What's your favourite synth??? (again!)

It's been about a year since the last fav' synth question came on the boards, so I'm just curious to know what the state of play is now.

For me there have definately been a few changes. A year ago I would've said a Z1 or maybe a Juno 106, but now-a-days I'd say the prize goes to a soft synth.

I'd vote for The Absynth. Statistically and feature wise it measures up very well (as do pretty much all of the soft synths!), BUT unlike the soft synths I've tried so far, the Absynth has got some amazing factory presets.

Over to you...

I've had some minor changes. I now own a full fledged Clavia Nord Modular. I remember saying the Micro Modular last time. The reasons are pretty much the same. It's impossible for a soundscapist like me to go back to something with hardwired signal paths.

The big Modular gives me four times the CPU power of the Micro and 18 knobs for realtime control. To put it mildly, I'm in heaven these days. Having four parts at your finger tips is nice. I'm getting so much more done with it.

A close second would be my Kurzweil K2000R. It contains all my weird percussions and beats.

-tek



[This message has been edited by tekminus (edited 10-28-2002).]

Reaktor, 'cuz I'm a fag.

Warezmonkey alert!

Look! Behind you!
/me runs off

Nothing changed

KURZWEIL K 2600 S

Not I, I pay for my shit.

freddynl,

How would you compare the quality of sounds of K2600rs and XV5080?

"Reaktor, 'cuz I'm a fag."
"Not I, I pay for my shit."

so youre basically paying to be a fag?

im sorry, i thought it was funny...but thank god im not the only one paying for software...

as for synth...of the ones ive played, i like my schools arp 2500 a lot...


[This message has been edited by MRT1212 (edited 10-30-2002).]

MRT, if you have grasped even half of what the ARP can do, then you understand why the Nord is so much fun. Although, I'd take a real modular anyday.

-tek

Yep. I paid $350 just so I could be sexually attracted to tek.

You can't compare these.
Personally I think you should own both.

The K2600 has on board sounds and with the extra rom boards you have a pretty nice
set of sounds for take off, but afterall it is a synth to create your own sounds.

The roland has many more standard sounds ready to go which is very handy.
Sounds are "thinner" which is not allways
a disadvantage.

In quality (specially the dynamics/depth) the K 2600 is unbeatable and gives much more real instrument feel.
But this is not allways what you want.
F.i. in a mix where you need background orchestra a bit less dynamics would be preferred to avoid overuling the solo instruments.
Ofcourse you can tweak the sounds without a problem and just store in a bank, so it is not a problem, but sometimes it takes some time and I allways loose inspiration as soon as I have to tweak sounds.

Then ofcourse there is KDFX on the K 2600.
In my own experience one of the best effect studio's you can have.
The most important difference here is that when you record a track it is "ready" does not need any compressor or other wave editing, it is just ready.
You just master your tracks and that's it.
I even use the KDFX now for other gear as an effect studio.

Any other synth device I own, allway needs some tweaking/wave editing once recorded.

If you are planning a K2600R make sure you have the sampler option installed.
You need the sampler option installed to use KDFX for other gear.

Fred

thanks for endulging me cloakboy...

Fred,

Basically, K2600 is still alive and excellent synth although its technology is older than the rest. I am wondering when Kurzweil will get the next generation of keyboards.

Even the old K2000 wipes the floor with most of the synths of today when it comes to sound programming. It's such a secret weapon, mainly because of the boring presets people listen to in the shops.

-tek

I disagree about older technology.
The O/S is continously updated, adding more and more extra features.
Some updates are just minor improvements, some updates are kicking a*ss
The engine itselve is the strongest in the market and in my opinion will be for a long time.
Therefore I dont expect a K3000 soon.
Anyway it will take me the next ten years or so to explore all the possibillities, so it's probably my last synth.