think she will use to to a) fart around with and b) playing chords so we can start a band. shes got tiny fingers so small keys are no big deal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mcpepe Posted December 31, 2007 Members Share Posted December 31, 2007 korg microx? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cran Leavis Posted December 31, 2007 Members Share Posted December 31, 2007 I'd go for the microx too - much wider range of sound for the beginner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Diametro Posted December 31, 2007 Members Share Posted December 31, 2007 two octaves = too limiting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Nevandal Posted December 31, 2007 Members Share Posted December 31, 2007 Check out a Nord Lead 2X, and/or a Roland SH-201. Stay away from the keyboards with small keys or not enough keys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members raffor Posted December 31, 2007 Members Share Posted December 31, 2007 Check out a Nord Lead 2X, and/or a Roland SH-201.Stay away from the keyboards with small keys or not enough keys. I would try out the SH-201. It is $420 for the reboxed ones and gives you everything you need in a simple package. The good thing is that you can tweak the sound and learn with such an instrument. The Nord Lead 2x is more expensive with $900 reboxed but is higher quality (sound- and construction wise). However, the NL2 has no effects, so the SH seems to be good starting point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kilon Posted December 31, 2007 Members Share Posted December 31, 2007 Yes MicroX seem like a logical option , it encompasses many genres of sounds and is a bit like a swish army knife. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members C#minor Posted December 31, 2007 Members Share Posted December 31, 2007 What's your budget? For best bang for the buck, used s the only option to get something useful. The MicrKorg has tiny keys and really really feels like a toy. Also, if your wife is interested in synthesizers, does she mind using her computer for that? You don't need a powerful computer to run a decent synth. All that you'd need is a MIDI controller keyboard which is definitely cheaper than a hardware synth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cygnus64 Posted December 31, 2007 Members Share Posted December 31, 2007 two octaves = too limitingI would agree, especially for a first synth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cran Leavis Posted December 31, 2007 Members Share Posted December 31, 2007 there's always bert : Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members letsgocoyote Posted December 31, 2007 Author Members Share Posted December 31, 2007 definitely want a hardware synth. i understand two octaves can be limiting, which seems the downside to the xiosynth. an extra keyboard controller could be plugged into it though at a later time for more range? unfotunately, my budget is pretty low. i'd like to get something more spectacular, but im pretty limited to $200-400. really not much. understandably its annoying when people ask for suggestions for things but dont even have enough for the cheapest options. after looking at product info and reviews of the microkorg, micron, and xiosynth though, i think im pretty set on the xio, especially for the price i found it. doesnt seem to be any good used options out theere Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cran Leavis Posted December 31, 2007 Members Share Posted December 31, 2007 all's not lost - why not a $200 juno-d ? there's plenty of other used options for your price range too . http://cgi.ebay.com/Roland-JUNO-D-Synth_W0QQitemZ250200214378QQihZ015QQcategoryZ38090QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cyberpunx Posted December 31, 2007 Members Share Posted December 31, 2007 get a controller and a module or two. For synth sounds the roland sh-32 and korg elektribe series come to mind. For more realistic sounds, for 100 bucks you really can't beat a nice used kurzweil 1000px. So, figure 100 bucks or so for a controller, 150-200 for a synth module and another 100 for the kurzweil and you'll have all your bases covered :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Diametro Posted December 31, 2007 Members Share Posted December 31, 2007 and is a bit like a swish army knife. ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Prog Posted December 31, 2007 Members Share Posted December 31, 2007 ...she will use to to a) fart around with and b) playing chords so we can start a band. A Wings tribute band? I can see the ad right now: Guitarist and wife (she plays chords on a cheap synth) need other players. They're lining up around the block as we speak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members C#minor Posted December 31, 2007 Members Share Posted December 31, 2007 definitely want a hardware synth. i understand two octaves can be limiting, which seems the downside to the xiosynth. an extra keyboard controller could be plugged into it though at a later time for more range?... Then you have to cross out the Xiosynth, as you can NOT control it from another keyboard. Novation does not include a midi-in in the Xio. It's a way, me thinks, to make users buy the more expensive 49 key version if they need more keys.A new Xio 49 can be had for $330-380 on Ebay which is not too bad. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mildbill Posted January 1, 2008 Members Share Posted January 1, 2008 .... is a bit like a swish army knife. The Alesis Fusion is even more of a 'swish army knife'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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