Quote Kola:

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Once found I doubt ill buy much after that point.

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LOL


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http://soundcloud.com/schmuckfenster

Yeah I thought that when I wrote it but I really do have to draw a line some where. If I make any money (doubtful) then I can put that back into it but until then.

BREAKING NEWS - Got an Andromeda :}

Nice!!!

Now you will need a few filter boxes and other outboard FX for that lovely machine. And a patch bay soon. Maybe a cool analogue drum machine, too, for jamming away. Hardware sequencer? aaaah yessss!!!!


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http://soundcloud.com/schmuckfenster

Youzers you look happy lol So how you finding it and more important lets hear somethin

Hardware sequencer eh...I already tried to bully him into an MPC and he says he's totaly hooked on Abelton but trust me I think trying an MPC-4000 you would pass out lol
I lovr my MPC-2000xl but I think you would appreciate the 4000 more as it's more computer like and has a huge display
Probs the best hardware sequencer arround with a huge midi resolution that totaly jizzez on the 2000xl
Also has a full blown Z8 inside and back compatible with all S series samples

Quote:

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Youzers you look happy lol So how you finding it and more important lets hear somethin

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Im finding it superb. Honestly its called Andromeda because its out of this world. Like I have said many times what is right for one is terrible for another but I have a really good feeling/initial connection with this.

As for you all wanting to hear something, it took me all day yesterday to work out how to set up a multitimbral set up. Ive never had an Alesis before so the OS is totally new to me. I think its gonna take a week to learn my way around it.

I really like the idea if having 16 mono synths all under one hood. Such a space saver and once I could set up one multi part needless to say I could set up the other 15. In other words learn one thing and you done, this is a big thing to me.

Its such a huge synth I won't be qualified to comment of how good or bad it is for around a month as Id guess it will take that long to get my head around. Be a good month though.

So far so very good.

Downsides are I have to sell everything else I own to be able to afford it. Im sure this will be worth it though.

Quote:

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Hardware sequencer eh...I already tried to bully him into an MPC and he says he's totally hooked on Abelton but trust me I think trying an MPC-4000 you would pass out lol
I love my MPC-2000xl but I think you would appreciate the 4000 more as it's more computer like and has a huge display
Probs the best hardware sequencer around with a huge midi resolution that totaly jizzez on the 2000xl
Also has a full blown Z8 inside and back compatible with all S series samples

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Yeah, I love ableton. I was brought up on Atari / PC Cubase and Amiga ProTracker and OctaMED so have always been around software sequencers since the late 80's. I did try the Roland w30 as a sequencer but found it very hard to use. Never felt the urge to dabble with hardware again.
I do think it would be worth a ton of Kudos points sequencing with an MPC and using classic samplers as Martin does to a superb effect but I recently tried this with hardware samplers and got nowhere and lost around 200 quid in the process as well as a load of time.

On Ableton, I know a lot of the anoraks look at it like it is a toy and not a 'real' sequencer like Cubase / Logic but I can get some great results with it mainly donw to the clip arrangement. Its like a Sony's Acid but for MIDI data also. Really fits the way I work like a glove.

Biggest downside to any DAW for me is the temptation to just check you Emails which ends up on you farting around on the net for an hour by accident. So much so Ive been thinking if ever I have some more cash I may well just get a totally separate PC and not have the net on my dedicated music PC anymore.

Man I was put off hardware sequencers ever since I had the M1 lol horible nasty piece of poo..only really good as a sketch pad. At the time I thought great if I buy this M1 over the Wavestation I get sequencer and classic sounds lol
As I said I always wanted an MPC but was too chicken [ ****** ] to get one thinking I will suck at it..any way one day I just though [ ****** ] it and brought one...not going back to 100% computer sequencing for some time I can tell you.
As I said the MPC-4000 is more up your street but it does have a learning curve! due to the ammount of things it can do. The 2000XL is sooo easy to use on the other hand both the sampler and sequencer and very fast too, I learnt mine in less than 2 days.
I got this Blofeld all sused out now too...it's great, at first I thought damn this is complex stuff how am I going to get my head round it (I'm less patient now days than I was lol) but it's reall easy and it goes deep which I like, it's what I call semi modular in that it's not but almost due to a nice and big mod matrix.
Already getting some nice evolving sounds out of it.
I wont tell you do dump Abelton for mpc but I would love to see what you think of MPC's so highly recomend at least trying something like the 2000xl
Now you have the Andromeda I see it as you got your main analogue poly and mono...you just need as you said a bread and butter sample synth like those JV's or XV's and imo a waldorf for those lovely wavetable evolving sounds...sample synths are nice but I hade edditing sounds on them, the Waldorf can get simmilar sounds but with full hands on control YES even with 4 knobs lol it's very very well laid out

Oh yeah you also get comb filters which in essance are the building blocks of phisycal modeling so you can get some very expressive sounds.

I would give an MPC a try I really would if I knew anyone that would loan me one. But I wouldn't fork out 400 quid just to see.

The next synth I want is a Nord Lead 3. I know, you hate it

Thing is though, It's taken me all day yesterday sorting a multitimbral set up out on my Andy. Kept thinking it was the Andy but im fast learning Ableton is full of bugs as far as ext hard synths go. Took me ages to find out why it wouldnt work.

Today has been spent learning how to sync the arp to Ableton which was easy enough if it weren't for my 2 year old time zapper and wife buzzing in my ear. Hopefully this afternoon Ill be able to start and save stuff.

The above are all basic things but all take time non the less.

Hence why I think it great I only have to learn all this stuff once as opposed once for each synth.

I don't think im going to have time for the Nord 3 for quite some time.

I would so loan you my MPC but I'd hate to post it and loose it in the mail
Nord Lead 3 eh I thought the Andy would be be all end all analogue in your setup Any way I didn't say I hated it (I think lol) I just said I preffered the grittier tone of the Nord Lead 2

We are all after different sounds for sure..I just love the spacy evolving sounds you can get from the Blofeld...I love the totaly non analogue tones in that thing, for analogue I got my juno and jx-3p so everything complements each other really well.
I'm sure you will love the Lead 3, great user interface and some cool sounds also the morph feature is really cool.
These are the kind of smooth digital sounds I like from the Blofeld..just made it this morning lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq3gVIfyJS0&feature=channel_page I can listen to that patch I did on loop all day hahahah
But then I loved the moog arps on those Tangerine Dream records hahah bew bew bew bew ba bew lol

As said mate I am learning as I go here. Ive decided I like a few really powerful synths where as initially I wanted a load of less powerful ones (IE the 101 etc)

I have analog covered as far as I will ever need for a long time with the Andy. Im certain there will be things it can't do as nothing is perfect. But it will take alot of time for me to ever truly master it and thats fine by me.

The reason for wanting a Nord Lead 3 is so compliment the analogue Andy with a Digital something else. Of course I still want it to tick all my boxes mentioned above.
To be honest though Martin im not sure I have enough time to devote to buying anything else yet. I think it would detract from the Andy and I really want to master my kit one by one (like yourself) rather than be like a kid in a sweet shop.

I will get the NL3 but it may be a while off. Sounds mad but if an offer I couldn't refuse came by today Id buy it and keep it boxed for a few months.

You sound made up with your new synth. Thats great, there's nothing better when something fits you like a glove. Its early days for me but at this point this really is how I feel about my new mate Andy.

Quote Kola:

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I have analog covered as far as I will ever need for a long time with the Andy. Im certain there will be things it can't do as nothing is perfect. But it will take alot of time for me to ever truly master it and thats fine by me.

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Excelent stuff mate, master it like a black ninja then blow every ones mind with it lol
The oscilator sync is also cool as it can yeld some cool almost digital in tone. For example I got something that sounds almost the same as solid bass on a dx-100 on my JX-3P using the metal sync

Hey wan't to know what I hate about the Blofeld? It only came witha PDF manual!! Fortuanatly it's pretty much the same as the Micro Q to use so got on with it quite well.
I hate reading PDF's strains my eyes and I can't read them whie taking a poo hahahah

I don't like PDF's either but understand that there far cheaper for companies to produce.

Also, they don't cost the planet trees.

Quote Kola:

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BREAKING NEWS - Got an Andromeda :}

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It's pics like this that make our GS disposition worthwhile.

My name is Zuke and I am a GS.
I've been clean for 3 hours now.

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Samplecraze
Stretch That Note

Im guessing im the only one who has no clue what GS is?

gear slut??

Hahah I was thinking the same thing lol
Back to PDF's
Yeah I can totaly see why they did it and wouldn't moan for the price of the synth but paper is less of an issue than oil at least we have re-cyceling and sustainable forests now

At least they give you a quick start paper guide with the synth lol mmmm I wonder what the volume knob does hahah

don't get me wrong mate I totally agree. I much prefer a paper book or anything paper that I have to read.

Quote Kola:

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How about the fact every rock track has got an electric guitar on it?

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I remember when I said to my old writing partner (who is an ardent metal fan) "how's about we do some metal without the guitars?"

He crapped himself! Then went on a tirade about how synths are too 'plastic'. About a week later I played him a rough metal track which used nothing but synths/effects and he loved it.

I'm glad you're happy with your new toy Kola!

Quote Pete (Conz) Connelly:

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I have to say... I owned as SE-1X, sold it for £1200 and replaced it with a Pulse+ for £200 which isn't all that different. The Pulse, IMO, is the better mono-synth. As others have said, you'll know why if you get to play with one. WOW!!!

P

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sheesh a couple of years ago I spent some time on this board and I got to regularly read this exact post- and I log in today and there it is again! I hate to say it but you might be in a minority with that opinion...I think most poeple would prefer the SE1x over the Pulse. IMO the Pulse has a hard sterile sound, with an average filter (nothing like a moog) and LFOs that disintegrate quickly on rapid modulation. As fas as I could tell its only redeeming feature was its fast spikey envelopes....
Whereas the SE1x has much bigger phatter VCO Oscillators, and a much juicier proper Moog like filter.
However some people prefer the more modern edgy tone of the Pulse - which is still a good synth in its own right for dance music - and excellent value for money...

SE1 would def my my fist choice over Pulse but like you say some people much prefer the digital sound.

I certainly am happy Shreddie with my purchases.
Finally on the right track after buying and selling a ton of stuff over the last few months. Taken a long time to find items that I instantly click with and fit all my check points mentioned somewhere above.

Now only two times stand between me and making a monster tune.

1 - A bag of talent and
2 - Two big bags of time

Hey just thinking do I get a prize or something??

This is the first thread to make 3 pages in the Vintage Gear forum since the beginning of time.

Quote Kola:

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Hey just thinking do I get a prize or something??

This is the first thread to make 3 pages in the Vintage Gear forum since the beginning of time.

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LOL let's make it into 4 pages lol Waldorf Pulse best sounding synth in the universe hahah only jokin
But the Pulse and the Moog have their own charm..
I preffer the Midi Moog to the new Moog Voyager also..sound wise mannnn oh man

ps yo Kola I sold 3 Blofelds already hahahah

Any way music should go back to 1959...some of the most creative and influentual albums that have shaped the form of music today came out in 59...we need another one of those years lol that and the motown years hah..doubt it will ever happen...everything's been done imo

Quote vinyl_junkie:

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Hey wan't to know what I hate about the Blofeld? It only came witha PDF manual!! Fortuanatly it's pretty much the same as the Micro Q to use so got on with it quite well.
I hate reading PDF's strains my eyes and I can't read them whie taking a poo hahahah

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Print 'em out yourself for some bogside reading! Or use a laptop!

As someone who's done manuals, printed manuals are horrendously expensive to make. Apart from authoring and translation and proof reading costs (which can be high), printing costs can be astronomic and a typical manual for something like the Blofeld or Andy (i.e. hefty manual/small run productions) would probably cost about £30 per copy. Seriously - they are BIG documents with a small printing run and if you're going to do a manual, it has to be done well. Then there are amendments for future OS developments that would need to be included in future runs. Bloody expensive business believe me and this would make the product more expensive. Just the weight of a printed manual can add significantly to shipping costs adding even more to the price of the product not to mention the added costs of shipping extremely heavy boxes and boxes of weighty tomes to the factory to include in the carton.

Given that few people actually RTFM, it makes commercial sense (not just to the company's bean counters managing budgets but to customers as well) to use PDFs (which have the benefit of being semi-promotional if you can download it from the manufacturer's website in advance of maybe making a purchase). And for those who desperately need a paper copy, they can print it out themselves.

Believe me, manufacturers don't use PDFs to p!ss customers off or make shareholders richer - there are very good economical reasons and helps them achieve an attractive price point. I am sure that Blofeld would have been less attractive to you if it was £50 or £60 more expensive simply because it had a printed manual!!!

The Quickstart manuals that come with products are there because certain countries have legislation that stipulate that there be printed instructions in products purchased. France go one further by stipulating that there must be French language documentation included (they also stipulate that the carton must be in French too which is why you see a lot of products with English and French on the boxes!).

Quickstart manuals only need to be basic to satisfy international legislation hence the 4-page jobbies that explain "This is the volume control" ... "This is the headphone output" ... just enough to satisfy legislation and small and lightweight enough not to add significant cost tot the product.

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Website / Music Lab Machines / Blog

Edited by hollowsun (24/06/09 09:03 PM)

Yeah I agree Hollow Sun! It makes total scence esp for some one small like Waldorf compared to lets say Roland or Korg who are part of the "Big 3" and yeah I would rather save the money or go on better parts rather than paper/shipping etc costs.
And you are correct..no one now days ever reads the manaul! Some of the questions people ask me are cringe worthy...
About the French thing, I found it funny that in the quick start guide the first pages are in German then english and that's it and the box is just English but this is Waldorf lol the people who advise you not to use your synth near a bath tub lol
To be honest other than the current OS buggs in it that are slowly beeing ironed out it's a fantastic product with good execution at a great price point...Unless you don't like the Waldorf sound which I find is a bit like Marmite some people seem to hate it and some love it.

Hahah Mickey I think I'm about to do something dumb lol so stop me I think I'm going to buy a Micro Q (again lol) as I have been offered one at a great price....
Man just listen to the onboard demo from this thing and tell me it sucks
http://www.waldorfmusic.de/assets/files/products/micro_q/audio_demos/hope. mp3

http://www.waldorfmusic.de/assets/files/products/micro_q/audio_demos/schni ttchen.mp3

Plenty of individual outs too...any way it's that or Microwave 2..personaly I would preffer a microwave 1 to the 2 and on anohter thing I want a Super Bass Station...but none about so this Micro Q might errm be my next buy lol stop me hahahah oh yeah listen to the demo songs! Best demo on any synth I ever heard imo

Quote vinyl_junkie:

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the people who advise you not to use your synth near a bath tub lol

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Oh! When writing all the Health & Safety warnings in a manual, you have to take EVERY possible scenario into consideration however bizarre and unlikely.

You may LOL at the bath reference but think of Waldorf's legal position if someone DID actually try and play their Blofeld near to or in the bath and they had some problem. Without a warning in the manual, the customer can stand in court and say "Well there was nothing in the manual to say I couldn't float it in the bath" and although it is obviously tosh, the judge could rule in the idiot's favour in these days of preposterous litigation and blame culture no doubt aided and abetted by some 'no-win, no-fee' ambulance chasing back-street, second rate legal firm advertising on TV....

"Fallen off a step ladder because you are too stupid to take adequate precautions? Don't worry - we'll find someone to blame and get you untold wealth."

It stems from two legal precedents ....

When microwaves (ovens not synths - what a coincidence!!) first came out, an American lady gave her dog a bath and decided to dry its fur ....

In her new microwave!!!

And cooked the poor bugger from the inside out!!! Her claim was that the manual didn't explicitly warn against this.

Another was when a woman (another American) bought a takeaway coffee from McDonalds. She had it on her lap as she drove away. It spilled and the hot liquid scalded her legs and she sued and won to the tune of $2.6 millions (though a smaller settlement was later agreed upon). This is why you see "Warning - contains hot liquid" stamped on takeaway coffee tubs ... to prevent such litigation. What surprises me is that McDonalds burgers' containers don't have "Warning - contains complete and utter sh*t full of grease and fat and additives and toxins that will kill you" ... but that's the subject of another discussion!!

As it happens, the first case is an urban myth (but the second one isn't) which is why manufacturers have to be VERY careful hence the sometimes bizarre warnings - they have to protect themselves against stupidity and absurd litigation from nutjobs with no common sense!

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Website / Music Lab Machines / Blog

@ Vinyl Junkie -

Quote:

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Any way music should go back to 1959...some of the most creative and influential albums that have shaped the form of music today came out in 59...we need another one of those years lol that and the motown years hah..doubt it will ever happen...every thing's been done imo

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This is something I have often thought about, the everything has been done to death debate. For the first time ever Martin I actual totally agree with you. (ha-ha)

I think back in the day when Elvis started to twitch his hips (thanks to forrest gumps tuition) in its day it was a revolution. Other revolutions were bands that didnt care like the Sex Pistols smashing stuff ap and swearing on tv (Imagine that)

But then I feel conventional music was done to death and I was about 14 in 1988 and heavily into the 80's scene loving synth orinteaded bands like Duran Duran and the fabulous and way ahead of its time first ever real remix album League Unlimited Orchestra - Love and Dancing (al la Martin Rushent human leagues producer)

However in the late 80 early 90 people started to analogue synths. At first doing next to nothing could cause great excitement such as twiddling a knob on a 303 and the results were devastating and everyone was 'Wow, how do they do that???"

As time has gone on we have covered way more advanced techniques and technology has moved at such a pace that a quarter of a million pound studio from the early 90's now costs 3 grand and a PC at most.

So much so as with any music people have pushed the genre boundaries but were at a stange now where there really isnt much else to be done that can sound good with electronic instruments just as I felt had happened with conventional instruments in the late 80's Sure good tunes are still made but nothing revolutionary such as elvis or a 303.

The last move forward for me was Roland supersaw but it is old hat now and I am an avid trance fan as you all know, and that was only a move forward not a revolution. But now that we have done conventional music to death and done electronic music to death where too now????

Quote Kola:

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@ Vinyl Junkie -


So much so as with any music people have pushed the genre boundaries but were at a stange now where there really isnt much else to be done that can sound good with electronic instruments just as I felt had happened with conventional instruments in the late 80's Sure good tunes are still made but nothing revolutionary such as elvis or a 303.

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The Problem with electronic based music is that everybody tries to overcomplicate things and make it larger than it needs to be,we have so many options with electronic instruments that it detracts the main objective and most people try to be clever and technical,or copycat others simply because they think having the same instruments equals sucess or talent,totally forgetting the main ingredient in music,with so many of the revolutionary musicians,its not that they pushed the boundaries in technology or used the best gear availible its merely because they made things simplistic because they had limitations with the instruments and gadgets they used at the time.

In todays technology,instrument manufacturers are all obsessed with having the largest sound library or pallette of sounds but rarely will we use 50% of anything we have,and because we have so much availibility at the touch of a button ost people overlook the basics and neglect the time to learn the craft.

Todays era of musicians are lazy,when you can simply switch on a machine and let it do the thinking for you,and thats the problem with technology in music,The musical instrument manufacturers have bred an era of musicians where they no longer have to be Musically gifted or possess a large amount of talent or intellect to use the Machines.
Those that do have the above will always be seen as innovative or pushing the boundaries and invariably will have longevity in there field of music.

Quote Collie:

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Quote Kola:

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@ Vinyl Junkie -


So much so as with any music people have pushed the genre boundaries but were at a stange now where there really isnt much else to be done that can sound good with electronic instruments just as I felt had happened with conventional instruments in the late 80's Sure good tunes are still made but nothing revolutionary such as elvis or a 303.

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The Problem with electronic based music is that everybody tries to overcomplicate things and make it larger than it needs to be,we have so many options with electronic instruments that it detracts the main objective and most people try to be clever and technical,or copycat others simply because they think having the same instruments equals sucess or talent,totally forgetting the main ingredient in music,with so many of the revolutionary musicians,its not that they pushed the boundaries in technology or used the best gear availible its merely because they made things simplistic because they had limitations with the instruments and gadgets they used at the time.

In todays technology,instrument manufacturers are all obsessed with having the largest sound library or pallette of sounds but rarely will we use 50% of anything we have,and because we have so much availibility at the touch of a button ost people overlook the basics and neglect the time to learn the craft.

Todays era of musicians are lazy,when you can simply switch on a machine and let it do the thinking for you,and thats the problem with technology in music,The musical instrument manufacturers have bred an era of musicians where they no longer have to be Musically gifted or possess a large amount of talent or intellect to use the Machines.
Those that do have the above will always be seen as innovative or pushing the boundaries and invariably will have longevity in there field of music.

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I couldn't agree with you more!

Well Mickey for me I think I'm not going to buy any virtual analogues for a bit lol I just got the Micro Q hahah (That doesn't count microwaves hahah that's wavetable synthesis hahah)
Next things on the list some simple but nice analogue/hybrid mono synths like the Super Bass Station and Pulse and some outboard...the Waldorf's do everything I want them to.

Some great shots there mate. Looking really good

Waldorf Microwave is an awesome synth I remember from back in the day.

Last thing I need now is sound sources though.

I wont have any money for a while now but next on the list

1 - Good monitors (Looking at the Adam A5 or A7's)
2 - UAD card and plugs

And too be honest I think thats me done. Sure I may buy and sell or upgrade but when I get the above I have what I class as a fully functioning studio and that will be a big day for me.


I just hope that after all this investment I can write a tune I think is up to my standards. Something im yet to do in 36 years.

Still, I worked out my mate has spent around 10K on DVDs over the last 7 years. Makes me feel better about my out lay.

Some cool stuff man..yeah your A6 should cover all bases that and you use Abelton so have access to some very nice VST's to complement it..
Yeah the original Microwave is very nice..shame about the secondhand prices now going through the roof on most hardware A Pulse for over 300 quid?? C'mon Turnkey were clearing them out at 199 new few years back, then Waldorf goes bust and their products sell even cheaper (micro q for 120!) now they are back all of the suddedn people are like ohh hang on lol.
I heard mixed reviews about them Adam monitors, some people seem to love them while quite a few don't like the sound.(I should add I haven't auditioned a set, just saying what some folk have told me..I have considered these in the past also)
I can highly reccomend some Mackie HR-624 mk1's though, I quite liked these and you can pick them up for a nice price second hand. Also these seem very good acoustic energy ae22 and would probs work better in your cramed room as they are not ported...you can even hire a set out to try them from here http://www.cav.co.uk/hire/sound/acoustic-energy/ae22.html
UDA mmm thats nice, I heard the old PCI card's are going very cheap now too
A Focusrite Liquid Mix comes highly reccomended also if you got the dollar!

Edited by vinyl_junkie (28/06/09 01:33 PM)