When in doubt, ALWAYS order the chicken & waffles...
Do you have a sampler, Skye? If so, check the triton le and maybe an ms2000 or ms2000r(ackmount). The soundset on the triton le is not quite as indepth as the original triton, but it'll definately do - by far best bang for the buck. Can't get shit with that much useable shit packed in it for the price - about $1100.00. And like someone said, the MS is great for thick bass sounds...
You may also wanna check the E-MU MP-6 (or is it the MK-6???). It's a 61 key version of the Mo' Phatt sound module, and ONLY costs $599.00 everywhere. Excellent soundset for the types of music you mentioned. May be limiting if it's your only board (but I REALLY doubt it), andat that price, you can supplement your sound tools easily enough. Plus, the current offer includes 1 free sound card (proteus, ethnic percussion, orbit - more techno sounding - and so on) or some limited (but quite useable)version of Cubase sequencing software. At that price, you could add
a triton le and be rollin' for 1700 beans. No sampler though with either, though. And don't bother with the 200 dollar sampling option you can add to the
If you need a sampler, decide if you want a dedicated standalone joint, or one built into a workstation (the Motif sampler is way better that the Triton's). If you go standalone, check
the Yamaha RS 7000 ($1300.00) or
an akai MPC unit (look for a used one if you aren't financing your shit). I prefer the yamaha because it allows for more than 1 sample to be sliced and stretched, AND it's built in soundset is VERY useable for some standard, and peculiar-ish sounds. If you find you really dig tweaking sounds and programming them, you can do this with the RS, too (the programming and granular synthesis stuff you'll need to do in conjunction with a computer, but oh shit is it off the hook). One of those boxes, plus something like the E-Mu is definately nothing to sneeze at.
I use a motif and love it, even picked up a couple of cool cards to stick in there. I had a triton and returned it, though I've decided to get a triton le for home use. The price/sound ratio plus scsi is too good to pass up. Also, I owned an MPC box way back in the way back, and chose to get an RS7000 over any of the Akai boxes this go 'round. I'm very happy with it.
Happy shopping.
Flo' Dolo