Let's see your KEYS/SYNTHS!

[weatherbox]

Any experience with the OCTAVE CAT SRM? It's a bit above my price range but i really like the demos i've heard

They're awesome. They're finicky. It's as stereotypically "vintage analog" as you're going to get, in sound and in maintenance. Consider also the ARP Solus, which is 85% of an Odyssey at 1/3rd the price. I really love the current Oberheim SEMs, as well. Cleaner and reedier than the Cat or Arp, but not in a sterile way. Like sustaining note on a violin vs that same note sustaining on an overdriven electric guitar. A little airier, maybe.

[Ruiner]

Well went to GC at lunch to play with the Sub Phatty and since it was on sale for $639 i was seconds away from picking it up until i started playing with the Moog SUB 37 Tribute....... and even though it's double the price.... i think i have to have that one.

[weatherbox]

Sub37 is pretty sweet. The duophonic ability is nice. I really like the sound, and how easy it is to get around on. Still trying to get used to a preset based synth; knobs suddenly aren't where you left them, so to speak. That and it comes loaded with so many awful presets, oof. Beyond that though, it's wonderful.

[Ruiner]

Well, finally got my first real synth!!

Went to buy the Moog Sub Phatty and then I saw this and had to have it:

Moog Sub 37 Tribute



It's SO much fun. I ran home and plugged it in for 5 minutes and recorded it just for the hell of it. I'm basically just hitting keys and turning knobs as I have no idea what the hell in doing .... But I will!

(Sorry for the vertical video... Had to stand it up)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhg69eyNZEY[/youtube]

Looking forward to hooking it up to all my pedals (especially the Moogs) and getting nutty with it. I want to make atmospheric base layers to play guitar over with biting contrasts so it's visceral to pretty and layered like that as well.

Also got this cool pocket drum machine

[D.o.S.]

[cloudscapes]

[Strange Tales]

How does it sound?!

[repoman]

Out: Elektron analog four
In : Oberheim matrix 6r

I had one of those a couple years ago, kind of a pain to program but it instantly made you think you were a rogue cop in 1985 Los Angeles. Delicious nostalgia sounds.

[odontophobia]

it's so little.

[D.o.S.]

Am I dumb if I kind of want to flip my Drone Commander?

[modernage]

How does it sound?!

Yeah, inquiring minds want to know. I've been interested in these since they were announced.

[cloudscapes]

How does it sound?!

Yeah, inquiring minds want to know. I've been interested in these since they were announced.

So far

Pros:
-Small! Okay-ish built. Half metal half plastic. Feels good but I wouldn't bang it around too much. When gigging protect it as you would your laptop.
-Sounds good. Won't win any awards but it's fine, especially for the size/price. Finding some great juno-ish sounds of it! Sounds immense with a couple chorus/reverb pedals after it!
-Some nice extra little features, like delay, and random LFO stuff. Nothing too fancy though, it really is an old school philosophy in function. It's no prophet 08.

Cons:
-Some steppyness on the touch controllers and some of the sliders, as we've come to expect with a lot of virtual synths. How much is too much is entirely subjective.
-Dust might become a problem as the switches and faders leave the insides a bit more exposed than I'd like. There's felt, but keep it covered/protected anyway.
-1/8 audio jacks feel like shit. I wouldn't want someone to trip over the cord when plugged into it. Also, mini usb for power. Whaaaa?
-Keys are mushy as you'd expect from a $150 accessory keyboard. They do the job, but they're nothing fancy. Better than the microkorg keys I guess?
-Screws on the keybed unit scratch againt the paint on the synth unit. At least for mine.

[Eivind August]

Am I dumb if I kind of want to flip my Drone Commander?

Depends on what you're getting?

[Forrrest]

Out: Elektron analog four
In : Oberheim matrix 6r

I had one of those a couple years ago, kind of a pain to program but it instantly made you think you were a rogue cop in 1985 Los Angeles. Delicious nostalgia sounds.

after dealing with the Akai AX73 for a while, the programming of the matrix 6R isn't a problem.


So after playing a SEM in studio two weeks ago, I just had to get one of my own. and here it is!

I had a kenton Pro-SOLO for an evening and i was in heaven. so glorious.
but I had to return the kenton because it was buggy and now have another on order. poop. synths is just sitting waiting.
I intentionally got the patch panel version over the midi because the MIDI (& pro) version use the same power supply for the synth and the midi section, and the extra draw for the midi section makes the synth section noisier.

and then yesterday I scored :

it's got a great deep sound and the chorus fattens up the tone nicely. I can respect this instrument.
we'll see how it holds up against the Prophet6


guys I have problems... like I keep flipping synths.
ultimately I think i'll sell the Juno and the Matrix and start eurocrack.


@cloudscapes
tell us about the Dominion1

[blakestree]

So after playing a SEM in studio two weeks ago, I just had to get one of my own. and here it is!

Nice! Love it. Did you try the Boomstar?