Analogue synths

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Well, it had these nylon/plastic strings that were really really floppy... and I imagine that they would be a pain in the butt to replace if one ever broke. Luckily that never happened.

The way the thing works is actually kind of neat. The fretboard is made of rubber and has hidden touch-sensitive strips under it to detect what note you're fretting. The sound patches are pretty much the same as any Casio synth from the time (I really liked rock organ and mandolin). I bought it to use as a studio toy and left it on a stand next to the client couch in the control room. Not a session went by where someone didn't pick it up... it's really that fun to play. I think I've only ever recorded it once, though. I got mine through a trade for an old Roland synth, but if you can pick one up cheap it's totally worth it just because it's so weird.

It also has a built-in drum machine and drum pads. So hilarious. I've never played any other digital guitar-synths although I did at one point have a Yamaha SHS10 keytar until my singer decided he didn't like me playing it and smashed it on stage. Good times.

Hey, I have a problem and hope you can help me. Im trying to Midi up my RX5 drum brain to my td4 drum module with its pads. Its a regular roland vdrum set. Thing is I cant get two things right... Getting the right sound to the right pad, and troubleshooting triggering sensitivity issues. If anyone familiar with those devices or in general can help it would not only put a big smile on my face but also make me really grateful

Hahaha I'd argue the opposite; The only routing you need for a drum kit is to mount the drum on a stand and then just hit it with something.

To solve the problem, however, I'd check out page 35 of the TD4's manual:
http://cdn.roland.com/assets/media/pdf/TD-4_OM.pdf

If that link doesn't work, google the manual and it'll show up on Roland's site.

Or maybe this copy/paste job will work for you.

1. Press the [MENU] button so it’s lit.
The MENU screen appears.

Specifying the Type of Pad Screen
2. Use the SEL[ ] [ ]buttons to choose
“8 PAD SETTINGS,” and press the [OK] button.
The Pad Settings screen appears.

3. Use the SEL[ ] [ ]buttons to select the parameter that you want to edit.
4. Use the [-/+] dial to edit the value.
5. Press the [OK] button to return to the “MENU” screen.
Parameter/Value Explanation
Pad Type
For each Pad, you can select the type of pad you’re using (the pad type) so the TD-4 will ac- curately receive the signal from the pad.
Pad Type:
KD-8, KD-85, KD-120, PD-8, PD-85, PD-105, PD-125, PDX-8, CY-5, CY-8, CY-14C, CY-12R/C, CY-15R, VH-11, OFF
The “Pad Type” is a collection of settings for various pad-related parameters; it sets these parameters to the appropriate values for each type of pad.
Simply select the pad type that’s appropriate for the pad you’ve connected. Each parameter will be set to the appropriate value, allowing you perform optimally.
If the pad does not respond as expected even though you’ve selected the correct pad type, you can make fine adjustments to each pa- rameter as appropriate for your pad.
* If you’ve turned this OFF for a pad, and would like to change that pad’s setting to something other than OFF, you’ll need to re-select the pad by turning the [-/+] dial in the MENU screen (p. 27).
Setting the Pad Sensitivity
When you specify the pad type, the following settings are automatically set to the values appropriate for each pad, meaning that you will normally not need to adjust them. If you wish to make detailed adjustments, you can edit the following parameters.
Screen Parameter/Value
Sensitivity
1–32
Explanation
You can adjust the sensitivity of the pads to accommodate your per- sonal playing style.
This allows you to have more dynamic control over the sound volume, based on how hard you play.
Higher sensitivity allows the pad to produce a loud volume even when played softly.
Lower sensitivity will keep the pad producing a low volume even when played forcefully.

In the end I got it right, just afraid to turn off both modules... I am too lazy to reprogram the same thing all over again if it resets (the sensitivity, and the shaker that I made sound like a closed HH for when the pedal is pressed)

I love analog synths. Is it just an Aspie thing?

I have the following:

Roland Juno-60
Roland Jupiter-6
Roland Jupiter-4
PPG Wave 2.3
Roland JX-3P (With PG200)
Roland JX-10P
Roland JD-800
Prophet-5
SC Pro One

As strange as it may seem, I've actually kinda wanted to get a Yamaha PSS-470. Yes, it's a kids' keyboard with miniature keys, BUT not only does it have the famous YM3812 FM synthesis chip at its core (aka the OPL2; this was found at the core of the original Adlib PC sound card as well as every Soundblaster before the Pro 2.0), it also has tactile sliders for programming FM synth sounds. This is a good video on it:

To sum it up, it's a digital synth keyboard with sliders that sounds like an old PC soundcard. Being a fan of old DOS games, this greatly appeals to me. The only thing I wish it had was MIDI support, but I'm sure there's a mod out there for it.

Nick Rhodes apparently uses this now, 4 or more of these to be exact. Seen him with Duran Duran on Youtube live concert. There is a video of him demonstrating that synth. I don't like the sound much, personally, and there's no dial wheel only those back and forth buttons which take time to scroll through.

For FM fans, finally a new FM full keyboard from Yamaha.
PSS series is 2 operator, DX21/27 is 4 operator, DX11 is 4 operator multiwave, and DX7 series is 6 operator

Now the first 8 operator FM keyboard, Montage

It sounds great and looks like a spaceship.. But it is very expensive, so I will probably get a used FS1R instead