Synthesizers

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This is, after all, basically a gear site. So here goes:

I am just curious - what synthesizers - if any - do you have and play regularly?
Not sure if there is any correlation or overlap with Sat-equipment, but it would be enlightning to find out...

I have an affection for late-era digitally controlled analogue synths.

So my lists are currently as follows:

Digitally controlled analogue:
- Korg Polysix
- Oberheim Matrix-6
- Roland JX10 + PG-800 (pristine condition!)
- Roland JX10 (bought for spares, but it all works)

All-digital:
- Creamware Pulsar 2 DSP-based synth
- M-audio Venom
- Roland D-20
- Yamaha Motif-6
- Yamaha P-90 (Piano)
- Various software synths and plug-ins

Realistic wish list (things that might come up for sale locally, and thay I might buy):
- Kawai K3
- Korg DW-8000
- Roland Juno-60

Outrageous wish list:
- ARP 2600 - 'coz I - as every synth geek - want and need one...
- Oberheim Matrix-12: Such a nice board - but pricing is not commensurate with what you get
- Roland Jup-8: E-bay pricing is just ridiculous these days

What's your synth-fetish?
 
I always wanted one of these

 
An impressive list there, @st1!
I have a Casio FZ1 sampler but I've never got any decent sound out of it. Without weighted keys it's not even useful as a midi keyboard. I haven't turned it on in decades. A trip to the dump maybe?
 
No musical instruments of any kind here as I have zero musical ability.

:D
 
Tried to play on an AP3 many years ago likewise I am not very musical,
I cannot play unfortunately just a listener :(
 
The only synthesizer I remember is the Moog synthesizer, really trippy stuff dude.
 
No good on a keyboard (worse than playing a guitar LOL). You can incorporate a midi controller into a guitar but I have yet to be convinced...

matthew-bellamy-second-law-corbis-630-80.webp
 
battenfan said:
An impressive list there, @st1!
I have a Casio FZ1 sampler but I've never got any decent sound out of it. Without weighted keys it's not even useful as a midi keyboard. I haven't turned it on in decades. A trip to the dump maybe?
Click to expand...
No - don't bin it unless it's completely broken!

Is was a really fine machine when it came out.
Essentially a poor man's Fairlight - had roughly the same voice architecture (but of course not compatible in any way).

However, you can do all of what the FZ1 could with a 5 year old laptop and a 100EUR USB keyboard.
And run 20 instances of the software in parallel to have a full orchestra...
But there this little something with analogue sound procesing that gives a little something special.
The filters are supposed to be quite nice to create those lush analogue pads.
It's probably in the non-linearity of analogue circuits, but it's hard to tell.
Or maybe it's just all in the mind... who knows.

While it may be hard to find takers for an FZ-1 these days, I would be happy to take it of your hands.
Unfortunately I don't happen by your neighborhood very often, and at 18 kg it's not something you just pop in the mail.
Maybe blocket.se?
 
sonnetpete said:
No good on a keyboard (worse than playing a guitar LOL). You can incorporate a midi controller into a guitar but I have yet to be convinced...
Click to expand...
Pete - you gotta learn to play the machine as an instrument ... 8)

These days, people use gizmo-boards and touch-pads and what have you to create music.
Synthesizers are so yesterday - now the kids are jamming on their iPads.

The really really promising thing is - even we old lost souls can play those pads!
You don't need a monsterous talent or anything - just tap and swipe around, and the software will make something useful, unique, and so *you* come out ot it. (Or, at least that is what it says on the sales blurb!)

 
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st1 said:
just tap and swipe around, and the software will make something useful, unique
Click to expand...

Hmm yes, that's the bit I'm not really in accord with...You can apply an effect pedal (or pedals) to a guitar but in the end what comes out is a product of your hands, body and dare I say it, soul...
 
sonnetpete said:
Hmm yes, that's the bit I'm not really in accord with...You can apply an effect pedal (or pedals) to a guitar but in the end what comes out is a product of your hands, body and dare I say it, soul...
Click to expand...
Ah, you mean like this?

 
st1 said:
This is, after all, basically a gear site. So here goes:

I am just curious - what synthesizers - if any - do you have and play regularly?
Not sure if there is any correlation or overlap with Sat-equipment, but it would be enlightning to find out...

What's your synth-fetish?
Click to expand...

I did get to Grade IV on the piano quite a few years back, but dropped out shortly after.
In the back room and shed I think there is a flightcase with a Yamaha DX something or other, and in the living room there are a couple of keyboards which I bought for pennies at the local charity shop as they did not take in electricals. My daughter however has a lovely mini Casio thingy that keeps her happy (not so the others in the house) and it's got an impressive LCD screen to show the notes she plays on a virtual manuscript, along with a digital metronome.

Me - I have no musical talent to speak of, but do enjoy humming along to a tune in the car/van, or in my head whilst on the motorcycle.

Cannot compare to this though


 
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But here's a bit for the more tech-oriented audience ... the innards! (of the matrix-6, produced in Japan 85-86 or so.)
Note 6809 CPU and the 6522 VIA - both common chips in home computers then (6809 in the Dragon, the 6522 in the BBC Micro and others)...
 

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I did some work in the early 80's on the Motorola 6800 processor. I didn't know it could do much more than count though.
 
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