What Synth/Music Workstation?

[anonymous-user]

I shall be in the market for a new keyboard soon. I've been using my Korg M1 as a midi controller for the last few years since selling my old Jupiter 8, with virtual sounds on the iMac (Garage Band and other stuff), however I'd really like something that I can just turn on and play with an amp or headphones that has a wide range of great sounds.

I have not been in the market for a long time so am out of touch at the moment as to what's best to go for. I will obviously be taking some time out to go to various music shops and try the latest and greatest, but in the meantime wondered what people think are the ones to explore.

I am aware of are the obvious ones from Yamaha, Korg and Roland but wondered if there are other things to consider that I may need to go further afield to demo.

Thanks!

[DanoS4]

Workstation-wise, you're looking at :-

Korg Kronos, or M3 (opposing budgets) - there's the Krome & Kross too

Yamaha - Motifs, or MOX

Roland? Well, there's a wait for the latest and greatest, but the Fantom G range is still quite potent.
They all have their quirks and bugs.

I ended up going with a Kronos.

Boils down to money.

[anonymous-user]

Thanks Dan!

Looking at specs and some YouTube vids, the Kronos looks and sounds like a cracking piece of kit.

I'll be moving in around 8 weeks and will purchase then so I have a while to arrange some demos.

[Cupramax]

I was in this position earlier in the year and if budget is no issue,simple, get a Kronos, i ended up with a Yamaha Moxf6, has the soundrom of the daddy Motif XF so sounds superb, but at around a third of the price.

Edit to add dont forget being owned by Yamaha you get a Steinberg DAW license included if thats of use.

Edited by Cupramax on Sunday 1st November 00:18

[LDN]

For virtual analogue, check out the Novation range and look at some of their older stuff. For full on analogue - look at DSI Mopho keyboard or a Moog Little Phatty !

[LDN]

Forgot to mention; Artuia Mini-Brute or Micro-Brute. Awesome analogue synths and relatively cheap.

[anonymous-user]

I should have mentioned that I want an 88 key full weighted keyboard if possible as I'm originally a piano player!

[telford_mike]

Are you sure you want a full-on synth? From your opening post it sounds more like you're after an arranger. If so, have a look at a Korg Havian 30. 88 weighted keys, sounds from the PA arrangers, 16 track sequencer etc. I've had mine about 6 months now and really like it.

[anonymous-user]

Very possible Mike!

This is why it's great to ask - I don't want to assume that what I want is 'X' when maybe it's 'Y'.

I'll certainly check out what you suggest - I've never heard of that one.

[Chicken Chaser]

Those Moog little fattys look great.

I do like the Nords too, but I guess it depends what you want from it.

[LDN]

The Moog is great; I have a Slim Phatty which is the same unit but without a keyboard... so you use whatever Midi keyboard you have; and some of the sounds you can get out of it; you sense the real analogue sound; it's not necessarily better than a virtual synth or digital stuff - but it is most certainly different and simply warmer sounding.