Another hobby of mine

[Haselsh1]

http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab240/Haselsh1/Axiom%20four%20inch_zpsbx5itg4x.jpg (http://s867.photobucket.com/user/Haselsh1/media/Axiom%20four%20inch_zpsbx5itg4x.jpg.html)

This is an example of yet another of my hobbies and that is music production and programming. I started back around 1994 when I played bass guitar with a local band and did a few gigs in and around Grimsby/Cleethorpes but I soon found that I loved the technology involved in playing synthesisers. These days I program parts of songs, record them along with vocals and vocal samples and then gig them. My favourite things at the moment are Arturia full analogue synths and the new re-issue of the Korg MS-20 mini.

Most of the music I write and program is up there at about 148bpm and I guess would be called techno/trance or dance. Yeah I know it has all been done before about ten years ago but not by me it hasn't, so I carry on carrying on. Plus the fact of course analogue synths were a reminiscence ten years ago but are now retro and a reality.

The programming is done using FL Studio with knob movements recorded from an M-Audio Axiom 25. When playing live all of the more intricate stuff is done by playing live as an overdub. Apart from vocal samples, vocals are live. Now this is the plan as I haven't played live for a few years but some friends and I are just about to venture out again into the big world of gigging. Really looking forward to it.

[The Barbarian]

Yeh Analogue Synths is one of my Hobbies but i won't touch Digital or even Midi retrofitted Analogue synths..

[The Barbarian]

I need to win the lottery cos i need an original Roland 'System '100' {Not the '100M'} & the 'System 700'

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WhxDt1PkcAM

[Haselsh1]

Andre, it is so nice to see someone keeping the flame alight for true analogue synths. Unfortunately, the ones you've displayed, I couldn't use live so they are not a lot of use to me but I sure know where you are coming from.

[Haselsh1]

I would so love to get my hands onto an original VCS3. I could have a fab time playing silly buggers with that.

[The Barbarian]

ofc in a live situation MIDI is imperative, but you can use an Analogue sysnth live ask Keef Emmo :eyebrows: .. The last time i knew EMS would make you a brand new VCS-3! again i would insist on a genuine machine not a remake..

[The Barbarian]

btw Shaun you can get 'VCS-3' type sounds from something like a Roland 'SH2000'

[Haselsh1]

btw Shaun you can get 'VCS-3' type sounds from something like a Roland 'SH2000'

Andre, I am thinking mainly about blips, bleeps, pharts and warbles. That is the kind of stuff I wish to do live. Not really melody but sound effects. All of my basslines and melodies will be taken care of digitally by FL-Studio along with a secondhand Roland R8 drum machine. That is the plan anyhow 8-)

[The Barbarian]

Andre, I am thinking mainly about blips, bleeps, pharts and warbles. That is the kind of stuff I wish to do live. Not really melody but sound effects. All of my basslines and melodies will be taken care of digitally by FL-Studio along with a second hand Roland R8 drum machine. That is the plan anyhow 8-)

What about the XILS-labs XILS 4 software :rolleyes:

XKGlOkUfp4k

[Haselsh1]

SOFTWARE...!!! Jesus Christ man, I need to get my hands on some knobs :eyebrows:

[The Barbarian]

The Real thing

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:carrot:

[The Barbarian]

SOFTWARE...!!! Jesus Christ man, I need to get my hands on some knobs :eyebrows:

Thats more like it ffks i totally refuse to use software or a digital synth. However with you saying you want a live situation with digital synths i though software would be idea put the sounds on a sound card for easy preset access.

[Haselsh1]

What about the XILS-labs XILS 4 software :rolleyes:

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I have just watched the demo on Youtube and it is mighty impressive for what I want to do.

[Haselsh1]

http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab240/Haselsh1/Mini%20Moog%20VST%20No1_zpskn2hlnk1.jpg (http://s867.photobucket.com/user/Haselsh1/media/Mini%20Moog%20VST%20No1_zpskn2hlnk1.jpg.html)


OK so I appreciate that this is a digital soft synth but it is an interpretation of a Mini Moog. In that respect it is a bit of a classic. I would however much rather be in control of an Arturia Minibrute or a Novation Bass Station II. The icing on the cake though if money were endless would be a Moog Sub Phatty at around eight hundred notes.

[The Barbarian]

Moog are making the '15','35,'55' Modular Systems again..Wish id got the cash..

oooooooooo momma :eyebrows:

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[Haselsh1]

Oh my Andre, could I have some fun with one of those. When you buy yours I'll come over with a few beers :eyebrows:

[Audio Advent]

knob movements recorded from an M-Audio Axiom 25.

Don't let the NSA know they can record your knob movements via an Axiom 25... or they'll all be tracked.

[Audio Advent]

Digital is all good for me but always need some analogue end treatment, be that analogue filters, valve warmth or even via a quick tape record/read head process.

Love many of the evolving sound synths like the Korg Wavestation ... just they forgot to put any controls on the bloody unit! All controlled through a stupid menu system which drains any creativity out of you as does staring at a screen so often. Always need lots of midi control surfaces of different types to hand I say.

[Haselsh1]

Godda agree with you there, digital synths and bloody menu's sapp all of your creative energy and leave a wasteland of mediocrity (great title for a song, see what I did). I love analogue with its hands on approach to twiddling. I also adore the endless possibilities of analogue twiddling that menu's and selections just don't have. I am very tempted to rediscover the Korg Electribe ER-1 and EA-1 and buy an Arturia Minibrute. That would give me bloody hours of analogue self pleasure.

[The Barbarian]

I Much prefer Roland ter Korg.

[Haselsh1]

I Much prefer Roland ter Korg.

Ha ha Andre, I love Korg stuff especially their latest re-issues of the ARP Odyssey. Each to their own mate. I see exactly where you are coming from.

[The Barbarian]

To me Roland sounds more clean cut. A kinda simularity in sound between Moog & ARP.

[Haselsh1]

http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab240/Haselsh1/preview_zpsuuo9fu36.jpg (http://s867.photobucket.com/user/Haselsh1/media/preview_zpsuuo9fu36.jpg.html)


Kind of thinking that by August I may have one of these and a couple more analogue synths with a small - ish PA system

[The Barbarian]

Great synths those little 'MS20'. I had an 'MS-20' when i had my Moog 'Rouge'..

I would not say no to another 'MS20' + 'SQ10' Sequencer. Only trouble with the 'MS' range is the filters have been overdone on too many dance tracks..

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[The Barbarian]

Are you like me Shaun Vintage Analogue Synths are way way more of an interesting Hobby than Hi-Fi could ever be?

[The Barbarian]

I must admit they have made a good job of that 'Odyssey' even though it is smaller than the original. Another thing is they offer a white faced version but i would always choose the Black/Orange ARP paint job tho.

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http://www.arpsynth.com/en/arpodyssey/

If ever went to the trouble of releasing the ARP 'Quadra' o god yes id jump at one of those.

[Haselsh1]

Are you like me Shaun Vintage Analogue Synths are way way more of an interesting Hobby than Hi-Fi could ever be?

Yes Andre, I agree totally. Twiddling and collecting analogue or even virtual analogue synths is way more satisfying than Hi-Fi. I tend to find that Hi-Fi is self destructive, irritating and highly annoying because no matter what you do or buy, it is seldom the right thing. I find that there is always that annoying niggle that beckons you to sell your last purchase and spend even more money that you possibly can't afford. With analogue synths I can spend countless hours programming things like 'On The Run' by Pink Floyd and then playing with the filter, resonance and envelope just enjoying the weird sounds that emanate. I am currently looking at spending my money building a Doepfer modular synth instead of throwing even more at Hi-Fi that I know will just piss me off.

[The Barbarian]

I totally & utterly do not have a single interest in Hi-Fi any more & people that are into it i just do not get their mind frame especially ones that think they know what they are doing.Yes i do feel sorry for them.

[Audio Advent]

No need to feel sorry, for me at least.

I used to be into analogue synths (as well as digital) and twidling knobs and getting all sorts of great sounds out.. but then I got over the playing around aspect and realised that all this knob twiddling kept me entertained but never made any real music and that there was more and a deeper satisfaction for me in playing a traditional instrument with it's limited tones or just simply singing.. Now I could spend hours and hours playing a simple harmonium or even piano and get lost in it whilst a monophonic analogue synth I would loose interest in about under an hour.

Then I got into hifi and the increases in sound quality became a LOT more satisfying (sound becoming 3D, details coming out, sounds becoming 'tactile' and real) leading to a greater enjoyment of music and sound overall which in turn is inspiring and makes me want to make music. A virtuous cycle perhaps.

As a caveat, much of my eventual boredom with synths comes from not being a patient enough programmer of synths (if you can program an analogue synth?) and how trying to get the sound you have in your head detracts from the music you also had in your head which evaporates as you change mindset trying to get the sound to work.. Others might not have that problem so is personal I guess.

In any world, it's easy to get obsessed and loose sight of living life, it's not exclusive to any hobby.

[The Barbarian]

Arguing with an Hi-Fi nut is totally & utterly counter productive, it is obvious to a blind man that they are wasting time & money deluding themselves in the process. the amount of people i see every day claiming their stereo sounds ace to see it sold the next month....

Someone who gets bored with analogue synths has no real interest in the first place. Yeh ofc there is limited playability with a compact {intergrated} synth, but they were designed for stage use anyway, no way can you get bored with a modular synth..Modular is my main interest, these are the machines where the creativity lies.

[Haselsh1]

Yeah, I have to agree with Andre here. If you are not passionate enough about the whole analogue aspect then there is simply no point. I just do not understand the paying out of thousands of pounds worth of money on Hi-Fi to then have to spend your time justifying it to everyone because you feel guilty about spending that much in the first place. I absolutely love sound generators and have done ever since 1972 when Brian Eno came to the fore. I intend to spend my future pocket money on a Doepfer modular synth because each module is pocket money price not thousands and because I can link it to the latest Korg sequencer which costs a reasonable eighty nine quid. I do not care if there is no end product, it doesn't interest me in the slightest because there doesn't have to be an end product. Why should there be...? What really counts is consumer satisfaction and that my friend, I do not get from Hi-Fi. I have now reached that stage in life where I am not keeping with, or exceeding the Jones's any longer. All that counts to me now is satisfaction and currently, I can't get no.

[The Barbarian]

I like the compact Doepfer 'Dark Time' Sequencer at £300 it's a steal & being in look with the style of say the Mos-Lab & Synthesizer.Com modules this makes me happy..

I do like Doepfer but i wish they would make the modules in black..