Let's see your KEYS/SYNTHS!

[Moustache_Bash]

Yahyahayah, everything digital now seems to have to interface w/ a type of computer. Like, there's no legit hardware (I hope I'm using "hardware" correctly, I'm new to the game) digital synths other than Nords but those are a billion dollars.

[Achtane]

It looks like the world's largest baby is holding that ipad.

[space6oy]

It looks like the world's largest baby is holding that ipad.

IT IS.

[space6oy]

Yahyahayah, everything digital now seems to have to interface w/ a type of computer. Like, there's no legit hardware (I hope I'm using "hardware" correctly, I'm new to the game) digital synths other than Nords but those are a billion dollars.

roland still makes 'em. korg too. just nothing i've ever been into / impressed by.

[01010111]

Yahyahayah, everything digital now seems to have to interface w/ a type of computer. Like, there's no legit hardware (I hope I'm using "hardware" correctly, I'm new to the game) digital synths other than Nords but those are a billion dollars.

roland still makes 'em. korg too. just nothing i've ever been into / impressed by.

I'm a big fan of that mininova, the miniak's cool if you want a digital version of that andromeda synth, and the venom's cool too. With most of the low-cost digital synths I don't think you have to interface with a computer to do everything. It just makes it 100000x easier if you do. The venom's one synth you do have to plug into a computer to be able to do everything, though.

[trace]

Yahyahayah, everything digital now seems to have to interface w/ a type of computer. Like, there's no legit hardware (I hope I'm using "hardware" correctly, I'm new to the game) digital synths other than Nords but those are a billion dollars.

You may already know about this site, but http://www.vintagesynth.com/ has good info on almost every synth ever and some cool search features (digital or analog, used $ value, etc). A lot the mid/late 90's synths seem to be what you're looking for and lots are pretty cheap now because everyone's crazed over analog again.

[Hyphen Nation]

Yahyahayah, everything digital now seems to have to interface w/ a type of computer. Like, there's no legit hardware (I hope I'm using "hardware" correctly, I'm new to the game) digital synths other than Nords but those are a billion dollars.

roland still makes 'em. korg too. just nothing i've ever been into / impressed by.

What Space6oy said. Though from your question, I am not sure I know what you are looking for?

Nords are analog modeling synths. If you are looking for a VA synth, the microkorg is hard to beat. To be honest, for even less money, I'd rather a mini or micro brute, and deal with the fact that it's a mono-synth. They are crazy powerful and a steal at their price. Same with some of the Korg Volca stuff…$150 for some awesome tweakable analog rhythm machines?

If you are looking fora real Digital sounding synth, A used Evolver will get you some pretty metallic digital oscillators and not cost a ton of $$$ and you also get a few analog oscillators along for fun. Look for used DX7, or a FIZMO. Another great sounding new hardware digital synth is the Waldorft Blofeld. I have seen the keyboard versions of them for around $700 on craigslist, an regret not buying it.

If you are just looking for a workstation synth, you can find just about anything used.

[Warpsmasher]

Ultranova and Blofeld are pretty sweet.
I love rack synths. All the sounds, without the clutter of having keyboards all over the house. They're cheap enough to be just as addictive as pedals too.
I currently own a Roland Fantom XR, Yamaha TX81Z, E-Mu Planet Earth, Novation A Station, and a Korg TR Rack. Still on the gas list are an Alesis QSR, Korg Wavestation SR, and a Roland JV-1080 (with the Special FX expansion card).

Other good ones that cost a little more ($350-$650): Roland MKS-80, XV-5080 & D-550, Motif ES, Proteus 2500, Korg Radias & Triton rack, Access Virus rack, Studio Electronics SE-1, Novation KSR & Supernova

[Hyphen Nation]

SE-1!!!!! agreed on the rack life. I actually need to go get a keyboard controller.

[Helter]

So I got the microbrute today and it is so much fun. I won't have time to give the manual a read but I will this weekend sometime to get a better grip of what the controls actually do as opposed to what they sound like. I had a blast just fucking around with effects and impersonating a arthritis-plagued Rick Wakeman and then even more fun just droning. I made this little clip out of like a 45 min recording using microbrute, superdelay, and blue sky. Really fun, one track, and I was only messing with the waveforms, cutoff, and brute factor + pedal knobs. I can tell this little synth is going to be a great time learning how to use it and to use it how I want.
[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/helterr/drone-1[/soundcloud]

[erector]

Just got a Microbrute myself, too. It's pretty good. Excels at, well, more brutal sounds, but it'll do subtle stuff well enough. By no means a be-all-end-all, but it's a good start and is definitely replacing my Monotribe for those times when I can only/only want to bring one synth. Of course, there's nothing stopping me from using both together.

Now, if only I could find a good deal on a used Evolver...

[doommeow]

So I got the microbrute today and it is so much fun. I won't have time to give the manual a read but I will this weekend sometime to get a better grip of what the controls actually do as opposed to what they sound like. I had a blast just fucking around with effects and impersonating a arthritis-plagued Rick Wakeman and then even more fun just droning. I made this little clip out of like a 45 min recording using microbrute, superdelay, and blue sky. Really fun, one track, and I was only messing with the waveforms, cutoff, and brute factor + pedal knobs. I can tell this little synth is going to be a great time learning how to use it and to use it how I want.
[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/helterr/drone-1[/soundcloud]

That's awesome....



Gas. engage.

[leaves turn]

Yeah I shouldn't have listened to that clip

[Ghost Hip]

More Microbrute porn for you all!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3WhPqAdJ20[/youtube]

[cedarskies]

Yep. Want.

So hard to decide where to turn to for my next synth purchase. Microbrute? MS20mini? OP1? Too many awesome choices. (Also too many tiny keys... but you can't have it all)