New HW analogue/hybrid synth GAS...

[petal]

Sorry, I didn't see your question Nestor

I'm not known for making quick decisions, quite the oposite actually But status is this. Since the dollar value went through the roof, american produced synths are not an option any more, they are simply too expensive now.

I'm pretty focused on the MFB Dominion 1 now - I like the sound and all the knobs, which is what I was looking for when I first decided to buy a HW synth. But reading up on it, it seems like they are still having trouble producing units without problems, so I'm gonna hold my breath on that one for a while until they get those problems ironed out.

I was also looking at the Elektron Analog Keys for a while, but what I initially wanted in a new HW synth was a "knob per function", and I find the tiny screen and Elektrons workflow intimidating. On the other hand, you can do so much with an Elektron box - With the music I find interesting, I could produce whole tracks with an Elektron box alone. And they look so tasty and make me full of lust...

But summer is upon us and one should not sit inside, so I made a quick decission and bought myself an Electribe 2 which runs on batteries.
It's a fun machine to fool around with and it has great hipster value, when you sit outside in the sun with it
I have never had a groovebox before, but I imidiately liked the workflow and the knobs. It's almost instant music which I find very inspiring. And getting my eyes off the computer screen and interact with a musical instrument again instead, is deffinitely a new goal of mine - thanks to this little ugly grey box.
However, it's a cheap box and I'm used to much better sound quality, which turned my attention to the Elektron Analog RYTM.
For a while I thought about returning the Electribe to get a RYTM and an external battery, but have settled with the Electribe for now, and will fool around with it during the summer and investigate further on the Elektron workflow. I'd like to hear about peoples opinion about the Elektron workflow if people in here have any first hand experience with it.

I'll propably buy both the RYTM and the Dominion 1 when the summer is over

[Nestor]

Thank you for your kind answer! I thought for a moment that I was perhaps asking too many times about the same thing…

Well, between the dominion and the analogue keys, I would go definitely with the analogue keys. What bothers me about it is the small screen, and the choice of colors they have made, which give you not too much contrast, so small and little contrast between colors is a bad idea. Nevertheless, it is a huge instrument with as many possibilities as you can imagine, but it is rather difficult to get into, its workflow is a bit uncanny, adding difficulty to your creations.

A bout the box machines I have nothing to say as I am not related in any way to them, so no experience to share.

What I can tell you is that I am going with U-He Zebra 2 for 199 Eu. I could not ask for a better synth, and it is not something I am getting while saying: “It does what I need but the sound does not really fulfill my expectations”, not at all! I am getting it BECAUSE of the sound it delivers, and because it is so easy to work with and just go where you need to go. Right now I have too much work and little time left, so I cannot stop in details not even for fun, me too, I have to deliver.

Best of luck with your decisions!

[tlaskows]

Hmm,

Sorry, OT.

I'm deciding between Diva and Zebra right now. I don't have much money though... haha, my Visa is almost maxed out

-Tom

[tlaskows]

BTW:

Who needs analog when you've got Scope! lol

-Tom

[petal]

I have plenty of soft synths. You need HW to get your fingers on those knobs to turn and twist them till your new baby screams

[Nestor]

Different kind of instruments for different kind of musicians, nothing wrong with that.

[tlaskows]

Who needs knobs when you've got a VL7 and a breath controller

-Tom

[Nestor]

I do everything through the traditional way a studio PC works, that is why Zebra is perfect for me. It is so amazing! I love this synth beyond and some...

[petal]

Good to hear that you are both hapy with your equipment

I propably have more equpiment than I need by now, but the GAS is strong and each new instrument teach me new exciting things

[tlaskows]

The GAS is always strong

It's kind of like addiction lol

-Tom

[Nestor]

I coudn't have done better than this! I'm with Zebra right now, and it is so open, so amazing, so wild, so tender..., I am really happy with it! Here there is a happy owner!

Above my expectations, above most sophisticated devices, above highly recommended!

[Nestor]

Go Zebra Go ZebraGo Zebra Go ZebraGo Zebra Go ZebraGo Zebra Go ZebraGo Zebra Go ZebraGo Zebra Go ZebraGo Zebra Go ZebraGo Zebra Go ZebraGo Zebra Go ZebraGo Zebra Go ZebraGo Zebra Go ZebraGo Zebra Go ZebraGo Zebra Go ZebraGo Zebra Go ZebraGo Zebra Go ZebraGo Zebra Go ZebraGo Zebra Go ZebraGo Zebra Go ZebraGo Zebra Go ZebraGo Zebra Go ZebraGo Zebra Go Zebra

[tlaskows]

Zebra HZ

-Tom

[tlaskows]

I sense a touch of OCD from Nestor

lol

-Tom

[tlaskows]

It's okay. I am always trolling UA forums on how good Scope is

I don't think they can comprehend lol

-Tom

[Nestor]

I sense a touch of OCD from Nestor

lol

-Tom

I probably am... but, believe me, Zebra is fantastic, even through these crazy perceptions

Now, seriously, you should go deeper into it and experience for some time, without the rush... I will say yet again (I have said it about 20 times already in the Z), that a synth, or any other instrument, should not be judged alone, unless you play it alone, which is not my case. I use all instruments to build up all kind of orchestras, so Zebra makes total sense and exceeds in this regard. The only instrument I play completely by itself, totally alone and only sometimes, is the natural classic piano, all other instruments are played with the rest.

Zebra used as a workstation gives you a plethora of new and interesting sounds to play with, and the quality of the sounds, with very little extra work, is superb. I am not an experimental guy, least of all a trance or atmospheric composer either, I am a traditional musician in regard to the use of “instruments”, so when it comes to Zebra, I have found a light-weighted HD replacement for many heavy and rather poor sounding samples and VSTs, and for many heavy CPU and poor sounding VST synths too.

Scope has its weapons, but they are not all the weapons I need.

As I said before, there are different instruments for different musicians. Zebra is perfect for me and my music. Cheers

[tlaskows]

Hmm,

It does sound like it's nice. But I haven't even tried it out yet. I am gonna buy the Korg Legacy Collection first... Then in a few weeks I'll think about Zebra You almost sold me lol

-Tom

[Nestor]

The Korg Legacy Collection is a great collection of vintage sounds, it has little to do with Zebra, they are very different.

[tlaskows]

I understand, but I don't have 300$ to blow on Zebra 2 HZ. Korg will cost me 160$ and I do like the sound.

I haven't even experimented with Modular 4 yet!!!!

Too much gear, not enough time...

-Tom

[Nestor]

I have little gear and software too, but I DO USE thoroughly what I have. I don’t like to be clustered with things I don’t use, and, of course, I don’t like to lose money either