The youngest Seadog plays piano, and is gearing up for grade 5. He also writes his own stuff knoking out some pretty accomplished stuff using just Garage Band on the ipad (Of course I would say that, I’m his Dad…)
Sound Cloud link

We have a nice digital stage piano (Yamaha CP 50), but on the christmas list is a synth. Budget is £500 so, nothing super flash, just something for him to start to learn about what and how to do stuff using a synth and MIDI. The Roland Gaia SH 01 looks about right to me..? Or stick with a Yamaha ?

We’ve got an audio interface, so can easily connect to the ipad that way, and of course the Core MIDI could be used. Recording software for the. PC (Mac free household) also on the cards ….

Or simply point me in the direction of a Keyboard / Synth Forum where i will be given help and shown pity.

Sound on Sound forum has pretty much the biggest info collection and a fairly non-patronising vibe.
I’d recommend looking at you tube demos of all the options in your price range to get an idea of the sounds available.
Although a beginner, it’s worth considering what the synth would “do” – something to put together backing tracks Vs being a lead instrument and “hands on playing” Vs sequence based track building are basic considerations (IMO)

Maybe the new Electribe from Korg would be a good option as a taster of pretty much everything MIDI – step sequencing, rhythm pads, few knobs to tweak and a versatile set of sounds

http://www.juno.co.uk/products/korg-electribe-emx2-music-production-station-with/547478-01/

[video]https://youtu.be/kt3Oj-Dq-MM[/video]

BoardinBob… Is it going to be like that? Gawd ‘elp us…

@hildodger, I think something like an Electribe is on the list too, but not yet, the young ‘un is still more into playing it all as much as he can, keys and guitar.

Maybe have a look at this then
https://www.studiospares.com/Performance/Synths-and-Pianos/Akai-MINIMAK_265810.htm#rtabs1
Decent set of sounds, playable from MIDI if you want decent keyboard or stand alone if you just want to doodle around

Roland System-1

This looks fantastic. You can buy extra virtual instruments, load them into this, unplug it from the laptop and off you go. Apparently the closest thing you will get to a decent analogue sound from a very affordable digital synth.

that Roland Gaia jobby looks good fun, and not a bad option at all. I got something similar for my birthday in 1997 and still use it now 🙂

It’s only got a 3 octave keyboard, which could be restrictive if you’re more of a ‘keyboard player’ who wants to use the whole range of octaves and jam around a lot.

Then again it looks like the CP50 has MIDI, so you could probably use it to control something else (like the Roland) if that was an issue.

Bear in mind that if he really wants to get into it, there are various other synthesis options open; you can get standalone synths with no keyboard (rackmount stuff etc) that you could control with something else, or indeed there are tonnes of software synths that you can control with MIDI, although you’d probably want to be using a computer rather than a laptop (free options are available)

…that System 1 looks great too. Although it’s got even less of a keyboard, and only 4 note polyphony, which isn’t necessarily an issue with synthesis generally (plenty of synths have no polyphony at all), but could be a problem for someone with more of a piano background 🙂

I have my eye on an Arturia Microbrute.

Monophonic analog synth with some midi control (sequencing + mod wheels), CV in/out and the dirty synth sounds I love. ~£215

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvSinlnrQi8[/video]

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dG3Vrc-nyxI[/video]

Everything from modern sounds, through dirty ’90s rave and classic ’70s and ’80s sounds too.

have a go with it first.

i had a borrow of a Microbrute for a month or two, and found the sounds just too ‘tough’ for what i wanted. Had to run it through an old hifi reverb to soften it up a bit, otherwise it just sounded too FACE-RIPPING TECHNOID BASS for my tastes

but then i was trying to write house music with it. your mileage may vary, and it was certainly fun to muck around with….

Yamaha are doing some reissues of their classic synths in (I think) a smnaller form factor, they might be fun, if you want to go 80s.

I’m cracking under pressure to buy one of these

in built audio interface too

http://www.gak.co.uk/en/novation-ultranova/40992?gclid=CjwKEAiAvPGxBRCH3YCgpdbCtmYSJABqHRVw1D933lv4KzuWD9Sw0o6Vq8c0ynwmyGBiUhbbVR0ilxoC2Mjw_wcB

Those microbrutes do look ace fun for £200 ish but as above it might not be the most versatile thing in the world.

microbrute is awesome, and a proper synth, not a preset in sight

FACE-RIPPING TECHNOID BASS

Sounds like a the synth for me 🙂

I’m not really into house and clean sounds, so it seems like it will do I what I want it to 🙂

If it’s a proper synth he wants to learn about subtractive synth programming then there are plenty of cheap options about now for genuine analogue gear. I would recommend a Novation Bass Station II. Two oscillators plus sub-oscillator, two envelopes, two LFOs, multi-mode filter, step sequencer & loads of knobs & sliders to program it all. It does way more than its name suggests and covers the full range of sounds from classic Moog/Arp to Roland acid.

[video]https://youtu.be/vIoWzC-UEa0[/video]

@budgierider – The Novation looks the biz. I guess that it wouldn’t be beyond the wit of man to connect our Yammy CP-50, so that that its full keyboard could be used to control the Novation with the MIDI out?

Yeah that would be straightforward enough. It is monophonic though.

Ahhh.. Monophonic means thats a no no sadly…

The majority of synths are monophonic, even £3k ones.

I might be missing the point, but why does it need to be a hard synth?

I’ve got a Microbrute and do find it a bit harsh, could be tempted to sell. Have got or have had Novation Supernova, Waldorf Q, Little Phatty, DS Prophet, Spectral Audio Neptune and what I’ve learned I dislike is menu dipping and when multiple functions are assigned to one control and you have to keep cycling through.
I do find myself working mainly ITB but my Juno 106 gets a hammering. I think I’d be looking at a classic synth myself, or maybe an Access Virus or Monomachine depending on what it’s primary use will be. I’ve built two Mutable Instruments Shruthi which are good fun and an Ambika could be a good call if you’re handy at soldering.

Check this studio tour to get a good feel of some retro gear.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eigT6DvHJo[/video]

And check my shizzle.

https://800xl.bandcamp.com/

And lots of exciting repro gear coming out lately.