Synthesizer for beginner

Have you ever used a synth before?

There can be a bit of a learning curve. I've never been into playing around with preset sounds so when I started using them, I threw myself in the deep end programming things from scratch and reading music tech and physics articles on sounds.

What's your computer like? I'd recommend starting off on a computer with a MIDI controller, simply because it's so easy to do. I use Ableton Live a lot. I find working on a computer easier to learn with than hardware stuff (I have a Roland SH-32 too, which I only use for live stuff). But I know a lot of people wouldn't agree with me and need to have a hardware synth. I map my Korg Nanokontrol to Ableton and program with that.

Also, if you had a MIDI controller and a softsynth, recording via USB would be no problem at all.

If you're looking for a hardware synth though, I've haven't heard a bad thing about Microkorgs, Xiosynths or Microns, for what it's worth.

synthbuyer wrote: »

I was in a band where our keyboard player was using a korg r3, so thats the only real experience i have with it. I know that the xiosynth is midicontroller and comes free with Ableton live for €325 so i am tempted with that, despite some people comlaining that the thing sounds a bit cold and harsh and can be a bit fiddly but i think i would definetly prefer using a real instrument because i am a practical musician. I'd like to be able to hook up my synth to a P.A and pump out some bass without having to use a computer sometimes.

My main goal is to be able record at home, on my laptop, messing around with loops and stuff to create some original music, and im using a medion laptop btw. Aldi/lidl yoke!

Just from that last paragraph, definitely look into Ableton. Ableton KILLS for live jamming and things like that. I know a lot of people think you can't jam on a computer, but you definitely can. Ableton's session view and Looper instrument are brilliant tools.

If you were to invest in an audio interface, you could hook your computer up to a PA just as easily. You say you're a 'practical musician', there's nothing impractical about using computers.

synthbuyer wrote: »

well, regarding practicality i was thinkin about being able to carry around to practice, gigs potentially which a stand alone would definetly be better for.

I'm just saying, don't cut yourself off from ideas that might be more rewarding or inspiring because you assume a 'stand alone' would make one particular thing easier. It'd be easier to carry, but it might make other things you'd like to do difficult or impossible. Don't write computers off just 'cause you need more than once piece of kit to get it working

synthbuyer wrote: »

Have you any experience with novation xiosynth?

Nope, sorry.

It seems with VA synths the two most popular are the Microkorg and the Micron. The Micron is said to be better than the Microkorg in a few different ways, but if you have the money a Microkorg R3 would more than likely be better again.

I'm with El Pron though, unless you're getting an actual analogue synth, you're much better off getting a MIDI controller and a decent VST (there's even a load of decent free synths) than a hardware synth.