14 replies to this topic

[neo]

I'm gonna have a chunk of cash left over from my tax return after I get my Ultralite, and I was thinking of either getting a Lttile Phatty for analogue goodness, or maybe a vintage analogue synth. But I also see a lot of love for VA gear on here and other places and I'm definitely becoming more open to the idea. Just wanting to get some opinions about which you guys think is best and WHY. Also, any you think are crap and should be avoided and WHY. Obviously at the end of the day I'm going to let my ears and fingers decide, but I'd like to be well informed about the pros and cons of all the synths I'll be considering by people who already use them.

So far I'm leaning towards either a second-hand Virus or a Nord Lead 2x.

fyi - it's a desktop unit and not a keyboard I'm after.

[bruxism]

little phatty is what your after,  just go and have a little play on one and you'll be hooked.

[Luko]

i love my nord lead 2 rack/desktop

its small has lots of knobs and makes wickid sounds

i have played extensively with a phatty as well - if you are after a desktop unit i dont know why your looking at a phatty, they look small but would take up all your bench space have no doubt!

virus or nord mate!

[neo]

Oh yeah, haha, it doesn't seem to make sense. I want the Phatty for the Moog filter and analogue goodness but if they made a desktop version I'd buy that. I don't need the keyboard. If I don't get that I want a desktop unit.

[Luko]

hmm maybe frostwave do an analog moog filter replica that will be sh*tloads cheaper, i know they do that ms-20 clone, the resonator i think, protool has one!

i'm not convinced i would wanna swap my nord lead 2 for a phatty, they are different beasts but the nord does ALOT, its a workhorse, the moog a one trick pony, altho it does that trick better than most

its sorta the situation i was in recently, wanted to get that sound, but also didnt wanna blow so much on one trick, so started looking at workhorse desktop's like virus's

in the end i was comparing apples to oranges..

saying that you havent been the only one calling for a rack mount version of the phatty, who knows moog may just do it, they did it recently with the voyager,

it would be farkin cool, especially if they integrated it somehow, like the voyager and the voyager rack so you can join multiple instances of them and get yourself some poly action

sorry i am going off track here ....

[Jester_Fu]

This: http://www.soundpunk...php?topic=294.0 would be a good read as well. I'm loving my Nord Lead 2... but it really depends what you want to add to your collection. The Nord is great for bass and simplified lines... my AN1x is rockin' for lead lines and fill... and the Novation K-Station is a good dark horse when you're looking for something different and have the time to tweak. It's a bit more of a 'jack of all trades' than the Nord. 2c

[BOB-SNARE]

It really depends on what you want it for.
If you're going vintage most come in a keyboard form, except MC-202, TB-303 types or rack form
Roland MKS-30,50,70,80 or Oberheim Matrix-6/1000 unless you want to go for a modular?

For bass and lead sounds, I'd recommend going something with VCOs, like the Phatty (plus it has MIDI and is stable as opposed to some vintage stuff).
But if you need strings and pads then the Phatty isn't going to cover it.
Personally, I'm not a fan of the Nord oscillator sound. I have a Nord micromodular which is great as a programmable FX unit (except for the lack of long delay), but as a subtractive synth it just doesn't compare to something like an SH-101.
 

[Luko]

interesting if i had to sell one or the other i would keep the nord and sell  the 101

but again its all personal preference innit!

[ajay]

ive got a super soft spot for the Virus and the nord lead2.  Nord for that coolest leads and basslines.. the Virus for the most gritty pads and arpegiated glory. The filters on the Virus are so dirty, so much grime in there its wonder they work at all - the effects are decent too.

Nord lead2 rack for 799 of nova... thats damn tempting!

[Captain Terrific]

*CoUgH* Alesis Micron*cOuGh*

[ajay]

Quote

*CoUgH* Alesis Micron*cOuGh*

Not nearly enough knobs...!

[Jay Parker]

Tell me about it, i would say this site would be responsible for most of the AU purchases in the last month or so ;D

[ajay]

So, has anyone used a Little Phatty?

I must say, Im pretty intrigued! Im quietly looking at another hardware synth for bassy, analoguey moogy, nordy godness. Its pretty much a toss up between a Nord and a Moog phatty... Ive got a virus wich does all the fancy pads and fx etc, Id like somthing a little "warmer" for basses etc.

[Jester_Fu]

I'd suggest you go play with a Phatty. I had a good fiddle with one when i was in the UK, and a Moog Voyager, and neither impressed me a great deal. They're great 'one trick' ponies, and hell... they do that one trick REALLY farkin' well. BUT, that's it. I like a little more versatility in my synths given that it's only really a hobby for me.

Well worth checking one out, and having a fiddle with the Nord as well. Obviously i picked the Nord over the Moog stuff, but as said - it's a little more versatile even if it doesn't do the same thing the Moog's do really really really well.

[Luko]

if you have a virus get a moog

i had a nord, and didnt know wether to go the moog or get a TI and i got the moog in the end - I am as happy as a pig in sh*t

and I have to disagree with Jester to some extent, I understand your one trick pony comments - being the synths are monophonic, however, especially with the voyager, well actually mainly with the voyager, there really is alot more to it

there are some amazing patches in this thing, wide evolving pads, brutal effects, soaring leads, seriously wide and punchy bass, all of the above have that moog twang when playing low then high up and down the keys

coupled with it being modular with the right rack expansions, and expandable to become poly with add-on racks - shes more than a one trick - but i am really really really really bias

another cool little feature they implemented with the phatty which they didnt in the voyager, is the autotune of the analog oscillators when you start it up - how farkin cool! for an analogue synth thats cool, the voyager on the other hand has to be cracked open and tuned  ???

i wont say anymore i will write up a proper review of the voyager with the expansion packs etc... however i fear its gonna end up being pages long, such a well thought out, timeless product