Synthesizer Recommendation

I don't necessary want the most high-end variety. I'd just like to get something good for playing around and composing with.

I wish I were "up" on the latest keyboards. I haven't played in years so I don't know what's out there. I'll be watching this discussion with curiosity.

Careful what you wish for, though, this forum recently cost someone a pretty penny in V-drums because he asked a similar question.

Casio do a nice range of "semi serious" keyboards with a lot of toys on them, some even with MIDI interfaces, and they are not that expensive. Good value for money, and even a numbskull like me can get a reasonable beat going.

Careful what you wish for, though, this forum recently cost someone a pretty penny in V-drums because he asked a similar question.

Oy vey. You don't know the half of it! Your timing is funny, because yesterday I just dropped $350 on upgrades to my Vdrum set. It is a really sweet kit now, though.. I think I'm finally getting towards the end of my "need to upgrade" stage. And I've actually gotten pretty decent in the short time I've had it! V-drums are great for learning, that's for usre.

I'll post a picture later of what you've gotten me into.

Keyboards can go the same way, though because they're much more popular than electronic drums, the prices are a bit more reasonable, and once you have a good keybard, there aren't many upgrades you need... E-drummers really get jobbed because it's such a niche market.

This is what you've done to me, Fabris.

Yup, that looks pretty much like the kit my other friend has, except he's got the natural toms instead of the pads. He doesn't have the full cymbals, though.

How much money have you put into that kit so far? I've been pondering getting started on drums, but don't want to drop a ton of money into it.

Luckily, we have quite a few instruments laying around here at MusicMatch, including a full drum setup. I might have to start staying here late and practicing.

Well, electronic drums are quite more expensive than their analog counterparts... Roland's entry-level V-Club set (which was what I started out with) retails for just under $1,000 if you shop around. I've upgraded everything on that set including the drum module, so all told I'm up to just over 3 large. The thing is I live in an apartment so "real" drums weren't an option. My drums are quiet enough to play at any time of the day or not and not disturb the neighbors. Plus at any time I can have have 50 different drum kits chosen from an almost infinite variety of drums sounds... Can't do that on the "real thing."

Having said all that, I have a feeling that when I buy a house, I will strongly consider buying a half-decent analog drum set.

i play drums. there are great sounding analog drums that aren't even that expensive. when i was 15 i bought a tama rockstar (which is still my favorite set even though it was so cheap). i have a yamaha stage custom that i purchased later...but the tama sounds amazing. and the newer sets are even better...you should check them out once you get a house. hardware is where analog gets expensive.

Yeah, as I said in the post you replied to, I live in an apartment and loud acoustic drums are not an option.

Edit: No fair, you edited your post.

haha yeah i read more into yours after.

consider buying a half-decent analog drum set.

<dictionary police>

You mean acoustic drum set.

</dictionary police>

Oh, go play in the sandbox with Bitt and the Grammar Police, will ya?

how bout i just call it a REAL drumset

Well, then you'd have to tell Neil Peart of Rush that he's not playing on "real drums"... (V-drums at the top of the picture)

hahaha...that'd be the day

Wow, hadn't seen that photo...

(/me drools over it for a moment...)

Hmm, he's toned down the electronic part of the kit considerably lately, hasn't he? It used to be about 50/50 or at least 60/40, now it looks more like 80/20.

Wonder if he's still using that same old rotating drum riser he's been using for decades. Ooo, that remids me, I've got less than a week before I go see them live. COOL...

And on the grammar topic: Analog refers to something electronic but not digital. Acoustic refers to something non-electronic. And "Real" could refer to either, although we would know what you were talking about if you said "real drums" in a conversation.

I know what analog and digital and electric and acoustic all mean... My brain just used the word analog because I'm on the Empeg BBS and not the VDrum BBS, and I'm used to using words like "digital" and "analog" around these parts. Gimme a break.

And yeah, he used to have more E's.

thanks for all the info...

to stay on topic...i don't know much about synthesizers. you said you don't want to spend a lot of money but synthesizers aren't very cheap, unfortunately. my dream: korg tritan!

Mmmmm.... MiniMoog....

Sheesh, you guys know how to dodge the bullets.

It all depends whether you want a keyboard of rack device. check out this store for some gear. The Alesis QS6.2 might be in your range. I've never really liked low end Casio stuff as it sounds really cheezy. but that's just me. EMU is also good, but Korg has always had great stuff, and a price tag to match.

What do you need it for?