BlahBlahCafe - Jean-Michel Jarre forum

I was pondering that maybe I could spend the 500 euros (~673 dollars) I got as graduation money on a synth... for 3 years now I've used VST's, samples and soundfonts and my simple controller keyboard to make stuff but I've refrained of buying the real stuf because of wacky prices, yet I've set my eyes on a few synths (old and new) during the last few years.

Boring stories aside, I guess at the moment I'm looking for a VA synth... I remember how neatly Per Kristian was able to recreate (and just create) cool sounds with his Access Virus KB only, so combining a VA with my armada of VST's could probably result in good stuff. Maybe even something releaseable.

Even though I'm a total nooby with this stuff, I still have some kind of criteria in mind (actually, the first one's most important), like
1) easy/effective programming
2) USB & MIDI support
3) polyphonic (I've probably heard wrong that there are still non-polyphonic synths, so I put this in here anyway )
4) in-built sequencer

In fact, maybe just keep the first criteria in mind and just suggest me something

First I set my eyes on Roland SH201, which would seem to fit the price range quite neatly, but it doesn't seem to have a wave of enthusiasm surrounding it

So... suggestions, anyone?

Two points are bothering me :

In Built-Sequencer : why ? you can have a nice software much easier to use !!
USB : why not MIDI ?

I thought every synth's MIDI these days. And by my nooby powers I kind of assumed you need USB to manage the VST's with the synth...

And my VST sequencer feel kind of lame at times so a great in-built one could be very useful.

You won't find a good USB synth for that price, only the SH201 but IMHO there is better for that price
And about the sequencer, you'll really become mad with all the sub-parts of the inbuilt sequencer, you really should use one on your computer, and you can do much much more things with a computer !!!


For that price, I'd go for a JP8000, really, you won't be disappointed

Yes something like a JP-8000, Nordlead or even a Virus. The older Virus synths like the B are not so expensive these days.
That you want an inbuild sequencer reduces the range of nice and lower priced VA's though. Right now I can't recall any VA's having internal sequencers.

Well, the first criteria is the most important so just give me suggestions, guys

Definately the JP8000
You have ALL on the board, no sub menus !!!

Did you see my video-demos on Youtube ?
www.youtube.com/noyau

And I will do more with the onboard knobs

The JP seems interesting, but this far I've already heard/seen leads and strings and they sound kind of thin to my ears...

I guess I need more variety, like basses and stuff. And good quality sound

Thin ?
Na, I don't think, this is the most powerful synth I own at the moment

This synth is a wonder, don't ask you why JMJ used it

Take it a try and you'll see by yourself you won't be able to let it go

I have never seen an old synth in a shop around here

In 2003 I encountered some Kurzweil K2000 but even that wasn't the old one (maybe K2500 or something like that) and Access Virus C... and that was it.

Last time there was a finnauction of JP8000 it was like 800 euros, too :\

You can make it come from France, I can arrange something with you

I'll keep that in mind, but haven't decided anything yet

Also, how easy is it to download presets and stuff for JP8000? Like, any set of familiar JMJ sounds etc. floating around?

Very hard

You open SysEx, select a patch, press "send", and on your JP, you press "Write"
Finiiiiished

Oh man, my fingertips are already sweating.

But still, no Internet Grandè JP8000 Preset Database?

And what's SysEx for that matter?

Hmm just a little question from my site. I have never worked with SyxEx, only midi patches. Can you import SysEx patches without overwriting the patchnumer it was created with?