Conference napalm::commusic_v1

    There's not a box out there that can beat the Yamaha TX81Z in the
    "bang for the buck" category. It's only limitation is the maximum
    8 voice polyphony, but you can use 2 together for 16.
    
    I've got less than $600 tied up in 2 of them. You should be able to
    find a bunch for $300 (US).
    
    Edd

Velocity sensitivity is fancy for meaning the speed with with a key is struck
can affect some parameter of a sound.  Usually that parameter is volume but
is also often some sort of brightness parameter. Velocity is also
used sometimes to control other parameters (like crossfading between to sounds,
etc). Velocity sensitivity is a good plus.

Some inexpensive boxes:  (with US used prices)

Yamaha TX81Z  $200-$275   8 voice/ 8 multitimbral 4op FM  -- mucho bang for buck
Kawai K1m table top  $200-$250   based on sampled attacks and synth waves
                                 more or less (I don't have one...) -- also
                                 a good box
Kawai K1r rack of the K1m -- these are a bit more for the same innards of K1m
Roland MT32  ~$300   8 multi-timbral plus drum track.  Between 8 and 16-20 
                     usable voices at once.  It depends on what voices
                     you use -- you have 32 "partials" playing max at once
                     and voices are made up of 1-4 partials.  10-16 is probably
                     a normal range to expect.  This is also a sampled attack
                     synth waveform machine.


If you can find the Casio VZ10M or whatever it is called for your price, that
would be an excellent deal I think.  The VZ8M would probably be a good deal too.

Anyway, that is a start.  Look at the notes in the conference for each of the
above mentioned boxes to read up on them and what they really are.  Also, listen
to them all somewhere (your local store, friend, whatever) to see which one you
like the sound of.  Some people don't like FM sounds, some don't like the 
sample/synth combiners like the K1, MT32 etc.

Chad

    Does the TX81Z have 8 individual outs or just Stereo outs;I've heard so
    much about it?. Also, how many patches does it come with and can they
    be tweaked?
    
    Winston
    

    
    
      Try out the Roland D110. Another sample player/synth combo. The
    MT32's bigger, cleaner brother. It has a stereo mix out and six
    other assignable outputs. Built-in reverb OR echo for the stereo
    mix. Goes for a little more $. I got mine used for $500. You will
    not need a drum machine. It's got 64 pretty decent drum sounds onboard.
    
    RichC
    

    The TZ has assignable stereo outs.
    
    It comes with 128 ROM patches and 32 RAM slots for storing custom
    tweaks.
    
    Want a word of advise? Don't buy anything on the strength of the
    presets, be they good or bad. Study synth architectures and buy
    something with the ability to do what you want. COMMUSIC is as
    good a place as you'll find to get your questions answered. The TZ may
    not be for you. I've been doing FM for about 5 years now, so I'm
    comfortable with it; you may hate it.
    
    Don't get taken back by the "gee-whiz" sounds in any synth. That
    awesome helicopter patch and the "fuzzy quasar from hell" will soon
    turn out to be nothing more than wasted ROM. The entire D bank in the
    TZ could have been ommitted and I wouldn't miss it one iota.
    
    Edd

    Consider also that no matter what synth you get you'll find times when
    it won't quite be able to cut a sound you want.  The best setup, IMHO,
    is one that has a wide mix of technologies.  FM stinks when it is the
    only technology you have.  But, combine it with a sampler, an analog
    beast and maybe a wavetable synth and the FM works quite nicely.  As
    far as bang for the buck in FM, it is hard to beat the TZ.  It is
    flexible and there are good third party patches available.  FM is a
    hard thing to program if you are looking for a particular sound.  But,
    it can be fun if you are interested in creating a new and unique sound
    from scratch.  Also, it has features in it that allow the sound to vary
    a lot according to velocity, pitch, aftertouch/breath control and so
    forth.  Although many of the patches sound pretty lame by themselves,
    they work very well in a mix, especially when mixed with other
    technologies.
    
    Steve