I want to buy a second-hand synth with the possibilities of midi (music-module/moonsound). Wich can you recommend me?(ofcourse a not to expensive one)

It all depends on what you want to do. I had great joy with a Roland JV-30, which is GM/GS compatible -and- MT-32 compatible (several MSX games support this MT-32). But, don't expect too many extra's on this synth. Its sounds are decent, yet not spectacular.

But, based on the information you give I could recommend about 100.000 other synths.

I'm only a beginner, but I want some extra's too, like "aanslaggevoeligheid"sorry dunno the english word for that one) and it has not to be too old. Wanna make some Cool
8) sounding tunes

so many factors to keep in mind

* The budget is the most important one.

* If it's gonna be your only synth, then it's important to get an allround synth, rather than a specialised synth composers usually use for 1 purpose (e.g. a dedicated strings-synth, a dedicated bass-synth etc.).

* Do you want bread&butter sounds, or wacky/hacky/freaky/not-of-this-earth sounds?
(e.g. in what style do you want to play/compose)

* Do you want to use preset sounds, or do you want to do all the soundediting yourself?

* do you want basic soundediting or advanced soundediting?

* does it need to be GM compatible, or don't you care for those stupid midifiles ?

* do you have a midi-keyboard already (can be a cheap-ass casio keyboard, as long as it has midi)? If yes, you could pick a module (19" rackformat) .. which is usually cheaper than a keyboard-model.

questions, questions

Things that show up regulary on 2nd sites like marktplaats are:

Roland JV880
+ usually cheap (usually 150..200 euro)
+ good for synthstuff
+ full soundediting
- not all soundcanvas sounds are supported, so no GM
- Roland-sauce, tho this usually isn't an issue for starters
- it's a module, you need a midikeyboard

Roland JV1080
+ reasonable cheap (400 average)
+ great soundediting
+ all-round sounds
+ accepts internal expansioncards with new waveforms
+ GM iirc
+ good DSP section
- it's a module again..
- Roland-sauce again

Yamaha MU50, MU80, Roland SC50, SC80, Korg XDR5 (50..200 euro)
+ allround bread&butter sounds
+ soundcanvas clone (so.. GM)
- soundcanvas clone (well, that's my personal arguement )
- no in-depth editing
- sounds and DSP's are usually worse than the above modules
- they're modules again..

Interesting devices that show up now and then:

Yamaha TG77 (200..300 euro)
+ samples and FM (6op FM with 3 feedbackpaths, 16 waveforms, scaling, multistage envelopes etc.)
+ 4 DSP processors (Reverbs, delays, chorus, flanger, EQ etc.)
+ samples (aged tho)
+ superb indepth programming
- a module
- a BITCH to program
- a BITCH to program
- a BITCH to program
- a BITCH to program
- a BITCH to program
+ there're PC editors

Yamaha SY77 (400..600 euro)
+ samples and FM (6op FM with 3 feedbackpaths, 16 waveforms, scaling, multistage envelopes etc.)
+ samples (aged tho)
+ superb indepth programming
- tho, easy to program, it requires -as well as the TG77- good FM knowledge to get the best out of it.

This SY77 is a fav of mine.. having a model standing here, I can recommend it to anyone who's interested in professional-FM.


these are just examples, there's a lot more choice.. however, first answer all the questions in my first post

JV1080 has GM indeed, easy to edit sounds, expandable with new soundcards etc. Great module.

But if you need decent sounds for an ever lower price, maybe look for a original Roland Sound Canvas or it's big brother the SC-88 (Super Sound Canvas) then you have GS compatibility as well.

GM = General Midi
GS = General Sound (=General Midi with extended features like more sounds and chorus/reverb control in midi)

I thought GS meant General Standard.

It *is* general standard. And that's the whole problem anyway it's a sound-index standard, not a 'sound' standard. That's why evrything sounds different on all GM machines across the various manufacturers. It only says something like 'piano @ place 00' etc. It doesn't say HOW the piano should sound.

Ahwell, offtopic blahblah

Quote:

so many factors to keep in mind * The budget is the most important one. I want to spend from 100 - 300 euro * If it's gonna be your only synth, then it's important to get an allround synth, rather than a specialised synth composers usually use for 1 purpose (e.g. a dedicated strings-synth, a dedicated bass-synth etc.). So it's gonna be an all-round synth * Do you want bread&butter sounds, or wacky/hacky/freaky/not-of-this-earth sounds? (e.g. in what style do you want to play/compose) Some more extended sounds would be nice * Do you want to use preset sounds, or do you want to do all the soundediting yourself? Some preset-sounds are nice * do you want basic soundediting or advanced soundediting? basic sound-editing is enough for me! * does it need to be GM compatible, or don't you care for those stupid midifiles ? I like gm and gs * do you have a midi-keyboard already (can be a cheap-ass casio keyboard, as long as it has midi)? If yes, you could pick a module (19" rackformat) .. which is usually cheaper than a keyboard-model. sorry don't have a midi keyboard allready

Thanks for the information....will think abouth the models you name in your 2nd posting

Quote:

JV1080 has GM indeed, easy to edit sounds, expandable with new soundcards etc. Great module. But if you need decent sounds for an ever lower price, maybe look for a original Roland Sound Canvas or it's big brother the SC-88 (Super Sound Canvas) then you have GS compatibility as well. GM = General Midi GS = General Sound (=General Midi with extended features like more sounds and chorus/reverb control in midi)

Thanks for the information Bart

A module is out of the question, unless you are prepared to invest in a midi-keyboard.

Half a year ago I bought a cheap velocity-sensitive 4-oct keyboard @ Feedback, for ~ 69 euro, that was including a pc-joystick midi interface cable thingy. (just to put on my desk as a simple means to test some sounds made in modular softsynth). It doesn't have aftertouch/modwheel/pitchbend tho, and the velocity-scale didn't feel natural to me, so for serious playing I wouldn't advice it.

Studiologic makes cheap masterkeyboards, but usually you pay your full current budget for that ..

The solution would be an allround keyboard-synth with sufficient editing possibilities, based on GM, such as the Yamaha cs2x.. a Roland JV-30/50 and misc other models in this class. There's a wealth of choice in this specific class of synths.

I go search at marktplaats for such sort of synth! Thanks for the help Wolf!

yeah, if you found something relevant, post it here, and I'll comment on it

One of the early Roland catalogs I got on the SoundCanvas clearly states General Sound in stead of General Standard. But then again, most of these are translated from Japanese to English BY Japanese.. and we all know how good they are at that ^_^

You can also check out each found model on a site like www.harmony-central.com

There you'll find reviews from users. Not all user-comments are relevant for you, but at least you'll be able to read about the qualities and about the new/2ndhand price paid.