What is the best keyboard for ambient pads?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Supa Drop Kick Man
  • Start date Start date
S

Supa Drop Kick Man

Guest
Ello all,

I am a mad fan of the artist Micheal Plaster and his band Soul Whirling Somewhere. He has these deliciously textured pads, lush guitars, and great timing for his simple beats. He is a great guy too.

Upon asking him what he uses in the synth department, he replied he uses the JD-800 and JP-8000. I am very familiar with JP and in further research I discovered that JD-800 is extinct and JD-990 is the also rare descendant. He suggested I check out a Waldorf MicroWave XT. Friends told me that the Roland JX8P is similar, but hard to get what you want out of it.

I use an Xp-60 (which i HATE) and have used a Trinity and Triton (which didn't seem to have the same lush wave as I was looking for.....

So, I am looking to buy a new synth. With deep, dripping pads (or the ability to make them) what should I buy?

Thanks all,

~SDKM

[Edited by Supa Drop Kick Man on 03-26-2001 at 01:58 PM]
 
Hi !

Yes the JD800 was an amazing keyboard, I loved its interface ! From my own experience I mainly design my sound pads with my JV1080 roland, I love it !!! So powerfull and great sounds when you go deeper in the editing world !

IMHO forget the JX8P.

You could also have a look to the Korg Wavestations modules, I've heard them some years ago and seem to make the job very well for pads sounds.

Often the amazing pads sounds you're hearing are a combi of multi sounds with big uses of audio FX like chorus, reverbs, delays, etc...

My advice find a good sound module (like the JV for example :) ), it had a nice built-in FX and 64 voices of polyphony.

I think you could fine one cheap ! ;)
 
The JP8000 is not really the replacement of the JD800, it's an analog "emulator" which only got eight voices of polyphony and it's only bitimbral, and it only got the basics waves of analog synths. The JV and XP series would rather be the replacement of the JD800.

Anyway doesn't matter much !

[Edited by nook on 03-26-2001 at 04:18 PM]
 
i been playing with ze Korg PPG softsynth. has some niice pads. i put one thru my mackie mixer, sent it thru a korg kaoss pad (hardware effects unit), and then into my sampler and sampled some really nice stuff. just letting you know about a process which helped me get good pad for the first time in ages.,
the samples sounded so ethereal i am using them to write a track for my girlfriend Celeste's birthday present. Somehow i think i might have to include dinner and a movie, so as not to seem cheap.:.
 
Can't beat this site.

Thanks everyone for you rock out advice.

I went to the store to check the JX8P and didn't really dig it. It has a lot of the sounds that my XP60 has but not nearly the library or control. The JV you mentioned is cool, but I really need to learn my saws from my sines again.

Iclan, you mentioned a Korg softsynth? where can I get that?

It looks like I have about $800 to spend and might put it on a JV. Need to tool around with it a bit more. What do you all think of the Waldorf Microwave XT? How hard is it to really tweak and create with?

Thanks for the posts everyone!

~SDKM
 
i don't know what i was thinkin, it is the WALDORF PPG synth.
 
Waldorf PPG

Looking it up today! Along with the other list of so many suggestions I have to check out. Thanks again and hope your girlfriend enjoys her birthday.
 
THE SMOKE CLEARS AND A FEW COMPETITORS REMAIN

It appears that the amid the rubble and smoke 2 remain...

The Waldorf Microwave XTk. The monstrous orange warrior stretches after slaying it's opponents, intent on ending the one standing opposite the mist between. With it editability and impressive sounds it stands to fight.

and the

Access Virus kb. The sleek black body and impressive following of users, it is untouched from it's previous fights. The only hinderance I might see for it's triumph is that it has thus far been primarily a dance keyboard; but there are many dark dark dark wave artists who hold it as a hero.

This weekend, when the wind dies down and you notice there is an odd hush to the world, listen carefully. Everything will appear in slow motion. This will mark the battle between these two contenders....and the winner marks the fate of..

well, my studio, but for drama sake.

THE EARTH ITSELF!!!!!!!!


thanks all for your help. I will post the results soon. The K2600 is far from out of the fight, but these two have to go out it.

~SDKM
 
Crap+Mediocre=Audio Bliss!

Hey, if you sell the XP that you HATE (crap) and take the $800 that you were going to spend on a halfway decent waldorf or virus (mediocre), you would be about $400 short of a KURTZWEIL K2600!!! It's the best synth ever made, and it's a SAMPLER!!! It's PURPLE! It's got awesome synth, drippy warm pads, the best piano, and even GUITAR!!! It's got efx up the wazoo! It's really no contest. (K2600s @ GC for $2300).
 
Not sure if I should trust the SKURG OF TOWNSVILLE....but I might have to agree.

Can't say that I think the XP is really crap and the Waldorf is anything near crap.....but I have been looking over the options and yes....K2600 is seeming to grow stronger by the second.

It has a sampler. The man whose music demonstrates the best pads in the world uses a K2500. IT IS A KURZWEIL! My former keyboard player had one and the sounds that he made were C R A Z Y c O o L!!!!

What is Kurzweil support like? Will I be able to find help when I need it? What about when I edit sounds...it is menu after menu of untranslateable garbage...like the XP?

Thanks super villian man.

~SDKM
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top