Synth to go with my EMX?

pkchu · Post by **pkchu** » Wed Jun 08, 2011 9:59 pm

Hi

I have an EMX, a miniKP and a Kaossilator Pro, but I want to sell the Kaossilator and purchase a synth that will integrate better with my EMX (the lack of proper midi implementation on the KOPro is frustrating).

Here are the synths I was looking at:

microkorg xl
dave smith mopho (module version)
m audio venom
R3 (probably used)
akai miniak

which one do you think would best compliment the electribe? Are there any options that i'm overlooking?

thanks. sorry if i posted this in the wrong category.

Blankman8503 · Post by **Blankman8503** » Thu Jun 09, 2011 11:48 pm

I would recommend looking at the Radias Rack too. For the price of most of those synths new, you could get a Radias-R used. I have the R3 and love it but it has taken a back seat since its big brother Radias-R entered the studio. If having a lot of parameters at your finger tips is important it is amazing. The R3's editor software can give you easy access to all the parameters, if you have a computer in your setup and I assume the others also have an editor software, but you only have 4 parameters at a time at your disposal without using the menu. The radias also doubles your timbres to 4, I use mine as a sound module with up to 4 synths being sequenced from ableton, and it has more polyphony and a better vocoder. As well as the benefit of the KorgForums support, I dont know how the community is for the other synths but the R3/Radias community here has been a big help to me and this support is important when picking up something new. The jump from EMX to R3 was easy for me, the jump from R3 to Radias blew me away, immediate access to all those parameters caused me to learn how to actually use them.

pillbug · Post by **pillbug** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 3:19 am

RADIAS-R will give you similar programming but much more flexibility than the EMX, so if you're used to the programming it will be a good expansion for you.
The MOPHO will give you a different sound, but is monophonic like the EMX. With RADIAS, you gain polyphony, multitimbral splits, etc.

pkchu · Post by **pkchu** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 3:19 am

Okay, I will look into that.

Aciphecs · Post by **Aciphecs** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 5:02 pm

A used Radias is a rare find these days, and when you do find them they are usually pretty close to the price of a new one ($700USD). I've been wanting one for a while, but haven't come across one in my budget.

Are you looking to add more rhythm\drums to your sound also? I know the EMX's drums are pretty weak and didn't know if they would weigh into the decision for a synth\rompler.

pkchu · Post by **pkchu** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 5:27 pm

Hmm yeah I don't see any used radias's (radii?) for under 700.

I am more concerned with adding extra synth sounds right now.

Aciphecs · Post by **Aciphecs** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 6:30 pm

Well I can only comment on what I know personally, I have a Venom.

The Venom is a rompler that is loaded with tons of different waveforms from a handful of classic analog synths and drum machines. It's presets are really dirty, gritty and noisy at times, but it does have some good atmospheric pads and such. It's pretty reliant on a PC as you can't edit all of the parameters with the onboard controls and all multi (4 timbres) settings must be done in the software editor. It does have a really good rhythm section IMO (808 and 909 kits) but it has a slight MIDI sync\drift issue that the developers are "Working on fixing with no ETA" The unit itself is built solid, but the keys are a little light (but full size, good for my big hands, microKorg has tiny keys), but they have a decent feel with pretty good velocity response (which can be adjusted in the editor). I've only had it about a month, so I haven't really gotten too deep into sound design with it yet (only edited a couple presets) but I really like the sounds that I can get out of it and am happy with it.

Blankman8503 · Post by **Blankman8503** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 10:18 pm

I picked up my used radias-r for $450 less than a year ago. It took me months of waiting and watching to find/win it but i persevered and love it. Before making a decision you should look into the kind of sounds each is best-suited for and compare that with what kind of tones you are wanting. I love my radias for pads and rhythmic sequences but it takes a little more work for me to get gritty, dirty sounds. So if you are looking into that direction you should take it into considerations.

Aciphecs · Post by **Aciphecs** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 10:51 pm

Or better yet, head to the nearest music shop and get your hands on them. My Guitar Center has all of the synths in your OP except for the MoPho, but I was able to test that too at a local mom-n-pop music shop.

h4ndcrafted · Post by **h4ndcrafted** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 9:22 am

Waldof Blofeld! if you want a up to date synth.

I have the keyboard version, it freaking amazing, sounds amazing and is basic or as deep as you wanna go, the modulation routings are mind blowing for a hardware synth, puts some software routings to shame too.

They are as buggy as hell, spesh in multi mode, but the sound is so original compared to Japans offerings.

The filters are amazing you get comb filters as well. I love and hate this thing, but if your willing to compremise usability for sound, Blofeld is easily the best value and the build quality is better than some high end synths.

My blofeld keyboard keys make Nords look cheap and korg just don't release keybeds of this quality anymore, I use it as my master.

You can get the table top version very cheap if you already have a controller keyboard, but make sure your controller has aftertouch, blofeld does poly aftertouch btw.

Also the Roland sh-32 is a very good synth and can be bought cheap, it sounds fantastic, not so good for deep bases but does other juno and jupiter 8 stuff

also has Tr 808 , 909 etc and all the enverlopes etc are avalible for each drum, very easy to program that synth too as there are no menus.
The sh-32's Osc are sampled waveforms from a lot of their famous synths, it has that Roland sound but is way more limited than the Blofeld. What it does have is much higher quality fx and a much bigger range, I love roland fx they are much better than korgs imho.

But really blofeld is what I def recommend, just be prepared for some annoying bugs.
But they modulations routings are up to date and in line with what you would find on a good softsynth + they are really easy to edit although ther is some menu diving but most can be done from the matrix grid.

Also I haven't tried it, but Rolands Gaia synth is worth a look see, and then there is Novation's ultranova with it's ability to stream to your daw and an official software editor, the nova sound engine is tried and tested but is been used loads, sounds lush but i dont like Novations sound that much tbh.

I think Blofeld would complement best though with its many distortion options too, alot of Elecktron users like them, perfect for the machinedrum, and dirty enough or glassy and clean for korgs dirty little boxes.

Don't take my word for it though, check this, although Jexus could make a vl tone sound amazing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9rbprK_EpA

h4ndcrafted · Post by **h4ndcrafted** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 9:28 am

double post