Small hardware synthesizer

spoimala · Post by **spoimala** » Fri May 09, 2003 10:53 am

I've been wondering for some time - until I remembered I've got many great friends here -if there's any small, multitimbral synth. It should have keyboard, two to three octaves.

Why so small? Because I want it to be easy to take with me (put in a bag) everywhere I go.

I only know Korg microKorg - which has polyphony of 4 voices, which is not enough for me - and Novation K-station, which would be just perfect for me, but it's not multitimbral

Is anyone aware of any other really portable synth? (Just a sample playback device is ok)

Herr Voigt · Post by **Herr Voigt** » Fri May 09, 2003 3:35 pm

If you want to take your keyboard with you, how do you want to play it multitimbral? When you use multimode, you'll have to use a PC or at least a hw sequencer.
Splitting a masterkeyboard into several zones is a possibility, but it confines me while playing.

RedSun · Post by **RedSun** » Fri May 09, 2003 3:42 pm

Take a look at the upcoming <a href="http://www.clavia.se/News/G2_1.htm">Clavia G2</a>.

RedSun .:.

jupiter8 · Post by **jupiter8** » Fri May 09, 2003 3:51 pm

You have the Acces Virus as well.
The Indigo comes with a 3 octave keyboard.

http://www.access-music.de/products.php ... ct=indigo2

The Nord Modular perhaps?

http://www.clavia.se/nordmodular/

2 oct. keyboard. Not your average "bread and butter" synth though.
This one is no longer in production.

The Waldorf Q comes with a 3 oct. keyboard as well.
The MicroQ.
http://www.waldorf-music.com/micro_q_keyb/

All of the above synth are multi timbral.

That's all i have for now.
If i think of some more i'll let you know.

jupiter8 · Post by **jupiter8** » Fri May 09, 2003 3:56 pm

Additional info.

Acces Virus Indigo has 32 voices.

The MicroQ has 25 exp. to 75!!!

The NordModular is dependent on the complexity of the patch but it isn't very powerful.

Chill69 · Post by **Chill69** » Fri May 09, 2003 11:26 pm

On the other side, look at older/used "grooveboxes" ala the Roland MC series. The MC303 is cheap nowadays (>300$), and offers an 8track sequencer, drums, and a bunch of old outdated rom samples

. Very portable and useful as a sketchpad, has a one octave button board posing as a keyboard. For more updated sounds, try the MC505 although it's larger, it has infinately more uses. If I had the money, I would have picked up this one instead of the MC303. There's also the new MC909, that goofy SH-32, and the Emu offerings (XL-7 etc) though they're all large with the exception of the SH-32. For no keyboard but decent rom sounds, there's the Roland D-2 which is basically a MC505 minus the control and button board. Has the "strokable" target, haven't decided whether or not that's useful. Options abound, many under 350$ if you by used - just know what you want to do with it and how you're planning on using it.

spoimala · Post by **spoimala** » Mon May 12, 2003 1:51 am

Thank you guys, I knew I can trust you!

I'll check these in depth later today when I have the time.

Herr Voigt, I need multitimbral, zoning is not a problem for me. And I already have Oxygen (http://www.midiman.net/products/midiman/oxygen8.php) so I could perform on two tiny keybs, using the other as sound source

Chill69, groove boxes are out of question as I want to play live (and need more than just one octave at the time

). And I don't like their sound.

spoimala · Post by **spoimala** » Wed May 14, 2003 2:30 am

Ok, having done some research on these synths:
Clavia G2 looks good (both specs and coverage

), unluckily I couldn't find any sound examples. And it's preliminary price is a bit high...

After all, I'm not that much into those modulars... all of time would be spent on programming the stuff without getting anything done

Demo songs of Waldorf microQ sound a bit.. dull or something. Maybe not my style. OC course, I can't say anything reliable as I haven't got my hands on.

BUT THIS ACCESS THINGY!!! Oh my god. I'd be ready to buy the whole thing after listened to only one of their demo songs

Exatcly my style. Just the right sound I need! *Impressed*
Again, The Price.. over 2000euros is pretty much compared to under 700 of Novation K-station.

I'm afraid I'll have to stick with K-station... or anyone got any other possibilities?

jupiter8 · Post by **jupiter8** » Thu May 22, 2003 12:10 pm

I thought i had another ace up my sleeve and lo and behold.....

The Quasimidi Sirius!!!
http://www.vintagesynth.org/misc/sirius.shtml

The company has gone bankrupt so you'd better look for a second hand one.
And they are VERY geared towards dance music which might not be your cup of tea.

And to be frank, they are quite tacky!
But you will have a synth that is quite unusual.