Synthesizers

Yamaha? Roland?

Which do you think, if any, is the best synthesizer out there?

I'm thinking of the Yamaha MM6 for Christmas. Sounds from the Motif and a very affordable price

Easily hook it up to the computer (USB) and record directly into Cubase or use it as a MIDI Keyboard in Sibelius, for example.

Should help a lot with compositions

Personally I'd buy a midi controller keyboard with no onboard sounds and invest in some samples which it can trigger. If you want advice on going in this direction, let me know.

If you are set on getting a synthesiser, I can't help you as I don't know much about synths tbh. I'm sure other people on here can help you out with that though.

Buying a MIDI controller and then getting the software and samples etc...seem's to much hassle. With a synth everything's there, whether you just want to play the device on it's own, or hook it up to the computer to record/compose.

The good thing about the MM6 is that most of it's sounds come from the Yamaha Motif, which is one of the best synth ranges around.

Tell me more of your idea, give me an example or something. If you have the time

Well with a simple midi controller (there are around from around 100$ or so, with 2-3 octaves and a few knobs) you also get whatever is free in the PC world and there are TONS of free stuff. Commercial synths are also magnificent (Absynth, Korg, etc), but I do, honestly, see a point in having something hardware. Just not my style either way, so I don't mind the few software bits and pieces I have.

But it's not much of a hassle really.

I bought a Kurzweil when I set up my studio and I really wish I had bought a controller and focused more of software. Of course, it depends what you want to do, but the flexibility of software is great. With hardware you will essentially have the same piece of gear forever but with software there are always new upgrades and features. You can always load the software in a laptop if you want to move around.

If you already have Cubase + Sibelius (or you are going to get them), then save yourself the trouble and just get a basic controller keyboard plus some software plugins. You will probably save a lot of money.

There are tons of free software plugins and soundfonts which you can get all over the internet. Or if you want to buy a decent plugin, you can get something like Cakewalk Dimension Pro for US$250, which would easily do every sound that comes with the MM6 and more (it has 1500 presets). A step up from Dimension would be something like Kontakt, which I believe has even more sounds.

I would only get a keyboard with built in sounds if I was using it for live performance... otherwise, everything these days is going software.

Get the Korg Triton. Expensive, but nice.

That's well above my budget.
As far as I know, the MM6 can also be used as a MIDI Keyboard, so wouldn't that mean I can use it with these plugins etc...?
So then its a keyboard for live, plus MIDI Keyboard for composition using the software?

Originally Posted by Chaski

That's well above my budget.
As far as I know, the MM6 can also be used as a MIDI Keyboard, so wouldn't that mean I can use it with these plugins etc...?
So then its a keyboard for live, plus MIDI Keyboard for composition using the software?

Yes of course. You can still use whatever plugins you like with the MM6 or any other keyboard which has a midi connection. Just thought you might be able to save yourself money by buying a keyboard without built in sounds.

That's why I suggested an upgrade to Sibelius 5 which has Sibelius Sound Essentials with it. And then buy a MIDI controller keyboard.

Another advantage of this is that, if in a couple of years time he wants to start buying sample libraries and the like, he can still use the same keyboard.