First Synth

[Jpitcairn]

Hey I'm new to JR.com and to playing a synth.

When I say I'm new to playing a synth i mean i can't play it at all. I'm looking to learn and buy myself a synth. I am a guitarist so i do know a good bit about music but I've always wanted to play a synth.

I was looking at a Roland Juno-D, is this synth any good? Anything better for around the same price?

Also what else will i need to buy if i get a synth?

Thanks :)

[Omega Monkey]

I was looking at a Roland Juno-D, is this synth any good?

NO! Literally, it is a piece of shit aimed at people who dont know anything. Are you a sucker? If the answer is no, then you will steer clear.

Anything better for around the same price?

YES. ANYTHING ELSE! Get a slightly used PROFESSIONAL level workstation or ROMPler off ebay, or locally if you can find one in good condition for a decent price.

The short list (all prices are approximate used market values)...

Yamaha:
CS6X (<$500)
S30 ($500)
EX5 ($400-800)
S80 ($700)
S90 ($900-1200)
Motif ($800+)
Motif ES ($1200+)


Roland:
XV88 ($700)
FA76 (original Fantom) ($700)
Fantom S ($900+)
Fantom X ($1200+)

Korg:
Trinity ($500+)
Triton ($800+)

I would recommend either Yamaha or Roland.

Also what else will i need to buy if i get a synth?

Some sort of amplification system (headphones, keyboard amp, or PA).

A keyboard stand.

A sustain pedal.

PLease, dont be like THIS guy ( http://www.jordanrudess.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7752 ) and ask for a bunch of time consuming advice and then ignore it all anyway. And if you do, dont bother coming back here for help on how to fix your dumb and avoidable mistakes. But if you actually listen to what the people here have to say (that's why you asked, right?), then feel free to come here and brag about the cool gear you get once you've got it, and how awesome it is, and how cool we are for pointing you in the right direction and helping you avoid certain (gear) death (regret).

Oh, and welcome!

[raj4music]

@ OMEGA MONKEY -- Why are you so insane ??? And who said i am not happy with my setup ... I just wanted to ask about the views which i will keep into consideration when i will upgrade... And what do you think ?? all the people here gives the same advice ?? Do u think all the people in this world to be OMEGA MONKEY ?? I can gurantee you that if you surf this forum then there are many instances where many other people have not agreed with what you have said ..... Forums are to help people ...... We ask for advice... You either say something or you dont say something ... Its upto you ...... But why do u think that people will listen what u say ??

Just for an example you gave a shortlist of 13 synths here ?? why a person will consider getting a trinity or fantom FA-76 tpday ?? Maybe u know better ..... The person was enquiring about juno-d ..... well may be it truely sucks ..... then why not KORG X50 ?? It is his first synth and you are giving him advice to buy a synth thats discontinued and outdated .... any ways thats your advice ...... you wanted to say and you said ..... But why are you bringing my thread here ......... What do u want to prove ...... Please dont do this .. u are just making a fun of youself ........ its obvious that you have lot of experiences ... but try o understand that circumstances are not so easy for every forum user....

I dont have any access to ebay , i cant demo a synth in a shop ... If i need to buy a synth then i need to blindly order it and wait for 1 month to get it..... Theres no way for me to demo it ...... all my ideas depend on forum and demos ..... so its quite obvious that i will make mistake ... but i am happy eith my setup and i am not having any regret ... First ty to keep yourself in such a situation in which i am then probably you will also realize that its not so easy .....

[raj4music]

http://www.jordanrudess.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7850&highlight=triton+extreme

SEE this i already said i love my triton extreme


http://www.jordanrudess.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7348&highlight=triton+extreme

See this where even a debate started among the forum people -- some says triton to be good , some saying its a shit ... whom to go for ???

See this link -- http://forums.rolandclan.info/index.php?action=show_thread&thread=19809&fid=1&page=1 where many people say that juno -g is better than fantom-s ....


So at the end of the day .... what will you decide .... you will be more confused... so you have to choose something ... and that may be good or bad for you ... If its good then keep it and if its bad then sell it and get something different .........

People wo brag a lot about their motif es , fantom x today also suffered the same problem when they were in the phase of buying it .......... and no two people give the same advice.... and this is not the only keyboard forum in the net ..

I was very dissapointed last night after reading your reply in my thread ... and much more today after seeing that you are using my thread in some other posts also .....

If u have some problems with giving advice then dont give ...... But there is no rules in the forum which compels the person [ taking advice] to follow what you have said ...... And dont tell lies -- i have never told you that i am regretting my purchase of triton or juno .... I NEVER SAID THAT ....
Peace ...

[raj4music]

I have always been thankful to all the people who replied in my posts ... if i dont follow what you say , that doesnt mean i am spitting on your face....... Why do you think in this way ???

I repect every member in the forum and in all other forums ....... Because i know that they are quite advanced and much more experienced... And probably thats why these forums are created ..... So thats even the SILLY NOOBS [ your nomenclature ] can interact with the pros ....

But if you really feel that the all those people are silly noobs , then why do you reply ?? I used to respect you a lot bro ...But you misunderstood ... maybe you only like people who follow ur advices exactly ...... No problem ... you be happy with your thinkings and let me be happy with mine ... No more talks .......

[-=AnatomiC=-]

People, I think we should stay objective, when we are giving advices.

Don't tell people what you like, unless they ask for it - it can only mislead them.
For instance, Triton XT is a very radical board: you like it, or you hate it... (personally I've played it for about 20 minutes, and I liked it. Very good synth sounds).
It would be wrong to recommend it, just because I liked it - there is absolutely no guarantee that someone else will like it.

So If you don't like something, tell why you don't - for instance, a good and objective reason, to not to like something, is lack of professional editing features.
So Juno D does kinda suck - it doesn't qualify as a pro keyboard. It just doesn't - you can't deny it.

If you don't mind buying used gear, I would recommend something used, but more professional.
Trinity is good, for example.

And I know - 99% of the people ask something, and if their decision sucks, they just ignore all advices, and go with something they wanted in the first place.
I've red hundreds of threads with subject like "Looking for a synth for a beginner", and usually what follows to few advices are answers like: "Lol, I'm only a beginner, I don't need all this fancy stuff, etc etc"
As a matter of fact, you do need it (if you want to become better, of course)
If there is no sequencer, no synth engine on your keyboard,... how do you ever going to learn how to use it???
Jordan doesn't just play preset sounds you know - he is also a very skilled sound designer!


I give advices just because I like to talk about gear, and it improves my knowledge, because I begin to search of reviews (which are not always correct) and other info about gear.

[Spacehog]

I was actually quite impressed with the Juno D when I tried it (particularly as they're now selling for about £270!)... see, I've got no real interest in delving deep into advanced synthesis. I could probably assemble quite a decent keyboard rig for a grand or so! I currently make my living playing an E-MU VK6 vintage keys with the Proteus 2000 composer expansion ROM, does pretty much everything I need. While I'd like a Triton Extreme very much, I have no real need for one. Give me my E-MU, an Alesis Micron, a Juno D and a cheap stage piano and I'd be more than happy. I admit that keyboards is my second instrument (I play guitar primarily) but I'm gigging fairly regularly on both (Winger style, I play keys on 6 or 7 songs in our set).

[RAN7ARAVE]

yeah but the Juno has 4/5 sized keys Kinda stupid unless you do pop/rap/techno music

[Grey Loki]

I could probably assemble quite a decent keyboard rig for a grand or so!

All you'd need is an Alesis Fusion 8HD, and you'd be set ;)

[Awakened Sleeper]

All you'd need is an Alesis Fusion 8HD, and you'd be set ;)

That was my first thought upon reading this thread, as I'm also a key newbie and was in exactly the same position as the original poster. After extensive internet research I came to the conclusion that the 8HD was the synth for me.

I finally bought one last month, but it's already unusable. Apparently Alesis's quality control is somewhat hit or miss, mine's going back for a replacement. Other than that I've found it to be outstanding (not that I know much about synths).

[Grey Loki]

I finally bought one last month, but it's already unusable. Apparently Alesis's quality control is somewhat hit or miss, mine's going back for a replacement. Other than that I've found it to be outstanding (not that I know much about synths).

That's the bit that gets a lot of Fusion owners - I was lucky and got a nice one first time, but a few people on the Fusion forums have had to send back two or three before getting one that was 'just right'.

FWIW, I still think it's worth waiting and getting a nice one rather than judging them all by one faulty unit.

[Awakened Sleeper]

Believe me, I have no intention of giving up on the Fusion yet! :wink: I hope to exchange it for another one and I've already bought some sounds for it.

Unfortunately I seem to be one of those people who regularly receive faulty goods and have to return them. Almost all of my significant purchases over the last 5 years have had to be quickly replaced, I'm beginning to think it's my fault! However, most of the items have displayed problems immediately.

I've been psyching myself up for learning synth for a good few years now and I sure ain't gonna give up so soon. I suppose it's all part of the steep learning curve. :biggrin: