How to get started: (gear questions)

Hi!

1st. I've searched the forums high and low and can't seem to compile and answer to my questions. I do realize that the world of electronic music is so diverse and limitless that there is no one single answer, but I am willing to try.

2nd. I can read and play piano. I've had a few years of formal instruction, and I've played sax for over 7 years.

3rd. I'm wanting to purchase a synth/workstation or what have you. I want something with many sounds and the ability to create a piece with all parts.

I'm really into rock style music and ambiance style electronic stuff. Pink floyd, Nine inch nailes, prodigy, etc.... and just really electic type stuff.

I don't really have a budget, but I don't wish to go too crazy since I'm just starting to gather gear. Say less than $1500 or so. I'll be hooking this up some powered studio monitors and of course my pc (mac in the future)

Finally,

Are there any other synth/electronic music websites/forums you could reccomend - also any magazines or books to further my interest/education?

Thanks,

Neut

I'd get a Roland Fantom if I were you, maybe a Triton or Motif. But the user interface is better on the Fantom, more polished sounds than the other though. I like the Motif sounds best. If you like Roland like a lot do, go for the Fantom. maybe pcik up a used fantom on ebay. The Xa looks like the cheapest model and the S (sampling version) looks like the next.

get some software bundled with a controller.

Could you give me some examples of what gear i would need?

You can also look at the Alesis Fusion 8HD for $1500 or a bit less. It has 88 piano action keys, several synthesis types, lots of varied sounds ... also, a sequencer and a hard disk recorder. So there's a lotta bang for the buck there, making it a great all-in-one board. The Fusion is easy to use, but it could use more physical knobs and *much* improvement to the user manual.

I just got started in synths as well and bought a Fusion 6HD (61 keys) for my first synth. It's fun and a great learning tool. The OS is so easy to use, I've rarely needed to look at the manual for anything.

Try to go to stores that sell all these keyboards and investigate each one.

For that style of music, get a Roland Fantom or Yamaha Motif, and a VA synth like an Ion. Both can be found on eBay. Roland and Yamaha for around $1200, and the Ion for $350.

The other synth forum is with MusicPlayer. A taboo word around here.

MusicPlayer Forum

Or go to Sound on Sound: SOS

For magazines, buy Keyboard magazine. Here's the website: Keyboard online

Look for a Yamaha S90 (new or used would fit in your price range). You'll need to go to your local music store and check things out so you can get more specific without your questions.

if you're completely new to electronic music producion, start cheap and simple:

get an easy-to-learn groovebox and get started. learn all you can from that. learn what questions to ask, and keep going.

Well... no.

If you can play piano a groovebox should be low on your list of priorities. As some of the other posters mentioned, what's known as a "workstation" is worth looking at. The Big Three keyboard makers each have one. Yamaha Motif, Roland Fantom, Korg Triton. Each can do the all-in-one things with drum tracks playing while you layer other things. Do a search and read the reviews here and at other sites. Each of those 'boards also has a user website. Within each of those lines are both pro and semi-pro boards, with pricing and feature sets to reflect that.

If you don't need drums playing in the background (or sequencing and sampling), the Big Three also have solid stage pianos with synth flavors... the Yamaha S90ES and Roland RD700SX come to mind.

Welcome to the slippery slope of 21st century keyboard playing. Try to pick once and live with your choice for a while as you learn the pros and cons of your purchase. In a perfect world, all additional purchases are incremental.

Stay away from software (ie MIDI controller and the softsynth package of the week) until you really intend to do home recording or have time to kill. If you are a player, software will be a distraction and should not be your primary axe.

Remember for every ten posters on the internet there are eleven opinions (I include myself in that), so read carefully and read around.

Good luck, and once again welcome!

oh yeah. good point.

I know you said you want to buy a workstation, but for a beginner who already has a PC and some monitors it may be cheaper and possibly more productive to buy a basic controller and maybe a firewire interface to plug into.

I always felt that by buying an expensive workstation, I was re-purchasing something I already had access to on my computer: the ability to record, playback, sequence, edit, and master music.

When I factored in the added learning curve of a workstation coupled with the small screen compared to my 19" monitor, I stuck with software.

Certainly this route isn't for everyone, and different people will be productive with different setups, but I think it's worth at least considering before you spend a lot of money.

Good luck in your decision!!

BTW, if you do go with a workstation-type keyboard, make sure you're really happy with the feel of the keys. I had a hard time adjusting to a controller coming from a piano background.