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Ollie
Gold Member
United Kingdom
729 Posts |
 Posted - 09/17/2009 : 23:14:33
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Im not an immense piano player but I can play basic keyboard and I would like to get a small synth. I'm thinking of getting the Microkorg XL. Has anybody tried/got one of these? There pretty affordable and seem versatile.
& a stupid question, can the vocoder microphone be used as a normal mic? Like no effects just for backing vocals ect?
Cheers
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DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 09/18/2009 : 00:22:02
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I bought a microKorg XL 3 days ago & the sounds are excellent due to its Radias engine. I haven't had a chance to play around with the arpeggiator or vocoder since I'm in training this week & haven't much time. I've guided my friend at work to buy the Korg R3. About the only difference is the number of controls which means the R3 may be easier to work with due to less menu diving.
Next on my list may be MOTU's Electric Keys virtual synths package which is phenomenal.
The only downside to the XL that I can see is it doesn't have many controls that will map to different MIDI functions within virtual instrument plugins or DAWs. A dedicated MIDI control surface or MIDI controller would better suffice for this purpose such as the Novation series which has AutoMap functionality for many applications.
I suspect that the XL mic is only for vocoder effects & won't pass dry through to the output.
Here's the Sweetwater link for synths sorted by (low) price).
http://www.sweetwater.com/c510--Keyboards_Synthesizers/low2high
I was considering the Alesis Micron which itself is a very good unit but I chose the XL for it simplified, grab-n-go, retro interface. The Roland SH-201 is pretty cool but you should know a bit about subtractive synthesis, (check my document: http://gamefreaks.net/defrag/carbon_pi/files/subtractive_synthesis.doc). Brand new is the Korg microSampler (if you need a sampler). Consider the Akai Professional MINIAK, it's decent as well. The Line 6 POD Studio KB37 seems viable if you're mostly a guitarist.
Just keep in mind that if you buy into a 25-key register, you'll quickly wish you bought at least a 37-key unit instead. My friend from work gave me the KeyRig25 & I'm glad I didn't throw down my own money & would have got a Novation. Unfortunately, there aren't many 37-key units available. |
Edited by - DeFrag on 09/18/2009 00:25:54 |
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Heart and Soul
Silver Member
USA
369 Posts |
Posted - 09/18/2009 : 04:00:00
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| i thought you were talking about a modular and got excited...oh well... |
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DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 09/18/2009 : 17:58:01
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What's the word Ollie?
a-bird, bird bird, the bird is the word... |
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Ollie
Gold Member
United Kingdom
729 Posts |
Posted - 09/18/2009 : 18:48:49
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a-bird is the word :)
I still need to have a try out some synths but the two I was looking at were the Alesis Micron and the MicroKorgXL and I'm defiantly swaying towards the Korg.
just out of interest, are there any keyboard/guitar amps which are good with synths? Just worried about my bassist overpowering it.
Cheers
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DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 09/18/2009 : 19:03:54
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To my knowledge, most "keyboard" amps are fine but would gravitate toward Roland. Generally speaking, you might think bass guitar amps sound good for keyboards & since are typically closed-backed, maintain intrinsic damping protection for low frequencies. The tone-stack doesn't accomodate the higher registers or full-spectrum frequency range of a keyboard though. So look for a true keyboard combo amp with at least 60W of power; multi-channel amps are typical & quite practical as well.
I haven't tried it yet but heard that the warm grind from a tube-based guitar amp is excellent.. just watch your lows!
Motion Sound makes very good Leslie-type rotary units. I think I'd rather have a rotary setup as opposed to 2 cheaper Roland amps for stereo.
http://www.sweetwater.com/c525--Keyboard_Amplifiers/low2high/all
If you ever buy anything from Sweetwater, call 800-222-4700 x1356 & go through my rep: Dennis Konicki. Tell him Skip sent ya & he'll much appreciate it. He is bar-none the best sales guy I've ever dealt with. |
Edited by - DeFrag on 09/18/2009 19:16:40 |
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PaulH
Gold Member
535 Posts |
Posted - 09/18/2009 : 20:07:07
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For keyboards the Roland KC series amps are the best I've ever used.
They're rather good with guitar modellers (POD's, Boss GT's etc) too.
If you can, go for the KC350. It's got stereo inputs on all channels and stereo line outs.
Oh and it's bloody loud. |
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nathanscribe
Silver Member
United Kingdom
376 Posts |
Posted - 09/21/2009 : 16:57:10
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quote:
Originally posted by Ollie
I still need to have a try out some synths but the two I was looking at were the Alesis Micron and the MicroKorgXL and I'm defiantly swaying towards the Korg.
Definitely try them out first, because you might find you hate small keys. The Micron has full-size keys but the Korg has those mini-keys and they're not nice to play, in my opinion. I had the old MicroKorg purely for vocoding but sold it due to increasing frustration with its limitations.
I think for mono lines (I suppose leads or basses) 2.5 or 3 octs is fine, but for poly playing you want four minimum.
You could go the generic-controller-keyboard plus rack/module route, which in some ways is more flexible (smaller synths) but also more limiting (interfaces are generally less intuitive on racks).
Have you considered a controller plus a desktop DSI Evolver? The Evo is tiny - the size of a book - and does tonnes of stuff. I've had a MEK (Mono evolver keyboard) for a coupe of years and have barely scratched the top of what it can sound like.
Also, think about what sounds you might want. that sounds obvious, but if you want a piano, there's no point getting a Virtual Analogue, and vice versa.
Don't be afraid of trying out older models. Particularly cheap right now are 80s/90s digital synths, particularly ROMplers (typically full of acoustic sounds, etc) but it sounds like you want something more modern, flexible, and light. If it's your first synth, you should also think about whether you want to program your own patches or just use presets. If you get into synths, you WILL want to program them. It's pretty much a holy grailquest for the perfect synth, and there'll be some you get on with, some you don't.
I could go on but shall refrain. I'm an addict and can't help myself when it comes to anything made before 1989...
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Im thinking of getting a small synth
