Comments | _jamez_: Open call for advice

_jamez_

Open call for advice - Synths

Dec 31, 2006 03:46

For a while now, I have been wanting to purchase a keyboard synth. And I want to buy a reasonably decent one. My problem is, I don't really know much about them, and I wondered if anybody out there in Livejournalland might know anything about this field to be able to offer any anecdotal advice and/or useful sources of information on 'tinternet so ( Read more... )

Comments 3

0ct0pus December 31 2006, 16:06:36 UTC

Er, that'd be me then ( ... )

_jamez_ January 2 2007, 03:36:11 UTC

Er, that'd be me then.

I did have a slight inkling that you would be the one to reply :-)

Your first decision is pro or home keyboard. A load of people sneer at home keyboards (they're the ones with the speakers in) but with a pro-level synth you would either need to situate it like a hi-fi amp, invest in keyboard amp or be limited to headphones. For just general playing and seeing how you get on you may want to look seriouly at the home keyboard range.

Well, amplification isn't something I see as being a problem. I have access to various prices of equipment that could fulfil that role, so I would be quite indifferent to having in-built speakers.

If a home keyboard is easier for your situation check out (in this order, for my preference) roland, yamaha (by far the most common), technics, casio (etc). For your 200-350 price range you'd be getting full size velocity sensitive keys, decent sounds, loads of extras, MIDI - but probably not very much in the way of programmability or flexibility.Are there any other things that I might ( ... )

0ct0pus January 2 2007, 13:40:09 UTC

Are there any other things that I might benefit from a home keyboard? Other than price, presumably?

You'd gain in ease of use, but lose in flexibility. Pricewise, there wouldn't be much in it, especially if you are looking second hand.

I see. So the latter is based on traditional synth techniques like they did in analogue times, generating sounds from sine wave upwards, and the former basically affecting samples in various ways?

Yup, pretty much. There are cross-overs between the two, but that's broadly the divide.

The first is probably the more practical for what I want now, but I must say the idea of an 'analogue' synth certainly does excite me!

Yeah, there's nothing quite like it. I'm enjoying my new Alesis Micron immensely! Another thing I should have mentioned is that often pro-keyboards will have software available for tweaking those hard to reach parameters.

Is there a good place for finding reviews on particular instruments?Try "Sound on Sound" (http://www. ( ... )