Anyone know anything about synths? I'm looking to buy... - General

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buy the one that feels right. who cares if its $5 at a yardsale, if you play it and it moves you, then its the right one. people who think that more expensive instruments are better are fooling themselves. its all about what you do with what you have *takes a long toke* yeah.

Do you know how to use and program synths first of all? I would honestly look at the specs of both synths and see what best suites your needs having a quick glance myself I would go with the Korg R3, the reason being it has unison and waveshaping but, however it seems to lack any sort of delay and reverb which might me a bit of a draw back if you aren't going to be using external effects [editline]14th December 2010[/editline] Can't see the polyphony for the roland but I'm guessing its 8 voices [editline]14th December 2010[/editline] plus the fact it has a built in vocoder which you seem to want/need

If you're just starting, you could get a MIDI Keyboard, and then use a DAW like FL Studio. A MIDI Keyboard would be cheaper, and if you discover that keyboard isn't for you, you'll have wasted less money. FL Studio has a vocoder as well.

[QUOTE=I_Forgot;26694962]If you're just starting, you could get a MIDI Keyboard, and then use a DAW like FL Studio. A MIDI Keyboard would be cheaper, and if you discover that keyboard isn't for you, you'll have wasted less money. FL Studio has a vocoder as well.[/QUOTE] I've already got a setup like this, a MIDI keyboard going into Reason, but I'm just not satisfied by it. It doesn't any of the experimental fun twiddling knobs that got me into synthesis. I've found a Roland SH-201 for a cool £300 and I would snatch that up in an instant since I love the way that thing sounds... but I can't help but feel I'd always regret it if I didn't get something with a vocoder. What I need is a synth with all the controls right there in front of me, like the SH201, but with the sound engine and vocoder of the R3... all for less that £500. :sigh:

Just be sure that you want to spend the money.

Maybe you should get a synth that one of your favorite artists uses, or something that is used a lot in the genre you listen to the most and you want to emulate. Also this forum is rife with metal-heads, you're better off asking [url]http://www.side-line.com/side-line-forum/[/url]

I have the Roland SH-201, and it is one awesome synth. While the sound quality may not be the best in the world, you can easily create loads of different sounds with it. I suggest you go for it.

[QUOTE=UnknownDude;26710615]I have the Roland SH-201, and it is one awesome synth. While the sound quality may not be the best in the world, you can easily create loads of different sounds with it. I suggest you go for it.[/QUOTE] Yeah I'm siding with that one I think... I've seen a couple of Roland JP-8000s for about £80 more than the SH-201, and while technically the JP-8000 a better synth I think I just prefer the sound of the SH-201. I've also found a new SH-01 for about £100 off the retail price, wondering whether to go for that because it's apparently meant to be a sort of successor to the SH-201. I also love the sound and I can use the USB slots on it to plug in my huge MIDI keyboard, which I'd like very much. Still costs £60 more than the SH-201... I just don't know if it's £60 better.

The SH-01 is good too. You get three oscillators as opposed to SH-201's two. In fact, you get three of everything. Three LFO's, three filters, you name it. You also get a lot of onboard effect, while the SH-201 only have reverb, delay and maybe chorus. Just keep in mind that you can't create custom arps or use the synth as a VST like you can with the SH-201. I don't know terribly much about the JP-8000, but I think it's basicly a virtual analog like the SH-201, just without the VST stuff. This page might be of interest. [url]http://jimatwood.wordpress.com/2010/07/09/roland-sh-201-versus-sh-01-gaia/[/url]

Vocoders built in to synths tend to not be all that great so I wouldn't use that as your selling point. I'd keep the vocoding in the box. Personally between those two choices I'd pick up the sh-201. If it were really up to me though I'd snag a virus TI (I've got the TI2 Desktop and it's fucking amazing) or a Waldorf Blofeld.