Best quality of synths for 400$ range

you said it, man.

renegadebliss wrote:

tdot wrote:Im not sure you would get much better value out of anything else for only 400 other than the micro korg.


my suggestion is to save more capitol and just buy a triton le/motif. The micro korg is essentially the triton just with alot less effects and patches

These:
Waldorf Pulse
DSI Evolver
Sequential Circuits Prophet 600
SE ATC-1 (Used)
Sh-09 instead of 101
Korg MS-10
Arp Axxe


All blow the MicroKorg out of the Water (of course, I AM an analog head)
and I would personally rather have anyone of them over a triton. You might not get all the "bang" for the buck that you get with the Triton or MicroKorg, but you will get the BANG if you go analog!!!!!

tdot wrote:

sleepersriddle wrote:

tdot wrote:Im not sure you would get much better value out of anything else for only 400 other than the micro korg.


my suggestion is to save more capitol and just buy a triton le/motif. The micro korg is essentially the triton just with alot less effects and patches

not really , one is a virtual analog, one is a rompler

virtual analog my penis.

Ive had both and they are identical

Dunno what your penis has to do w/ it but maybe you should try some of the other knobs instead, then you will learn ...

MS 10

Realistic Concertmate MG-1

Sequential circuits Six Track

All can be bought for around $400, and all really good.

Mind you, the Six Track SUCKS without a midi fader box of some type as it only has one knob.

I think your first synth should be a general workhorse. Roland has some great romplers. Used XP and JV's are my personal pick. If you want to get dangerous, go into the analog world but they are limited in regards to real world sounds (pianos, strings, etc.)

Software VSTi's are cool but make sure to cop a quality keyboard controller or you'll be missing out. I'm against software instruments b/c your missing that real instrument connection, but if you are just trying to fill in space on your trax then software is cheap and powerful.


Korg Triton & Trinity & Yamaha Motif are most common used, but your paying for a sequencer you don't need.

for about $120 a secondhand Roland JV-880 gives you some good basic sounds to start with. Awesome sound quality to. A sound refill card doesnt cost too much. I got the POP card and it has some decent stuff. Much quicker and easier to use than software. editing is limited but you can a sound you like fast.

The proteus 2000 has a TON of sounds on it also. Inexpensive also.

I also occasionally use a Roland MC-303 for mono synth sounds.

I know there is more modern ( and prob. better) equipment out there, but you can do ALOT with this cheap gear.

i hated my jp-8080
loved all the knobs and sliders, but for sound its just cheezey

i just got a sequential circuits sixtrack, real analog.. its the sh!t for a cheap synth... i got mine for 200 bucks and am loving it more than any of my VA's ive owned, i cant imagine what the bigger brother prophets would sound like if im diggin this little 6track this much...

I'm in the same boat...

I need to get a CHEAP sound module to get me over until I can afford the Roland Fantom XR. I tried to SELL myself on the idea of using soft synths but it isn't working. I've used a few soft synths and although they have POWERFUL editing abilities, they don't seem to sound as good as hardware synths. At the same time, I haven't heard the soft synths through a decent soundcard & monitors so maybe I'm wrong. Guess I'll just have to wait until I get my Mac.

DrummsMachines wrote:Get Microkorg you fool. Having your Mpc and Microkorg side by side hooked up midi is a great combo. I supper recomend it

ditto! thats how i get down

Beatz Galore wrote:I'm in the same boat...

I need to get a CHEAP sound module to get me over until I can afford the Roland Fantom XR. I tried to SELL myself on the idea of using soft synths but it isn't working. I've used a few soft synths and although they have POWERFUL editing abilities, they don't seem to sound as good as hardware synths. At the same time, I haven't heard the soft synths through a decent soundcard & monitors so maybe I'm wrong. Guess I'll just have to wait until I get my Mac.

Well it's the same thing with hardware. Unless you have a decent path, apply some effects and plugins and whatnot..synths will sound dry and shiny, and tinny and all that cheap shit too.

Ive heard some of the best beats made with Logic and/or Reason..

Soft synths are only as good as your controller and converters. If you have a knob box or keyboard with knobs, they can be easy to program. Some of them sound very good, like Native Instruments FM7 I like alot, and they can be had for free if you know where to look.

I have been impressed by the Microkorg sounds, but the interface doesn't really impress me. It seems a little preset oriented for me.

If you want a real analog, the Juno 106/60 are perennial favorites. They sound great, and no matter what else you get, you will use the bass sounds they make for a long time. Easy to use as well. Plus you don't need a controller. For a $300 synth I also like my Waldorf Micro-q, its pretty easy and flexible. And small, but no keyboard. Cheap VA keyboards no one has mentioned, the Yamaha CS-series or An-1x are supposed to be good. I like the CS synths for the keys over the micro korg.

So I would say, with a keyboard built in, the Yamaha CS-2x as a controller and then once you learn to program a little, you can add on another module with more sounds, like a JV or something.

dstruction wrote:

DrummsMachines wrote:Get Microkorg you fool. Having your Mpc and Microkorg side by side hooked up midi is a great combo. I supper recomend it

ditto! thats how i get down

Or if you want more hands on editing capability, get the MS2000.

Same sound engine but it's got loads of knobs for easier editing

d_loc wrote:If you want a real analog, the Juno 106/60 are perennial favorites. They sound great, and no matter what else you get, you will use the bass sounds they make for a long time. Easy to use as well. Plus you don't need a controller. For a $300 synth I also like my Waldorf Micro-q, its pretty easy and flexible. And small, but no keyboard. Cheap VA keyboards no one has mentioned, the Yamaha CS-series or An-1x are supposed to be good. I like the CS synths for the keys over the micro korg.

that's the truth... i always come back to my juno 106 and it still sounds amazing; if you had that and an an1x or an200 it would cover all your bases for 'typical synth' type sounds, for a long time.. the an1x engine does a nice 303 impersonation by the way..


...i do techno more than hip hop so ymmv..