What's your current synth/processor set up?

walto · May-14th-2006, 10:01 PM

Trying this again here after no response at all in "Ask the Musicians"

Quote:

And are you happy with it? Include amps please.

I think there may have been a thread on this in the past. But I'd like an update!

I'm really delighted with my 2 Yamaha synths sy-35 and S-03, my Digitech Time Machine 7.6, Boss Dr. Sample SP-303, and Peavey KB-3 amp (and Peavey 4-track mixer). I've had much more elaborate (and much more expensive) stuff in the past--but I don't think I've ever been more completely satisfied with my set-up--even though I have no rack synths now and am mono. It's uncomplicated enough to be (relatively) portable, and the sounds I can make vary from rich and threatening to clicks and hisses. I didn't like being taken (for $300) bucks by a fraudulent EBAYer the first time I tried to pick up an S-03, but both its replacement and the Boss delay were also used EBAY items, and they've been great.

Pete C · May-15th-2006, 01:43 PM

You figured you'd ask the non-musicians?

Scott Dolan · May-15th-2006, 02:33 PM

Oh that tricky Walto...........

Jon Abbey · May-15th-2006, 02:39 PM

you'd have way more luck on IHM, Walt.

http://ihatemusic.bagatellen.com/viewforum.php?f=6

walto · May-15th-2006, 03:33 PM

Thanks much, Jon. A couple of those threads should provide some sense of what people are buying/playing these days...

Don't know why people in these JC parts are so secretive!

groover · May-15th-2006, 04:31 PM

Walto, I have a number of different lower-end keyboards and modules, which I mostly use for my own amusement. The setup that's used for my band is mostly used to simulate traditional keyboard instrument sounds: piano, electric piano, organ, and the occasional harpsichord. A Kurzweil ME-1 provides the piano sound, the others are from a Roland JV-1010. I use a Roland KB-100 amp which I picked because it was quieter than the Peavey and others I compared it to. I also now avoid buying keyboards with built-in sounds, since I've had a couple of them go bad on me.

Ron Thorne · May-15th-2006, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walto

Don't know why people in these JC parts are so secretive!

Secretive? That seems like quite a leap, Walto.

My guess is that there are damn few serious keyboard players hangin' around SPEAK OUT. Especially ones utilizing the gear to which you refer.

Good luck.

walto · May-16th-2006, 07:21 AM

Well, Jazzooo uses synths, Hatta uses synths, Graypencil uses synths, to name just three. I don't know about DG.

Also, "the gear to which [I] refer" is all cheap, low-end stuff that any weekend foolarounder might have. I dumped all my analogue stuff some time ago, e.g.

hearsay · May-16th-2006, 11:58 AM

Hey Walto, I have a prophet 600 that I love (got on Ebay a few years ago for only $400!), I use that with a Boss RV-5 and through a Roland KC-300 amp, and also do a lot of synth and sequencing with Reason and Cubase, and have an Edirol midi keyboard to use with that sometimes.

I did all the synth programming, loop-making and post-production (and trombone playing) on the upcoming Ergo album with these tools. Check it out- www.ergoisaband.com

Uli · May-16th-2006, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walto

Graypencil uses synths

walto, i've read that grey is in the studios the last couple of days. patience my friend he mite not yet have completely given up on jc

Ron Thorne · May-16th-2006, 05:10 PM

Yes, graypencil is in L.A. recording his new album. I'm not sure that he uses synths, per se. He does most of his composing via Finale software which provides output for his scores by way of his computer, but I'm not certain of the sound source(s).

From my experience, Jazzooo uses acoustic piano as much or more than any electronic keyboard devices in his recordings, but he can address that better than I.

I've had substantial exposure to both analog and digital keyboards from my years as marketing director for a music store, and both of our sons have a substantial number of keyboards, but I'm far from qualified to respond to your questions. Maybe I'll solicit their input.

I do remember both of them being very fond of the Ensoniq EPS sampling keyboard when it first came out, but that was several generations ago. They also collected a number of classic analog synths, some of which are still stored at our house.

hglord · May-16th-2006, 05:42 PM

Studiologic Fatar 1100 MIDI Controller. I got this because it's an 88-key board that feels the most like a real piano that I could find.

On the very rare occasions that I use a microphone, it's a Rode NT1-A.

The sound module is a Roland Fantom XR, a rack mounted synth/sampler with 544 MB of memory and space for a Compact Flash card, of which I have several which hold an excellent B3 organ implementation and William Coakley's Perfect Piano Vol. V, a fully sampled Hamburg Steinway D, the best sounding piano I've ever played, including real pianos.

The XR also has six expansion card slots which I've filled with:
SRX-01 - Drums
SRX-03 - Studio instruments (flutes, saxophones, acoustic guitars, and other stuff)
SRX-04 - Symphonic Strings
SRX-06 - Orchestral instruments including strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion
SRX-07 - Keyboards (pianos, organs, electric pianos, clavinets, harpsichords)
SRX-10 - Brass

The sound module and mic run into a Soundcraft Notebook mixer.

In the studio, that runs into a pair of Behringer Truth B2031A reference monitors.

I also have a performing setup where the mixer runs into a Hafler 9505 power amp then into a pair of Peavey PR-15 speakers on speaker stands.

I'm learning to play all this stuff. I expect it will take the rest of my life.

I've been playing piano since I was eight years old and woodwinds since I was twelve. I'm fifty-eight now.

I used to play out, but haven't in years. I'd rather play music that I want to hear than what others want to hear.

Hope that helps.

walto · May-16th-2006, 07:04 PM

Thanks, folks. (Keep 'em coming, please.)

Brett, I'm enjoying "Elephants and Sycophants" as I type this!

hearsay · May-17th-2006, 06:35 PM

Hey cool! I'll have to get you a copy of the CD, maybe we can make an exchange. Anyway it'll be out in the fall and hopefully we'll play in Boston too.

HornForHire · May-19th-2006, 05:28 AM

I've got quite a few (older) keyboards/synths, like a Roland XP-50, a Roland D-50, a Roland Alpha Juno-2, a Yamaha DX7-IID, a Fender Rhodes 73 Mark I, a Korg Poly 800, but lately I'm mostly using VSTi's with Cubase SX3, like the Arturia Minimoog V and lots of other stuff.
The only 'hardware' keyboard I use frequently is my trustworthy Roland RD-600 Digital Piano. The sounds are good and the weighted keyboard plays fine.

You can see and hear some of my stuff here: www.hornforhire.com

Wim

Uli · May-21st-2006, 10:17 AM

I am sorry, walto that I can't add anything re gear to this thread.

btw hornforhire is a cool handle.

HornForHire · May-24th-2006, 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uli

btw hornforhire is a cool handle.

Thanks...

walto · May-24th-2006, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uli

I am sorry, walto that I can't add anything re gear to this thread.

That's OK, bro, but where are jazzooo, grayp and bobet?

john williams · May-30th-2006, 04:43 AM

I don't have a keyboard. However, I saw this funny promotional video which should give keyboard players (and others) a laugh.

http://www.britishpathe.com/images//...0/00003856.WMV

walto · May-30th-2006, 06:18 AM

That's excellent. Do you know what year it was made?

john williams · May-30th-2006, 09:05 AM

Walto. I hunted around the British Pathe site and finally found the date. It didn't help that they spelt Mellotron "Mellatron" but I found in the end. Anyway the date is 19th August 1965.

I originally downloaded it from Steve Albini's forum and no date was posted there.
Here's the British Pathe link:
http://www.britishpathe.com/thumbnai...cription=organ

walto · May-30th-2006, 09:40 AM

Thanks.