do you use any romplers/workstations?

ya, i know - synths are cooler. but don't you guys ever have a use for more traditional, varied sounds?

I have a Yamaha MU100R that I need to get fixed. Nice sounds in that unit. albeit a little on the thin side. The VL board is pretty cool.

I'm coming to terms with the fact that I really can't do without one. Since that is the way I started, the code so to speak is written.

I've always started ideas on a workstation, groovebox, or multi-timbral rompler in the past. Right now I don't have one and have come to the conclusion that I can't completely construct song ideas without one so I'm looking at picking up an S90ES of K2661 very soon. Even if I have to sacrifice my Nord Rack 2X and D-Station for it.

You can't be into Jazz and not have traditional sounds around. I'm particularly picky about the electric piano's, upright bass, alto sax, tenor sax, baritone sax, soprano sax, clarinet, trumpet, and jazz related drum kits.

Analog synths have about 3% of rompler's possibilities sound-wise. You can do so much more with a rompler...

Hmmmm.

I can get a nearly infinite number of sounds from:

1. my synths

2. my rompler

They have different possibilites in equal measure.

'specially faggoty pads.. right?

I have Yamaha CS2x, which I love to play. This synthesizer has the sound spectrum and playability I like. I definitely wouldn't exchange it for any VA synthesizer.

However, I would like to put one of the old monophonic CS series analogue synths next to it in future for more varied live performances.

Romplers are warmer ;-)

ROMplers are fine.

It's like having a digital Mellotron in your studio with an almost infinite number of tape racks that would have filled a warehouse. That's pretty powerful {censored} and the kind of stuff musicians would have killed for in the 60s and 70s. We should be thankful.

I love analog synths too. Different tools for different sounds, that's all.

I have a Yammy SY85. Early rompler but real nice (minus pianos...blegh). It does some purdy stuff. Which reminds me that I still owe this forum a demo that I promised.

I am lazy.

I've used ROMplers for years. I could give a rat's ass that someone else thinks they suck.

I've heard plenty of piss poor analog, too.

BTW I also own an analog modular, use the right tool for the right job, eh?

If you've ever listened to ANY of my work, or even read a couple of my posts, you'd know I really am interested in "interesting" sounds... I guess the term "sound design" would apply to some of what I do. But I have two romplers in my humble studio.

First being the Kurz K2000r, which almost surpasses the term "rompler" because of the VAST system and it's sampling ability, but it's basically still a rompler.

However, I don't use it NEARLY as much as the ol' TG55. I don't know why but I really just love this synth. It's fuzzy and digital, and not at all good for the traditional "rompler" sounds, but using it more as a synth, for pads and leads and lots of plucks and percussion, it's great. It's acctually one of the first synths I go to, after my Nords.

I use a motif es rack and fusion 8hd for 'traditional' sounds.

I also do most of my ideas sketching on the fusion now in some way - either recording midi into its sequencer, or audio from other synths into its HD recorder - just way less distacting and less messing about that fighting with a computer

I do allways using the MD from drum programming, though again - I might initially record that in as audio onto the Fusion's HD recorder.

I don't see my XP-30 or my E-mu Vintage Keys as romplers - well, maybe the TR-rack is one because without an editor it's kind of dead in the water - I will fix this . I love the EP sounds on my XP-30's Keys of the 60's and 70's card. Sure, any dedicated solution or more recent sample set is probably better, but still, really nice to play with.

i like to feed my proteus 1XR with bad midi data from MAX.

it has begun to enjoy the abuse.

The Triton Extreme is practically all I use. It's all I need for my cover band. Sometimes I think I should just sell everything else.

I love ROMplers, but I also like my FM and VA synths, too. The thing about romplers is that it's hard to find one that covers a lot of bases (depending on your taste). However, once you put a couple of them together - look out!

Sounds like you might like the Fusion - the whole lot in that

Romplers can be very powerful tools, and are often dimissed stupidly. Ive got a track right now I am working on where there are bass lines coming off my PEK and my Fantom X6, and the X6 certainly holds its own against it.

The hardest thing about romplers is learning to program them. Until you get good at it, it can be hard to get away from the 'sampled' sound and having every pad sound just alike.

I use an XL-7 with some extra roms. The ability to just grab a sound that fits in is really useful..

Yeah, it isn't as fun as coming up with patches on the G2, but for quickly filling out song ideas its the bomb...

Romplers and VA-s have practical use for different music styles.

my V-Drum's brain, the TD-20, has a really nice SoundCanvas in it, otherwise I have my D2 groovebox.

Most of my "rompler" type sounds are provided by my main instrument sampler, the Roland DJ-70mkII, except for the cases when i need a huge instrument, like piano, and then I turn to soft.

But I rarely boot up the softie at all.

My DJ-70mkII can definately sound more analog at times (for certain sounds) than any hardware VA I've heard. Of course that falls apart when you need certain types of modulation.

Originally posted by TheFoosa I have a Yammy SY85. Early rompler but real nice (minus pianos...blegh). It does some purdy stuff. Which reminds me that I still owe this forum a demo that I promised. I am lazy.

There are lots of demos on synthmania of TG500 (SY85 rack version) - it is simply fantastic! It was my first ever surprise rompler discovery. Very unique and powerful sounds, especially pads.

I own and use two rare Yamaha 9000 Pro rompler arrangers. Great live stage keyboard. The sounds are more or less the same as the Motif but having them in an arranger is handy plus I have the keyboards loaded with PLG plug-in cards. I like having one of the 9000's in my studio for good quality GM/XG sounds to quickly throw compositions together with or try out midi files and then I can replace those sounds with either the 9000"s better patches or with softsynths if I'm recording.

I also use a Novation X-Station 49 for my analog synth and multi-purpose keyboard/interface/controller for things like Reason.

As someone who is old enough to remember when non-memory, analog knob-twisters were all there was, I find it amusing that the younger techno crowd is so dismissive of sample-playback synths and workstations.