I've been looking at adding a new synth to my home studio.  I'm a guitar player into prog rock (Big Floyd fan) and I enjoy adding synth sounds to my songs.  I mainly add a pad or string type sound/texture for ambiance.  I may also use an arp pattern.  I rarely do synth leads.  That's what I save for guitar.  Should I be looking at Digital vs Analog syths???  Any thoughts welcome.
 
Thanks,
Ken

What is your budget?  Are you looking for a mono or poly synth?

Hi Husker,
 
Looking at the Minilogue.  Its the right size, price, and I guess type???  Until now I'm mainly a preset guy doing slight tweaking of filters/res with automation.  Musical styles of early Genesis, Yes, and PF as well as more modern bands like Porcupine Tree/Steven Wilson and Ride.
 
Concerned about reports of noise and lack of pitch shift for arp/rec patterns.
 
Heres some of my noise - https://www.reverbnation.com/kzmaier/song/29108301-travelers

Ken,
 
If you are looking for pads/strings, I'm not sure the Minlogue would be the best synth.  It is paraphonic, and most of what I have heard of it is more of a "lead" type synth.  I actually played around a bit with one last week.
 
Couple of questions - 1)  Do you need keys?, and 2) You want a hardware synth, not a softsynth, correct?  (No right or wrong answer to number 2 - I love both hardware and software synths).

husker
Ken,
 
If you are looking for pads/strings, I'm not sure the Minlogue would be the best synth.  It is paraphonic, and most of what I have heard of it is more of a "lead" type synth.  I actually played around a bit with one last week.
 
Couple of questions - 1)  Do you need keys?, and 2) You want a hardware synth, not a softsynth, correct?  (No right or wrong answer to number 2 - I love both hardware and software synths).

Thanks Husker, you are confirming my suspicions that the Minilog is more of a lead type synth.  To answer your questions, keys are not required, and hw/sw may be driven by price.  I would like hw because it would force be to really get to know the instrument where as a vst might get less attention.  I was also considering an Ipad with sw synths.  I have an Ipod with kill synths but the screen is too small to have fun with.
 
Thanks again

In that price range, I may look at the Waldorf Blofeld for hardware.  For soft synths, take a look at Synthmaster/Synmaster One, or U-He Diva.

Hi Husker,
 
Funny you mention the Waldorf ... I ran across it last night ... looks promising.  It was introduced in 2008, I wonder if its been updated since??
 
Looked at the Boflod reviews and moving on.  Now checking the Audiothingies MicroMonster!!
 
Thanks

I bought a Korg monologue last week and love it. Here's a recording I made with it...….
 
https://soundcloud.com/djwayne2000/korg-test-3

I bought the Minilogue after all and I am not disappointed.  The only issue I see is, when using usb midi with Cakewalk, the project load does something where the Minilogue no longer plays sounds even after changing patches.  I need to restart the Minilogue??  Does Cakewalk send initialize messages that cause this??  Does anyone else see this with any other hardware synths?  This is minor but if the patch was not saved... its gone.
 
Wayne Kraft, diggin your track!!
 
Edit:  I think it may be the Minilogue auto clock selection that causes this issue mentioned above.  I will check this theory when I get home.  I'll bet when the synth sees midi on the usb it switches clocking to the the usb midi clock and I haven't enabled Cakewalk to be the clock master at the time.  I will set the Minilogue global clock to internal vs auto(usb) and see how that works.  Sorry CW it looks like an operator error.