I watched a WhoTube video yesterday of a guy recreating the intro bass sound from Kraftwerk's The Robots on his Matriarch. Fascinating - and I learned a lot that applies to me and my gear.

Curious if there are any groups on RegReddit where folks talk about sound design with a goal of matching sounds from "popular" Music.

If not, I'm starting one, dammit!

I'm looking to collaborate by correspondence. I play guitar bass and dabble in the synth world and with some percussion. What I'm thinking is starting with a single stem (either yours or mine) and then adding to it. Would anyone be interested?

I have music available on all the streaming services if you want to check out what I've been up to for fun for the past couple of years. DM me if you want the links (I don't want to violate this subs rules.)

looking forward to some collaboration!

Is blowing up over on Bluesky! Awesome community growing over there!

I know this is a long shot, but I am a high school senior playing synthesizer for my schools marching band. I have a solo in which I am supposed to be visually featured, but my Director refuses to put in the time to figure out how to wirelessly connect my secondary synth for the solo. I was wondering if there are ways to wirelessly or with limited wires connect a synthesizer to a sound system? I can provide with more details if needed. Thanks so much.

Hi, I am new to synth and electronic music making. And I am into playing some techno using hardware synth. I have got a TE KO2 and a Behringer Edfe. that I am exploring setups between:

1. using the Edge to drive the KO2 4 pads group for different drum sounds, or

2. Using the KO 2 to give basic drum loop and control the tempo of the edge.

Set up 1 the sounds of thr KO2 is almost random / generated based on the Edge’s pitch sequencer, but I can only play one pad group at a time.

Set up 2 feels like a bit more control as I would be arranging a pattern and drive the Edge as the key/another lead layer.

Currently feel like I could get one more analogue synth to have more variety in sound and swapping between to create a more rich tunes that I can have fun playing DAWless.

Have been considering TD3 or Behringer Crave.

I am also getting a audio interface and Ableton to learn DAW and recording tunes.

Would be great to get some idea from you guys on hardware that compliments the Edge with dark and ambient techno in mind.

Thanks!

Hi all. Hoping for some advice.

My daughter is eight. She dreams of making synth music (new retro wave style).

She's had this dream for a while so I enrolled her in Piano lessons. She's actually worked really hard and studies. We're a year out now and as far as my untrained ears can tell she's gotten pretty darn good.

She can read sheet music by sight and is getting handy at improving by ear when she hears a song.

So she's been using a regular 88 key beginner keyboard recommended by her music teacher.

I had made a deal with her that if she actually learned to play, I'd get her a synth music making setup.

We're here so I have to pony up.

I just set up a desk with a keyboard, two LCD monitors, and a decent boom mic for her, as I already had that laying around.

The advice I need is this:

A) She only has about 30" of space for the synth/piano keyboard. Her music teacher said a half size keyboard would be fine for her to use for practice and music making but he's a traditional acoustic guy so couldn't advise on a brand or key count. She wants something that will help her make synth music. I suspect one of the small/mini synth keyboards with drum pads is what she's dreaming about. Any recommendations? The goal is to be able to connect it to a computer/laptop via USB and give her a positive experience that isn't too insanely complicated.

B) I'm a Linux/PC guy but have barely any Apple/Mac experience. From what I'm seeing when I look at synth keyboards on Amazon, etc. most of the included software is for Mac. I understand most creatives/artists use Mac so I'm okay with purchasing one for her to be compatible and set her up for success in her music making journey. I'd like to find a refurb for her but not sure how old is too old. I just don't have the budget for a new one and this will only be used for music, not video editing or gaming. She has a beefy gaming/school computer for everything else.

My fear is of getting her something four years old but Apple stopped allowing upgrades to the OS version so the music software won't work.

I see some for like $300 that seem reasonably modern and 8gb RAM with 256gb HDD.

I've got some 1TB external USB SSD hard drives to store her songs so internal storage isn't an issue other than buffering/recording.

Can you please advise a min spec?

Ideally I'd like to keep the overall spend for laptop and keyboard under $500.

So that's it. Sorry if this isn't appropriate for the sub. Just trying to help kiddo on the journey as she really has put in the work.

Any help appreciated. Thank you very much.

I remember the days in the 80s when a new synth came out and we were all blown away by the never before heard sounds. You played it and it triggered spontanous ideas for new songs. It was probably because digital sounds started a new wave of sounds. They were substantially different then the ones before. DX7 was crystal clear, D50 had layers (for the lack of a better word), M1...I could keep going. Why do I have the impression that the new stuff is not really new anymore, or not really sounding revolutionary anymore. I have quite a few synths and like a lot of the new stuff, the sounds are solid and complex, smooth and textured, warm and cold, sampled and analog...everything is possible. Some of the SOMA synths I have provide an interesting new experience. But I am missing the "all stop...wtf was that sound?" experience. Is there anything that can trigger that again? ( If you say modular, well then show me....because bleepy bloopy or random noise is not what I am talking about). Yes you can list any new synth you want and they all sound great, I don't disagree...but really(!!!) new....hm...? End nostalgic rant of an old musician.

Hey everyone,

Bit of a background info, I owned a Minilogue XD for two years but sold it last year. Afterwards, I played a bit with software synths (Surge). Sold the Minilogue because I wanted to create dark stuff like the Forse albums from Alessandro Cortini, mostly dark gritty drones/ambient music but was unable to get close with the XD. I know Eurorack is an option but I can't see myself becoming a fan of heavy modular synths. What relatively complete synth (hardware) would come close to that kind of music without going modular?

I sold my Microfreak a while back and this week I’m an absolutely regretting it…hence the question

I am very new to synths and I recently bought a korg prologue 16. It works and sounds amazing but on some of the presets when I turn the arpeggiator on it turns down the volume. It only happens on certain presets and I'm wondering why this happens and if theres something I could do to make it stop.

So I bought a Moog Mother 32 and tried to connect it to my TE op-1 to use the op-1 effects. I put a trs 6.3 to 3.5 mm adapter in the moog. When I run a trs 3.5 mm cable from the moog to the op I get a lot of distortion. When I use a ts cable I get less distortion but it's still there. Can someone explain this? Would a ts adapter solve it?

Help me pick a Synth?…

…for my son’s dorm room at NYU in NYC.

He has taken piano 10+ years. Plays guitar. I want him to keep his keyboard dexterity. Notes and criteria…

1. Smaller the better, but I read that 61 keys is minimum size to play/practice 2-handed and keep piano chops?

2. Built-in Speakers (or Bluetooth to headphones)

3. Sequencer and Arpeggiator? I barely understand what these things are but he is super interested in EDM.

4. Not a simple “controller.” Looking for a self-contained device he can sit in bed with. He is not eager to plug up to computer for production.

5. Semi-weighted? Not required but probably good for his hands.

6. Semi-portable. It will live in a closet or under a bed.

Honestly, the #1 criteria is something he will be interested in pulling out of closet and playing with.

Ideas? Suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

I'm a drummer and guitarist that's starting to play keys/piano and I'm looking for the right budget synthesizer or keyboard for me. I'm looking for something with 88 keys so I have a full size piano to work with when playing but I'm also looking for a synth or keyboard geared more towards my taste in music. I like metal and industrial so bands such as Nine inch nails, skinny puppy, depeche mode, type o negative etc. I have no idea what to get but I was looking at the Arturia KeyLab Essential 88 mk3 — 88 key USB MIDI Controller Keyboard with Analog Lab V Software. I have no idea if this would be a good keyboard/synth to get for that style of music. I am familiar with logic and using midi for drum triggers and plugins and things for my guitar just not with anything synth or keyboard related. What synth or keyboard would be a good buy?