The ideal keyboard for lush 'Pads'

Hi Jost,
You're rigth about the SuperNova II, that's an impressive VA if you look at the specs. Never played on a Novation, wouldn't know how it sounds compared to Access or Clavia.

Btw: regarding our demos, thanks for the compliments. Details: 2-track live recordings on Mididisk and mastered on PC.

Jost wrote

tcplugin, I wouldn't call the Access Virus a 'warm' VA, its more on the 'industrial' side of music - a metal blade/saw that chops every mix to pieces.

Regarding the Novation - there is the Supernova II and the K series. I wouldn't call the Supernova II a budget VA, however the K series is budget orientated (but still quite powerful).

The NL3 begins to interest me... its the only VA I never had the pleasure of working/playing with.

By the way, I checked your website and I had a listen to your demos. You make some really great music, I hope other Fantom members also have a listen to your demos


Sjaak - Fantom X7,SRX-679

JD800, anyone? I'm suprised no one has mentioned it yet. :-/



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If at first you dont suceed, then skydiving is definitively not for you.

BTW, there is a softsynth imitation of the nord lead, called "Synth1"

Its a pretty gud synth, IMO.

Also, check out Superwave P8, z3ta+, Absynth3, Atmosphere and TERA for some mind-blowing pads/weird atmospheric sounds.



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If at first you dont suceed, then skydiving is definitively not for you.

How about the electronic drum pads idea?

oorrrr...

Hi EJ2, I'd love to hear why you love the Karma-Fantom combination.
I always toyed with the Karma, but I never worked with one.

Sorry, I'm just getting around to anwering your question. Here is an example of why I like the FS-Karma connection.
Go to my SoundClick and scroll right down to the bottom MP3 called "FantoMoss".

Soon after acquiring my FS, I conducted just a simple experiment to see how the two keyboards meld. I didn't get into any fancy manipulations nor did I employ any of my Karma combi creations. Basically I messed around with the skip back sampling on the FS, assigned it to a pad to set the new pattern in motion, played over it in real time from both the FS and Karma MOSS programs while recording directly to two tracks in a Boss BR8. No extra processing etc. Oh, I forgot the L & R outs from both keyboards were mixed on the Roland M240 and the main outs from that went into the BR8. Here's a link.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/1/ej2_music.htm

Check out the other Karma demos if you wish.

Cheers,
Eric

EJ2 - Double EJ Projects BLOG
http://spaces.msn.com/members/EJ2/

Is it with the MOSS board installed?

BTW, the demos were nice. I got instant inspiration from your last track.

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If at first you dont suceed, then skydiving is definitively not for you.

Hey EJ2, I listened to all your tracks - really nice stuff. That Karma beast sounds awesome, a great companion to the Fantom. Do you use the 'Extreme Dance' SRX for your beats?

sambasevam, thanks for the tips. I have got the Atmosphere, its awesome, but I don't like software - I love tweaking hardware.

Regarding the 'JD800', do you mean the JP8000? I also have been wondering about the JP8000 lately. I never hear anything about it anymore. What's happening with it? Is anyone out there still using the JP8000?

No. I'm talking about the JD800 which is like a pad-monster. Its known for its pads.

It has EXCELLENT interface with all kinds of knobs/sliders for ultimate hands-on control.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Roland-JD-800-jd800-digital-analog-synthesizer_W0QQitemZ7341093786QQcategoryZ64386QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem



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If at first you dont suceed, then skydiving is definitively not for you.

Is it with the MOSS board installed?

BTW, the demos were nice. I got instant inspiration from your last track.

Hi Sam,
Yes, I used some of my MOSS programs in that little experiment. Which last track, "Wishing Stone"? That's one of my non-Karmafied combis from "MOSSTER v 1". It's more of a really evocative pad without the Karma GE (Generated Effects - arps on steroids) operating. Thanks for the compliments. Most of those demos were recorded in real time with the KARMA function engaged. Basically, I'm playing Chord Triggers with my left hand and melody with my right, then I activate various Karma functions - joystick, Karma RealTime Controls etc. Karma is a really unique machine.

Hey EJ2, I listened to all your tracks - really nice stuff. That Karma beast sounds awesome, a great companion to the Fantom. Do you use the 'Extreme Dance' SRX for your beats?

Hi Jost,
Thanks for the compliments. The demos are from a variety of collections I have designed for the Karma. The TRANZFER mp3s show my EXB09 Trance Attack combis. ETM, TETRA, EDGES are all using my combis designed for factory programs (patches in Roland speak). Then MOSSTER mp3 for EXB MOSS. It's all Karma and nothing else and I'm improvising live. That's the inspiration of the Karma.

Funny you should ask about SRX05. I just won an eBay auction for it. Once I installed it, I was disappointed compared with what I can do using EXB09 Trance Attack and my combis in the Karma. It's a very cool SRX especially for the drum kits, but in all likelihood, I'm going to relist it, unless someone here makes me an offer.

Thanks again for the feedback, guys.
Cheers,
Eric

PS: The JD800 (if you can get one whose keybed is functioning), is a great synth for pads and leads. I have this yoked with my JD990 - awesome.

EJ2 - Double EJ Projects BLOG
http://spaces.msn.com/members/EJ2/

Sambasevam, thank you so much for providing this link. I am amazed about this beast, in-particular as I never heard of it, but it looks really interesting. Why don't they build keyboards like that anymore? Lots of sliders and knobs to avoid multiple menus... I wonder what year it was manufactured.

EJ2, are you saying the EXB09 Trance Attack beats the Extreme Dance? Wow, I am really surprised about this, having believed all along that the Supreme Dance is the best source for TR909 and TR808 samples. You got me really interested in the Karma, could you please describe in just three words the primary strength of the Karma?

Hi Jost,
I don't know if it beats the SRX05 drum samples, but what you can do with the 256 programs (in two banks of 128 sounds) in a Karma is really amazing. My reading is that Roland samples may be better, but Korg's post processing is much better. It probably comes down to a matter of taste and perception.

The 12 drum kits in EXB09 can be thought of as trance oriented, but as you may have noticed in the TRANZFER demos I can apply them to hip hop, house, etc. As I related in reply to your other post, you can have multiple IFX routes to lay down on the drums.

Here is a link to KARMA Lab. There's tons of info in there.
http://www.karma-lab.com/

As for the best source of TR909 or 808 sounds (other than the real thing), if I had to go to them, I use my Roland R8 and the following cards:
SN-R8 Electronic, Dance, Contemporary percussion, or Power Drums.

Check out the Karma if you are in the market for something different. If $ is not an issue,,,,LOL, the new OASYS is a real monster.

Cheers,
Eric

EJ2 - Double EJ Projects BLOG
http://spaces.msn.com/members/EJ2/

EJ2, I never worked with the R8, I thought the R8 is a Rhythm composer for guitarists and bass player, but not a Dance item to produce punchy TR909 snares and kicks.