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Went to the music shop with her and we played around in the synth room, where she had a really good time twisting knobs on Moogs and Nords and shit. Her birthday is coming up and I'd like to get her something, but I don't make a lot of money. I thought I might get her the Monotron, but I don't know what else is out there that's comparable. I'd be willing to spend up to $150.

Any ideas?

Monotron!! Monotron Delay!!! Possibly a Kaos Pad?

Volca Keys

Within that budget the first thing that comes to my mind also is the Volca Bass or Volca Keys.

critter & guitari pocket piano!

This thing is interesting!

Good call on the Volca series. Is there any lean towards the Bass or Keys in terms of maximum fun-itude?

^they are both a little different. each can cover some of the others territory, but not completely, and have their own lil ways of doing things differently.

if i had to say, the bass is more of a sequencer, while the keys is more for playing.

the keys has more waveforms, and maybe tonal/timbre options, and poly/mono options.

they are both lots of fun.

If not the Volcas, you'd get more out of an older used synth than a new cheap one. Roland Alpha Juno or D-10/20/70, Korg Wavestation or Poly-61, Yamaha DX-9/11/21/27, Casio CZ-1/1000/5000 or HT-700/3000, Novation Xio or X-Station should all fall around or under $150, but with the exception of the Novations, editing is all menu driven (rewarding but not fun; no knobs for instant gratification). Though I might suggest something very cheap now like a Casio HT-70, Yamaha PSS-380 or the BOSS DR-202 groovebox, and put some cash towards a better one later. Your options open up tremendously once you hit the $300 mark.

Edit: I assumed by baby synth, you meant beginner synth, but maybe you want small form factor? Most of those are kinda big.

kaeth wrote:If not the Volcas, you'd get more out of an older used synth than a new cheap one. Roland Alpha Juno or D-10/20/70, Korg Wavestation or Poly-61, Yamaha DX-9/11/21/27, Casio CZ-1/1000/5000 or HT-700/3000, Novation Xio or X-Station should all fall around or under $150, but with the exception of the Novations, editing is all menu driven (rewarding but not fun; no knobs for instant gratification). Though I might suggest something very cheap now like a Casio HT-70, Yamaha PSS-380 or the BOSS DR-202 groovebox, and put some cash towards a better one later. Your options open up tremendously once you hit the $300 mark.

Edit: I assumed by baby synth, you meant beginner synth, but maybe you want small form factor? Most of those are kinda big.

Yeah, by baby synth I meant both in terms of portability and ease of use. She's a bassist, but loves new wave and post punk stuff like Devo and Talking Heads and I think she'd have a blast with something that isn't daunting with menus.

But actually your list is pretty awesome because I'm going to have to replace my own Alesis Micron soon and need to do research.

The Monotribe is only sale for $150 right now... how does it differ from the Volca stuff?

Monotribe is kinda like a simpler version of Volca Bass and Beats in one box. Single oscillator monosyth, and 3 drum sounds. Also, out of the box, it has CV, but no MIDI. There is a mod kit that will add MIDI though.

+1 for the monotribe
sample/hold
step sequencer
selectable waveforms
noise generator
cv/gate inpute
input so you can run anything through the filter

Bolsa Bass... She will Love You...

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

The Bleep Labs Thingamagoop 1 or 2 is funs


[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_QFHI3lDiw[/youtube]

Warpsmasher wrote:Volca Keys

or GTFO.

Monotribe through a bass amp is pretty massive sounding. If your eq section is any good, you can get that kick to pound really fucking hard.