which is best for music Atari or Amiga

[mrmoonlight]

Wow what a super post this is and I do thank you commodorejohn  
 totally amazing right down to the last detail ,this is going to take me quite a while to digest and I do appreciate it ,truly grateful my friend very best wishes and off to start reading Brian.

[commodorejohn]

Glad to be of service

[nicholas]

The D-50 is a lovely beast indeed.

[minator]

The Roland JX-10 is just a gorgeous instrument; it's like the analog synthesizer equivalent of a concert grand in that it just sounds ultra-classy no matter what. It goes for $500-700, and if you want to avoid editing voices with the craptastic "alpha dial" the PG-800 programmer goes for another couple hundred (unless you get a good deal on the pair, as I did,) but it's just an ultra-lush, warm analog sound. Its little brother the JX-8P can be had cheaper, but the JX-10 is basically two 8Ps in a single keyboard, which can be layered or split for some wonderfully complex sounds. There's a rack version of the JX-10, the MKS-70, which has the advantage of a much better MIDI implementation, which allows the use of free computer voice editors in place of the PG-800.

Yes, great synth spoiled by a truly abysmal MIDI implementation.  However there is hope.

BTW +1 for the DW8000.  The keyboard can be flakey (the contacts get dirty) but it's got a great sound and is very good value.

The Korg MS-20 Mini ($600) is a modern reproduction of one of Korg's old analog monosynths; its monophonic nature limits its versatility for live performance, but of course in a studio situation you can stack as many tracks as you want - you can even make whole songs with it. It's got a great grungy, organic sound, and its semi-modular nature and direct panel control of every parameter means that it's great for learning how analog synthesis works. Good stuff

It wouldn't be my first choice.  The knobby side is easy but the modular side is confusing and doesn't make much sense.  That said, there is a very good series of videos on how to use it though on youtube (look up Automatic Gainsay).

I'm not knocking it as a synth though, it is a fantastic machine.  Very unique sound and you can really push it once you get your head around the modular side.

BTW Great track.  It shows how versatile it is - I wouldn't have guessed that was an MS-20.

This is a wonderful time to get interested in synths.  There's so many available now and some of them are incredibly cheap.  The Korg Volcas are an absolute bargain, but there's also the Microbrute and Minibrute, the Bass Station 2, Mopho, Minitaur, Doepfer Dark Energy and many more.  Even Roland just announced VA (virtual Analogue) versions of some of their old gear.

For cheap polysynths there're VA synths like the Ultranova, Venom, Microkorg and soon System-1.
Analogue poly synths are more expensive but even they exist, DSI do several and there's also the Analog 4 / Analog keys from Elektron.  When I sold the Walker the proceeds went to a DSI Tempest analogue drum machine / synth.

There's also a thriving modular scene especially in Eurorack.

Even the Amiga gets a mention now and again.

[commodorejohn]

Yes, great synth spoiled by a truly abysmal MIDI implementation.  However there is hope.

Yeah; I'd have installed that in mine already if I didn't have the PG-800, just to be able to use a software programmer, but currently it works and I'd rather not mess with it...

It wouldn't be my first choice.  The knobby side is easy but the modular side is confusing and doesn't make much sense.  That said, there is a very good series of videos on how to use it though on youtube (look up Automatic Gainsay).

I think the important thing is that you don't even need to touch the modular side until you're ready to branch out, since it's pre-patched with a perfectly useable architecture. And then once you've gotten acquainted with that, you've got a whole other series of possibilities to explore.

BTW Great track.  It shows how versatile it is - I wouldn't have guessed that was an MS-20.

Thanks It was a blast to make, too - I basically just sat down over the course of a weekend and knocked it out as I was rolling up different patches (just wish I'd written more of them down!)

This is a wonderful time to get interested in synths.  There's so many available now and some of them are incredibly cheap.  The Korg Volcas are an absolute bargain, but there's also the Microbrute and Minibrute, the Bass Station 2, Mopho, Minitaur, Doepfer Dark Energy and many more.

Indeed - I'm keeping my eye out for a good deal on a Minibrute, I like the sound as I've heard it. The Volcas are a bit feature-light for my tastes (and I don't like the Buchla-esque capacitive keyboard thing,) but it certainly is astonishing to see full-fledged analog synths for a paltry $150 apiece!

Even Roland just announced VA (virtual Analogue) versions of some of their old gear.

For cheap polysynths there're VA synths like the Ultranova, Venom, Microkorg and soon System-1.

Bah, Roland's VAs are underwhelming even by VA standards. The demos I've heard from the System-1 are about what the MicroKORG was doing twelve years ago. And Korg just utterly ate their lunch, to boot :rofl:

[Ral-Clan]

The Korg MS-20 Mini ($600) is a modern reproduction of one of Korg's old analog monosynths; its monophonic nature limits its versatility for live performance, but of course in a studio situation you can stack as many tracks as you want - you can even make whole songs with it. It's got a great grungy, organic sound, and its semi-modular nature and direct panel control of every parameter means that it's great for learning how analog synthesis works. Good stuff

Commodore John - that MS20 track you did was very good.  

I own several Korg Monotrons and just purchased a Korg Volca Keys - so I've been watching their analogue synth revival.

I also own a Juno-106, Alpha Juno-1, Yamaha DX100 and TX81z.

Also like to buy old 1980s home/toy keyboards whenever I can pick them up for a few bucks at thrift stores (the interesting ones before Casio etc. switched to stock PCM sounds for home keyboards).

Love the real hardware synth thing.

[rdolores]

Commodore John - that MS20 track you did was very good.  

I own several Korg Monotrons and just purchased a Korg Volca Keys - so I've been watching their analogue synth revival.

I also own a Juno-106, Alpha Juno-1, Yamaha DX100 and TX81z.

Also like to buy old 1980s home/toy keyboards whenever I can pick them up for a few bucks at thrift stores (the interesting ones before Casio etc. switched to stock PCM sounds for home keyboards).

Love the real hardware synth thing.

Casio CZ-101's are pretty cheap nowadays (about $100.00 US).  Also, they were multi-timbral although they only had 4-voices.  The higher end models CZ-5000, CZ-1 had 8-voices, but they are pricier.

[commodorejohn]

Commodore John - that MS20 track you did was very good.

Thanks

I own several Korg Monotrons and just purchased a Korg Volca Keys - so I've been watching their analogue synth revival.

It's been pretty great, alright, and it's only getting better - Arturia doubling down on the success of the Minibrute, Korg recreating the freakin' Odyssey...what a great time to be getting into synths!

I also own a Juno-106, Alpha Juno-1, Yamaha DX100 and TX81z.

Lucky you, you've already got a Juno - prices on those suckers have been climbing crazily lately. I'd kinda like to get one, but at the prices they're getting lately, I'd just as soon pick up a Prophet 600...

Also like to buy old 1980s home/toy keyboards whenever I can pick them up for a few bucks at thrift stores (the interesting ones before Casio etc. switched to stock PCM sounds for home keyboards).

Yeah, there's some fun stuff in the low end that not many people know about. I'm still looking for a replacement for the broken Casio HT-6000 I used to have - it's a fully programmable hybrid synthesizer in the guise of a cheapo home keyboard! I've got a Yamaha PSR-48, as well, simply for the epic demo tune

[gertsy]

Interestingly on investigating the DX 7 and variants I came across FM7 from Native Instruments, an ASIO compliant Soft synth that does all the DXs in software and multi-voice. The demo on their web page sounded great. The really interesting part is it's now disappeared off their website entirely. Was there Wednesday and gone Thursday. Yamaha  flexing copyright/brand protection?

[nicholas]

Interestingly on investigating the DX 7 and variants I came across FM7 from Native Instruments, an ASIO compliant Soft synth that does all the DXs in software and multi-voice. The demo on their web page sounded great. The really interesting part is it's now disappeared off their website entirely. Was there Wednesday and gone Thursday. Yamaha  flexing copyright/brand protection?

It's been superseded by FM8.

[commodorejohn]

The real deal is inexpensive and sounds better, anyway, although I will admit that FM8 is the closest emulation of Yamaha FM I'm aware of.

[Ral-Clan]

Lucky you, you've already got a Juno - prices on those suckers have been climbing crazily lately. I'd kinda like to get one, but at the prices they're getting lately, I'd just as soon pick up a Prophet 600...

Well the Juno-106 is the original one I purchased back in 1985/86.  But the Alpha, now that was a fortuitous situation.  I found it in a thrift store for $39.  I nearly flipped.  It did need some restoration work on the keys (cleaning), but I think they sold if for so cheap because (unlike a home keyboard) it doesn't have a built-in speaker and perhaps they thought it didn't work.

Anyway, I'm very glad to have it, it's a nice synth and doesn't suffer the failure of the voice chips the 106 can.

[commodorejohn]

Yeah, but it's got that awful "alpha dial" (does it do the stupidly counterintuitive thing it does on the JX-10 where it cycles slower the faster you spin it?) I'll take slightly unreliable but eminently usable over solidly-constructed tedium any day...

[Ral-Clan]

The alpha dial is worse than sliders, yes.  I wish I had the full slider programmer for this thing.  But it's not terrible.  Much better than programming a Yamaha DX series synth with the membrane keyboard buttons.

I think MIDI-Quest for the Amiga allows one to program an Alpha-Juno.  Otherwise there are a bunch of free editors for the Alpha Junos for other platforms.

But, yes, the 106 is my favourite.

I also enjoy the Roland SoundCanvas sounds, although they are not editable.  I have an SC-55 that's been put to a lot of use (good pianos).

[commodorejohn]

Yeah, I just picked up an SC-55K this week. It's surprisingly good for its time; baffling how the Windows soundfont version could be so much worse than a home-computer MIDI module from the mid-'90s...

[gertsy]

It's been superseded by FM8.

Yes realised that on investigation.  But I swear I got onto the website the other night and saw the FM7 product, demos and the screen shots. Black/brown console with green tic tac buttons; The memories.  And the patch set was all the DX range patches. Couldn't see this on the FM8. Perhaps I was using an old browser version that showed me the old site....  

Anyhows, it bought back memories of me recording my drum machine patterns into the Amiga 2000 (Tiger Cub) and playing them back into my DX27 instruments.  Arrh when I had time to experiment.

Saw quite a few DX7s on SMeebay.  Just don't have the room.  Already have a good quality weighted keys Roland midi controller keyboard.  So a soft synch is the best option.  Especially since I upgraded my Sonar to X3 for my B'day.



@commodoreJohn.  I saw/heard the same thing with SB Live EMU Sound fonts vs my little Korg module.  Chalk and cheese.  Cheese being the Soundfonts. I found individually the patches sounded great but in the context of a piece they were all over the place.