Synthesizer / Sampler Folks ...

#1 You don't wan't to spend too much cash for huge studio equipments, but you wan't to have some good gears what you could use to create good quality music.

Well here's what I'd suggest:

:Midiman Oqygene 8 USB - midi keyboard (this is good keyboard with a lot of knobs to controll slave modules or synthesizers) ]160$[
:Native Instruments FM7 software synthesizer (this one is total dope synthesizer and it even has some better sounds than in Yamaha Motif and all is software analog, what gives you a freedom to create whatever sounds you'll need & it works with Midiman) ]280$[
:Native Instruments Kontakt (Probably the worlds most powerful sampler, and a really flexible) ]280$[

These all programs works already by them selves, so you don't need to buy a expensive software sequencer program like Logic or Pro Tools. But I still would suggest you to buy at least a Sonic Foundry ACID PRO 3 - a loop based program. Easy use and very powerful. ]360$[

Myself I'm using these programs on my Titanium Book and they're working perfectly and I can write a full tracks with these, without any problems.

Here's the link to the site of Native Instruments: www.nativeinstruments.de
Here you can listen some sound samples of their products.

Ps. Along this I suggest also to buy two Midi cable so that you'll be able to play software synths via midi keyboard.

#2 Thanks for that.

I don't think I realised how much software sampling has dominated the music scene. What are your thoughts on the Steinberg 'VST' stuff coupled with 'Halion'?

- Melv.

#3 Well I use a lot of VST plug-ins as well, but for example Halion program wasn't the thing I expected, so I turned to Digidesign TDM plug-ins what are basically the best thing you can have on your system.

But overall VST & Halion are quite good and for example some VST plug-ins are basically just amazing, but if you wan't to learn to use some really good programs and plug-ins, go for TDM plug-ins and Pro Tools.

#4 Thanks for the information, very helpful. :)

- Melv.

#5 I went out and purchased a Motif, fully populated RAM, USB->MIDI and a pro-stand as I was very impressed by it as a workstation. The general idea was also to allow me to get away from my computer from time to time and to not be forced into sitting in front of it even more. ;)

I'm looking hard at additional software sampler/synth support though but the Motif is an excellent synth/workstation on it's own.

- Melv.

#6 cool, does it have a keyboard that responds to velocity? whats the polyphony? Does it have a multi track sequencer built into it?

#7 Yep,

It's a sampling synth/workstation, Yamaha Synth. I've also got Cubase as well for external sequencing etc.

Can't wait for my new toy to arrive. :)

- Melv.