If you really don’t want to use a DAW, look into the Akai MPC range, get a 2nd half MPC 1000 or one of the newer ones and sequence away.
A strange is effect of the MicroFreak is that I like the Akai Force even more now… I was planning on going back in the box and stick to Live, now I think I’ll stay dawless a bit longer and maybe add a 2nd hand Evolver, as I finally know how to harness wavetables.
I just need to read a few things about the Evolver wavetables…
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Go back with a blofeld!
A Blofeld is never too far in my mind. What Idm really like is to get their eurorack keyboard and modules and make myself a hardware Nave…
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A blofeld has always been in the back of my mind, with these endless lists not sure if ill ever get one, after this review the polyend tracker has jumped up a few places in my list.
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Oh man, I’m not gonna say I’m against trackers as a matter of principle or anything, but I watched Loopop’s review. He usually explains stuff pretty well, but I just thought the Tracker was a mess. Not for me, and definitely not while trying to learn Ableton.
so did i until i watched that other video, hence jumping up my list.
As for Ableton i was doing a lot of micro editing today and surprised it didn’t have a “bounce in place” like Logic, where i wanted to bounce small midi clips into Audio…I know theres lots of workarounds but they are more long in the tooth.
Resampling. Yes, it’s annoying but it’s what I do!
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For as much as I like the form factor of the Polyend tracker, Renoise + a computer keyboard is all a ‘tracking’ needs.
On the other hand, being standalone and more limited sure has its advantages.
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I was not. Being limited usually helps me focus
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Anyone have any experience with a korg radias? Any good? I am eyeballing a used one here for a decent price. Does it sound better than the ms2000? I remember not liking that one. The radias seems to have more synthesis options.
Is it easy to tweak sounds or is there much menus? Thx
its next level from the MS2000.
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So in terms of second hand synths, from low to high price, what would you pick from a edit: there’s also a good deal on a deal mind module, radius, virus c, peak or microwave xt?
For “industrial” type sounds, pads whatever.
The virus in my mind is associated with cheesy trance and edm sounds. I used to have a blofeld so I am leaning towards the microwave personally, but it’s insanely expensive for an old synth.
If anyone can convince me on the radias, my wallet would be grateful.
I recently purchased and refurbished an Access Virus Classic (B)
Firstly, I’ll admit some bias…
Now that, THAT is out of the way…
Virus gets a bad wrap due to the music that was being released when it first hit the market, same w the Roland JP8000, both were used pretty heavily in the progressive house and trance scene. As a matter of fact that was part of the reason I got mine. 
That said, its got a full set of digital waveforms in addition to the analog ones and is really quite a deep synth, theres more to it than whats on the front panel. Its FM is a little tame compared to say, a NordLead or… any other FM synth, its not got that aliased top end that I associate with FM. That said, the saturators in the filters make the Virus GROWL, and having 2 filters that have several routing configurations allows for some really interesting and flexible sound design potential. The you get a phaser and chorus per patch, and I find that the delay and verb are VERY useable (im a verb and delay junkie… that goes a long way)
Some say the C sounds better, i think its totally subjective. I sort of fell in love w the B or classic’s sound having spent 3 years working with Tycho (Scott tours with a B).
So, yes… it can produce some cheese, but thats definitely not ALL it’s capable of.
Personally, I would take a Virus over the Radias, but thats just me. I’ve not used a Microwave XT or Peak, so I cant speak to that.
edit: The mod matrix is crazy in the Virus too. It can do as weird as you want.
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The Virus line was used heavily in DnB was well, so you can get some dark/gritty midrange, gnarly basslines and unsettling pads. What Chase says about the Virus growl is spot on.
I really, really want to try and a Novation Peak but I don’t know anything about them.
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TY both!
Ok, I will keep you posted if/ when I pull the trigger.
Might have to get a bass first, will see.
looks up the reasons why people have hardware synths, hardware effects, hardware samplers and it will be the same reason for owning a hardware tracker, one being escape from the computer, the feel of hardware and before you say it (trackers on a computer are more powerful) the less is more ethos as some people are more creative when working within constraints.
The Polyend tracker for me would just be a little sketch pad that gets me away from the computer and makes me work in ways I’ve never worked before, but ultimately what ideas are formed will end up transferred to my DAW.
its not a means to all, just a tool.
Have you ever considered Bitwig? Especially given your collection of hardware, it may be a compelling alternative for you. It has bounce in place f.e. and a similar clip arrainger interface. TONs of hw integration and possibilities for in/out from your gear. Just curious if that is something you have considered in the past, or might look at.
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to be honest Bigwig maybe better, but i just haven’t got the appetite to pay for a new DAW and then learn to use it,
Got my hands full at the moment with my new rack coming anytime soon, so I’m figuring out how everything is going to receive power, midi and usb when the wall its going against has no sockets. 