Start up costs

I'm strongly considering joining the synth world in the near future and I had a few questions not answered the numerous other beginner threads.

I'm a guitar player, but I've always loved playing with different sounds so I've had a synth bug for the past few months. I'm leaning toward an Alesis Ion.

I was wondering what accessories or even hidden costs come with buying a synth. For example in the guitar world, you can buy the guitar but you're still going to have to buy strings, picks, an amp, maybe pedals, etc. Is there anything else you need for a synth?

What's the best way to amplify a synth? I have a guitar amp (probably not ideal for a synth right?) but it's currently across the country as I recently moved and it hasn't been sent yet. I've never really used headphones to play music so I'm wondering if that will be comfortable. What other options do I have, and what would they cost? Can I just run it through my computer?

I've read about peoples complaints of the lack of delay/reverb with the Ion. Should I also be looking into some type of delay/reverb unit? I was thinking about asking for a Kaoss Pad for christmas. I also have several delay pedals (no reverb) for guitar, although like my amp they are not with me at the moment. Would these options work in this capacity?

I really don't forsee playing live at the moment, but I am interested production. I don't have any really high quality programs though. Is this important at this point or is just learning the synth going to be enough of a challenge for the moment? Would I need to add anything else if I ever did play live?

Thanks. I appreciate any information. I'm just trying to gauge what I'm getting into before I make the plunge

For keys you generally want to have an amp or powered speakers that have full dynamic range - ie keyboard amps are basically combo PA systems, powered speakers. Ideally, you'll want studio monitor speakers, but the cheapest way to get started is to use PC desktop speakers. It won't necessarily be accurate, but it'll work.

The cheapest way to getting into synthesis is to buy a MIDI controller and to use free softsynths, or to buy a recording package like Cubase, Sonar, Logic, etc and use what it comes with.

As always, it really depends on what you want to do.

I don't know much about keyboard amps, but they are available. Another route would be to buy lower end powered "Studio Monitors". I think others could provide better particular suggestions than I could, but I would estimate for anything that much better than a pair of headphones, you should be looking at about $200+ for amplification.

As for effects, I would say for now, don't do anything with effects. Whatever synth you get, you should really work at using it by it's self first. I guess the same could be said for playing guitar for the first time with a delay pedal. Work on learning the instrument and what it can do as is. Then add to the equation.

For the next few months, whatever effects you have for guitars should work just fine. Basic delay units, some phasers/flangers and choruses and those kinds of things, typical guitar effects, should be ok with synths. It's sort of known as the "Lo-Fi" way to get effects because of the narrower, more focused range of guitar processors, but it will give you a fair approximation of what kind of sounds you can get.

After that, you could invest in an effects rack, of which you could get fair ones at $50 or so used, good ones at about $100-200 used, and really good ones at around $400. I don't do a lot of effects stuff (because the synths I have actually work as effects units too), but I think that's a pretty fair assessment of it all.

My goals are pretty modest.

1) Play a new instrument/ create music

2) Learn my way around a synth

I think I have a decent speaker set up for my computer. Perhaps I'll just stick with that for now. Any tips/ideas on looking for studio montiors. That's a piece of equipment I've never dealt with or looked into. I'd really like to stay around $100-150 for whatever option I choose.

The Samson Resolv 65A Active monitors will only set you back around $250 new...I have seen them used on eBay for around $150. They are excellent monitors! I have a pair and wouldn't trade them for any other monitor in its price range.

In a powered monitor shootout in Future Music, the Resolv 65A's were the winner.

This is very sound advice. I've owned the Resolvs with a sub for about a year now and they're good. I've got lots of other sound reinforcement gear I use for the clubs, I just leave the Resolvs set up in the music room.

I also think the Alesis Ion gives the most synthesizer bang for the buck. I recently had a retired keyboardist comment upon hearing my Ion in the club, " that thing sounds as good as my Minimoog"! While I doubt that, it does sound very good, and has plenty of knobs for sound creation. I bought a cheap TC electronics multi-effects unit to compensate for it's lack of echo and reverb....

Hmm.. well, the lowest price for a basic keyboard is like 60,00$... Sorry... But youll have to save some money..