2018 releases (NAMM, Superbooth, Musikmesse)

[actual]

It's really "targeting" (whatever that means) the Roland JD-Xa as much as the Rev2, even more so considering that both are hybrid synths.

[mamsk]

If anything, I think it will help Behringer Deepmind sales.

best value out there by a mile

[dozicusmaximus]

Hell you could get a Deepmind and a Sledge.
I always forget about the JDXa.

[MrNovember]

Also I don't really see the point of the Volca Mix..... but I promise I like Korg!

I think the Volca Mix makes a lot of sense for people who own 3 Volca synths? Doesn't it?

[nogodsnobedtimes]

Sounds beautiful, but damn do CB pedals make me feel like a fucking poor loser who can't buy ANYTHING

[01010111]

Sounds beautiful, but damn do CB pedals make me feel like a fucking poor loser who can't buy ANYTHING

Now that I can afford more to spend a little more on gear I feel weird about doing so? Like, because it’s more expensive, it feels a little less.... genuine? As though “real” musicians wouldn’t use it because they can’t afford it?

I mean, all the music from the past was made using the cheap garbage that was available at the time. So, using gear that’s expensive and has all the bells and whistles makes me feel like less of a musician and more like a bougie gear nerd.

[tremolo3]

I like how you think Batman <3

[greyscales]

It's really "targeting" (whatever that means) the Roland JD-Xa as much as the Rev2, even more so considering that both are hybrid synths.

"Targeting" is probably the wrong word but you get the drift. Definitely does compete with the JD-Xa as well and I would argue the Prologue falls flat again there too. Although aesthetically I bet people are much more drawn to the Prologue because it isn't as gaudy. Although the Roland is 4 voice analog and 64 digital so you can see it's more of a digital machine with a bit of analog for good measure.

Also I don't really see the point of the Volca Mix..... but I promise I like Korg!

I think the Volca Mix makes a lot of sense for people who own 3 Volca synths? Doesn't it?

Yeah! It definitely could but it just seems so limited and seems less thought out than other Volcas. Especially with the shitty speakers and RCA output (I loathe RCAs). Give it a 1/4" out, true panning, make the aux in a 4th channel, and then it makes more sense to me. Really getting toy vibes off of this one compared to other Volcas.
And I think the price is too high for what you really get. Real mixers aren't that expensive.

[actual]

It's really "targeting" (whatever that means) the Roland JD-Xa as much as the Rev2, even more so considering that both are hybrid synths.

"Targeting" is probably the wrong word but you get the drift. Definitely does compete with the JD-Xa as well and I would argue the Prologue falls flat again there too. Although aesthetically I bet people are much more drawn to the Prologue because it isn't as gaudy. Although the Roland is 4 voice analog and 64 digital so you can see it's more of a digital machine with a bit of analog for good measure.

I wouldn't say that it falls flat. Synthesizers aren't computers or smartphones supposed to out-spec each other, they're instruments, and at the end of the day the important thing is how they sound. Vintage synths are still in very high demand, despite them not being able to compete with modern synths in bells and whistles.
In a fuck-marry-kill between these three synths, I'd prolly marry the Prologue. I like what I've heard so far, despite selling my Minilogue last year.

[greyscales]

I see your point for sure, but I'm not sure that's always true. If an instrument/pedal/synth makes a sound that others don't, people are more willing to put up with lack of features, knobs, control, etc. But I don't think that's really the case here. The Prologue is missing so many standard features. It doesn't have a sequencer! It has a single LFO! That was fine 30 years ago but this is supposed to be a modern flagship poly.

The vintage/modern synth debate is legit, I'd rather have a Prophet 5 than a Rev2 or a Minimoog over a Sub37. An inspiring sound is more useful than any bells and whistles. Even without the extra features you know you can dial in a beautiful sound. Plenty of instruments are popular because of their ease of use and simplicity. But I don't think the Prologue was made with that intent. It just seems like Korg isn't as thoughtful without Tats.

At the end of the day I know I'm just disappointed because I was so into what they did with the Minilogue and Volcas, whereas this seems like a lateral move. Or maybe a half step backwards.

[actual]

I see your point for sure, but I'm not sure that's always true. If an instrument/pedal/synth makes a sound that others don't, people are more willing to put up with lack of features, knobs, control, etc. But I don't think that's really the case here. The Prologue is missing so many standard features. It doesn't have a sequencer! It has a single LFO! That was fine 30 years ago but this is supposed to be a modern flagship poly.

On the contrary, I think that 3rd osc opens up a world of new sounds the Rev2 and JD-Xa won't be able to cop, tho I agree that the single LFO is a big wtf.

[echorec]

Now that I can afford more to spend a little more on gear I feel weird about doing so? Like, because it’s more expensive, it feels a little less.... genuine? As though “real” musicians wouldn’t use it because they can’t afford it?

I mean, all the music from the past was made using the cheap garbage that was available at the time. So, using gear that’s expensive and has all the bells and whistles makes me feel like less of a musician and more like a bougie gear nerd.

Ummm....what? "All the music" of what civilization are you referring to? Your statement might be true of tribal music in pre-industrial cultures, but it's not true for much of recent Western tradition.

Before the rise of the guitar, keyed instruments and strings dominated Western music for hundreds of years. If music was written and passed down through generations, it was often not going to be written or performed on "cheap garbage."

Even over the last 100 years, popular music has been written with concert and marching band instruments, in addition to expensive synthesizers and premium electric guitars. Your statement seems to ignore thousands of examples that invalidate such a declaration.

[echorec]

Pittsburgh teasers---

https://www.instagram.com/p/BeI492EBWUk ... pghmodular

[echorec]

alternate finish headed to RnRV in Chicago.



something new coming, or another alternate finish?



Is this grey box the Space Race Neo?

[rustywire]

Sounds beautiful, but damn do CB pedals make me feel like a fucking poor loser who can't buy ANYTHING

Now that I can afford more to spend a little more on gear I feel weird about doing so? Like, because it’s more expensive, it feels a little less.... genuine? As though “real” musicians wouldn’t use it because they can’t afford it?

I mean, all the music from the past was made using the cheap garbage that was available at the time. So, using gear that’s expensive and has all the bells and whistles makes me feel like less of a musician and more like a bougie gear nerd.

Can relate. My interest in gear was cultivated from salvation & finding things curbside/dumpster'd/landfill'd and other various forms of flotsam. Trying to achieve premium results through budget & often far-below-optimal means; turning trash to treasure is super satisfying.

NSFW: show

Fast forward a decade and I sold one such salvation find for a premium, it was an Audio Research tube amp in need of some tlc, probable restoration. I banked approx $800 and with that, was able to acquire a D*A*M Green Bastard, basically a 1k pedal. The attention to detail and tuning was jawdropping and an invaluable reference point to experience, however ~10months later moved it along to keep a far less pricy solution, which in my guitar rig just seems a bit more harmonious across the board. Having an $800+ pedal is something I can reconcile if it's the #1 or #2 cornerstone of my sound. Otherwise it begins to weigh on my mind like "how can I better stretch that value?"

Last year, I bought a bunch of "what's the best *older* gear I can find for bargain prices?" pedals after sorting "by lowest price" and as a result scored some beat to shit Thomas Crybaby from 1975, $55 shipped. All original including the pot and it sounds better than $200-300 wahs I've owned despite having the *undesirable* TDK inductor. Also grabbed an analog delay [dm-3 basically] for under $40. Using them together and loving the results has been more satisfying than any moment (I can remember) spent with the GB.