So I've been messing around with the piano for over two years now and I'm ready to start fucking around with equipment that a lot of musicians I like use. By no means am I looking to record or really make music. This would just be for my enjoyment because I know I'm not talented whatsoever when it comes to playing music. When I go into Guitar Center this is the synth I seem to have the most fun with. Can I go wrong with this? I like the $400 price range on it. Or maybe suggest another one? Any input is appreciated, unless it's about swimming in the piano, you moron.

http://www.alesis.com/product.php?id=13

Schwing! Yeah, the Micron looks nice.

By all means, get it -- having fun with it in the store is an excellent indicator.

Here, check this out.

cool, man. thanks for that link. You own any equipment?

That Micron looks pretty nice. I've been wanting to get this for awhile.

[img][650:282]http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/3/1/8/285318.jpg[/img]

edit: i don't even know how to play.

i play around with that Korg at GC too, but I can't handle those little keys. they are smaller than like a Little Tykes too piano or something. cool options on that thing though. it's the same price as the Micron.

Dude, I have a whole home studio: Nord Modular, Kurzweil K2000RS, Yamaha TX81Z, Yamaha FS1R, E-Mu Morpheus & Ultraproteus...and, of course, two Roland AX-1's (because one is not Spinal Tap enough).

That's awesome! Care to share a pic or two?

I actually bought the Micron on Sunday at Sam Ash and the unit doesn't work. It was brand new too! I've emailed Alesis and if I have time today I'll call them, but Sam Ash already told me to bring it in. It lights and powers up, but the screen is just full of black squares and there is no sound. I was going to waste my sunday screwing around with it. very disappointing.

Dude, I'm a musician, I can't afford a camera...that works...no seriously: eventually...That's a bummer, but you shouldn't need to go all the way back to Alesis if it didn't work from day one -- Sam Ash should take care of you...

ah yes, the Microkorg. i actually have this, and we use it all the time. it's awesome.

Just don't get a Korg Triton, especially if you want to make synth based music.

How much is that MicroKorg?
I want a goddamn analong synth -- one that won't cost an arm and a leg.

Yeah Matt... if I get one, I'm gonna make you perch that motherfucker on top of your Roland and keep it there so we can have "Moog" in EVERY goddamn song!!!

$400.

Sam Ash swaped it today. The Micron is $400. I like it a lot so far! This is my first venture into something like this, so I have a lot of learning to do. Awesome!

any recs for a sampler/drum machine? Or possibly sampler/dm/programable key?

I'm in the market, and looking for a cheap/easy to use way to go about this...

The BOSS DR-Rhythm machines are pretty easy to use. I kind of like the new BOSS Dr Rhythm DR-880. Better sounds than the DR-770 that's for sure. But I'm sure it will be obsolete in 3 years. It also retails for about $500 which is why I haven't bought it yet.

I forget the name of it, but there is a hands-down definitive single sample-playback machine. It's covered on the top with pads, and very easy to play with your fingers. You can throw down the grooves, as long as you got rhythm in your blood.

There recently came out just a controller that looks like it's otherwise a clone.

Someone tell me what I'm talking about. I'll post later if I can find the article.

I use an Alesis HR-16(B), and it's adequate for me. When I'm going a little more high-tech, I use the Kurzweil and play it from a keyboard.

Then of course there's this:

[img][500:350]http://image.www.rakuten.co.jp/marks/img10351499017.jpeg[/img]

my baby

My roomie has the Micro Korg

Okay, the hands down default of which I was speaking was the Akai MPC series -- there's the 4000, the 2000, the 1000, and the MPD 16 controller (no internal samples; USB -- for people whose samplers are their computers).

It ain't got no keyboard, so we're talking beats 'n' shit.

EDIT: This was in response to Postmersh's query.

if you want to actually play keys, wouldn't you want more than three octives?

I got an upright for that, playa. The Micron is for fucking around with non-traditional sounds.