What to do..

[get2sammyb]

I'm sure this question has been asked before - I had a little search around but didn't really find the answer to my question, but yeah anyway, back on subject.

I'm in a "classic rock" band, and I certainly am considering playing a synth in the band, the second guitarist dropping to my current instrument bass.

I need the synth to create mainly rhymnic sounds... with the odd bit of lead, and therefore switching needs to be easy. It needs to be small and portable also.

The sound I'm looking for is quite an electronic techno sound, although I'm sure this all comes down to the matter of programming the synth to make it sound in such a way.

My choices currently are:

MicroKorg,
Alesis Micron,
Novation X-Station.

Any experience and advice on what I should opt for?

[ssscientist]

The Alesis Micron.

It has 1000 presets and one of them is bound to come close to your needs and can be modified from there.

It's also nice and small but unlike the MicroKorg has full-sized keys.

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[altitude909]

second the micron for the same reasons.

Xstation would be good if you also needed a computer interface but as a standalone, its pretty limited compared to its standalone big brother, the K-station. Microkorgs little keys limit it severely

[Dr Biscuits]

A third vote for the Micron - in my previous band we had 2 going, never had any troubles - some great synth-y sounds

[get2sammyb]

Novation K-Station is better than the X-Station?

I'm ruling the microkorg out now.

How come the Alesis gives more control, this is such a n00by question, but the X-Station has plenty more knobs?

In fact - how do you programme the Micron, there are like, only a few buttons on it.

Serious question - I am a noob yes

[altitude909]

X-station is a midi controller and audio interface with a stripped down synth engine. The K-Station is the full synth

The micron is edited via software editor

[get2sammyb]

Ok there is a K Station and an X Station on Ebay at similar prices. The midi controller stuff sounds REALLY useful - but I want to have a damn good synth to use live aswell.

What would your advise be?

[ssscientist]

My 'advise' would be --- stick with the Micron.

It makes a good midi controller and is the only way, without lugging a computer around, that you are going to have a synth to play live.

Midi controllers are indeed powerful. The problem with a midi controller is that it doesn't make any noise on it's own --- it needs something to control, hence the name...

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[get2sammyb]

You can't play the K Station stand alone? Has to be plugged into a computer?

[jpmorris]

Originally Posted by get2sammyb

You can't play the K Station stand alone? Has to be plugged into a computer?

Yes, it will work standalone, or it can be used as a controller keyboard. I'm not sure about the X-station.

[ssscientist]

Originally Posted by get2sammyb

You can't play the K Station stand alone? Has to be plugged into a computer?

You can use the K Station with or without a computer.

However, it is about twice the price of the Micron here in the states.

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