Hi fellow knob twiddlers!

I have about £300 - £350 to spend on a synth with vocoder (this is crucial) and must have normal sized keys. I don't want a module as I need it for live synth solos / vocoder work.
I want it to sit above my M-Audio piano and Yamaha EX5 Synth.

I have looked at Second hand Korg MS 2000 and the Akai Miniak both look like they'll do what I want but is there anything I might have missed, do any of you have experience with these or other synth + vocoders?

Mart

Edit - forgot to say I play in a cover band that does 70s and 80s tracks - I need the vocoder for Mr Blue Sky initially but I also want a polyphonic analog synth to complent the PCM / VL / Mono Analogue sounds of the EX5.

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http://www.myspace.com/cottonsalamander

Edited by martin randle (04/09/11 06:51 PM)

It's a pity you can't consider a rack module. I love the vocoder of Roland's JP-8080. It sounds great and is a doddle to set up and use. It's the one I turn to by choice.

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An Eagle for an Emperor, A Kestrel for a Knave.

I would have to buy a separate keyboard for it and then all the extra wiring live would just be prohibitive. It is already a lot to set up with PA 2 keyboards and all pedals and cables electric guitar cables amp pedals etc and Lights! I have a lot to do in a short space of time and only a Yaris to stick it all in! A simple keyboard synth vocoder is what I need!


M

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http://www.myspace.com/cottonsalamander

http://www.vintagesynth.com/novation/supernova.php Possibly; it comes in a keyboard version.

http://www.vintagesynth.com/novation/ks45r.php

http://www.vintagesynth.com/korg/wavestation.php If you can find one! I've never used the vocoder on my A/D, so not sure what it is like.

Alternatives, but I would probably go with the MS2000 you have seen. I've not used the vocoders on any of them though!

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http://soundcloud.com/richie-royale
http://www.mixcrate.com/richieroyale

Thanks for that I hadn't even considered the Novations. I shall check those beasies out!

Any other ideas?

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http://www.myspace.com/cottonsalamander

Richie, the WAvestation keyboard has no input. So if you got an EX you would be disappointed if you tried to use it as a vocoder keyboard....

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Veni, Vidi, Aesculi
(I came, I saw, I conkered)

Cheers Dave. Not something that crossed my mind as I have the A/D rack version.

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http://soundcloud.com/richie-royale
http://www.mixcrate.com/richieroyale

+1 For the Novations

The K-Station, KS-4/5 and Nova keyboards all have pretty cool vocoders and can be picked up for peanuts

With your advice I have narrowed it down to 6 synths

Novation K Station - plenty of knobs 12 band Vocoder, 8 note poly but only 25 keys though and not multitimbral. However only seen one for sale so far on ebay over the last week or so.

Novation KS4 / KS5 - plenty of knobs 12 band Vocoder, 16 note poly - no disadvantages in fact perfect but not seen a single one for sale. If I can find one and sell enough on ebay to raise the funds this will be my first choice.

Akai Miniak 8 note poly, multitimbral small and neat 40 band vocoder but severe lack of knobs

Korg MS2000 proper synth interface - more knobs than a royal garden party, decent sized keyboard - but only 4 note poly - not enough to make a major 9th chord! Also quite pricey.

Alesis Micron similar to Miniak - less popular though - seems the Miniak was an improvement.

I have also heard about the Alesis ION - but know nothing about this - certainly haven't seen any for sale.

My budget may be lower than I first estimated due to lack of sales on ebay - still 24 hours to go on my manfrotto Tripod, Trust wireless tablet, EHX small clone chorus, Morely vintage black gold stereo volume, Zoom 505mkii and Alesis Quadraverb.

At the rate things are going I might barely have enough to buy a second hand iron lung pedal!

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http://www.myspace.com/cottonsalamander

Hi there,
I am selling a Novation KS5 at the moment,

Here is a link to my gumtree listing

http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/novation-ks5-classic-virtual-analog-synt hesizer-perfect-condition/87322542

Give me a shout if you're interested

Regards

Rick

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He who hears not the music thinks the dancer is mad.

Well my ebay listings just ended and I only got £158 - not all items sold though so there could be more in the kitty but I wouldn't have thought any more than £50. So unfortunately I don't have enough for your really nice KS5 and will have to set my sights lower.

Oh dear its a casio tone and a plastic tube for me isn't it!



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http://www.myspace.com/cottonsalamander

not necessarily..

there's on in readers ads today

Novation K Station Synth NOVATION K-STATION Modelled Performance Synth Check out the review Great cond £150 ono.
£150. Phone Rob 07828666297 or Email (Bristol) 14/09/11

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MBP 17", PC 100(Nubus Protools) Motu 896, X-Station, Logic9, Reason6, Korg legacy, ACE, Alchemy, Emax II, E-Synth, Evolver MEK, Waldorf Pulse and Blofeld, AS Telemark, AS Leipzig-S

KS5's come up quite often for about £175. Two sold recently on ebay:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/230661442640?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksi d=p3984.m1423.l2649

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/180706704096?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksi d=p3984.m1423.l2649

My favourite VA is very much the JP-8000, shame it doesn't have a vocoder like the JP-8080. The micron scores bigtime with its deep programming plus excellent setup and pattern modes. I also find it quite quick to use now I've learnt the shortcut keys. It also much better at getting moog and arp style sounds than the JP because it has the dedicated filters, but that is not a huge deal for me. Interestingly, many shops seem to be selling the minkak cheaper than the micron (£50 quid less). Maybe the morbid look isn't so popular?

I will keep looking for KS4/5s but I suspect in reality I will end up with either a K station which seem to go for around £140 - £160 or a Miniak. The Miniak has the advantage of being multitimbral, has drum machine and a sequencer which I can see as being very handy for gigs.

I play in a cover band that does everything from soul standards to Gary Numan. Currently I use an M-Audio piano which is good for acoustic and electric pianos only! Plus a Yamaha EX5 which is great for Solo instruments like sax and brass (VL sounds) as well as the usual fare of strings organs and the like. It has lots of great analogue sounds too but unfortunately the An1x board inside is only 2 note polyphonic. So for some 80s stuff it is a bit limited.

The need for a simple to use polyphonic VA synth with good features is the main goal. The vocoder is crucial and the main inspiration for me to get something new.

The K Station is delightfully knobby and looks like a breeze to set up but lacks the extra octave, sequencer and drum machine of the Miniak.

I will keep you posted as to what I end up getting. But thank you all for your input and inspiration. I have spent many a fine hour looking over manuals and pictures as well as youtube demos of the synths you have all suggested.

Never tried this but the R3 might resolve some issues. There is also the Quasimidi Sirius (never liked it but has vocoder with mic,, keys etc).There is also the MicroKorg.

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Samplecraze
Stretch That Note

Well I managed to do a swapsie on my Epiphone Wildkat for a Fender amp + 335 copy + £75 cash. Which gave me enough money to buy a NEW Miniak. I chose new as I don't want to spend around £200 and find the thing doesn't work.

The Korg R3 was way off my financial radar but I have to say the Miniak has a fantastic sound. In many ways I wanted something that was as versatile as my old An1x but with more features and the Akai has it in spades. I am quite used to keyhole surgery with programming so the interface doesn't daunt, and have spent 2 days getting familiar with the operating system.

Only down side I have found so far is that you can't store the tempo with the multi. This is annoying as you have to tap the tempo in for each performance which seems a bit wierd and not very useful when you are in the heat of a gig. But I suppose for the few times I need live sequencing this will be simple enough to get used to.

Love the modelled moog Jupiter and Korg style filters and the variable waveforms. Also having a drum machine on board is great fun. And of course have been playing with the vocoder for Mr Blue Sky which hopefully the band will be playing at the next gig or so. I have so far programmed a very authentic I Feel Love and have started on a nice rendition of Vienna. All of which will be great assets for my cover band. And lets face it will be a damn site more interesting to the audience than yet another pub band playing Mustang bleedin Sally.