Help me choose my next piece of gear...

I'm switching from software to all hardware. So far I just got a 2KXL. What I really miss is Parametric EQ, Compression, and the soft synths I used for bass. My style is sample based, but I like to layer a synth bass with a bass sample, and eq everything so it sits nice in the mix without getting muddy. Definately can't do all that with the one resonant filter on the MPC!

So I really need advice on my next purchase. I'm on a tight budget and I was about to buy a Oxy 8 just so I can map multisamples to the keys and play out melodies. Then it occured to me, maybe I can find something that is a Midi-controller with a keyboard, plus a synth module and some of the effects I need, all in one? Preferably analogue.

Is it out there? Anyone?

http://www.novationmusic.com/nov_route/ ... o_over.htm

MIDI contoller with KS synth engine and effects and a software bundle too.

Might be worth checking ...............

Thanks,
anything more vintage?

Or maybe 2 relatively expensive pieces to accomplish everything I'm looking for?

I would just use the software. The synths can be controlled by MIDI with the MPC.

I would cop a good mixer with good eqs and get a sound module. and a multitrack

Anyone have an opinion about Micro Korg?

Check out the Novation KS4 (similar to the Novation ReMote25, but with more keys). GC has them for $499 (down from $799) until the end of March! It is a decent keyboard, and the basses are really nice. It also has an input that you can run your MPC through for effects, and it has an arpeggiator! I really want one as a controller for my MPC/ASR, and for the sounds.

Waldorf Pulse plus is a good bet.

Roland juno 106 is very handy.

Them Studio electronics SE-1's are pretty rampant in Hip hop.

All analog with memories.

the micro korg might sound great but the keys are tiny and fragile. the novation ks4 is fun to tweak and program but if you want strickly hip hop sounds your money may be better spent elsewhere. the ks4 is a excellent sound source but it excells at producing trance/progressive pads with tons of effects layers. the synth engine has been given awards by future music and electronic musician so it is the real deal synth w/ effects and vocoder and midi in-out-thru that you want....

incurablebeatlust wrote:the micro korg might sound great but the keys are tiny and fragile. the novation ks4 is fun to tweak and program but if you want strickly hip hop sounds your money may be better spent elsewhere. the ks4 is a excellent sound source but it excells at producing trance/progressive pads with tons of effects layers. the synth engine has been given awards by future music and electronic musician so it is the real deal synth w/ effects and vocoder and midi in-out-thru that you want....

Have the KS5 myself - just one more octave of keys than the 4 - and it does create some immense sounds.

A friend has the Remote 25 (not he Extreme with the synth engine too, just the controller) and says its decent.

You may want to check out a Nord Modular synth...I own the Nord micromodular and use my mpc to controll it...The micromodular doesnt have keys but there are versions with keys...only thing is you need to program the patches in it using MIDI and a computer...there are 1000000's of patches of anykind of sound...all sound amazingly analog because it is based on analog modular synthesis....check out the editing program screenshots and youll see what I mean..you can input sound as well and has everything from a vocoder to a compressor...I think it now goes for approximately 400$us for the micromodular....It has a ton of features just check the Clavia Nord webpage....www.clavia.se There is also a newer version of the Nord Modular called the G2...it looks really nice...I havent tried it but is an updated version of the original modular with built in preamp, more knobs and more types of modules in the editor....anyways...I highly reccomend it...If you dont know much about modular synthesis it may take a bit of leaning to get used to. The manual is great and if you know something about modules then youll start rocking right away... It will sound WAYYY better than any Novation too I garauntee....anyway hope this helps...
PEACE

Thanks for the replies, I copped the Microkorg before I reallized you all jumped on here with advice. Anyway I think it gets the job done, I just have to figure out which midi note #'s are which keys so I can get a program set up the way I want. For right now I just want to play the Korg sounds on a midi track and bang out the drums on the mpc, but instead I hit a key and a sound from one of the pads will play... I know, read the f*ck*ng manual right?
But yo if anyone knows a resource that will help me program my own patches from scratch, holla... mostly want to to sub bass on it to layer under samples...

the micro is dope, i had to sell mine and miss it like a muphuka.

set your track to midi - drum off, so the pads wont play.

and making your own subass is easy on the korg, just look for the bass preset under hip hop then play with the resonace and cutoff filters and you should come out with a nice sub bass, then save it.

Cool, thanks

I want try a sub from scratch tho, no preset. Can't find any resources online...