[Sneaky Kitty]

Since I first posted this?

I went out and got the Virus Rack Classic. Had it for about a year. I love it.
I just acquired the Waldorf Micro Q Rack last month right after they announced their Demise.

It seems my dated comment has turned some people off.

I think Digital synths can certainly sound dated. Some sounds have a flavor of an era or decade but I consider that more nostalgia than being dated.
I think synths sound dated mostly because D/A Converters are so superior today and they were noisy in yester years. This is more apparent to me when working closer to either edge of the audible sound spectrum. I say this after owning and using a lot of different synths in the studio and live. Also I think a lot of older synths sound dated because the Waves used to created them are created with dated technology. Let us not forget, things like the logic for how key tracking is done today is far superior than it was. That is obvious when playing an older patch in more than one octave and listening to degradation of pitch and general quality. Sure that can be fun to do on purpose but it?s also a pain when it cannot be improved upon.

I do think some of the older synths that are very simple do not require converters by today?s standards to sound great or fresh. But I also think these synths are limited once you go past the few things they do well.

Sure you can mix and engineer enough stuff around them to hide some of these things but I will stick to my opinion about that a lot of equipment out their sounds dated. I would like to be able to play one keyboard for more than one riff.

I also really do not want to tour and gig with a ton of stuff. Nor do not I want to keep them in a storage unit or closet. I.e. have not touched my ARP Odyssey, or Prophet 600 in forever. I need to sell them both. It?s just hard to let go of some of them.

Since technology has come so far I have been looking for just a few things to focus on the things really like.

I am not really interested in designer synths but a particular sound.

For me that now means layering these three...

Triton Rack ? lovely and ambient with very smooth motion (I also needed something that can do homemade media samples)
Virus Rack - Rich Bass as well as Dark Edgy sounds
Waldorf Micro Q Rack ? Harsh, and Gritty as well as complex semblance and very versatile motion (MMM comb filters)

So in 8 rack spaces I believe I have everything I want. (2 rack spaces for 16track line mixer, 1 space power conditioner)

1 Dated Ensoniq VFX SD the greatest controller of all time IMHO (but never makes a sound anymore on its own) all the cords fall out of the rack, and I am set up in minutes.

PS ?Gator? now makes some great cases that I am crazy about for mixers. Turn it on its side and it angles all your keyboard racks easy access to your real time control knobs much easier. Also ?On Stage? has some Amp stands that will allow you to further adjust the angle and put it high enough off the ground to comfortably use while standing.

Have not taken it out live with Waldorf yet but I will next Monday and I am loving the addition so far.

Andrew