I'm thinking of getting a small analog synth that is quick and easy to use. At first I saw the Vermona Mono Lancet which got me thinking about these analog table top synths. Looking at similar stuff I saw the technosaurus microcon II, the doepefer dark energy and the forthcoming moog slim phatty (coming soon). Anyone have any experience with any of these or have any other similar things to recommend? I'm looking for something more advanced than a monotron but not quite a full blown thing (i've already got a prophet 08). probably mainly for making cool beeps and blips and sfx type sounds...maybe a bit for acid leads and basses
Industrial Music forum » Music tech forum
analog desktop synths - need recommendations
(23 posts)-
wormsoftheearth
offlineMemberPosted 1 year ago # -
soillodge
offlineTech ModeratorDid you check out the DSI Mopho? That and the MFB Synth II are the only low end mono analogs that also feature an internal step sequencer. Especially on the Mopho, the 4 layer 16 step sequencer is great for doing crazy modulating basslines.
When I was shopping for a synth like this, none of the vids for those other units did anything for me. Especially the price of the Dark Energy VS the tones it made.
Also considerable, I like the assignable knobs on the Mopho. A lot of the features are buried in the box, once you find them you can easily bring them right to the front. OR use an assignable controller. Then everything can get really crazy. If you are insistent on spending more, check out the Tetra and the Evolver tabletop boxes. After spending time with my Mopho and the Evolver [with I Parasite]-I just cannot say enough about how awesome the DSI synths are.
`michael
Posted 1 year ago # -
wormsoftheearth
offlineMemberhad a mopho, loved it, upgraded to prophet 08. no need for another DSI box
the other boxes really are stupidly expensive. the vermona lancet would be great for about 300$...but 620? no way.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Rogue Process
offlineMemberWhy not just put the Prophet 08 on your desktop?
Posted 1 year ago # -
soillodge
offlineTech ModeratorAh cool! I did not know you had a Prophet :D
Check out the MFB stuff then. I really liked the way they sounded.
`michael
Posted 1 year ago # -
wormsoftheearth
offlineMember@rogue: lol, the prophet 08 is the full key version. i got a reaaaally good deal on ebay.
but what i mean is that i want something with less knobs and functionality. the prophet is fun, but when i use it i spend a long time building sounds and going through all the routing and shit...too much. sometimes i just want a quick little thing with like 2 oscs, 1 filter, monophonic...just like 10 knobs and no hidden menu shit.
@soilodge: ah word, just checked out a couple videos for the MFB stuff..pretty sweet. MFB Synth Lite has a really cool tone. This might be what i'm looking for. I wonder how easy it is to find them though
Posted 1 year ago # -
KryonikMessiah23
offlinememberI've had the Synth Lite II. Ever hear an SH 101? It's similar.
As for the lancet being 600$, there's a reason. Discrete circuits cost a bit more than integrated, and the Lancet's got discrete circuits.
Posted 1 year ago # -
wormsoftheearth
offlineMemberwhats the difference
Posted 1 year ago # -
how about a reissued SEM, there are two variants, with midi, and with CV patches, costs around $800, but is seriously capable synth with very fast envelopes. you could even go the analogue solutions' path and get a telemark which is a SEM clone which has bot midi and cv, as well as sample&hold and a host of other shit.
people are bitching about little phatty, as its supposedly not tr00 moog synth, but to me it looked really nice in that reluctant richard devine videoPosted 1 year ago # -
let them bitch. the lower demand, the more i can afford to buy. ;)
Posted 1 year ago # -
soillodge
offlineTech Moderator@Worms- you can get them at http://www.analoguehaven.com/
`michael
Posted 1 year ago # -
What about the slim phatty from Moog. The Moog sound at your fingertips. Simple and efficient.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Rogue Process
offlineMemberFor the record, I quite like the look of the Doepfer Dark Energy. Simple and fun, and if you wanted more sonic palette it's easy to hook up to more modules. Could be a hell of a lot of fun :)
Posted 1 year ago # -
galino
offlineMemberIf you're not specifically looking at newer synths, an mc-202 is a small yet powerful synth, good for bass, leads or squelchy stuff, and it's got a decent sequencer also.
Posted 1 year ago # -
the technosaurus is a beast for it's small footprint
others i really like: Future Retro XS, Tom Oberheim SEM. both come in a semi-modular format for easy expansion and integration with other synths and open ended routing within the synth itself
others to consider... the MFOS Soundlab(music from outer space). there is a guy on ebay that builds them and even makes a semi-modular version for the ridiculously good price of $350.
i've no opinion on the lancet yet.. but i had no idea it had discrete circuits.. the Future Retro XS and new SEM are both fully discrete as well.
there is also the roland mc-202 which has same or nearly the same architecture as the SH-101 but it tends to sell for less
MFB stuff sounds pretty good but costs less for a reason. If you're careful with your gear you'll probably have no problem.
Posted 1 year ago # -
soillodge
offlineTech ModeratorAbout MFB- have you heard about problems with the builds? I looked around the net extensively and all the reviews I read were solid. There newer units are more expensive-basically little modular set-ups boxed in a metal chassis-good build. But these older boxes, the Synth lites and the drum machines, I did not hear about them being poorly made? Please elaborate.
`michael
Posted 1 year ago # -
wormsoftheearth
offlineMembersome of the reviews on Harmony Central did say the Synth Lite felt cheaply built and flimsy. But those reviews, according to the title, were for the original Synth Lite (not the newer synth lite II).
- dark energy sounded REALLY cool in some of the videos.
- i can't find anywhere selling the technosaurus microcons
- love the sound of the vermona, but it appears to not have patch memory?
- slim phatty will probably be awesome, but it doesn't look like it comes out until at least january
i think i'm going to go for the mfb synth lite, mainly due to the price:sound goodness ratio. Although I might try to sell a few pieces of gear and save up for the moog
Posted 1 year ago # -
@worms
have you ever owned a synth without patch memory? it might not be as bad as you think if you haven't.
from personal experience with a couple of my synthesizers
the Future Retro XS and the Waldorf Microwave XT
some pros about synths that usually don't have patch memory.. specifically analog mono synthesizers. you have a specific set of pots and/or switches, each with a specific function and each with min-max range of amazing resolution.. many magnitudes of the 127 digital synths have and a easy to interpret visual of all those settings at once...
this visual aspect is very important to me, after working with the XS for a while it became super quick to program anything i wanted and there are certain sweet spots for certain settings when you're doing certain things... its a wealth of knowledge that accumulates while playing the synth that translates to a creative palate that is as agile as it is expansive
i don't really need patch memory with the XS because programming it is so fucking easy and i don't think it has anything to do with me.. its just how analog subtractive monosynths are
the Microwave XT isn't as easy to program as some would lead you to believe because of its expansive set of knobs... maybe for the people who program by randomly twisting shit... the XT absolutely needs patch memory... far too much work goes into making patches on the synth itself.
my main grip with the XT is the lack of constant visual representation of each encoder's value... it may not sound like a huge hang up... you can still do whatever you want, but it slows me down more than anything.... an XT with potentiometers would be so fucking sexy to me... my comprimise is to use a visual editor on the pc for programming and the physical knobs for tweaking and experimenting after i've programmed the important things.
it was an older mfb synth lite i played with. it felt very plastic and i was afraid of breaking it, sounded good though.
Posted 1 year ago # -
KryonikMessiah23
offlinememberThe build quality on the Synth Lite II isn't bad. Mostly made of plastic, rubber pots.
Posted 1 year ago # -
soillodge
offlineTech ModeratorIf I may ask, why did you get rid of it?
`michael
Posted 1 year ago #
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