Yamaha AN-200 review

For technical specifications please consult: http://www.vintagesynth.com/yamaha/an200.php

I own this tabletop synth since about 2 years. I was originally searching for a AN1X and bought this synth since they share the same VA engine known as the PLG150-AN. This VA plug in board is often described by a lot of synth aficionados as the best VA around. I do really enjoy the AN-200 as it feature a lot of interesting elements: The synth engine, some sampled drum sounds and also 5 effects. First, the synth engine is very «dirty» and raw sounding wish is totally great for me. The filters are precise and powerful, responding very well for live usage. Regarding the drum sounds, they are correct but as they cannot be edited (only affected by effects) I don't find them very usable. The effect section is very interesting, especially the amp simulation and distortion. The simple 16 steps sequencer with soft pads is easy to use but the unit must be connected via midi to a controller to use this device as a conventional polyphonic (5 notes) synth (pads are not velocity sensitive). Globally, the AN-200 sounds great and very living for a VA. To me, this unit is perfect for creating Trip Hop / Hip Hop and Trance.

8/10

Peaches I Feel Cream review

I follow Peaches since her very first album The Teaches of Peaches released almost 10 years ago. Her minimal electro clash compositions are often very catchy and I do enjoy Peaches typical irreverence! This new opus appears on the market last May and was highly anticipated by her fan base. I bought it last week and my first impression was a significant improvement regarding the production and instrument used. It sounds very deep and I suspect the utilization of lots of vintage analogue gears. The song Mommy Complex is my favourite as I really like the fact that it sounds full and achieved, being less than 3 minutes. Lose You is also another excellent song with a distinct new wave structure. Globally, I Feel Cream sounds like a logic evolution compared to the previous album, there is no big surprise despite the fact that Peaches let her «Rock» side in the wardrobe as there is more place for dance and hip hop on the album. On the other side, the lyrics are as usual, very dirty and vulgar!

8/10

Studio pics

Home based studio with emphasis over low byte-rate sample based toys. Not much effect units as I prefer processing sounds with plugins (less space consuming and cheaper solution). A very modest installation designed to be a fun zone!


Current set-up:

Instruments:














- Korg MicroKorg
- DSI Mopho
- Korg Electribe ER-1
- Boss DR-55
- Yamaha AN-200
- Roland Juno-60
- Roland Alpha-Juno
- Roland DJ-70 MKII
- Roland JP-8000
- Roland TR-626
- MFB Synth Lite II
- EMU Vintage Keys plus
- Toys (lots of...)
















Monitoring / effect / audio treatment
- Spirit (Soundcraft) Folio FX-8 mixer
- Mackie CR-12 mixer
- Alesis 3630
- Alesis Midiverb 2
- NAD pre-amp
- Technics & Sony monitors
















CPU
- Protool M-Powered 8.0
- MCDSP Project Studio
- M-Audio Profire 610
- Apogee AD-500
















More to come with synth set-up soon...

Roland Alpha-Juno review

 



For technical specifications please consult: http://www.vintagesynth.com/roland/ajuno1.php

This synth was marketed in 1986 as the famous Juno-106 successor. It features a complex matrix programming system wish is annoying for musician used to the Juno-6/60/106 rather simple and effective slider matrix. This problem could be resolve by using a software editor wish is easy to find for free on the Internet: http://www.discointellect.org/ezalpha.htm

Soundwise, I think it could be easily compared to is family with more sub as it feature a great subocillator. It not as powerful as the Juno-6/60 for pad, lead and string. It was used extensively during the 90's to create the «hoover bass» sound effect popularised within house music production's. Like the Juno-106, it feature Midi implementation. It could be easily find for reasonnable price and it worth the money. I enjoy to use this synth to create ambient background sounds, especially distorted one. The sound of the Alpha-Juno usually fit pretty well in the mix but can also take all the place if you don't respect the proper posology!

8.5/10

Einsturzende Neubauten Ende Neu review

Neubauten is one of my favourite music project. They tend to constantly evolve musically, experiment with sounds and explore new grounds. When they released Ende Neu back in 1996, we were use to a more industrial sound. This is the main reason why a lot of people don't like this album. Personally, I think Ende Neu is one of the best album EN ever produce because it is in fact different from previous releases, more soft and more experimental. I really dig in The Garden, the string orchestration is just perfect to me contrasting with Blixa powerful vocals. NNNAAAMMM is also very interesting showing great vocal sampling and Die Explosion Im Festspielhaus is also superb. The album highlights the maturity of the band and the more classical aspects of their musical personalities.

9/10 

DSI Mopho review

For technical specifications, please consult: http://www.davesmithinstruments.com/products/mopho/mopho_specs.php

I tried the DSI Prophet 08 maybe 2 years ago and really liked is sound. As I was already the owner of 4 polyphonic synth, I decided not to buy it. When the Mopho was released, I was hunting for a Roland SH-02 / SH-09 monophonic bass synth, unable to find one in good condition for a reasonable price. I decided to buy this ugly yellow box remembering that it's a 1 voice Prophet 08 + suboscillator, wish mean a killer bass synth. It is in fact more than just a standard monophonic synth as it include a 16 X 4 step sequencer and a line input for filtering external signal. The CEM DCO's are bright and fat sounding and the filter's resonance is totally awesome. I use this unit a lot to create sequences but also for filter sweeps and deep bass sounds. The main problem with the Mopho is the very simple interface for such a bunch of programming options: Only 8 knobs. For live use, without a complex midi setup, it's potential cannot be exploited. For a studio application, the software editor is easy to use and deliver great results. The price tag of the Mopho probably justify the simplicity of the interface but it remains the best bang for your buck's monophonic synth on the market.

9/10

Goldfrapp Felt Mountain review

This is a real album. By real, I mean that there is no «fill up» songs unlike most album categorized in pop music. Released in 2000, this album express all the potential of Alison Goldfrapp magnificent vocals. Her voice is warm, strong with a certain vulnerability and a hint of nostalgia. This blend sounds very achieve to my hear and I must admit that when listening to Alison, I feel something special (like if she cast a voodoo spell over my brain!). Felt Mountain production is top notch as it sound modern in the structure of the songs but there is also a 70's feeling provided by analog tape recording / mastering. The mix is superb with state of the art reverbs wich resulting as a modern music cult release. Regarding the style, I think it could be compared to Portishead, especially the Roseland excerpt, in a more grandioso string's arrangement ambience. By the way, string's are totaly awesome, sometime's surreal sounding giving a special color to this album wich I really enjoy. As I'm able to listen to Felt Mountain without skipping songs and more than twice a month since it's realease 9 years ago, it's undoubtably a personnal favorite.

10/10

Korg Electribe Er-1 review

For the technical specs, please consult http://www.vintagesynth.com/korg/etr.php

OK, this is the first drum machine I've bought, about 2 years ago. In fact, the term «drum machine» is often use to describe an electronic instrument wish is emulate acoustic drum sound using samples, in the vein of the venerable Linn Drum. In this specific case, the Er-1 should be considered as a drum synthesizer. Like any common synth, the concept is to create sounds and to get more hand control over the sonic parameters. This being told, forget about creating a natural sounding kick, snare, crash, clap or hi-hat. This box is meant to create unconventional electronic rhythm, noise, short synth loop and won't fit in all music genre. It works with the traditional step sequencing (4 X 16) inspired by Roland TR series. As being a VA, the sonic potential is limited compared to analog circuitry but offer a way more stability and some digital cleanliness. The control over the sound is very good and it is really easy to create patterns. Somebody used to the step sequence programming won't need user's manual to operate this device. I personnaly find the kick drum very potent on this machine and tend to use it extensively. It is also possible to create some interresting synth effect and noise while tweaking the knobs. There are some sampled sounds (clap, snare, HH, crash) that I don't find useable, lacking of dynamics and fatness. You can easilly compensate by creating them with the synth engine. This drum synth could easily be bought for dirt cheap and I think it is a good investment. For better results regarding drum production, it should be used with other instruments as the sound is very typical and recognizable...

Rating: 7.5/10

Welcome

This blog is going to be dedicated to music production in general. I will review some interesting release that caught my attention over time. I will also review some electronic instruments and music production tools.

I compose music as a hobby since a couple of years and this blog is a platform to share some tips with everyone who is into home recording.

Enjoy!