What can a can`t a synth do that a keyboard can?

[presto5]

I wanna add keyboards to my arsenal but I don`t know what to get. I`m looking at the Micro korg I think. What kind of outputs do synths have besides MIDI and can they be played like a regular keyboard? What is a good all arounder for like 300 to 600? I do want it to have regular keyboard sounds and be able to plug in to my interface

 

[c7sus]

Synthesizer Vocoder | microKORG

Korg microKorg | Vintage Synth Explorer

The Micro Korg is an analog-modeling synth with 4 voices.

What do you mean by "regular" keyboard sounds? Like pianos and organs? The Korg doesn't really do that, although you could play GM wavetable sounds from your audio card via MIDI with the Korg. The Micro Korg is based on the MS2000 synth. It doesn't have full-sized keys so that is a drawback IMHO. It does have instrument and mic inputs so you can process your voice or other instruments through the filter and onboard FX along with stereo line outputs that could be patched through an interface into a computer.

Check out Youtube for videos that show that the Micro is all about.

If you want to get into analog synthesis check out the Moog Slim Pahtty or Little Phatty. If you want keys that do more traditional sounds check out Roland or Yamaha or look into synth modules or soft synths.

 

[Brenton]

If you are looking for an analog modeling synth definitely check out the microkorg and the alesis micron. Both are great at replicating vintage leads, pads, etc. Unfortunately you wont find many high quality pianos, organs, brass, or all the other typical sounds on a standard workstation/keyboard.

Generally analog modeling synths are harder to program unless you are satisfied with the preset banks. Check out the used market on craigslist. The alesis quadrasynth has many analog sounding sounds along with many pianos, organs, strings, etc that you would find on a modern workstation. I got one on craigslist last month for 140.

 

[DD83]

can they be played like a regular keyboard?

Unless they are a rackmount, they usually have keyboards, i.e. black and white plastic "triggers" representing notes. You could pick up a Korg Triton now-a-days for around $600. Never messed w/one myself but know they were like THE keyboard in the late 90's. They were like the ASR-10's brother/cousin?? Anyway I believe it has some "traditional" sounds such as piano/organ. I see alot of people using them as controllers as well. It also has sampling which is, um the greatest thing ever...

 

[diggy_dude]

The Casio FZ-1 is a very nice keyboard. It has 48-oscillator digital additive synthesis and a 16-bit sampler. Or you can draw waveforms on the LCD screen. It has all the editing features you'd ever want. It blew the Fairlight CMS out of the water in 1987. The keyboard action feels nice as well. On the down side it's rather fragile and quite heavy, which makes it very much a stay-at-home synth. You would want to pick it up yourself rather than have it shipped. And you probably wouldn't want to gig with it. If you want a more rugged version, several rackmount models were made.