okay, so i'm in the market for a synth but i have no idea what i'm doing.

what is the difference between a synthesizer and a workstation? which is better to get?

i'm a total beginner, but i used to play piano for a long time so i just don't know what to do with all this electronic stuff. i'm trying to make and record my own industrial/electronic/orchestral metal music.

i've been eyeing this korg, please give me some advice!! http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Keyboards/Midi/Synths/Workstations?sku=702236

Korg TRITON Le 61-Key Workstation Keyboard

Hi!
There isn't any real difference. Just a game of terminology and semantics. ;-)
Some synthesizers feature built in sequencers and some audio recording capabilities. A kind of "all in one" system is often referred to by the manufacturer or sales reps as a "Workstation". However, this differs from one synth manufacturer to another so at times the term "workstation" or "Synthesizer Workstation" is applied to synthesizers and synthesizer sound modules with multitimbral capabilities.

We get a lot of beginners here asking the same questions over and over so by now SZ archives are probably full of answers to questions that you've so far asked (and most likely will ask). Can't say I'm that tired of typing the same stuff over and over but you'd be really doing yourself a favor if you check the archives.

Also, for future posts make your thread titles a little bit more descriptive rather than just "Help!!!".


Good luck. I'll be around if you have any trouble searching archives or if you have any more questions.

-ED-

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A gentleman is one who never hurts anyone's feelings unintentionally.
- - - Oscar Wilde

[This message has been edited by 3351 (edited 01-28-2006).]

PS,
Can't say if this particular Korg model will do exactly what you're after. All I can say (and this is for sure) is that it is probably as good (or as bad) as most of my favorite workstations. Whether it makes it a right instrument for your needs is another question.

If you have a computer with up to date specs I'd advise to just get a MIDI KB controller with USB connection, a decent audio card, sequencer /audio program like SOnar or cakewalk (DP and Logic Pro if you're a Mac owner) and a whole bunch of software instruments and plug-in FX. That's actually way way way more powerful of a setup than any keyboard workstation.

But if that seems like a bit too much for now (although money wise you're looking at spending about the same amount), then I would advise to actually go out and compare the Korg model you're eyeing too other workstations by other manufacturers.

To me personally the KB feel is very very important. I'm not a big time piano player but I love good weighted action keyboards. Motif ES was it for me. I love the sound. Love the kB. Controls and it's overall layout are just great for my needs. However, just to let you know I use it mainly as a master controller for my entire studio. So it's internal sounds get used very little. At least it is safe to say that it is not my main workstation. I rely on software synths way too much. ;-)

-ED-

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A gentleman is one who never hurts anyone's feelings unintentionally.
- - - Oscar Wilde



[This message has been edited by 3351 (edited 01-27-2006).]

If you're looking for a workstation/synth, that Triton Le is a great place to start.
It will more than suit your needs if you're just getting into a home based set-up.
...and....you still have the portability.

You're gonna hear Korg this, Yamaha that, Technics this, Gem that....
It's gotta be comfortable for you, and it's gotta be something where you don't have to read a War & Peace manual, to get a sound out of it,(you said you didn't know a whole lot about this electronic stuff), so don't make it any more difficult for yourself.
Like I said, the Le is more than ample for you needs.
Me...I use an old T3 and it more than does the job.
Good Luck in whatever you choose.

http://members.shaw.ca/shboom/


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...shboom

[This message has been edited by shboom (edited 01-29-2006).]

Personally, IMHO, there is quite a difference between a synthesizer and a workstation.

To me a workstation is a unit that allows you to produce songs. They generally have a way to save song data, normally this is through a midi sequencer, but some of the really powerful ones now allow you to record audio to disk and some even burn CD's. But what they generall all have in common is a vast array of sounds, from drum kits, to acoustic instruments to techno, they almost all have a good appregiator. Most have synthesis abilities in them.

Now a synthsizer is really a unit that allows you to created and edit and store the sounds themselves. This is mostly done nowadays buy starting the sound creation process by using a sampled waveform. Then filters, amplifiers, effects are all placed on top of the wave form resulting a "patch" or "voice". It is possible to layer waveforms too.

Now there are also "performance synths", which are synthesizers with added features to allow you to use it more productively live. If a synth can layer and change patches and even act as a midi controller for other synths... it's more in line with a "performance synth".

So a workstation is generally a synth with the extra ability to produce songs. Many features of a workstation can simply be used live and not for producing music, such a you can trigger a sequence live, or use the arpegiator live....

There is a keyboard out called a Kurzwiel PC2 (and probably others, but I'm aware of the PC2). It's not a synth. You can not create and edit patches. You can however add and save effects to a patch.. so from that perspective it's technically not a synth. As are many persoanl keyboards and some arrangers, not synths.


That's my understanding... now what's better to get? I guess it's up to you. You'd have to consider what you need and how much you can afford.

Peace
Bob
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