| Kurzweil K2000S | Really good synth/sampler with lots of way to mutate the sound using different algorithm (VAST). Excellent Midi implementation and routing possibility (almost any Midi CC could modulate any parameter). Excellent manual (put shame on some other companies). All parameter are in real world unit (hz, cent, db, etc) |
| Kawai K5000S | Good additive synth. Very good for ambient sound, pad and metallic sound. Filter can be very aggressive (it doesn't sound analog however), you must take care when playing with it cause after you got over a certain amount, it start to scream (literally). Good for evolving sound. There is also a formant filter that can change the sound quite a bit. Not easy to program. Most parameters are only number. Manual does not explain enough/not clear enough. |
| Novation Nova 1 | Very good virtual analog synth. 7 FX available for each of the 6 voice (yep, 42fx)! Good sound. Good arpegiator. Good manual. Lots of sysex dump possibility (single prog, single performance, bank, arp pattern, etc). 3 stereo output, 2 mono In. Factory patches in JSynthLib format availlable here. |
| Korg Electribe ER1 | Drum synth. Good for analog drum sound (kick, fx, snare). Limited in the hi-hat/clap/cymbal area. On board step key sequencer. Very cool to input rhythm with it (that's funnier than with a mouse). Only one stereo output. 2 mono input for Gating effect. Lack of info for single sysex patch dump (only full bank dump are explained) |
| AudioTrix 3DXG | Soundcard with XG daughter board (db60xg). 3 XG effect are available for Midi and audio part. Effect sound good. Lots of output headroom when using FX (almost impossible to clip). 4-pole filter for each midi voice. There is also a hidden mode: QS300 mode. With an editor like XG Gold, it's possible to get thousand of new sound for it (this also work for db50XG daughter board). |
| Modified XG board | This is a spare db60XG I got and made a power supply for it, so it's now a standalone module sitting in my analog synth (see AudioTrix 3DXG for detail). |
| Ivanohe 1 | This is my home built analog modular synth. Click on the link to see picture and get more info + sounds |
| Yamaha TX81Z | FM module. This is a good synth for BASS! Most of the preset sound suck, so don't base your opinion on those sound. The preset were made when FM was supposed to give you all instrument in one box (FM is not that good for real instrument sound). Anyway, you could do some weird modulated sound (bleep, etc) and for Bass, well, it got it's place. Front panel editing of sound look like a pain, use a Midi editor instead like the free JsynthLib. |
| Boss SX-700 multieffect | Very good sound. 5 FX module: EQ, Mod (chorus, phaser, flanger), Delay, Reverb, RSS (kind of spatial reverb). Flexible routing, any FX module can go anywhere in series or parallel. |
| Furman 3 band parametric EQ | I got those 2 para EQ along with the Peavey console. I discovered that EQ could be lots of fun to change sound and bring stuff that was not apparent to the front. Extreme amount of cut/boost can change things radically. Useful as well to remove unwanted frequency (feedback, "ringing" sound). Anyway, the Pots on it are a little bit scratchy and there is a bit of background noise when maximum boost is applied. |
| Trident 5 band parametric EQ | Good unit with bypass button for the 3 middle bands. Q control doesn't seem to go very narrow compared to the Furman. |
| Boss distorsion pedal | I figured it could be useful to add some controlled noise sometime |
| Paia Vocoder | This is a well-designed kit to build. Sound good for the price. Only 8 bands. |
| Ritron graphic EQ | Real cheap EQ. left/right channel are bleeding in each other a little bit. I would not pass my entire mix in it! Could be useful to shape some instrument |
| XG module | Good quality FX. Lots of control for the different parameter. Must be controlled with Midi to work. |
| Nova | There is a vocoder on it as well. The FX are also good (not as clean as the XG). Some limitation for the amount of control for each FX. |
| Computer PII 266Mhz | Since I'm mostly doing Midi sequencing, this PC has enough power to burn. |
| Motu micro express | 4in/6out Midi port. |
| Cakewalk 6 | This is my midi sequencer. I'm using Cake since I've bought version 3. It got very good sysex support with 256 banks per song (that made doing bulk dump easy). Studio ware panel allow you to add some support for your midi device. CAL programming language to do some complex stuff automatically. Easy to add patch name for your instrument (if not already supported) by means of .ini files. Bad point: no dedicated drum editor (editing velocity of multiple events on the same timing tick in piano roll is a pain). |
To avoid all the midi cable and audio cable to be on the floor, and to keep them together, go buy some hooks. Get some big ones like those used to suspend a bicycle and lots of small one. You got to buy Velcro as well. You should try to find the one were there is Velcro stuff on the 2 side (buy at least 3 meter). With that Velcro strip cut in small 5-6 inch section, you will be able to tie lots of cable together. I found this easier than using Tie-Wrap because you can remove them really fast if you need to add a new cable. On the rear and bottom of the table I use for my computer and the one to the left, I have put many hooks to suspend all the wiring.
I also get some one side Velcro stuff to glue at some place behind my table. That way, it's easy to fix wiring in place just by putting a little Velcro "tie" around the cable, and put it in place on the fixed one. I will try to put some picture on the web site to show how clean things can be at the end. Unfortunately, I didn't have a "before" picture, but just figure it was big spaghetti on the floors and you should get the idea!
Synth related link :