GEAR GOALZ 2020 /Arbitrary Transparency/ Classic Zag 2020

[$harkToootth]

We'll just have to call you Uncle Remus you're Ibeen zippity doo dah zippity zag as of late. #proundfamily

[Dowi]

Totally n00b in the synth world. Started looking for an anolog synth just because i heard a nice sound while watching a live.
Now I kinda fell in a big hole of "i want an a poly analog synth and an FM one because insert ridiculous justification and i want it NOW" even though i don't know nothing about it except the 666hours i spent watching demos in the last couple of days (volca and Yamaha reface series mainly - at least I'm staying on the cheap side here).

Sharky, where are you? PLZ CAN I HAS HELP
(you're allowed to pump me enough to buy both or to convince me I don't need any)

[$harkToootth]

Brother, I don't even have a poly analog. Good luck getting on of those cheap. I love my Volca FM! You can get them sooooo cheap now.
I think if I was doing it again... I would get one of those cheap analog Behringers and maybe the wavestate (pricey) or a used Digitone.
Or... just see what you "find". Look at your local craigslist and see what pops up. I sort of did that. Ah yes... that will work... sure.

Do you have flea markets or anything by you? Make this an adventure! Go on a hunt for something that you're not sure you're looking for... with no real answers. This way you procrastinate needing it now. You have some fun. And maybe you find something cheap.

[$harkToootth]

Also, what was the sound you heard? If it was a cool filter sweep... plenty of pedals can get you into that territory (no, I am not saying a pedal is the same as a synth... I am saying some of them get you into the sonic universe of more universal old school analog sounds though).

[MrNovember]

Totally n00b in the synth world. Started looking for an anolog synth just because i heard a nice sound while watching a live.
Now I kinda fell in a big hole of "i want an a poly analog synth and an FM one because insert ridiculous justification and i want it NOW" even though i don't know nothing about it except the 666hours i spent watching demos in the last couple of days (volca and Yamaha reface series mainly - at least I'm staying on the cheap side here).

Sharky, where are you? PLZ CAN I HAS HELP
(you're allowed to pump me enough to buy both or to convince me I don't need any)

I would personally look at he Minilogue XD, Wavestate, or Digitone. All on the more expensive side compared to the Volcas or Refaces, but you get a lot more features and better quality.

Also, some used options are definitely a good place to look. I absolutely love my DX7 that I got for $400 CDN. It's a pain to learn to program and I don't think you can get them that cheap anymore though.

[Dowi]

Brother, I don't even have a poly analog. Good luck getting on of those cheap. I love my Volca FM! You can get them sooooo cheap now.
I think if I was doing it again... I would get one of those cheap analog Behringers and maybe the wavestate (pricey) or a used Digitone.
Or... just see what you "find". Look at your local craigslist and see what pops up. I sort of did that. Ah yes... that will work... sure.

Do you have flea markets or anything by you? Make this an adventure! Go on a hunt for something that you're not sure you're looking for... with no real answers. This way you procrastinate needing it now. You have some fun. And maybe you find something cheap.

yeah there are occasional flea markets here, a few years ago i went to a ton of those looking for a particular AM radio that the grandfather of my girlfriend produced in the 1940s (long story short: we finally found it last year, and it works ). Anyway, i don't think i ever saw synths or keyboards there, but i could give it a try.

Also, what was the sound you heard? If it was a cool filter sweep... plenty of pedals can get you into that territory (no, I am not saying a pedal is the same as a synth... I am saying some of them get you into the sonic universe of more universal old school analog sounds though).

i don't think i can find that video anymore, but the thing that fascinated me was that it didn't sound like a synth at all
It was like a super percussive sound with fast attack and really short decay, it reminded me of a sort of mbira. I'm quite sure it was coming from a Minilogue, too bad all the demos i watched are focused on making pads or extremely synthetic sounds - i know, it's a synth, it's obvious - while i'm interested more in using it in different ways.
Yesterday i went through all that VOLCA FM mega tutorial on youtube and, while i'm extremely fascinated by the complexity and the tweakability of all the parameters, the fact that (FM synthesis in general) requires all that menu diving kinda stopped me. Given the limited use i'd have i don't want to invest too much time scrolling menu settings, but i surely love to twist knobs.

I would personally look at he Minilogue XD, Wavestate, or Digitone. All on the more expensive side compared to the Volcas or Refaces, but you get a lot more features and better quality.

Also, some used options are definitely a good place to look. I absolutely love my DX7 that I got for $400 CDN. It's a pain to learn to program and I don't think you can get them that cheap anymore though.

Thanks luckily i don't have much $ to invest right now, so these are all out of my range. The Minilogue is the only one i'd consider because of the immediate interface that doesn't require deep menu diving like the Digitone - see previous point.

[$harkToootth]

November, per usual, is right. So many ways to skin a cat here though.
For those mbira sounds. You should hang out with us in the ring mod thread. Those will get you in that neighborhood.
Ummm I also like old school stringers a lot. Like ARP Omnis and the like. But they're a million dollars so Shanetram sold me his Waldorf Shreichfett and that's good enough!

[Dowi]

November, per usual, is right. So many ways to skin a cat here though.
For those mbira sounds. You should hang out with us in the ring mod thread. Those will get you in that neighborhood.
Ummm I also like old school stringers a lot. Like ARP Omnis and the like. But they're a million dollars so Shanetram sold me his Waldorf Shreichfett and that's good enough!

The search is still going on, watched a bunch more demos and the Minilogue is really the ideal candidate for my needs. The cheapest ones i've found are in the 300-350€ range, so i think i'm gonna wait a bit and keep my eyes open if i find a nice deal, otherwise i'll have to wait a few months.

[$harkToootth]

Good idea You never know what sorts of zig and zags are going to happen.
I have to put a hold on gear buying until the Summer as I want to take a page of Psyre's book. Wait for the flea market / stand by me sort of finds. If I keep looking on the web... I will keep finding deals and that is no bueno hombres (I'm cultured )

New music schedule for the year.
January -> April = Cold Synthetic soundscape days. Resonate noise jams. Self-indulgent musing-core.
April -> June = Actually start practicing my instruments time so I can look "cool" around campfires time.
June -> September = Actually making "songs" (gross) / ready to be a complete tool around campfire but not actually going to campfires - core.
September -> November = Ookie Spookie the memories of yourself post-punk / goth rock. Combine all element of the previous months. License 2 b a moody fuck.
November + December = 2 busy 2 do anything - phonics. 4'33 cover band.

Embrace your zigs. Embrace your zags.

[coldbrightsunlight]

Zug Zug

[Dowi]

Good idea You never know what sorts of zig and zags are going to happen.
I have to put a hold on gear buying until the Summer as I want to take a page of Psyre's book. Wait for the flea market / stand by me sort of finds. If I keep looking on the web... I will keep finding deals and that is no bueno hombres (I'm cultured )

New music schedule for the year.
January -> April = Cold Synthetic soundscape days. Resonate noise jams. Self-indulgent musing-core.
April -> June = Actually start practicing my instruments time so I can look "cool" around campfires time.
June -> September = Actually making "songs" (gross) / ready to be a complete tool around campfire but not actually going to campfires - core.
September -> November = Ookie Spookie the memories of yourself post-punk / goth rock. Combine all element of the previous months. License 2 b a moody fuck.
November + December = 2 busy 2 do anything - phonics. 4'33 cover band.

Embrace your zigs. Embrace your zags.

By the end of the year you'll be sublimated in air vibration.

[jirodreamsofdank]

Purists don't like some of the ways it differs from the SH-101 but the Behringer MS-1 is solid and affordable - the keys are decent, it's simple but you can learn a lot of tricks with it, has a sequencer and arpeggiator built-in. Sounds close enough to what I think of as an SH sound for me to be happy.

Plus you could add a cheaper module poly if you want and use the Behringer as a MIDI controller.

[spacelordmother]

Purists don't like some of the ways it differs from the SH-101 but the Behringer MS-1 is solid and affordable - the keys are decent, it's simple but you can learn a lot of tricks with it, has a sequencer and arpeggiator built-in. Sounds close enough to what I think of as an SH sound for me to be happy.

Plus you could add a cheaper module poly if you want and use the Behringer as a MIDI controller.

There's also the boutique SH-01a which 1. can be had used for $250ish 2. has immediate interface 3. is poly 4. sounds fantastic even if not actually analog. I like the sound of it way more than the Minilogue. YMMV.

No keyboard though.

[kaboodle]

how go the goals?

[$harkToootth]

NOT
GREAT