Thinking of getting an analogue synth, trying to decide whic

[Gil]

Hi!

Right now I use solely my FG7 for gigs, I love it, I'm good at it and I can create just about any synth sound I like (thanks to Artemiy's Tweakbook).

However, recently I really feel an urge to create music with a "knobby" synth, I'm kinda tired of menus and paramaters and I feel like it bogs down my creativity. Plus, I'd like to enjoy some real warm analogue sounds.

I'm kinda torn between two instruments - a Moog Voyager RME and DSI Prophet 08 module. If anyone here has experience with these synths, I'd appreciate some answers to the following questions:

1. First of all, will I really hear and feel a big difference between these analogue sounds and my FG? or is the quality difference minute and am I wasting my money? (I can't really try them out for myself since I live in Israel and the importers don't have them on display).

2. I know the Moog is monophonic and the DSI can play up to 8 voices which is a plus, however I'll be using it mostly for synth bass and leads. Is the Moog better-sounding/more flexible than the DSI or are they on par in terms of sound quality?

Thanks!
Gil

[Artemiy]

I listened for quite a few demos of the DSI products and to be frank they all left me cold. In the demos their instruments sound kind of blurred, lacking presence. I never had a feeling of "wow, I really want to have this synth". Maybe their presets on the demos are badly done though, but I never had a chance to play with one myself.

Moog, on the other hand, has a very notable charisma, lots of punch and presence. With the demos, I was sold and I would personally like to have one of their synths.

But do also note that there are a few folks which have less expensive and more quirky synths out there (quirky in a good way).

One of them is folks at AcidLab:
http://www.acidlab.de/

[Gil]

Thanks for the reply,

I actually thought the DSI Prophet 08 demos sounded fantastic, but I guess it's a matter of taste. Too bad I can't play them before making a decision.

As for the AcidLab synths, they look cool but there are no demos of leads played on them, which is most important to me.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks
Gil

[Artemiy]

I think Moog would be the safest buy, unless you terribly need polyphony.

[HiveHead]

I had a Voyager Select and it was a fantastic synth. I had to sell though as i was not really using its potential and the wretched credit crunch plus a new baby meant i needed the £££££. I think its very much a players keyboard and very live orientated. Superb build quality. You can get the CV breakout box with it which makes it pretty much a modular synth. I am thinking of getting another........

In the mean time i have had experience of 3 other analogues - DSI Evolver, MFB Kraftzwerk and Doepfer Dark Energy. I did not get on with the MFB synth - the build was not good plus it was too small fiddly. The other two I really like - the DE is small BTW but its much more solid than the MFB. Love the DE - for the money its really nice - only i OSC tho.


Matthew

[Nord72]

What about a Moog Little Phatty Stage II ?
And You can expand it with a MOOG CP-251 and other external boxes.
It has an arpeggiator and midi via USB port.

[Artemiy]

I would love to buy the Little Phatty when I will have a possibility, and surely add the new MIDI MuRF on top of it.