Conference napalm::commusic_v1

    You'd do well to consider a used unit.  I'd strongly recommend
    something like a Roland Juno-106, which you should be able to find
    in excellent condition in your price range (in fact, I have one myself,
    but I don't know if I want to sell it, despite the fact that it's
    nominally retired).  It's a basic one oscillator analog synth, with
    all the knobs and sliders that used to be de rigueur before the
    advent of microprocessor controlled LCD user interfaces.  It has
    a 61 note keyboard, but no velocity or aftertouch sensitivity. 
    The strings are very good, that classic analog sound.  It's super
    easy to program and holds 128 patches.  A basic and very serviceable
    MIDI interface.
    
    You can certainly get excellent rack mountable (keyboardless) units
    for a little more than your price point (e.g., the Oberheim
    Matrix-1000), but there's no keyboard and the user interface will
    almost always be the 4 button (next/previous parameter, next/previous
    value) and LCD type.
    
    If you can put up with a miniature keyboard (only three octaves
    though), there's also the Casio CZ-101, which you should be able
    to find used for considerably less than $350.  Programming is a
    little less straighforward than the Juno.
    
    These are three machines that I've had good personal experience
    with, I'm sure other COMMUSIC noters can provide some more advice.
    
    len.
    

    A step up in the Roland evolutionary chain is the JX3-P. 2 
    oscarlators, programable via panel (arcane) or PG-200 programmer.
    
    Or, you could go FM, and get a DX-100 with it's mini-keys. The 
    solo strings are pretty good, but the ensembles don't work.
    
    Edd

     	
        While we're on the subject of F.M., Sam Ash is blowing out their
    YS-100 and YS-200 multi-timbral midi workstations (?) for only $359 and
     $429, respectively. I think either of these would make an excellent starter
    synth, especially since they have done away with the in-depth operator
    programming and use a user-friendly interface.
        The difference between these synths is the Ys-200 also has a
    7500 note, 8 track sequencer built in. Both have internal effects
    such as reverb, delay, chorus, distortion(huh?) and flange, but in a
     multi-timbral setup, the effect is across the board.
        Either is a great buy..................Rich
                
    

    Blowing out the YS stuff, already?  Sheesh ...
    
    Steve

    who makes ys?

    
    The YS-100 and YS-200 are Yamaha products.  

    IM CURRENTLY using a casio 460,that is multi timberal,records,and
    has built in drums{cheesy built in drums :'} }its pretty user
    friendly-just wondering how the yamaha ys-100 compares
    Yes I know "the casio is a toy"  it works pretty easily
    but the Yamaha seems pretty interesting though.Im a guitar player
    and just dabbling with keyboards in conjuction with a 4 track.

    I second Lens idea, go used. The Juno 106 he mentioned is a real good 
    unit to learn on cause all the controls are accessible in real time.
    ie: you can tweak sounds to your hearts content while playing - very
    easy to use. The JX3P is also neat. To be as easy to program as the
    106, you'd need an outboard programmer (xtra $) but it does have 2
    osc. per voice so it can do cross-modulation (good for metallic &
    bell sounds). I think it's a toss-up between the two, depending on
    which one you personally like. 
    
    Other thoughts:
    
    Akai AX80 - 6 voice analog, very similar in concept to Juno 106. Real\
    time control of all parameters, MIDI, non-velocity or aftertouch kybd.
    I see 'em in the want ad for $300-ish.
    
    Korg poly800 - not as good as the others but you could probably get one
    for around $200. It's 8 voice analog, but most patches use two sounds
    layered together, so it becomes 4 voice. has 4 octave kybd.
    
    Korg DW6000 - if you see one used for around $350ish, go listen to it.
    I think (?) this is a wavetable synth (somebody help me out if I'm
    off track). Digital waveforms as osc. sources. I 've had a couple
    of these - they sound pretty neat.
    
    I've been seeing Prophet 600's pretty cheap lately. I'm not sure how
    many voices it has (6 I think). Analog, easy to program, never
    had one to play with, opinions anyone?
    
    I just picked up a Korg DS8 for $350. It's basically a 4 operator FM
    synth with a velocity/aftertouch kybd & a intergal digital delay.
    I love it cause programming FM is something I've never tackled &
    this thing is set up like analog - easy. Sounds great. 
    
    Make sure whatever you get has MIDI.
    
    Regards, Scott
    

I picked up my Casio HT6000 used at Daddy's in February for $399.  It is a 4
osc. analog synth with velocity sensitivity and a lot of the features of
the home units (PCM rhythms, etc.).  It's easy to program both the voice
patches and the patterns.  8 note polyphonic or 4-4 with splits.  RAM
card. MIDI. 

CAUTION: I would be _very_ careful about choosing a synth without velocity
sensitivity.  I started by ordering a unit without this feature and ended up 
deciding to sell it within a day.  I now consider it a critical feature. 
With today's used market, you can get a unit with velocity sensitivity in
your price range.  

I agree with .8: get MIDI.  Also, it's fun to program an analog synth. 
Don't get something that just has presets. 

Alex

    WHERE would I find samm ash music store?

    Sam Ash is a mail order dealer (as well as a big showroom dealer) out
    of NYC.  Their toll-free number is 1-800-4SAMASH. 

    As an aside, there are lots of recent topics on similar subjects that
    might prove beneficial.  Try extracting topic 2.last to a file and
    using an editor to look for topics under GETTING_STARTED.  Extract
    as follows:

	Notes> EXTRACT 2.LAST MYFILE.LIS  (or whatever you want to call it)

-b

    Here's my opinion on the JX-3P, one of wich I own:
                                          
    Although I like it very much (I would'nt sell it for the money I
    could get for it), I would'nt advise anyone to buy one, because:
                                              
    - it's MIDI implementation is a very early and incomplete one (it can
    not receive system exclusive messages)                        
                                                                  
    - it's not touch sensitive                                    
                                                                  
    - it's not multi-timbral (I consider it a *must* that one's *only*
    synth be a multi-timbral one, specially if your on 4-track. It will
    save a lot of over-dubbing)           
                                          
    However, I like it because (I own one, :-), and...) it has a good, rich
    and powerful analog sound (thanks to the 2 DCO's). The PG-200 is
    useful, but I don't have one, and I don't miss it. The JX-3P  also has
    a built-in 128 note sequencer, wich is handy to play with, but very
    difficult to put to some serious purpose. 

    david                                             
                               
                               
                               
                               

RE < Note 2118.12 by LISVAX::DAVID "Jos� David -> SWAS, Portugal" >

>    - it's not touch sensitive                                    

	I believe the JX3P has a ROM update that allows it to respond to 
velocity over the MIDI line.  Edd?

	I personally didn't like the type of analog you get from the JX3P (and
its rack-mount counterpart, the MKS30).  It sounded to bright and metalic, or
too thin when the filter was set lower.  I, personally, would prefer the one-
oscillator sound of the JUNO to the 2-osc sound of the JX3P.

	Then again, there's Oberheim...

	Dan
                                                                  

    Yes, there is an upgrade that allows velocity over MIDI. It's only
    usefull in a MIDI system however, it disables the keyboard.
    
    I've had both versions of the unit (JX3-P and MKS-30). Yeah, they're
    primitive, but like -.2, I'd rather keep the MKS than sell it at the
    market price. That's the key. .0 doesn't want to spend alot of
    buckeroos. For the price, it's a viable alternative.
    
    Edd