mcgraham

Sorry! Not a daft question seeing as this is a bass forum. I am just using a Korg Microkorg XL as a bog standard MIDI controller.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1354225681' post='1883957'] Keyboard mechanisms are the thing that still cost lots of money and would prevent making a cheap Monotron with a "proper" keyboard. Also the diminutive size keeps the price down. mcgraham - your Monotron demo is very impressive I certainly couldn't do anything like that with mine which lacks the chromatic switch. [/quote] Cheers BRX! It's the Monotron Duo you want - they sell them down at Millenium Music in Hockley. They're actually in store. They've got the Monotron Delay in now as well, which I'm after to go with my Minitaur for added delay plus ribbon effects.

I totally agree that I too would want one, but not sure how cost-effectively they could manufacture a synth with keys. Not sure it could even come in under 100 quid. If you're willing to put in a little bit of practice time, the ribbon controller is a great compromise for a super-simple portable instrument.

[quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1354214045' post='1883765'] Well the Monotron appeals because of it's size and cost! I'll probably get one anyway seeing as they're so cheap and if it doesn't work I'll end up getting a Microkorg like I've wanted for years. Dont suppose you know of any other decent synths of a similar size? Truckstop [/quote][quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1354214343' post='1883770'] What do you want to do with it? Analogue synth sounds with a proper keyboard? - IMO the MicroKorg is the smallest worth bothering with. For something full-size look at the Nord Lead. Weird unpredictable noises? - anything from Bleep labs. [/quote] http://soundcloud.com/mcgrahamhk/monotron-duo Here's a clip with the Monotron Duo using the chromatic quantised mode. I've tuned it based on where I know C 'should' be, but rest assured you can tune it as little or as much as you want. My playing is not stellar, and I probably could show you a few more sounds in there, but for an off-the-cuff recording it shows you what you can do. I've started with just one VCO, then cross-modulation using the other, plus some filter and resonance action. I've then gone to both VCOs running in parallel, then further introduced cross mod (where VCO1 and VCO2 are sounding, AND VCO2 is modulating VCO1) - some crazy dirt sounds to be had in there. Little bit of Jackson 5 thrown in for good measure.

BRX, you right when it comes the standard Monotron, but the Monotron Duo is quantised to the notes of the keyboard. You can also change whether the ribbon keyboard is quantised in chromatic, major, or minor scales, or just a standard ribbon controller. Really really useful. I'll put an audio clip together for you just to show some basic bassline functions. One cool thing you can do with the original Monotron is use the sawtooth LFO to create a kick-drum sound at any tempo you like. Instant kick drum for playing along with, or a metronome, etc.

Mark bought my Boss RC2 - really smooth transaction. Prompt payment, easy communications, and patient to boot (despite Royal Snail taking a day or so longer to deliver than expected). Definitely recommend for transactions!

Yes. They are [u][i]fantastic[/i][/u] at bass. If they didn't look so much like a toy and I didn't need to retune to utilise the keyboard for different songs in different keys, I'd happily do a gig with one.

Clip! http://soundcloud.com/mcgrahamhk/minitaur

I knew that already, but what gave me away?

Used it at church this morning. Was monstrous. That is all

I thought they had some plans to produce some PA equipment?

I couldn't decide whether to start a bass synth thread, but figured this was more to the point of what's on my mind... I LOVE my Minitaur. Quite literally LOVE the thing. I got it a month or so ago, and have been fiddling since then. Now I'm playing with the sockets on the back, e.g. CV voltages, headphone out etc. For those not familiar with the Minitaur, it's a relatively basic 2 oscillator bass synthesizer based on the Moog Taurus pedals, which were giant foot-pedal operated bass synths from the 70s/80s (thereabouts). I bought it primarily because I wanted and needed a bass synth. The architecture of the synth means it cannot play above C5 - it's a physical constraint of the design. This doesn't bother me, in fact I quite LIKE it has this sort of limitation - it's what makes it a unique instrument in its own right. There's a lot of hidden features only accessible with MIDI that really sold me on it, but to TBH it's not been implemented well enough yet for me to invest any more time with til the firmware is updated further. This might seem irksome, but frankly... it reeeeeeally doesn't matter the Minitaur is just THAT awesome from the stock settings on the front panel alone. This thing is a FANTASTIC bass machine. Here are a few things I've been experimenting with this week: 1) Running one of the outputs into the audio in - an old synth trick, where you run one of the outputs back into the synth to drive the filter harder. It's finicky, and very interactive, but it makes the instrument infinitely more fun and is yet another tonal colour to use. It can take a single oscillator and make it the phattest thing you've EVER heard. This thing sounds great on its own with just one oscillator, but running itself back into the filter gives a MASSIVE sound. And because everything is interactive you can get back to clean without losing volume or aggression (unless you want to!) just by altering some settings. 2) Run an EP-2 into the filter - pantherairsoft knows this trick, as will many established synth players. This allows you to play far more complex bass lines and then use your foot to vary the cut-off point of the filter. This is fantastic for blending between smoother and more aggressive versions of the same bassline, from smooth and soft to face-melting aggression - wonderful! 3) Run an EP-2 into the pitch control - This was a trick I picked up from Jordan Rudess (not personally). Basically you can use it as an overall pitch control for the entire instrument, effectively allowing massive dive-bombs or transposing the whole instrument on the fly. 4) Set the LFO to provide vibrato AND wobble - I've found a setting where the slightest touch of the mod-wheel gives you a lovely vibrato, but slide it all the way up and you get a mental dubstep wobble. I definitely want to do at least an audio clip showing some of the ideas I've been coming up with. I just felt so strongly about how fantastic this instrument is I simply had to post to share. if any of you are interested in the Minitaur I strongly encourage you to check it out - it's a mentally fun 'light on the wallet, but not on sound' type instrument.

And this is why I am glad I persevered with bass synth!

That. Was. Awful.