Thread Update. Cheap Synths? Opinions/Alternatives

TeleMaster

Okay I've been having dramas today. 

So the Minilogue XD I ordered ended up being a display model with a big ding in it or something. 

So I get a Cobalt 8 and the seller tells me they've actually sold out. 

So I'm looking around and I see a Prologue 8 available for £900. So I thought, fuck it. Let's get that. And it's coming tomorrow. I could have got the 16 voice version for £1050 used but it's just too big for me. 

This seems very familiar as it's similar in set out to the Minilogue and it's got a lot of cool features.

I didn't need it but I wanted it. Wish it had a sequencer but I'm gonna use my DAW for that. Don't let me sell it, trade it, or buy another synth. I need to learn this one inside out. 

TeleMaster

Also, I think this is now our noob synth user thread!

paulmapp8306

prologue is basically a minilogue XD with more voices (the good bit) and keys (another good bit).  It does make it useable for me, and despite the limited envelopes and LFOs, is a really nice sounding synth.  If I had room for the 8/16 I may well have had one, but I didnt have that space, and the Minilogue XD has those limitations Ive spoken about.

gusman2x

Deepmind 12 on Amazon U.K. for £600 just now. Such a good deal I had to order one!

paulmapp8306

Happy with my DM12 module.  Its not a juno really (despite being modelled one)  but it definitely has the same character - and with more sound shaping options.

TeleMaster

paulmapp8306 said:

prologue is basically a minilogue XD with more voices (the good bit) and keys (another good bit).  It does make it useable for me, and despite the limited envelopes and LFOs, is a really nice sounding synth.  If I had room for the 8/16 I may well have had one, but I didnt have that space, and the Minilogue XD has those limitations Ive spoken about.

I do wonder if the single LFO will become a big limitation. As the only bigger synth I own, I do wonder if I should have gone for something with more options but I am also learning so simpler is probably better. And it has a lot of cool features not found on other synths.  

TeleMaster

Am enjoying this thing a lot. The bi-timbral stuff is very cool. The presets are also excellent. 

I’ve been playing Syntorial too. Wondering whether to purchase the whole thing. In case you’re not aware, it’s an app that teaches you how to program a synth and does it via a game type format where you have to match the sounds you hear. It goes through all the sections and then you have a test at the end. £120 for the full version though!

Creed_Clicks

I am picking up a used minilogue today. Even after the advice here and lots and lots of video demos, I think it will be fine for what I want it for , for the time being. Combined with some VSTs, I'll have lots of sonic sounds covered and I plan on sticking my guitar pedals after it anyhow. I'll either upgrade next year or move back to VSTs and a good midi keyboard.
The Deepmind 6 looks good, so will keep an eye on that too in the meantime.

paulmapp8306

TeleMaster said:

paulmapp8306 said:

prologue is basically a minilogue XD with more voices (the good bit) and keys (another good bit).  It does make it useable for me, and despite the limited envelopes and LFOs, is a really nice sounding synth.  If I had room for the 8/16 I may well have had one, but I didnt have that space, and the Minilogue XD has those limitations Ive spoken about.

I do wonder if the single LFO will become a big limitation. As the only bigger synth I own, I do wonder if I should have gone for something with more options but I am also learning so simpler is probably better. And it has a lot of cool features not found on other synths.  

One LFO at the start isnt bad - profit 6 and OB 6 only have 1.   More limiting is actually the AD envelope rather than a full ADSR.  HOWEVER,  at the learning stage it has everything you want.  The opens source 3rd Oscillator is great - while digital, there are many 3rd parts packs out there that have extra LFOs and Envs built into them.   Access is a PITA mind - but they are there if you absolutely need them.

TeleMaster

The thing also is that we can always find more, and look at one thing and say it has this or haven’t. Lots of things I was looking at didn’t have the bi-timbral or didn’t have the 3rd oscillator. I think the problem with a market this big is you’ll always feel like there’s other stuff out there that does stuff quite different and unless you spend a lot, you’ll always be missing out on something. 

A guitar on the other hand is ultimately a guitar and you can do pretty much everything with one guitar. 

paulmapp8306

TeleMaster said:

and you can do pretty much everything with one guitar. 

I beg to differ.... particularly if the wife is listening....

horse

TeleMaster said:

The thing also is that we can always find more, and look at one thing and say it has this or haven’t. Lots of things I was looking at didn’t have the bi-timbral or didn’t have the 3rd oscillator. I think the problem with a market this big is you’ll always feel like there’s other stuff out there that does stuff quite different and unless you spend a lot, you’ll always be missing out on something. 

A guitar on the other hand is ultimately a guitar and you can do pretty much everything with one guitar. 

 In the old days people would buy an instrument and enjoy exploring what it could do without issue. These days thanks to the internet that experience can be somewhat influenced by fomo.

TeleMaster

paulmapp8306 said:

TeleMaster said:

paulmapp8306 said:

prologue is basically a minilogue XD with more voices (the good bit) and keys (another good bit).  It does make it useable for me, and despite the limited envelopes and LFOs, is a really nice sounding synth.  If I had room for the 8/16 I may well have had one, but I didnt have that space, and the Minilogue XD has those limitations Ive spoken about.

I do wonder if the single LFO will become a big limitation. As the only bigger synth I own, I do wonder if I should have gone for something with more options but I am also learning so simpler is probably better. And it has a lot of cool features not found on other synths.  

More limiting is actually the AD envelope rather than a full ADSR. 

I believe this has a full ADSR. I can see Amp and EG both with ADSR. 

TeleMaster

horse said:

TeleMaster said:

The thing also is that we can always find more, and look at one thing and say it has this or haven’t. Lots of things I was looking at didn’t have the bi-timbral or didn’t have the 3rd oscillator. I think the problem with a market this big is you’ll always feel like there’s other stuff out there that does stuff quite different and unless you spend a lot, you’ll always be missing out on something. 

A guitar on the other hand is ultimately a guitar and you can do pretty much everything with one guitar. 

 In the old days people would buy an instrument and enjoy exploring what it could do without issue. These days thanks to the internet that experience can be somewhat influenced by fomo.

So true. It’s a curse. 

paulmapp8306

TeleMaster said:

paulmapp8306 said:

TeleMaster said:

paulmapp8306 said:

prologue is basically a minilogue XD with more voices (the good bit) and keys (another good bit).  It does make it useable for me, and despite the limited envelopes and LFOs, is a really nice sounding synth.  If I had room for the 8/16 I may well have had one, but I didnt have that space, and the Minilogue XD has those limitations Ive spoken about.

I do wonder if the single LFO will become a big limitation. As the only bigger synth I own, I do wonder if I should have gone for something with more options but I am also learning so simpler is probably better. And it has a lot of cool features not found on other synths.  

More limiting is actually the AD envelope rather than a full ADSR. 

I believe this has a full ADSR. I can see Amp and EG both with ADSR. 

Unfortunately not.  The amp envelope is full ADSR, the 2nd - envelope generator (freely assignable but would generally be the filter envelope) is attack/decay only.  No SR phase..... unless its had a hardware revision in the last couple of n=moths - but Ive heard nothing, and the manual still refers to only attack, decay and amount (intensity) for the EG.

Grangousier

while(n=='moths'){
   n.eat('wool');
}

Sorry, don't get the chance to do code-based gags very often, even non-funny ones. I think I mixed up PHP and Javascript there. 

Glad I was the guitar player in my particular post-punk industrial combo, as I don't think I'd have the space for synths too - the synth specialist in that band these days seems to have a room entirely filled with Euroracks and bleeping (it used to be one MS-10). I gave him an old SK-1 sampler and TR-626 drum machine and he had them modded - they're now full of patch sockets and make even more bizarre sounds than they did before. 

Have fun with the bleep-machine!

TeleMaster

paulmapp8306 said:

TeleMaster said:

paulmapp8306 said:

TeleMaster said:

paulmapp8306 said:

prologue is basically a minilogue XD with more voices (the good bit) and keys (another good bit).  It does make it useable for me, and despite the limited envelopes and LFOs, is a really nice sounding synth.  If I had room for the 8/16 I may well have had one, but I didnt have that space, and the Minilogue XD has those limitations Ive spoken about.

I do wonder if the single LFO will become a big limitation. As the only bigger synth I own, I do wonder if I should have gone for something with more options but I am also learning so simpler is probably better. And it has a lot of cool features not found on other synths.  

More limiting is actually the AD envelope rather than a full ADSR. 

I believe this has a full ADSR. I can see Amp and EG both with ADSR. 

Unfortunately not.  The amp envelope is full ADSR, the 2nd - envelope generator (freely assignable but would generally be the filter envelope) is attack/decay only.  No SR phase..... unless its had a hardware revision in the last couple of n=moths - but Ive heard nothing, and the manual still refers to only attack, decay and amount (intensity) for the EG.

Are you talking about the Minilogue? Which I believe has what you're talking about.

I have the Prologue 8. I have Attack Sustain Decay Release for both the Amp EG and the filter. 

Unless I'm missing something...

paulmapp8306

TeleMaster said:

paulmapp8306 said:

TeleMaster said:

paulmapp8306 said:

TeleMaster said:

paulmapp8306 said:

prologue is basically a minilogue XD with more voices (the good bit) and keys (another good bit).  It does make it useable for me, and despite the limited envelopes and LFOs, is a really nice sounding synth.  If I had room for the 8/16 I may well have had one, but I didnt have that space, and the Minilogue XD has those limitations Ive spoken about.

I do wonder if the single LFO will become a big limitation. As the only bigger synth I own, I do wonder if I should have gone for something with more options but I am also learning so simpler is probably better. And it has a lot of cool features not found on other synths.  

More limiting is actually the AD envelope rather than a full ADSR. 

I believe this has a full ADSR. I can see Amp and EG both with ADSR. 

Unfortunately not.  The amp envelope is full ADSR, the 2nd - envelope generator (freely assignable but would generally be the filter envelope) is attack/decay only.  No SR phase..... unless its had a hardware revision in the last couple of n=moths - but Ive heard nothing, and the manual still refers to only attack, decay and amount (intensity) for the EG.

Are you talking about the Minilogue? Which I believe has what you're talking about.

I have the Prologue 8. I have Attack Sustain Decay Release for both the Amp EG and the filter. 

Unless I'm missing something...

No - my fault.....   We were originally talking the minilogue went we - I got confused lol.

Not the prologue has full ADSR, so your good.

TeleMaster

Anyone used a Grandmother? My friend is selling his cheap and has told me he'll take my minilogue and microbrute plus £75 for it so I've decided to go for it. Looks like a cool mono synth!

Creed_Clicks

Had a Minilogue for a few weeks, sold it for what I bought it for, could have made more but hey ho. Too honest.
Bought a Yamaha Reface CS for the basic simplicity and a Microfreak. Microfreak is great fun, but my luddite brain is still trying to figure out the Matrix. I like the Reface. Lots in it.
Will sell one of them next year.