I need synth HALP

[decomposing]

ok I'm new to the synth and midi
but want to get experimenting on a budget with some weird sounds and drum patterns
basically to compliment my sound through some mixer routing madness

have my eye on the korg volca beatst to get started, seems solid for a small easy drum machine
the whole volca series looks rad actually. never thought I would want to program synth or bass lines but...
unless you have other advice for this type of schtuff?

maybe the electribe ER-1 mk? or ES-1 mkII because I hear they can get pretty weird
any love here for these?

and been lusting after those kaos pads forever
want the bigger pro KP3+ and maybe the Pro synth model with a midi keyboard hooked up
or a microkorg xl instead and hook that up to the KP3+ via midi to effect that with the touchpad...
and found some awesome deals one the mini versions on both the red and yellow kaos pads,
should I grab those to get started or hold out for the bigger models?

also I hear the microbrute is badass. but prolly expensive as hell. so that's out for now.

anyways, thanks for any help sorting out my synth and kaos struggles.

[BoatRich]

I've owned the volca keys and beats (still own that) and the Microbrute. The brute is cheaper than a microkorg, but it's monophonic and more akin to the volca bass than anything else on your list. The volcas were definitely a great start into synthesis though. Cheap, easy, and great sounding.

[decomposing]

this shit is crazy!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMXEvNUjgCg[/youtube]

[decomposing]

I've owned the volca keys and beats (still own that) and the Microbrute. The brute is cheaper than a microkorg, but it's monophonic and more akin to the volca bass than anything else on your list. The volcas were definitely a great start into synthesis though. Cheap, easy, and great sounding.

hmmm, thanks dude. monophonic is more up my alley I think. the microkorg was always fun to screw around with at guitar center though haha
I remember drawing a crowd once.
so maybe the microbrute and the KP3+ for weird shit with vocals and fx

and just watched a few demos
the beats is leaving me a little disappointed actually
and the ER-1 and ES-1 might be too dance-y?
intrigued by weird but want a solid and programmable drum machine that can do stuff like how earth and godflesh do, think they used the alesis sr-16
was also thinking of buying that because it has a footswitch to switch patterns which is cool
mostly want to accompany my weird atmospherics and psychedelic creations with some other sounds to throw in the void
so many options


and anyone play around with the kaos pads for stuff like this?

[lordgalvar]

Old FM synths can be a good idea too (FB-01 I got mine for like $30 but something like a tx-81z or some of the other ones are neat). They can be had for cheap. Then use one of those new Arturia Beatsteps (99 dollars) to sequence. Probably the cheapest way? Use your pedals to spice up some of the preprogramed FM stuff. Analog...the microbrute is probably the best deal. There are things out there if you look second hand that are pretty awesome. There are things like the Reo Driftbox R that you may be able to get more out of than the mircobrute. Older Electribes are alright too.

Alesis HR 16 is always a great place to start. You can get different sound chips for it too. Neat little machine. (I've seen 909, 808, SID, CR, and other chips preburned for it at 60 a pop).

I started with a Poly800 and HR16. I think the poly800 has gone up in price though. I personally think the TX81z, beatstep, and HR16 are a great place to start for around 300.

[D.o.S.]

this shit is crazy!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMXEvNUjgCg[/youtube]

Yeah, that gear is intense, but right around four minutes he reveals that his secret weapon is an el-cheapo Tascam four track. If you've got the ideas, you can make pretty much piece of equipment work.

[Disarm D'arcy]

Volta's are pretty cool if you're not sure of what you're doing just yet. It sounds rad and it's knobby, so it's the perfect platform to learn on the cheap.

[lordgalvar]

his secret weapon is an el-cheapo Tascam four track. If you've got the ideas, you can make pretty much piece of equipment work.

Well said. I got a ton of mileage just out of mixing the stock FB-01 sounds through a mixer with the cheapest midi keyboard I could find at the time. Layers and a distortion pedal was all I used. When I started making "synth" sounds (before I got the Korg and Yamaha) I just used a korg multi-effects in a feedback loop and attempted to "tune" it.

A four track and a mixer is a good way to go too.

Heck, a Nintendo DS and Korg DS10 is a good way to go. Nanoloop all that stuff too. SID synths can be a blast too.

Hell, some of the best bass drum samples I've heard were recorded from people stomping on the floor and tweaking it.

[Dr. Sherman Sticks M.D.]

^i used to clap my ass cheeks together to make bass drums...BA BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM

[decomposing]

thanks for the ideas guyz!

I might pick up one of those old units at some point to mess around with
and the old roland 909 looks rad if I can find one for a dead simple drum machine
but the volca still seems cool
just exploring my options right now
I need a four track for real, or that ehx looper

the microbrute is peaking my interest
but found this about quality issues
http://forum.arturia.com/index.php?topic=14603.0
I found one for $250 on craigslist but they're only $50 more new with warranty
probably the best option to get started or the novation bass station maybe?

and the beatstep seems cool.
it would just extend the step sequencer on the microbrute? or alesis?
could you use that in tandem with multiple devices at once?

[decomposing]

now that I found the bS2 and the minibrute, the plot thiCKens
which would you pick of these three?

-microbrute
-minibrute
-bass station 2

also had this thought
could I just hook up a cheap midi keyboard to a volca keys for a really cheap synth setup with knobbies?
these guys are using the minibrute to play the volca keys?
https://www.gearslutz.com/board/electro ... oller.html
isn't that like using a tiny engine in a sports car? that's all I can come up with...
to just use the minibrute as a controller seems like a giant waste of money or am I missing the point...

AHHHHHHH SYNTHS!

[Deltaphoenix]

Bass station 2 is more feature rich and I think it sounds better

[decomposing]

Bass station 2 is more feature rich and I think it sounds better

yeah I saw the specs, but I lean to the sound of the brute
maybe the bs2 sounds too good for what I want?
heh
I need to fire up reason and logic and mess around with some software synths again first I think

pretty much sold on the volca series because they're cheap and analog
the microbrute still has some allure, but guess I need the warranty just in case

[D.o.S.]

If your main priorities are cheap and analog, also consider the Monotrons or the Gakken SX-150.

[decomposing]

If your main priorities are cheap and analog, also consider the Monotrons or the Gakken SX-150.

thanks I'll check those too
so many things on the list