Atekmdp.1067

Atekmdp.1067
net.music
utcsrgv!utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!ihnss!vax135!harpo!cbosg!teklabs!tekmdp!jays
Thu Feb 4 19:18:59 1982
On synthesizers
In responce to Chris Kents letter.

I have some experience with synthesizers and thought
that I might be able to give you some insight about
them.

There are several synthesizers on the market today in
the price range of $500 - $800 that you may want to
look at. Keep in mind that these are all monophonic
and have the 2 1/2 or 3 octave keyboards. If you want
something that is polyphonic and with a bigger keyboard
then that will run you quit a bit more (about $2000
$10000). Here are some synthesizers that you might be
interested in looking at.

There is the Radio Shack machine that you men-
tioned. Yes it does exist. I have played with one
once in a store it looked functional and is com-
petitive with most the small instruments that are
available today. I think that the quality did not
look as good as some the other instruments that I
have looked at.

MOOG: They have a new machine out called The
Source. This looks like a nice machine even
though I haven't seen one yet. It has 2 osc.
filter, 2 env gen, modulation and pitch wheels,
noise generator, touch switchs for programming and
voice selection, 16 programmable voices, tuning
and interface capabilities, 2 88 note sequences,
cassette interface and a few more features. It
seems to be very versatile and might even be at a
reasonable price.
MOOG, 2500 Walden Ave, Buffalo New York 14225

KORG: They have the MS 20 (which I own) that costs
about $650-$750. This is a 2 osc machine too with
patching facilities and a external signal proces-
sor that allows running a guitar or some other
sound source through it. Comments on the MS 20,
well the filters and osc don't generate the really
rich sound that some of the other machines do.
Also the external signal processor is not the
greatest but it works quit well once you figure
out how to use it. All in all when I bought it it
was a good instrument and I still like it better
that most of the machines that are out.
KORG/Unicord, 89 Frost Street, Westbury New York
11590.

SEQUENTIAL CIRCUITS: There new little synthi is
the Pro-One. It is a 2 osc machine with a arpeggi-
ator built in. Looks like a good machine.
Sequential Circuits, Dept 1, 3051 First St, San
Jose Ca 95134

ROLAND: They have several synthesizers that are
low cost. SH-09 single osc, SH-2 2 osc and the
MRS-2 ProMars 2 osc programmable. I wasn't
impressed by these machines they are very basic
and lack features that are available in other
machines.
Roland Corp US, 2401 Saybrook Ave, Los Angeles Ca
90040

PAIA: They have a new synthesizer out the PROTEUS
1. It looks like it is based on the Curtis EM
chips which aren't bad chips. It has a computer
and external analog interface built into it. It
has 2 osc with sync, low pass filter, envelope
generators, 16 programmable presets and a low freq
osc. This machine comes in kit form and assembled
also. PAIA offers a demo tape for $10 using the
synthesizer too. PAIA equipment that
I've built doesn't have high quality jacks, pot
and switchs in it but it has worked well and I've
gotten my moneys worth out of the gear (I would
recommend replacing all the minature phone jacks
and push button switchs that they provide with
higher quality ones). They also make a 3 octave
polyphonic organ that you might be interested in.
PAIA Electronics, 1020 W Wilshire Blvd, Oklahoma
City Ok 73116

CASIO: They have there musical instrument line
that covers a wide variety of things based on the
same chip set. There is the MT10 4 voice 2 1/2
octave mini keyboard, MT30/MT31 22 voice with 3
octave mini keyboard and bigger ones that have
full sized keyboards with up to about 50 voices or
so. I have the MT31 so I will talk about it. It
has a mini keyboard that is about 3/4 or 2/3 the
size of a normal keyboard, it doesn't bother me
since I have small hands. About 6 of the voices I
like and use a lot the others aren't that impres-
sive to me. You have a voice select switch that
can store 4 voices for immediate recall which is
nice for changing voices quickly. The way you nor-
mally program a voice is set the select switch to
the preset you want to program, but the set switch
to set then hit the key that corresponds to the
voice you want after that put the set switch back
to normal and then you're ready to go. The main
disadvantage of the MT31 is the keyboard size, the
main advantages are it's voices, its polyphonic
and its price (I paid $120 for mine new). As you
mentioned Robin Whittle in Australia has some mods
face for them, others are 2 octave drop, different
vibrato better high freq response, hold and sus-
tain of notes. I haven't tried any of these yet
so I can't comment on the mods.

YAMAHA: They have there version of the Casio MT30
that has auto cords and auto rhythm built in they
range in price $150 (4 voice)-$250(8 voice I
think). I liked the Casio better because of the
price and I don't need all the functions of a cord
organ.

Well that is about all that I have to say. Take every
thing that I said with a grain of salt and try to find
as many of the instruments to play with before you make
your choice. The Source, Pro One, Proteus and the MT31
all look fairly good. If you have any more questions
drop some mail and hopefully I'll get it. Happy sound
making.

Jay Schwichtenberg

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