Need a laundry list of rack modules

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APCenter

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I'm trying to prepare for the (intimidating) task of putting together a home project studio. Planning on recording mostly "country" music (think Diamond Rio, Restless Heart, Rascal Flatts, Blackhawk...vocal group sound). I have access to a keyboard (Clavinova, I think). It's my girlfriend's, I just have to get it from Indiana to Tennessee. I've played it, and it felt plenty good to start with (probably will get a high-end hammer-action controller one of these days, but for now...). However, I would like to get some rack modules to be as versatile as I can. I don't really need a lot of bizzarre pads and leads, although a few classic vintage synth patches would be nice to have. Mainly what I'm looking for though are a variety of different acoustic piano sounds (need to be as convincing as possible), DX-7 chorus piano, Rhodes, Clavi, Harpsi, B3 and any other classic organs, and some good string pads. What would you guys recommend to start out with, and what might I add later? Thanks in advance!!!
 
You don't say what your budget for all this is - low, mid or XL --- for low budget, sniff around ebay for early-mid 90's racks - the TG77's are going for a song, and have bright, dark, thick and thin acoustic piano sounds as well as the DX7 and other asst sounds you seek. Other budget items might include Roland U-220 (no editing to speak of but sounds that still fill out a mix) or even a Korg M1 rack.

Mid price would move you up subsantially, and you really wouldn't need any more than a Yamaha CS6x rack or a Roland 2080. They're both sample based synths with more voices than you'll probably ever use. You could find your 'laundry list' inside just these two boxes.

XL would get you any current rack you want, from a Yamaha Motif to a Roland 5080.

Go here to see what's out there for current rack modules:

www.zzounds.com/a--2676837
 
I really don't know exactly what the budget's gonna look like just yet. Probably nothing too extravagant right away, but nothing cheap either. And of course, always willing to expand/upgrade later. But I do know that I don't necessarily just want the most inexpensive thing I can find. I'm a regular (mostly lurking, though) over in the live SR forum on Harmony Central, and I get aggravated at all the posts that read something along the lines of "I need a full PA for a heavy metal band for a gig next week. What should I get? We have $200 to spend." I realize it takes money to do it right. ;)

At any rate, I'll keep those models in mind when I start seriously shopping. Just trying to do my research and ask people who know what they're doing before I buy something I won't be satisfied with, ya know? Thanks a lot!!!
 
I have a couple of suggestions about the process rather than specific gear as much of the selection process is personal preference.

I would listen to everything prior to purchase. I would also buy the best you can get without buying the best. I"ve spent a lot on gear that was as much as I could afford at the time when if I had just waited a couple of months and saved a couple hundred more I could have saved my self a lot of time and money.
 
I'd suggest a single module, the Roland XV-5080 or perhaps the new Fantom XR. These units have 128 voice polyphony, and take expansion boards. So you buy the basic synth, then customize it with the various expansion boards that suite your needs. like Roland has a "60's and 70's" sound board, a vintage board, a country board, etc.

That's where I would start, anyway. The TG77, U220, M1 are really not general purpose synths naymore. Dated sounds and not the polyphony or general usefullness of the newer modules like roaldn XV series or Korg synths.
 
I'd suggest a single module, the Roland XV-5080 or perhaps the new Fantom XR. These units have 128 voice polyphony, and take expansion boards. So you buy the basic synth, then customize it with the various expansion boards that suite your needs. like Roland has a "60's and 70's" sound board, a vintage board, a country board, etc.

That's where I would start, anyway. The TG77, U220, M1 are really not general purpose synths naymore. Dated sounds and not the polyphony or general usefullness of the newer modules like roaldn XV series or Korg synths.
 
have a look at this

APCenter said:
I'm trying to prepare for the (intimidating) task of putting together a home project studio. Planning on recording mostly "country" music (think Diamond Rio, Restless Heart, Rascal Flatts, Blackhawk...vocal group sound). I have access to a keyboard (Clavinova, I think). It's my girlfriend's, I just have to get it from Indiana to Tennessee. I've played it, and it felt plenty good to start with (probably will get a high-end hammer-action controller one of these days, but for now...). However, I would like to get some rack modules to be as versatile as I can. I don't really need a lot of bizzarre pads and leads, although a few classic vintage synth patches would be nice to have. Mainly what I'm looking for though are a variety of different acoustic piano sounds (need to be as convincing as possible), DX-7 chorus piano, Rhodes, Clavi, Harpsi, B3 and any other classic organs, and some good string pads. What would you guys recommend to start out with, and what might I add later? Thanks in advance!!!
Click to expand...

maybe you should consider this:

http://www.esoundz.com/details/viewDetails.php?ProductID=217&referrer=home

this way you get Sampletank 2 Le (1 instance per session, BUT:16 midi channels and 8 stereo out's).
Here’s a link with reviews of the sonic synth 1 the pic on the site shows sonic synth 2; but it’s not out yet . The reviews are for sonic synth 1.

The engine you get is SAMPLETANK 2 LE

http://www.kvr-vst.com/get/116.html

P.S.
You can get $5 in epointz by entering a user name for the referral if you purchase.
My user name is hugojacquet just make sure you put in in the “user name” part and not the first or last name part, so enter that when you place your order. I will get $5 too thanks!

Hugo
 
Hunt down an E-MU Vintage Keys,Vin" "Keys Plus, or Vin" "Keys Pro.
I got one on eBay and it has very good samples of all the keyboard sounds
that you mention.

Alternatively a Kurzweil K2000R would do really well, too, and those can be
had at very good deals on eBay ... I paid $400 for mine & it's a very powerful
module, with excellent sounds .

I'm not a big synth guy(mainly a guitarist) and these two modules are all
the synths I need for my home studio; which is the only reason I own them.

A lot of sounds on tap limited only by my imagination .

Also grabbed an 88-weighted key SL990 Controller, from GC for $300; lightly
used . The housing is strong metal so it should last forever. :)
 
This may be out of your budget - but the Roland XP/JV serives has an addon sound card that is all country sounds - which has very believable fiddle, banjo, steel guitar, dobro, etc. (naturally keyboard chops have to be adjusted to make the sounds work.

Is you could track down a JV1010 and could still add the country card, you would have some great country sounds - although it may not meet what you need for the "piano sounds"

Most of my outside projects are country/country rock - mostly producing demos for country writers. I use an XP30 with the country card and many people really think I had some hot country pickers at the sessions!!
 
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