Kit analysis - or - do I really need a Voyager?

The more I've learned to control and implement the Virus TI with the rest of my kit, the more I'm wondering if I really need the Voyager. 99.9% of the time, I use it for its bass sounds whcih are wonderful, but can easily be duplicated (well enough for my ears) on the TI. The other factor that I have to throw in: I get very short bursts of music time, and more often than not the Voyager warmup time is an issue in my 65 degree studio room.

Clearly, I'm just rationalizing getting rid of it, but I'd like some input to make sure I'm not just persuing foolishness. My goal isn't to have a huge studio full of stuff, so opportunities to free up space are golden.

Other than the sheer glowing beauty and huge knobbageness... do I really need it?

Probably not. That being said, someday I plan to buy one, mostly for the glowing beauty and huge knobbageness.

I think it clear that you Don't. You have nice stuff, why keep it all?

please send the useless thing to :

-me-

401 ralph st

sf ca usa 94112

I think i could really use it. my studio isn't 65 degreess and I have nothing but time to wait for warmin it up. prolly still beats the warmup time of my mini........

I say keep it until you know u definitely know don't need/want it. Its not like they are getting any cheaper so you know u can always sell it later.

Throw it in the closet for a month or two. If you miss it during that time, and most definitely if you take it out of the closet, you should not sell it.

Otherwise, let it go.

What other synths do you have. Having a proper analog, easy to edit, and a different sound is useful.

In this day and age, nobody NEEDS a monosynth. Especially one that expensive.

Monomachine, Machinedrum UW, Virus TI, Motif Rack.

No need with that kit.

If you don't have a connection with the Voyager than I'd say no. It's a pretty organic instrument like a fine guitar but at it's cost It's a bit of a luxury.

Yup the space to value ratio on a monosynth is really poor.

If your using it mainly for bass lines I'd get rid of it. If your using it for leads it may have some value. I really can't think of any modern synth that can't do bass lines so paying that sort of $$ for something that is mono and is really used just for bass lines is kinda silly.

Then again you don't have that large of a kit so it doesn't hurt to keep it. I find I get a lot more done with a larger kit.

In the right hands, the Voyager can get a huge palette of sounds and can get expression not possible on a polysynth.

I always wanted an analog synth that could pull off a decent sax sound. With the modulation options in the Voyager, I managed to dial up a decent sax (alto, tenor, and baritone to boot) plus I can use the filter, touchpad, aftertouch, and mod wheels to closely approximate a sax player.

I recently bought a Virus TI, and I only have room for two synths in my den/studio, so I delegated my Voyager to the closet. I've often considered selling it, but I want to keep it, mainly for sentimental reasons. When I was a teenager, I dreamt of owning a Minimoog, but not until I was older could I afford it. Now that I have it, I'd like to keep it, even if just as a collectible.

Even if I end up leaving behind my hobby with synths, it'd be nice to occasionally turn the dials and play the keys. And maybe someday I'd give it to one of my kids; damn, I would have been excited if someone gave me a hand-me-down Minimoog when I was young.

There aren't many modern synths that I think are worthy as collectibles. The MMV is one of the few. Possibly the Prophet '08 will be another. In comparison, my Virus TI and Korg Oasys seem almost disposable when thinking ahead 25 years.

Mark

I know what you mean. It really hurt to get rid of my Voyager RME but I'm not making nearly as much in potato land as I did in the UK and life throws you a curve from time to time. The Voyager is a luxury. A very nice luxury mind you but not as practical as a P-08, PEK, MEK, Andromeda, or SE-1X. Hell, you can get an SE-1X for half the cost of a Voyager but they just don't have that Moog Magic.

I appreciate all the input guys. While I do love having it, I'm feeling like I need to focus my learning efforts into knowing fewer machines, better and having a physically smaller, less complex setup.

I'm going to begin doing everything I do with the Moog on the TI and time will tell. Like with many things, it is important once in a while to question your setup and ask, "why?".

The TI is just one of those ninety-trick stallions.

Unless you're in the business, where all synths have to earn their keep, no synth is really practical or necessary.

If it's not practical or necessary, then it's just for fun.

If it's still fun - keep it, and vice-versa.

Depends on what kind of bass sounds you after, and whether those sounds are a really prominent part of your music. I had never really felt a need to have a real analog synth in recent years until I got into electro house type stuff. Easy to get the core sounds, but there was allways something missing. Getting an analog rack synth filled in those missing bits nicely.

Ive never been able to justify the cost of a voyager keyboard - I was very seriously thinking about getting the RME though until I got an SE ATC-X.

no

Yeah, I'd say sell it because just listening to your assessment makes me really and truely feel you'll be happy to sell it. Do that and think about what to do with the money. I usually opt to buy another piece of gear. Buy a P'08 or the Future Retro XS or some other piece you've fancied. I'm sure you'll be happier if you do sell it and especially buying a new synth

got any examples of those sax sounds? id like to hear them if poss

cheers

When selling gear to buy new gear, I'd recommend buying something used instead of new. When you buy something new, you eat the instant depreciation. If you then sell it and buy something else new, that too immediately depreciates in value. If comparison, when you sell & buy used, you end up getting about the same in value as what you sold.

Mark

my advice is not to throw out anything either a cheap casio or a voyager ...

To address a couple of posts, this isn't about buying something. Maybe keep paying the house down, but my goal isn't to add gear. Pretty sure I have what I need to make music.

I honestly believe your tracks wouldn't sound different if you didn't have the Voyager.

Get a second Mono instead