Discussion
I need help from the electronic music hive mind!
What are the electronic instruments you've played over the years that are DEAD SIMPLE to use? Meaning, a person with no experience could walk up to it and quickly and intuitively move some knobs around, poke around a bit, and start exploring the instrument?
Samplers, synths, drum machines, and recording tech suggestions are all welcome. Boost if your followers would know about this pleeease! <3
@BackFromTheDud Volcas are definitely in the running <3
@alisynthesis I have a Volca Bass, which you can also get some percussive sounds from
@alisynthesis Honestly, I'd recommend a Stylophone. Very unintimidating, approachable and immediate. It has a rudimentary filter and a few other very basic synthy features. Hell, Bowie even used on onstage in concert!
@alisynthesis korg microsampler
@alisynthesis Arturia Microbrute. Yes, it has a tiny little patch bay, but you can ignore all that and still make interesting noises without trying too hard.
@BorrisInABox nice! Was also thinking of the Microfreak/Minifreak.
@alisynthesis @BorrisInABox imo the freaks are a bit… busy for a first-timer, but i guess that all depends on someone’s learning style. but i’ve actually attempted this before with a microfreak and it was unfortunately a bit easy for the user to get kind of… lost
microbrute is an excellent suggestion though
@alisynthesis Yep, those would certainly do it. Also the Korg Monotrons for a very low effort, low cost noise machine.
@alisynthesis
How about the KORG Kaossilator?
I bought one on a lark once and it has an impressive amount of customization. You can change instruments, key, scale mode... There are percussive options...
It's no good for reproducing music you know but tons of fun for creating new music.
@DenOfEarth good one! Very intuitive and exploratory.
@alisynthesis @DenOfEarth Other devices from the series too: e.g. Kaoss Pad Mini.
@emilis @DenOfEarth totally! I have the little effects box, which I'll definitely have on the table o' goodies. :)
@alisynthesis The Rainy Day Electronics Instruments Cumulus is very simple. It’s a four-play head sampler, and each head plays a section of the sample. It’s amazing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vwoIvGEoBQ&feature=youtu.be
YouTube
@arratoon oh, that looks fun!
@alisynthesis BoBeats made a video about a month ago with his picks of 13 synths for beginners.
YouTube
@woodwonk oh, awesome, thank you!
@alisynthesis Korg monologue comes to mind first
@tsrono
The Monologue was my first synth and I indeed found it very approachable
The Microfreak is tons of fun too
@alisynthesis
@ozzelot nice, i can see it being a great first synth :)
@tsrono
The TD-3 is also fun to twiddle, but in terms of shaping the sound, I personally run out of the fun too quickly. 😁 It's a highly moddable beastie though, maybe I'll do some drilling and soldering to it.
@alisynthesis
@tsrono
And on reflection, the Microfreak may offer a tad much for a first machine. The Monologue was sort of my Goldilocks choice to get into synths.
@alisynthesis
@alisynthesis one lesson i learned is not to expect kids to intuit how a pure midi controller does not make sound on its own, it would need to connect to a computer or their phone or some other device.
i'll gather some links to devices, however i'd be cautious about what we teach as dead simple. there should be at least some challenge
@protman @alisynthesis no, no challenge please
@datn @alisynthesis please clarify if this is sarcasm
@protman @alisynthesis not sarcasm! add the challenge in for kids if you must, but please smooth the way for us weary adults who want to make a joyful noise.
(this is NOT a trojan-horsed pro-AI argument. #fuckAI)
@alisynthesis Theremins are great for just exploring and messing around. Add a simple effects box with knobs for things like tone and echo and reverb, and people can really go crazy while learning about effects.
@ranjit totally. Maybe one of those otamaphone thingies that are so cheap, which I think are theremin-like? Need to look more, but something like that paired with a little Korg effects unit is sonic explorer territory for sure.
@alisynthesis @datn @protman contact mics! I used to buy piezoelectric discs in bulk and solder patch cables to them. Then I attached them to all sorts of things: cars, park swings, dish cabinets, clothing; and ran them into preamps, effects, and amps.
@Moss @alisynthesis I misread that as "contact mice".
Anyway yeah contact mics are great for playing around! I like using poster gum / museum putty to stick them to things - it makes a really good acoustic connection and you don't need to figure out clips or clamps.
@alisynthesis this is my baseline for introducing people to sequencing https://cdm.link/hammerhead-for-ios-brings-back-a-90s-drum-computer-legend-for-a-new-generation/
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@alisynthesis https://www.korg.com/uk/products/dj/volca_fm2/
volca fm2 - DIGITAL FM SYNTHESIZER | KORG (U.K.)