advice on cheap synth sound modules

  • Thread starter Thread starter RobC
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RobC

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I'm looking for a synth sound module to use for live performance and recording. (I already have an old Casio with MIDI out that I can use for triggering.) I'm looking for something with patches that I can modify myself, and will be using it for rock/pop/electronic 1970s-style music. I'm a keyboard player, so polyphony would be cool, too.

Can anyone suggest any overlooked bargains in used synths that I might find on eBay -- my budget limit is $200.

Thanks for the advice!
 
I would think you could find a used Roland JV1010 for well within your budget. Other low cost options could be an Alesis Nanosynth and possibly so older units like an Emu Proteus, etc.
 
I own three Nanos... bass, synth, piano.

The synth has some great strings, catheral organ, sitar, strings, brass, woodwinds, baritone sax, and lots of funny noises. The piano has better pianos than the synth, by far. The bass unit has a lot of interesting basses.

The synth unit requires a programmable patching mechanism, as you cannot reach all 640 tones from the rotary switches. The bass and piano are entirely usable from the switches.

These are on eBay all the time, but run hot and cold for used price. I got lucky on the synth, at $129 shipped, new from a store closeout.
 
bgavin said:
I own three Nanos... bass, synth, piano.

The synth has some great strings, catheral organ, sitar, strings, brass, woodwinds, baritone sax, and lots of funny noises. The piano has better pianos than the synth, by far. The bass unit has a lot of interesting basses.

The synth unit requires a programmable patching mechanism, as you cannot reach all 640 tones from the rotary switches. The bass and piano are entirely usable from the switches.

These are on eBay all the time, but run hot and cold for used price. I got lucky on the synth, at $129 shipped, new from a store closeout.
Click to expand...

You should have bought the Alesis QSR. It has all the sounds from all three units.

Carl
 
RobC said:
I'm looking for a synth sound module to use for live performance and recording. (I already have an old Casio with MIDI out that I can use for triggering.) I'm looking for something with patches that I can modify myself, and will be using it for rock/pop/electronic 1970s-style music. I'm a keyboard player, so polyphony would be cool, too.

Can anyone suggest any overlooked bargains in used synths that I might find on eBay -- my budget limit is $200.

Thanks for the advice!
Click to expand...

The 70's was all analog, so you need something that does analog emulation well. Perhaps a JV-1010 with the "keyboards of the 60's and 70's" expansion board in it.
 
thanks

Thanks for the advice, everybody. That's exactly the kind of info I was looking for.

Rob C
 
Only Real Analogue Can Sound Like Real Analogue Because Analogue Rules All Like The King!!! Forget This Cheap Japanese Rolank Stuff!!! The Last Good Synth They Made Was The Jupiter Vii--which I Mod'd Into A Jupiter 32!!! One Note From My Mighty Yamaho Strap-on Cs80 And You'll Forget All About Venereal Analogue!!!!
 
Krakit said:
You should have bought the Alesis QSR. It has all the sounds from all three units.Carl
Click to expand...

Perhaps.

But the Hammond came first, I need the Hammond sound, prefer the keyboard feel, and don't know if the QSR can split the keyboard into multiple MIDI zones, each with a different patch.

I'd like to branch out to a 2nd keyboard, but want one that can split the keyboard into multiple MIDI zones, like the Hammond does. Then I can keep my baritones in the lowest octave, brass in the middle, horns in the upper, and so forth. Switching octaves is faster than changing patches or presets.

My use is live performing.
 
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