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Conference napalm::commusic_v1

Title:* * Computer Music, MIDI, and Related Topics * *
Notice:Conference has been write-locked. Use new version.
Moderator:DYPSS1::SCHAFER
Created:Thu Feb 20 1986
Last Modified:Mon Aug 29 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2852
Total number of notes:33157

2601.0. "what synth for Jazz???" by HLFS00::WETERINGH_B () Thu Mar 21 1991 08:59

    
    I'm a jazz person. I arrange a lot for a 5-part harmony jazz group with
    a combo of another 5 (piano, bass, drums, guitar and synth). What I
    want out of my synth is great actual sounds. I'm not really into making
    neat little leads or frightning thrillers, but I need a GOOD bass, a
    bright jazzy piano, several ride cymbals, nice brushes, smooth saxes
    etc. I'm currently working with a Yamaha SY22, which is quite nice for
    a piano (lack of better), but no brushes, saxes could be woodwinds as
    well, just one (for jazz) obnoxious ride cymbal ..................
    
    What would be the best for me to buy? A Roland U-220, a Proteus, an
    Ensonique, another Yamaha?.
    
    Also, since the scores are written for 10 different people, I always
    run out of notes, so I should use my sy22 as well as a new one that I
    wanna buy. But which is best?.
    
    All of you together have more knowledge about this then I could ever
    gain myself. So what would you advice?
    
    	Bernd
    
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
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2601.1$.02 worthNIMBUS::DAVISThu Mar 21 1991 11:5112
    
    Based just on the synths I've personally heard (not all that many), I
    would think the Roland U-220 would be a very good choice. Good piano
    sounds, some killer (IMO) sax and horns, and a nice range of
    drums/percussion. Don't remember off hand if the drums were "jazzy",
    but you do have quite a bit of control to modify characteristics of the
    basic percussion samples, and there are some extra sounds available on
    plug-in memory cards. I seem to remember that there were quite a few
    latin percussion sounds which would probably work well with jazz.
    
    Rob
     
2601.2Tough To Get BrushesIXION::ROSTI dreamed I was Roy EstradaThu Mar 21 1991 12:0411
    In general, "jazz" drums, with brushes, are hard to find.  The late
    lamented Korg P3/O3 offered a "jazz" card with brush played drums as
    well as a fretless bass guitar, and the Roland R8 drum machine can add
    brush sounds with a ROM card.  Beyond that, it's off to find a real
    sampler and then find some disks with brush drums....an expensive
    proposition.  
    
    I expect the reason is that the market for such goodies is more in the
    pop vein, brushes not being too popular in that idiom, eh?  8^)  8^)
    
    						Brian
2601.3for the percussion portion...STOHUB::TRIGG::EATONIn tentsThu Mar 21 1991 12:431
    	The R5 drum machine has brush snare and brush cymbal (ride) resident.
2601.4Which means the R8 has...XERO::arnoldCan virt. reality make my desk look clean?Thu Mar 21 1991 15:1210
>>>    	The R5 drum machine has brush snare and brush cymbal (ride) resident.

    The R8 (and R8M) can use the Jazz and Jazz Brush cards that Roland
makes for them.  As mentioned previously, these types of sounds (and,
in fact, the sounds on these cards) are frequently available for
samplers.  For instance, I have the Jazz and Jazz Brush sounds sampled
for the Ensoniq EPS.  I'll second the motion that a sampler's an
expensive proposition if all you're going to use it for is drums, though.

- John -
2601.5MAJTOM::ROBERTFri Mar 22 1991 17:0511
> Sampling, expensive option?

The sound modules mentioned were in the $800-$1000 range.  You can get some
samplers new, or better samplers used for that range, if not a little more.
That would provide the percussion and horns and whatever other sounds
available.  As well as the option to sample whatever's missing.
True there are other limitations operating, convenience and voice wise,
but I wouldn't rule it out as too expensive.

-TR
2601.6Not Expensive, Maybe, But Not Good for CymbalsDRUMS::FEHSKENSlen, EMA, LKG2-2/W10, DTN 226-7556Fri Mar 22 1991 17:368
    Be forewarned that sampling cymbals is not fun.  Unless you are
    prepared (and able) to do a considerable amount of signal/sample
    processing and editing, you will run out of memory and have noisy
    or distorted samples.
    
    len.
    
                                                          
2601.7Buying Sampled Sounds Gets Expensive FastIXION::ROSTI dreamed I was Roy EstradaFri Mar 22 1991 18:136
    The other drawbacks to samplers in general is that they are tougher to
    set up and buying third party samples gets expensive fast.  For synths,
    it's not uncommon to get 100 patches for $30 or so; 100 samples might
    cost you closer to $500.
    
    							Brian