Okay, I've never bought a synthesizer before and don't know jack about them.

I have a few questions...

I love the whole trippy, 1999-esque sound... and the stuff from the 90s like Strange But True, Rave, Joint 2 Joint.

That's the kind of style I'm aiming for... what kind of synth would you recommend for that?

How easy are they to use? Is it fairly self-explainatry or are they quite complicated?

Any advice of any kind would be greatly appreciated....

good ones start around 400 to 2000. a decent start would be an Alesis QS6 starting around 600. If you want to get a keyboard that will be an all in one workstation try a Korg Triton Le that starts in the 1100 range. If you are not gonna be serious about doing good production just get a cheap Yamaha starting at 100.

Looks like I'm gonna have to raid my piggy bank!

Thanks for replying.

How easy are they to use?

I know this Q sounds really dumb, but...

I have a pretty expensive Midi keyboard already... what's the difference between that and a synth? What kinda things can I do with a synth?

MattyJam said:

well a midi keyboard unless it has programs
really can't alter sounds its just used to play midi, which is kinda BORRRRRING
witha syth you can alter drum beats
create space like acompaniment
and create an Ill synth line like Joint 2 Joint as you said

if your gonna do music you pretty much need at least one synth
especially if you don't have a band

if your low for cash you don't need a real synth now
just get a plugin

i use Minimoog and korg syths i have korg legend so i basically have 3 time of korg synths

only problems is it loads alot because i usually have alot of application
but it works just like the real thing
until im willing to shed about 1000 for the synth im just going to stick to plugins

I think I'd prefer to buy one. Plug-ins never work half the time on my computer.

Can I get a decent one for around £400-500? Anyone recommend one at that price range?

MattyJam said:

sure i hear an Actual Minimoog is good
the best you can do is go to a local music shop like guitar center or sam ash
and just ask around
and try some of them out
see if they have the programs and sounds you'd like to use

a good entry level synth is the roland juno 6. loads of cool sounds, filters etc and costs about £400 (if your stateside then i will leave you to do the math!) he yamah s03 is a good alternative but i think the quality of sounds is a bit dated and at points it sounds very muffled and boxy.
if your after sequencer's on board the your gonna have to jump up a level and look at the korg triton le, roland fantom xa boards. these are essentially stripped down versions of the triton and fantom x workstations and offer a similar quality of sounds (minus the flagship sounds which use more proccesing power). the triton le and fantom xa come in at around £1000 but you get a hell of a lot for your money. if your above that budget then i play a fantom x6 which i love, but again the triton range is worth a look and so to is the motif range, which you may have seen prince and renato using on the las vegas dvd.
best of luck
[Edited 12/9/04 2:51am]

Would I be able to use a Alesis QS6 synth as a direct Midi recording source? As in, connecting it direct to my computer and recording straight out... rather than selecting the sounds from within Cubase?

Thanks.

MattyJam said:

yah Alesis has a direct Midi hook up
im leaning towards an alesis too

can't afford a trinton or a phantom yet

MattyJam said:

Ooops! old on buddy, gotta correct you on this one!

MIDI has no sound in it. A simple way to explain MIDI is to say that it imitates your playing. not the suond.
If you connect only the MIDI from your synth to the computer, and let's say you are using Cubase, then Cubase will NOT record the sound. If you want the sound tobe recorded on Cubase, connect both the MIDI and the Audio outputs to the computer, and then Record both on a MIDI channel and an audio channel. Or just the audio channel. Without the audio channel, you will have to keep the synth hooked up a all time, since it will have to play the sounds that you want, which wll come out of the audio out of the synth.

Good luck

MattyJam said:

yes.