- Joined
- Mar 27, 2021
- Messages
- 16
- Reaction score
- 7
Hey crew - I am on the hunt for a stage synth that I can use for gigging to take over as my main synth engine. I play in multiple improv/jam band style groups that require on-the-fly changes and the ability to create sounds instantly. I am definitely not looking for something that required pre-programmed setlists as sometimes we will change songs randomly or even play songs we didn't even talk about playing, so quick action is key.
I currently use a Roland VR-09 as my main synth. It's awesome in that is has great preset patches and I can tap and hold one of the performance bank buttons, and within 2 seconds that sound is saved to that button. So if in the moment I want to use that sound, it's literally one tap away and exactly how I remember it. The downside is that editing the parameters and LFOs and such is not easily accessible - there's a few knobs and one MFX knob that is pretty wimpy. In order to get to the meat you have to use an ipad or assign parameters to a midi controller - I would not like to do either of those things on stage. I want my synth to have everything accessible right on the board.
I used a Behringer DeepMind 12 for a bit. I loved the extensive faders and full access to adjusting the scope of sound right at my finger tips. However, the only way to change patches was to scroll through a list. So even if I set my favorites to be the first 10 in a patch bank, if I was on patch 1 and wanted to use patch 10, I had to scroll through 2-9 to get there, leading to mistakes of over or underscrolling in the moment.
As far as a few of my searches have gone, I feel like I can only get one or the other. Or if it does have both, the editable parameters are like deep in a menu dive or the patch recall is in scrollable list format instead of instant button press.
So I am looking for my holy grail here: A synth that has vast editable parameters right on board, that ALSO has quick-save/quick-access performance bank buttons/patch recall on the fly. I also would of course like it to be as inexpensive as possible. And ideally 49-key minimum, 76 maximum.
I do not use arpeggiators nor do I need to sync midi or timing or anything - I'm more into synth lead and pads. I already have a piano, rhodes, clavinet, and organ, so this board would be exclusively for synth sounds. And again I do not want to bring extra equipment to make this work - no computers or ipads or midi controllers in my rig.
Does this dream exist in reality somewhere?
I currently use a Roland VR-09 as my main synth. It's awesome in that is has great preset patches and I can tap and hold one of the performance bank buttons, and within 2 seconds that sound is saved to that button. So if in the moment I want to use that sound, it's literally one tap away and exactly how I remember it. The downside is that editing the parameters and LFOs and such is not easily accessible - there's a few knobs and one MFX knob that is pretty wimpy. In order to get to the meat you have to use an ipad or assign parameters to a midi controller - I would not like to do either of those things on stage. I want my synth to have everything accessible right on the board.
I used a Behringer DeepMind 12 for a bit. I loved the extensive faders and full access to adjusting the scope of sound right at my finger tips. However, the only way to change patches was to scroll through a list. So even if I set my favorites to be the first 10 in a patch bank, if I was on patch 1 and wanted to use patch 10, I had to scroll through 2-9 to get there, leading to mistakes of over or underscrolling in the moment.
As far as a few of my searches have gone, I feel like I can only get one or the other. Or if it does have both, the editable parameters are like deep in a menu dive or the patch recall is in scrollable list format instead of instant button press.
So I am looking for my holy grail here: A synth that has vast editable parameters right on board, that ALSO has quick-save/quick-access performance bank buttons/patch recall on the fly. I also would of course like it to be as inexpensive as possible. And ideally 49-key minimum, 76 maximum.
I do not use arpeggiators nor do I need to sync midi or timing or anything - I'm more into synth lead and pads. I already have a piano, rhodes, clavinet, and organ, so this board would be exclusively for synth sounds. And again I do not want to bring extra equipment to make this work - no computers or ipads or midi controllers in my rig.
Does this dream exist in reality somewhere?
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