Conference napalm::commusic_v1

    You'd do well to consider a used unit.  I'd strongly recommend
    something like a Roland Juno-106, which you should be able to find
    in excellent condition in your price range (in fact, I have one myself,
    but I don't know if I want to sell it, despite the fact that it's
    nominally retired).  It's a basic one oscillator analog synth, with
    all the knobs and sliders that used to be de rigueur before the
    advent of microprocessor controlled LCD user interfaces.  It has
    a 61 note keyboard, but no velocity or aftertouch sensitivity. 
    The strings are very good, that classic analog sound.  It's super
    easy to program and holds 128 patches.  A basic and very serviceable
    MIDI interface.
    
    You can certainly get excellent rack mountable (keyboardless) units
    for a little more than your price point (e.g., the Oberheim
    Matrix-1000), but there's no keyboard and the user interface will
    almost always be the 4 button (next/previous parameter, next/previous
    value) and LCD type.
    
    If you can put up with a miniature keyboard (only three octaves
    though), there's also the Casio CZ-101, which you should be able
    to find used for considerably less than $350.  Programming is a
    little less straighforward than the Juno.
    
    These are three machines that I've had good personal experience
    with, I'm sure other COMMUSIC noters can provide some more advice.
    
    len.
    

    A step up in the Roland evolutionary chain is the JX3-P. 2 
    oscarlators, programable via panel (arcane) or PG-200 programmer.
    
    Or, you could go FM, and get a DX-100 with it's mini-keys. The 
    solo strings are pretty good, but the ensembles don't work.
    
    Edd

     	
        While we're on the subject of F.M., Sam Ash is blowing out their
    YS-100 and YS-200 multi-timbral midi workstations (?) for only $359 and
     $429, respectively. I think either of these would make an excellent starter
    synth, especially since they have done away with the in-depth operator
    programming and use a user-friendly interface.
        The difference between these synths is the Ys-200 also has a
    7500 note, 8 track sequencer built in. Both have internal effects
    such as reverb, delay, chorus, distortion(huh?) and flange, but in a
     multi-timbral setup, the effect is across the board.
        Either is a great buy..................Rich
                
    

    Blowing out the YS stuff, already?  Sheesh ...
    
    Steve

    who makes ys?

    
    The YS-100 and YS-200 are Yamaha products.  

    IM CURRENTLY using a casio 460,that is multi timberal,records,and
    has built in drums{cheesy built in drums :'} }its pretty user
    friendly-just wondering how the yamaha ys-100 compares
    Yes I know "the casio is a toy"  it works pretty easily
    but the Yamaha seems pretty interesting though.Im a guitar player
    and just dabbling with keyboards in conjuction with a 4 track.

    I second Lens idea, go used. The Juno 106 he mentioned is a real good 
    unit to learn on cause all the controls are accessible in real time.
    ie: you can tweak sounds to your hearts content while playing - very
    easy to use. The JX3P is also neat. To be as easy to program as the
    106, you'd need an outboard programmer (xtra $) but it does have 2
    osc. per voice so it can do cross-modulation (good for metallic &
    bell sounds). I think it's a toss-up between the two, depending on
    which one you personally like. 
    
    Other thoughts:
    
    Akai AX80 - 6 voice analog, very similar in concept to Juno 106. Real\
    time control of all parameters, MIDI, non-velocity or aftertouch kybd.
    I see 'em in the want ad for $300-ish.
    
    Korg poly800 - not as good as the others but you could probably get one
    for around $200. It's 8 voice analog, but most patches use two sounds
    layered together, so it becomes 4 voice. has 4 octave kybd.
    
    Korg DW6000 - if you see one used for around $350ish, go listen to it.
    I think (?) this is a wavetable synth (somebody help me out if I'm
    off track). Digital waveforms as osc. sources. I 've had a couple
    of these - they sound pretty neat.
    
    I've been seeing Prophet 600's pretty cheap lately. I'm not sure how
    many voices it has (6 I think). Analog, easy to program, never
    had one to play with, opinions anyone?
    
    I just picked up a Korg DS8 for $350. It's basically a 4 operator FM
    synth with a velocity/aftertouch kybd & a intergal digital delay.
    I love it cause programming FM is something I've never tackled &
    this thing is set up like analog - easy. Sounds great. 
    
    Make sure whatever you get has MIDI.
    
    Regards, Scott
    

I picked up my Casio HT6000 used at Daddy's in February for $399.  It is a 4
osc. analog synth with velocity sensitivity and a lot of the features of
the home units (PCM rhythms, etc.).  It's easy to program both the voice
patches and the patterns.  8 note polyphonic or 4-4 with splits.  RAM
card. MIDI. 

CAUTION: I would be _very_ careful about choosing a synth without velocity
sensitivity.  I started by ordering a unit without this feature and ended up 
deciding to sell it within a day.  I now consider it a critical feature. 
With today's used market, you can get a unit with velocity sensitivity in
your price range.  

I agree with .8: get MIDI.  Also, it's fun to program an analog synth. 
Don't get something that just has presets. 

Alex

    WHERE would I find samm ash music store?

    Sam Ash is a mail order dealer (as well as a big showroom dealer) out
    of NYC.  Their toll-free number is 1-800-4SAMASH. 

    As an aside, there are lots of recent topics on similar subjects that
    might prove beneficial.  Try extracting topic 2.last to a file and
    using an editor to look for topics under GETTING_STARTED.  Extract
    as follows:

	Notes> EXTRACT 2.LAST MYFILE.LIS  (or whatever you want to call it)

-b

    Here's my opinion on the JX-3P, one of wich I own:
                                          
    Although I like it very much (I would'nt sell it for the money I
    could get for it), I would'nt advise anyone to buy one, because:
                                              
    - it's MIDI implementation is a very early and incomplete one (it can
    not receive system exclusive messages)                        
                                                                  
    - it's not touch sensitive                                    
                                                                  
    - it's not multi-timbral (I consider it a *must* that one's *only*
    synth be a multi-timbral one, specially if your on 4-track. It will
    save a lot of over-dubbing)           
                                          
    However, I like it because (I own one, :-), and...) it has a good, rich
    and powerful analog sound (thanks to the 2 DCO's). The PG-200 is
    useful, but I don't have one, and I don't miss it. The JX-3P  also has
    a built-in 128 note sequencer, wich is handy to play with, but very
    difficult to put to some serious purpose. 

    david                                             
                               
                               
                               
                               

    Yes, there is an upgrade that allows velocity over MIDI. It's only
    usefull in a MIDI system however, it disables the keyboard.
    
    I've had both versions of the unit (JX3-P and MKS-30). Yeah, they're
    primitive, but like -.2, I'd rather keep the MKS than sell it at the
    market price. That's the key. .0 doesn't want to spend alot of
    buckeroos. For the price, it's a viable alternative.
    
    Edd