Simple Synthesizer Advice

martimu

Hoping someone can point me in the right direction.


My 9 year old is interested in playing with synths. I have no knowledge other than what I'm reading (and it mostly blows my head!) I need something simple (and cheap - 2nd hand) that he can lay down some tunes fairly easily, perhaps including an appegiator which looks like fun.


We've a basic laptop he can connect to I also have a very old Yam PSR 36 that seems to work and has midi in and out - could this be used with a module or is it too old skool?

I don’t mind age of unit but I do want something that he can get to grips with on a basic level so he’s not put off.


Is there anything say under £100 second hand anyone would recommend to investigate?


If he gets into it then great we can look at something better at a later date. Also what blows my head may well not blow his I suppose.



Many thanks



Martin

Ned Senior

Let me look around, Some of the older sound modules may do the trick with your yamaha but you would also nead a midi-usb adapter to plug in to the puter
Plus some sort of music software..... Mostly these days people use soft synths ( these are software, all the controls are virtual on the puter screen)
Therefore you would only need a midi usb connector and some software!!!!!
I have been out of the loop for a while so will have a google etc
Look forward to any other replies too as I also fancy another go

Sound on Sound is a good place to look for ideas either print magazine or online


The 50 best VST/AU plugin synths in the world today


12 of the best free VST/AU plugin synths
Cheers

Phil

martimu

Cheers, Will have a good read. Thank you too as I now understand what it meant by soft synth. I definitely want something if possible with knobs and twiddly bits on for him. Just feel it's more interesting and interactive

martimu

Are the Korg Volcas worth looking at?

duncfunk

It's gonna be hard to get a synth for £100. If your lad is computer savvy I'd definitely go down the software route. If your laptop has half decent on board sound then you might get away with a USB MIDI cable (£10 off Ebay) otherwise you'd need to pick up a cheap USB audio interface. A little over budget but consider the following setup:

Reason Essentials 8 software - really good for synths and creating your own sounds
Reason Essentials 8

M-Audio Oxygen controller keyboard - you could use the Yamaha but this has all the assignable knobs to twiddle with
M-Audio Oxygen 25 Mk4

Any USB audio interface, there are loads to choose from starting around £30. A good one with mic inputs for the future costs around £100. You could also look for the controller keyboard second hand to save a few quid too.

martimu

Cheers, I see what you mean regarding the M-Audio ( an still twiddle lol) I've ordered an MIDI USB thing and will have look at the other items.
I've no idea if the laptop has decent sound card. We've an 5 year old Macbook Pro which might be OK and a £200 laptop which whilst it has DTS plastered on it I doubt has much about it. Still I'm sure I could fudge something together that sounds OK for the moment

martimu

Following up from the above I've come across the Novation Launch key 49. Comes with some software and is about £140. Seems like quite a lot for a start package and reviews well. Also hooks up to an iPad which could be useful. Worth looking at? Thanks martin

oska

Probably a bit late to the party here but the Arturia Minilab is well under £100 and comes bundled with retro synth collection software. It really is very good.

martimu

Not too late as I don't intend to do anything till Feb. My thinking is that 49 keys would enable a bit more traditional playing too. That minilab is v good value though

martimu

Well I got a £6 midi to usb cable, downloaded garageband on the mac, and hooked up the old Yam with some speakers last night. Not really expecting anything to work ( and it didn't till I reversded the midi cables) and lost 4 hours mucking around.

Seriously surprised by how decent the thing sounded and how much garageband has for a freebie.  Enough for me to let the boy loose on and see if there is genuine interest. I can see how much the pots and the knobs would be great on the midi controllers, but £6 to get us up and running is brilliant