Have also been selling off gear recently and not replacing it and its been liberating. Had a lot of guilt not using things and overwhelm and feel happier now, like a weight has lifted. Strange the hold it can have.
Most of the gear I have is also a part of my pension plan. I have around 65 vintage synths and modules and around 45 vintage guitars and 15 vintage tube amps. I am 60 now and will need to scale down in a few years time . Let’s see 😊
You are proof that you're not a furniture/trophy collector. You actually use what you own, and when you have no need for it, find a better place for someone else to enjoy. Kudos to you.
@@DankePlace The thing is Espen is now trashing synth prices, while at the same time also only willing to part with the Prophet VS for the right price. He's part of the problem, people hodling gear that they have it in storage and shelves, while also acting like he's so forward thinking to sell everything. He's a hipocrite and possibly a sour man at this point.
@@rmriwatch Espen can do what ever he wants, sounds like the only sour Karen here is you. You should try making some music rather than what gear other people have/have not. Shows us on the keyboard where Espen hurt you.
Congrats on the clearance, it can definitely get out of hand. I'm shifting a lot of things at the moment and making some tough calls. Looks really neat and inspiring in your studio.
Thanks my good man! My channel had really grown over my head in terms of gear and piling up so I'm super happy with things as they are now. After a long period of getting very little done I'm now super inspired to just charge ahead. ;-) Best of luck with your own decisions and tough calls. :)
Nice man ! I also sold a lot of stuff some years ago... but.. now my studio is full of synths again.. I guess I missed my harware synths although I´m usin lots of CST for my production... Yes.. I´m a Collector :-)
I’ve been on a similar tip lately, selling synths that have good plug in versions instead. I also will never sell my Six Trak. It’s so useful with the cc control. Feels good to purge.
Not surprised the mighty Juno 106 made the cut. I've owned and sold a few of them over the years. It's the only one I regret selling. An easy to use workhorse of a synth and that can do almost anything apart from those Minimoog type leads. Sadly they are too expensive now and Roland refuses to re-issue.
Is going towards soft synths the biggest motivation for selling a lot of synths or some other factor. It was for me. I've replaced most of my hardware synths with software replicas, and I've been very happy with them. Only my Yamaha portable MODX is really needed of hardware synths, and a VST version of the Montage M is coming out in Jan 2024. I still like having at least one modern hardware synth and the MODX is highly portable for gigs too. Along with my laptop full of VST's, and additional MIDI controller keyboards, it's all I really need today. I collected synths & classic synths at a time when there weren't good soft synth clones of them. As mentioned many times, it was software synths that got me into synths in the first place back in 1985. I was amazed by what they could do then, and today, they've really come full circle and are far more about to replace countless keyboards as I once dreamed of with the technology. I still have several classic hardware synths in storage. I'll likely sell most of them eventually.
Not really. I just don't need 50 of them to get the jobs done. They only take up space and I wanted more room to breathe in here. It is after all where I spend most of my time.
@@EspenKraft 50 hardware synths is a lot. I'm down to 13 keyboards and a few sound modules, but as VST's continue to do a great job in cloning hardware synths, my collection will be shrinking a lot at some point when I feel like selling many of them. In the mid 80s when I discovered software synths, my vision was much as they are today. But by the early 90s as they hadn't taken off as I had expected, my vision became to have an entire room full of keyboards. I had the same vision of my basement for my arcade machines. Well, the basement did get full of arcade machines, but soft synths greatly improved it was simply no longer necessary for me to have tons of hardware keyboards. Arcade, classic console & vintage computer emulation is also excellent and I built 4 MAME machines. So I really don't need tons of arcade machines either, but it does give the look more of an arcade.
Emulations will be as good but they will never be better. The downside to software is you can't open it up and work on it and learn more about it. (well you can but it's not as interesting as it's strings of letters numbers and symbols.)
Thank you Espen as always I love to see what you are doing, I have in my workshop a Roland W-30 and a Korg 01/WFD both dead in need of repair by me, so far have found the Korg 01/WFD has no power on reset working so will pursue that fault and hopefully track it down, cheers from New Zealand.
Nice to see that you still enjoy the Roland MSQ-700. I was the who sold it to you (from Sweden). I had it for a couple of years but did not use it that much... Keep up your great work!
It’s interesting to hear that former magazines were more focused on music techniques rather than gear. It’s a pity that such journalism is pretty much gone
I've decided to go super minimal and Im in the process of selling everything except my Toraiz sp16 sampler an Elektron analog 4 and my iPad. Everything else is an indulgence.
Looking forward to a QX-80 EX video - if you feel inclined to make one of course! I have 2 of them (neither of which belong to Anders Jensen). I’m fairly confident I know them inside out but an Espen Kraft video will likely reveal something hitherto unknown!
May I ask why you kept so many hardware sequencers? It would seem that the QX1, MC500, and Amiga sync'd together would be plenty to drive all of your remaining gear.
Great point about the focus of the magazines. I really feel like the focus of synthesizers and the community have gotten very corporate and somehow the focus is on the business side of things instead of the creative side of things.
I'm surprised but happy you kept the Roland Alpha Juno 2, your vids inspired me to pick it up a couple years back and it was my first vintage synth :D What parts of it made you keep both it and the Juno 106 when selling?
I saw an Arturia controller. Seems like you’re pretty happy with the Arturia emulations? I love them. I’m more of an organ guy and have an old Farfisa Compact Deluxe and an old JMI Vox Continental 2. Their Farfisa is spot on and the Vox Continental not as good… Thanks for your videos!!!
Okay, congratulations on sizing down. If I could keep only 5 items in your set up it'd be the Jupiter 8, Juno 106, TR-808, MSQ-700, and D-550. If I could only keep 5 items from my collection it'd be the same. Although, the Jupiter X, Juno X, and TR-8S are great as well. By the way, I enjoy those keyboard magazines too. I bought a bunch on ebay and it's fun to go through the interviews. Anyway, take care and Merry Synthmas! Sam.
@@leftmono1016 ou yes it would be amazing to capitalise some good money on the “possession sindrome” of those rich kids (redistribution of the wealth ) by the way the JP4 sounds much better and unique than the jp8 once done some little CAP upgrades for tuning stability (easy stuff) and the key word here is “ How to bring unique sounds in a homologated contemporary environment “ which jp8 will not do even it sound great and warm everything on the jp8 sounds cliché.
@@Bigger-Circuitry-Bigger-SOUND - I also had a JP6 and really wanted a JP4 to make the holy trinity. A friend had one but wouldn’t sell it. The JP8 is a very nice thing to own, but as you suggest, it’s nothing special sound wise.
I always liked the Yamaha KX88. I owned a Roland A-80 midi controller which was a contemporary of the KX88. Did you ever play an A-80? Although programming those boards is a big PITA, there's something special about the keyboard action on them that was unique.
That Presonus 16.0.2 is a neat little mixer. A customer directed me to get rid of a fifteen year old (but still totally functional) 24.4.2. I intend to fix it up and find it a nicer home than the landfill where it was otherwise headed (especially being in the US). Would love to keep it, but I already have 2 under-utilized mixers, including my own battle-worn Mackie I'm never getting rid of. 👍
Good choice keeping the Sequential Circuits Six-Track. It's such a underrated machine. People stay away from it mainly because it's lack of knobs but, if you don't think of it as a performance synth and just use it for recording, it's up there with the big dogs sound wise. Saying it sounds "Fat" would be an understatement.
Impressive and chill little studio tour :) Really loved it. And i totally understand selling off gear that you really don't need when it's either barely used or you have found something more fitting to your needs. I might give the prophet VS a try as soon as the Behringer VS mini is available in stock and give that one a nice place in my setup. Yeah i keep my Arturia Microfreak too, mainly for the capacitive keys (i looooove those!!!) some of the synth engines (especially the wavetable mode that was added via Firmware update). The cassette Portastudios are awesome!! I have the biggest one of them, the 688 MIDI Studio and mainly got it to record and also do analog playouts from my digital multrack sources for achival purposes. Also having a Yamaha MT400 for analog Stereo Mixdown recordings or 4 track Demo-ing. And yeah xD like ALLLL Roland Synths (especially the vintage ones) they are definitely NOT worth the money people ask for xD But yes, they do sound amazing of course. But my god, are they oversold......
4:10 I have some things there, like the Q80ex, which I really like and I hope you have some time to do something about it, I also have an Hr16 where I created my personalized samples recorded on eprom (if you want, I'll give you the bin files to record too ), it's a shame that you didn't keep the beloved MC500, of which I have two, the 500 and the MKII, and I really liked the videos you made with it. Anyway, that's it! success always, Espen.
LIve QA=What was the reason for selling a bunch of your synths? did you find the emulations just as good? Which ones did you sell? thanks for posting !
Thanks for sharing as always. Just a room full of good sounds. Have you ever made a crazy midi programmed arrangement and just laid on the floor and listened to all those nostalgia machines sing?
I have tried a few modern ones. They're all ok, but not great. Nothing beats the action of late 80s Roland synth key beds. The one I have on my Prophet X is decent and I use it a lot because I use the PX a lot, but I prefer old Roland keys.
Hi . my question: Norway is big country but has very low population... is it hard to find around buyer for the gears? or is it hard to find the gears there for purchasing? Thx for yr answers in advance. Greetings from Turkiye...
Not at all. Old synths sell almost immediately. There are many very well known producers of electronic music from Norway these days, with international success. They buy a lot of this gear. Scandinavia is a treasure grove for old synths now. People earn very good money here so they can buy pretty much whatever they want.
Like the videos much,i am not a synth collector,but i just enjoy so much the challence of creating new compositions.Its the best thing that excists,use ys100 two korg 05rw modules,one k1 module,akai patchbay and brother pdc 100 disc composer sequencer and also a mixing console.Keep up the good work!
The S10 looks like it is in need of a little TLC, or maybe just missing a couple screws? Did you transfer S-10 samples to S-330 or convert to prophet-X?
Yes, the side panel is missing. I have it though, but with a crack. Waiting for repairs. It works just fine though. I only use the sounds i have for the S-10 when I need them. Don't have them anywhere else.
Yamaha is solid, Roland too of course. I've been searching for another brain like the Keystep Pro that has at least for channels and can hold at least 32 projects. Any ideas? I like recording parts live into the seqencer without a daw.
Espen, I love your videos, you should do more what's in your studio stuff. I would recommend getting/bolting some slide out shelves as that would be far more practical. I know you were going to keep Roland Alpha and W30! I am using a little Arturia and Native stuff. I have newer keyboards and a lot of the older stuff is going to DAWs. If you are ever coming to the New England area, it would be great to have you stop by. I have a W-30, that I could never get working properly and I have SY-85 which I brought to life a little along with an Emu ESI-32 which I think is a fantastic sampler that sounds great. Regardless, don't be swayed too much by the Soft Synth darkside, I have my hardware because it functions well. All the best!
Thanks for the invite. Never say never. ;-) Not looking for something more practical in terms of shelves. This is perfect for me. Otherwise I would have gotten something else. The W-30 is for sale and I might sell the Alpha down the line as well, but for now I'm keeping it. I used it live as well quite recently. I've always used a lot of software plugin synths simply because it's so convenient. I can't faff around with hardware when doing paid gigs. Takes too much time.
You've kept a lot, if you ask me, so now I'm curious how much you've sold :D Great video by the way. You're studio looks really nice. Keep up the good work!
Glad you kept the Alpha Juno 2. I recently bought one after watching the videos you and Starsky Carr made . . . Loving it and already used it (and some of your patches) to record a new song!
As for the Prophet VS.... from what I understand.. Dave struggled to sell enough units.. which became the undoing of Sequential.. Yet he took that tech to Korg and applied it for them to develop the Wavestation... ..How do you feel about the Wavestation's sound/ performance .. and likewise the new Korg Wavestate, as compared to the Prophet VS.. is it not essentially the same tech? (P.S. Probably a "keeper" due to its rarity..)
I have the VS, and I use it in productions if I'm doing a video about it at the same time. If I'm only doing production I'm using the Arturia VS or my own samples of it. The WS sound very different from the VS, much more polished and polite. Perfect synth for pads and strings. Had the WS for many years and used it a lot. The Wavestate is a VST in a box, so awesome for quick turnarounds and in-the-box work, but also, because of that, it's wayyyy overpriced.
@@EspenKraft Niice...do you think that has more to do with the filters and/or the Oscillators b/w the VS & WS... or despite being based on similar tech.. they are just that different from each other?? Thx as always fro your insights!!🙏
Similar ground for the oscillators, but so different in many ways that I don't think they have much in common at all when it comes to the sound. WS smooth, VS crude, but both great sounding in their own way.
Steinberg FM Lab is the best-sounding plugin DX7, if you want a replacement for the hardware. The Arturia DX7V and Dexed sound good in solo but don't cut it in a track. Steinberg FM Lab or FM synth section in the new Halion sound spot on to my ears.
There is a difference. Sometimes also in the mix. So it depends greatly on what type of sound I need when I go for a plugin or the real thing. If the plugin does it good enough I'll chose that.
In fall 1985 I was deciding between a DX7 and a Mirage as my first keyboard. I decided Mirage and while waiting for a salesman to relieve me of my $1800, I spotted the new DW-8000 and it was cheap enough I could get the SDD-2000 delay/sampler too. I was ecstatic and loved that thing and probably knew it better than nearly anyone. I got another for US$100 or so a couple years ago as it turns on instantly and I can program any patch it is capable of in about 25 seconds. Interesting that you kept both. I'm toying with the idea of making a new CPU/oscillator board for it, but keeping the analog board, power supply, and everything else. My new design will have far cleaner treble and of course a lot more waveforms.
Very interesting video. Thank you. I understand keeping so many synthesizers. However, so many sequencers...? That's new to me and, in all honesty, don't really understand why... Although I am sure there is a solid reason
I sold most of my gear about two years ago. I have a few things left but nothing really special except one thing, my tb-303 in mint condition. That beast is going down with me.
Wow! I've been unaware that even a Yamaha mixer has the comoarably rare symphonic FX I personally only know from various Yamaha Organs HX/HS series where it's digital & still sounds almost as grand as their analogue GS/CE/SK... versions I also love and have (but I don't understand why on SY99 that particular FX sounds so small & on AN1x even smaller blablabla... May I ask you what happened with the Matrix-12?
I’ve never owned much synth hardware. I did have a Yamaha FB-01 in my early hobby in early 90’s? connected to an Amstrad CPC 6128 when I was about 18 years old and it took a lot of saving for. Nice it got a brief mention. I tried to write my own software to reprogram it but knew very little and just used the presets. Sadly I didn’t really understand FM synthesis then
Great stuff, you mentioned teh Kawai or Yamaha sequencer gave it a sound or was quirky could you please discuss that more , thankyou, Also is that an original Jupiter 8, does it have any issues/faults due to its age/complexity ?
Love the 'Sorcerer' album cover, Espen !!! GREAT movie score by Tangerine Dream as it really drives the story onscreen and compliments the entire feel of the movie. Also love your Alesis HR16, Kawai K3m and K1m, and YES !!! Do a video on the amazing Kawai Q80EX sequencer (I have all of these Kawai units along with an original Q80 non-EX).
Yes, I’ve noticed your 1st series Keyboard issues no.1 with Chick etc. I have them all from the first year through the 80’s. Sold the CS 80, CP 70, D50, 8000, D6 clav, Mini model D, Prophet 600, B3, Wurlitzer, Rhodes, DX7FD2, Mirage, VFX, RE 200, 69 triple pickup SG and so much more. Maybe I should have kept them all but, then what? Sell em? I had fun touring with these for years. Time for the new. Jmo. Good luck Espen🤓
Great selection and great workflow to keep. Makes perfect sense. I would have kept JX8P over Juno106, but always those personal preferences.. :) All the best, keep enjoying music creativity.
Probably because there is a very good emulation of JX8P available. Espen showed it in a video looong time ago and was very satisfied with it. And he is right there, because it sounds very good.
@@dussie920 I know, I got PG8X as well, sounds really awesome and emulates it pretty perfectly. But thats the case for most of vintage synths, VSTi are mostly extremely close and nearly impossible to distinguish from hardware. For me JX8P simply is inspiring, I like to play its mechanical action keyboard and I came up with quite a few of my tunes just from playing it and improvising, searching for ideas.
the Arturia controller is mainly used because of the arturia collection of VST? How is as a standard midi controller i mean some of the owners talk about the key action that remind them the D50 key action, is that any real ?
Correct and it's sitting where it is because I've just completed a job where I used those extensively. It's perfect for that. I don't think it feels like the D-50 at all in terms of action. The D-50 is much better.
Hi , looks neat and tidy...man the JUPITER 8 is the best looking synth ever..ps any idea why most of the MIDI SOLUTION devices do not require external dc power? I don't quite get how they can achieve this just through MIDI ? PeaceFromOZ😊
Still some nice stuff - if I had any constructive advice to give, it would be that you could streamline your audio paths a bit more - lots of noise around the new Arturia 16 channel hardware line device for example, but there are some nice options. I would ditch the Presonus mixer for example - IMO they sound terrible especially when compared to even some other mid-tier mixers, like the Behringer X32 series - an X32 compact or the M32 equivalent if you needed and used mic preamps more would pretty much blow the doors off the studiolive. Oh, and I always wanted one of the KX88 controllers, but space prohibits.
I don't really have any audio paths any more. ;-) Almost nothing is hooked up by default. Only a couple of samplers. All synths are hooked up when they're being recorded only. Much of the time I go straight into the Audient preamp. Sometimes into the SSL SiX first. I can't say I agree on the Presonus though. It sounds just as good as any Behringer I've used in the last 10 years. But today it all sounds good. Nothing made today sounds "bad". We're way past that. If we can't make good sounding music today it's because of skill, not the gear itself. ;-) The Presonus is excellent for my live rig as well, which was the reason I got it in the first place. I have a dedicated video about that. All the backing tracks are coming from the Macbook on USB, into the Presonus. Works like a charm.
I like to play around with them. They all give off different vibes in terms of inspiration and creativity, because of how they work. I find that much more inspiring than playing around with a synth.
curious as to why you run win 7 with cubase 5? i also keep a 32bit machine and run cubase 5, as i like writing demos on it... but when it comes to recording and going all out, i use a much more powerful machine with a recent DAW... how are you making it work for you? do you run a lot of tracks, heavy plug-ins?
What's your favourite Midi sequencer to use? I hate DAW's and am thinking of buying a hardware one that'll sequence a few synths and a drum computer in song mode.
To get some mojo going and randomness to spark things off I'd go for the Roland MSQ-700 any day. The Yamaha QX3 is much more advanced and can do it all over 16 tracks, but is much more arcane and cumbersome to learn.
@@EspenKraft Thanks. I'll shop around. Until then I'm trying to motivate myself to learn Linux's _midish_ syntax. Then maybe a Raspberry Pi and a cheap display will do...
"Sold almost everything" but you still have so many beautiful synths left. ❤
Some of them are pretty ugly though.
Hell of a combo if you ask me....... @@EspenKraft
Like Rambo.
Even an Atari ST among them all.
When a true synth head says : I sold every thing. you still get a video that shows a massive synth collection
Ha, this! I would be very worried if someone sold a Jupiter 8 (as you ain't getting another one anytime soon)
If it was mine I'd sell it. Today.
@@EspenKraft !!!
@@EspenKraft to me, hopefully! Like your Prophet VS :)
@@EspenKraftI have a mint MKS-80 Rev 4 for sale - less space same power? :D
Looks clean and streamlined! I dig the shelving for the gear. I need to get me a Prophet X too. 😎
It's great.
Have also been selling off gear recently and not replacing it and its been liberating. Had a lot of guilt not using things and overwhelm and feel happier now, like a weight has lifted. Strange the hold it can have.
Most of the gear I have is also a part of my pension plan. I have around 65 vintage synths and modules and around 45 vintage guitars and 15 vintage tube amps. I am 60 now and will need to scale down in a few years time . Let’s see 😊
Last time i heard the Arturia Prophet VS against my Original there was a huge difference
You are proof that you're not a furniture/trophy collector. You actually use what you own, and when you have no need for it, find a better place for someone else to enjoy.
Kudos to you.
Cheers!
Except he has a storage and shelves full of synths and samplers, smh.
@@rmriwatch The butthurt is real.
@@DankePlace The thing is Espen is now trashing synth prices, while at the same time also only willing to part with the Prophet VS for the right price. He's part of the problem, people hodling gear that they have it in storage and shelves, while also acting like he's so forward thinking to sell everything. He's a hipocrite and possibly a sour man at this point.
@@rmriwatch Espen can do what ever he wants, sounds like the only sour Karen here is you.
You should try making some music rather than what gear other people have/have not.
Shows us on the keyboard where Espen hurt you.
I agree with that mindset. I bought so many vintage synths over the years, only to keep my ultimate few favourites, which all get used more than ever!
Love all 3 soundtracks on the wall. Tangerine Dream!!!
Congrats on the clearance, it can definitely get out of hand. I'm shifting a lot of things at the moment and making some tough calls.
Looks really neat and inspiring in your studio.
Thanks my good man! My channel had really grown over my head in terms of gear and piling up so I'm super happy with things as they are now. After a long period of getting very little done I'm now super inspired to just charge ahead. ;-)
Best of luck with your own decisions and tough calls. :)
He also clears comments too! @AlexBallMusic, btw your GF packs are awesome!!!!
I love your collection as it really covers all of the “basses.” 🎵.
Exactly. That's the point. So many misses that. ;-)
Cool to see this kind of video as opposed to hoard-inducing ones. Thanks! (Curious to know why you got rid of your series 500 rack.)
I prefer to do all the processing in the box now. Faster, easier and cheaper. And it sounds just as good.
Nice man ! I also sold a lot of stuff some years ago... but.. now my studio is full of synths again.. I guess I missed my harware synths although I´m usin lots of CST for my production... Yes.. I´m a Collector :-)
Collect away my man! :)
Willo do @@EspenKraft , and you can visit anytime 🙂
Always love a bit of practical talk. Hope you're having fun making music!
Fun is the foundation of everything. If I didn't have fun I'd quit. Today.
@@EspenKraftwho the hell are those bad minded anti christs in chat?t😅🕗 🌍 👍 🎶 🥉!
I’ve been on a similar tip lately, selling synths that have good plug in versions instead. I also will never sell my Six Trak. It’s so useful with the cc control. Feels good to purge.
Not surprised the mighty Juno 106 made the cut. I've owned and sold a few of them over the years. It's the only one I regret selling. An easy to use workhorse of a synth and that can do almost anything apart from those Minimoog type leads. Sadly they are too expensive now and Roland refuses to re-issue.
Never liked mine personally. Very dry, 6 voices too few, not fat sounding compared to a Moog. I've never seen why they're so rated.
Glad to see you kept the Alpha Juno. I too use it for life shows when I need something analog that's relatively no fuss.
Yes, it's a keeper. Mostly for the live setup now. Perfect for that. Light and compact. Easy to haul around and sounds so good.
Wow Espen a really great video !! Amazing keys samplers and drum machines but more importantly in the hands of a maestro!
Cheers!
Most envious of that Virgil Fox issue of Keyboard
At least you kept a relatively nice collection of synths and units despite selling a lot.
I like to think so. ;-)
I took for granted exactly how much equipment you had when 2023 began, Espen. I can’t question your choice of what to keep.
My friend , you are giving me hope and support to keep my vintage stuff but for EE TMIs ....
I was affaid for the DX7, phew! Yep got to make use of the Jupiter-8 while you can :-)
Is going towards soft synths the biggest motivation for selling a lot of synths or some other factor.
It was for me. I've replaced most of my hardware synths with software replicas, and I've been very happy with them. Only my Yamaha portable MODX is really needed of hardware synths, and a VST version of the Montage M is coming out in Jan 2024. I still like having at least one modern hardware synth and the MODX is highly portable for gigs too. Along with my laptop full of VST's, and additional MIDI controller keyboards, it's all I really need today. I collected synths & classic synths at a time when there weren't good soft synth clones of them.
As mentioned many times, it was software synths that got me into synths in the first place back in 1985. I was amazed by what they could do then, and today, they've really come full circle and are far more about to replace countless keyboards as I once dreamed of with the technology.
I still have several classic hardware synths in storage. I'll likely sell most of them eventually.
Not really. I just don't need 50 of them to get the jobs done. They only take up space and I wanted more room to breathe in here. It is after all where I spend most of my time.
@@EspenKraft 50 hardware synths is a lot. I'm down to 13 keyboards and a few sound modules, but as VST's continue to do a great job in cloning hardware synths, my collection will be shrinking a lot at some point when I feel like selling many of them.
In the mid 80s when I discovered software synths, my vision was much as they are today. But by the early 90s as they hadn't taken off as I had expected, my vision became to have an entire room full of keyboards. I had the same vision of my basement for my arcade machines.
Well, the basement did get full of arcade machines, but soft synths greatly improved it was simply no longer necessary for me to have tons of hardware keyboards. Arcade, classic console & vintage computer emulation is also excellent and I built 4 MAME machines. So I really don't need tons of arcade machines either, but it does give the look more of an arcade.
Emulations will be as good but they will never be better. The downside to software is you can't open it up and work on it and learn more about it. (well you can but it's not as interesting as it's strings of letters numbers and symbols.)
Good that you are keeping your essentials :)
So great to see the Old School gear! The Jupiter 8 was my dream synth. Still have the SRV-2000 and Six Trak that you have. E-Mu2 and DW-8000? Wow.
Thank you Espen as always I love to see what you are doing, I have in my workshop a Roland W-30 and a Korg 01/WFD both dead in need of repair by me, so far have found the Korg 01/WFD has no power on reset working so will pursue that fault and hopefully track it down, cheers from New Zealand.
Cheers!
Nice to see that you still enjoy the Roland MSQ-700. I was the who sold it to you (from Sweden). I had it for a couple of years but did not use it that much... Keep up your great work!
Thanks! This is not that one though. The one I bought from you I sold. This is another. ;-)
Aha, wow!
@@EspenKraft
Keeping the best!
It’s interesting to hear that former magazines were more focused on music techniques rather than gear. It’s a pity that such journalism is pretty much gone
The audience is gone too.
I've decided to go super minimal and Im in the process of selling everything except my Toraiz sp16 sampler an Elektron analog 4 and my iPad. Everything else is an indulgence.
1 vote for more of the "What was in it" for old Keyboard mags, those are great!
Looking forward to a QX-80 EX video - if you feel inclined to make one of course! I have 2 of them (neither of which belong to Anders Jensen). I’m fairly confident I know them inside out but an Espen Kraft video will likely reveal something hitherto unknown!
So many gems, you have great taste, Espen.
Cheers!
May I ask why you kept so many hardware sequencers? It would seem that the QX1, MC500, and Amiga sync'd together would be plenty to drive all of your remaining gear.
Not using them like that at all. I answered this question a couple of times early on so check out some of my first replies here.
Hey, you kept a DSM-1 ! Makes me want to have mine repaired. I've had it for 30 years. I had a tons of fun programming and sampling with this machine.
No analogue filter though right on this rack vs DSS-1??
@@theaudioeng Yes, same analogue filter as on the DSS-1, but no resonance unfortunately.
Wrong. It has the analog filter. It's lacking a RESONANT analog filter.
Great point about the focus of the magazines. I really feel like the focus of synthesizers and the community have gotten very corporate and somehow the focus is on the business side of things instead of the creative side of things.
Love it! Those Keyboard magazine covers were Nostalgiac. I had many of them - proving my age!
Still a lot of cool stuff for sure! I also spied a Minifreak box under the Jupiter 8 xd
Yes, I haven't had the time to check that out yet.
Looks much more streamlined and manageable, well done. I should follow your lead and thin the herd a bit but i keep making excuses to keep them
Seeing the S330 - I knew that sampler inside out! Wonderful to see one again and in use. :) Loving the channel!
Love that dark blue cladding! Good for you Espen, It's so easy to overcrowd your studio. Less is more creative.
I'm surprised but happy you kept the Roland Alpha Juno 2, your vids inspired me to pick it up a couple years back and it was my first vintage synth :D What parts of it made you keep both it and the Juno 106 when selling?
Alpha now used for live gigs. 106 not going out. ;-)
@@EspenKraft Does that mean you prefer both of those synths to the JX8P?
Very cool. I‘m always very interested in these things. 👍🏻💪🏻🙏🏻
🤩 what a dream of a studio!!
With my Fantom-8 EX I also sold almost all my vintage synths! Never regret!!!
I saw an Arturia controller. Seems like you’re pretty happy with the Arturia emulations? I love them. I’m more of an organ guy and have an old Farfisa Compact Deluxe and an old JMI Vox Continental 2. Their Farfisa is spot on and the Vox Continental not as good…
Thanks for your videos!!!
Okay, congratulations on sizing down. If I could keep only 5 items in your set up it'd be the Jupiter 8, Juno 106, TR-808, MSQ-700, and D-550. If I could only keep 5 items from my collection it'd be the same. Although, the Jupiter X, Juno X, and TR-8S are great as well. By the way, I enjoy those keyboard magazines too. I bought a bunch on ebay and it's fun to go through the interviews. Anyway, take care and Merry Synthmas! Sam.
“ Jupiter 8 totally not worth the money “ but sounds nice 😅😅😅, love you Espen for beeing a straight shooter.
by the way your studio looks dope 👌
Cheers!
I sold a Jupiter 8 many years ago. If I could go back in time and get it back, I’d definitely sell it again!
@@leftmono1016 ou yes it would be amazing to capitalise some good money on the “possession sindrome” of those rich kids (redistribution of the wealth ) by the way the JP4 sounds much better and unique than the jp8 once done some little CAP upgrades for tuning stability (easy stuff) and the key word here is “ How to bring unique sounds in a homologated contemporary environment “ which jp8 will not do even it sound great and warm everything on the jp8 sounds cliché.
@@Bigger-Circuitry-Bigger-SOUND - I also had a JP6 and really wanted a JP4 to make the holy trinity. A friend had one but wouldn’t sell it.
The JP8 is a very nice thing to own, but as you suggest, it’s nothing special sound wise.
When they were worth 5k or less they were worth it but at today's prices definitely not imo
I’ve never owned a synth or made music, but I find these videos of yours really interesting.
Cheers!
I always liked the Yamaha KX88. I owned a Roland A-80 midi controller which was a contemporary of the KX88. Did you ever play an A-80? Although programming those boards is a big PITA, there's something special about the keyboard action on them that was unique.
I did play the A-80. I like that too.
That Presonus 16.0.2 is a neat little mixer. A customer directed me to get rid of a fifteen year old (but still totally functional) 24.4.2. I intend to fix it up and find it a nicer home than the landfill where it was otherwise headed (especially being in the US). Would love to keep it, but I already have 2 under-utilized mixers, including my own battle-worn Mackie I'm never getting rid of. 👍
Nice.. but what for so many sequencers?
Answered that in a couple of posts already.
Good choice keeping the Sequential Circuits Six-Track. It's such a underrated machine. People stay away from it mainly because it's lack of knobs but, if you don't think of it as a performance synth and just use it for recording, it's up there with the big dogs sound wise. Saying it sounds "Fat" would be an understatement.
Impressive and chill little studio tour :) Really loved it. And i totally understand selling off gear that you really don't need when it's either barely used or you have found something more fitting to your needs. I might give the prophet VS a try as soon as the Behringer VS mini is available in stock and give that one a nice place in my setup. Yeah i keep my Arturia Microfreak too, mainly for the capacitive keys (i looooove those!!!) some of the synth engines (especially the wavetable mode that was added via Firmware update). The cassette Portastudios are awesome!! I have the biggest one of them, the 688 MIDI Studio and mainly got it to record and also do analog playouts from my digital multrack sources for achival purposes. Also having a Yamaha MT400 for analog Stereo Mixdown recordings or 4 track Demo-ing. And yeah xD like ALLLL Roland Synths (especially the vintage ones) they are definitely NOT worth the money people ask for xD But yes, they do sound amazing of course. But my god, are they oversold......
Still an amazing collection, now with tighter curation.
Nice to see that you kept the Alpha Juno 2 & the Korg DW8000 - My fav's
The cheapest one's withalmost no maintenance ;-)
4:10 I have some things there, like the Q80ex, which I really like and I hope you have some time to do something about it, I also have an Hr16 where I created my personalized samples recorded on eprom (if you want, I'll give you the bin files to record too ), it's a shame that you didn't keep the beloved MC500, of which I have two, the 500 and the MKII, and I really liked the videos you made with it. Anyway, that's it! success always, Espen.
You didn't pay attention, I say the MC-500 is on LOAN. ;-)
Great@@EspenKraft
LIve QA=What was the reason for selling a bunch of your synths? did you find the emulations just as good? Which ones did you sell? thanks for posting !
Will address that since so many asks. Cheers ;-)
Thanks for sharing as always. Just a room full of good sounds. Have you ever made a crazy midi programmed arrangement and just laid on the floor and listened to all those nostalgia machines sing?
No, that's not what I do. ;-) Cheers
Hi Espen, im intrigued. Why so many hardware sequencers?
Answered that in one of the earliest replies in the thread.
What's your favourite synth action keybed that is currently in production? Preferably among MIDI keyboard controllers.
I have tried a few modern ones. They're all ok, but not great. Nothing beats the action of late 80s Roland synth key beds. The one I have on my Prophet X is decent and I use it a lot because I use the PX a lot, but I prefer old Roland keys.
Hi . my question: Norway is big country but has very low population... is it hard to find around buyer for the gears? or is it hard to find the gears there for purchasing? Thx for yr answers in advance. Greetings from Turkiye...
Not at all. Old synths sell almost immediately. There are many very well known producers of electronic music from Norway these days, with international success. They buy a lot of this gear. Scandinavia is a treasure grove for old synths now. People earn very good money here so they can buy pretty much whatever they want.
My Yamaha QX sequencer was the first thing that went out of the door when I obtained my first computer + DAW in 1987 (Atari + Steinberg Pro) :)
Like the videos much,i am not a synth collector,but i just enjoy so much the challence of creating new compositions.Its the best thing that excists,use ys100 two korg 05rw modules,one k1 module,akai patchbay and brother pdc 100 disc composer sequencer and also a mixing console.Keep up the good work!
The S10 looks like it is in need of a little TLC, or maybe just missing a couple screws? Did you transfer S-10 samples to S-330 or convert to prophet-X?
Yes, the side panel is missing. I have it though, but with a crack. Waiting for repairs. It works just fine though. I only use the sounds i have for the S-10 when I need them. Don't have them anywhere else.
Yamaha is solid, Roland too of course. I've been searching for another brain like the Keystep Pro that has at least for channels and can hold at least 32 projects. Any ideas? I like recording parts live into the seqencer without a daw.
great studio tour!
Cheers!
That Prophet VS preset at 4:54 reminds me of the intro of Gimme Gimme Gimme by Abba.
Espen, I love your videos, you should do more what's in your studio stuff. I would recommend getting/bolting some slide out shelves as that would be far more practical. I know you were going to keep Roland Alpha and W30! I am using a little Arturia and Native stuff. I have newer keyboards and a lot of the older stuff is going to DAWs. If you are ever coming to the New England area, it would be great to have you stop by. I have a W-30, that I could never get working properly and I have SY-85 which I brought to life a little along with an Emu ESI-32 which I think is a fantastic sampler that sounds great. Regardless, don't be swayed too much by the Soft Synth darkside, I have my hardware because it functions well. All the best!
Thanks for the invite. Never say never. ;-) Not looking for something more practical in terms of shelves. This is perfect for me. Otherwise I would have gotten something else.
The W-30 is for sale and I might sell the Alpha down the line as well, but for now I'm keeping it. I used it live as well quite recently.
I've always used a lot of software plugin synths simply because it's so convenient. I can't faff around with hardware when doing paid gigs. Takes too much time.
You've kept a lot, if you ask me, so now I'm curious how much you've sold :D Great video by the way. You're studio looks really nice. Keep up the good work!
Cheers!
Are those shelves available at somewhere global?! Looking for a solution myself
Glad you kept the Alpha Juno 2. I recently bought one after watching the videos you and Starsky Carr made . . . Loving it and already used it (and some of your patches) to record a new song!
Yes! Juno 2 is so underrated
As for the Prophet VS.... from what I understand.. Dave struggled to sell enough units.. which became the undoing of Sequential.. Yet he took that tech to Korg and applied it for them to develop the Wavestation... ..How do you feel about the Wavestation's sound/ performance .. and likewise the new Korg Wavestate, as compared to the Prophet VS.. is it not essentially the same tech? (P.S. Probably a "keeper" due to its rarity..)
I have the VS, and I use it in productions if I'm doing a video about it at the same time. If I'm only doing production I'm using the Arturia VS or my own samples of it.
The WS sound very different from the VS, much more polished and polite. Perfect synth for pads and strings. Had the WS for many years and used it a lot.
The Wavestate is a VST in a box, so awesome for quick turnarounds and in-the-box work, but also, because of that, it's wayyyy overpriced.
@@EspenKraft Niice...do you think that has more to do with the filters and/or the Oscillators b/w the VS & WS... or despite being based on similar tech.. they are just that different from each other?? Thx as always fro your insights!!🙏
Similar ground for the oscillators, but so different in many ways that I don't think they have much in common at all when it comes to the sound. WS smooth, VS crude, but both great sounding in their own way.
Question for Q & A: why do you like Microfreak? And what oscillators of it you use mostly? I am considering to buy it, but not really sure
I use it to import my own samples.
Feels good to let gear go!
Steinberg FM Lab is the best-sounding plugin DX7, if you want a replacement for the hardware.
The Arturia DX7V and Dexed sound good in solo but don't cut it in a track.
Steinberg FM Lab or FM synth section in the new Halion sound spot on to my ears.
I don't agree with you on neither Dexed, nor the Arturia. Or any other DX emulation really. They all work well in a mix. Used them many times.
@@EspenKraft Do you notice a big difference between these plugins and a real DX ? I find my Reface DX Yamaha too clean or sterile sounding.
Hmm the Plogue Chipsynth OPS7 is a reverse engineered bit accurate DX7. Can't get any closer than that in the software world.
There is a difference. Sometimes also in the mix. So it depends greatly on what type of sound I need when I go for a plugin or the real thing. If the plugin does it good enough I'll chose that.
@@CoolColJ Thanks for the tip.
In fall 1985 I was deciding between a DX7 and a Mirage as my first keyboard. I decided Mirage and while waiting for a salesman to relieve me of my $1800, I spotted the new DW-8000 and it was cheap enough I could get the SDD-2000 delay/sampler too. I was ecstatic and loved that thing and probably knew it better than nearly anyone. I got another for US$100 or so a couple years ago as it turns on instantly and I can program any patch it is capable of in about 25 seconds. Interesting that you kept both. I'm toying with the idea of making a new CPU/oscillator board for it, but keeping the analog board, power supply, and everything else. My new design will have far cleaner treble and of course a lot more waveforms.
well done, good luck
Cheers!
Very interesting video. Thank you. I understand keeping so many synthesizers. However, so many sequencers...? That's new to me and, in all honesty, don't really understand why... Although I am sure there is a solid reason
Answered that already. Sequencers.
Nice studio. I liked seeing so many magazines featuring Chuck Corea, too.
Cheers!
I sold most of my gear about two years ago. I have a few things left but nothing really special except one thing, my tb-303 in mint condition. That beast is going down with me.
Why keep all those different Yamaha QX sequencers? Wouldn’t the single QX3 suffice?
Went through that in my Q&A livestream from December.
Clear out all those sequencers from the shelves and put there the Alpha Juno and the DW 8000, they deserve to be there! :)
Can't do it. They're too long to fit in there.
Wow! I've been unaware that even a Yamaha mixer has the comoarably rare symphonic FX I personally only know from various Yamaha Organs HX/HS series where it's digital & still sounds almost as grand as their analogue GS/CE/SK... versions I also love and have (but I don't understand why on SY99 that particular FX sounds so small & on AN1x even smaller blablabla... May I ask you what happened with the Matrix-12?
The Matrix-12 was never mine to begin with and it's now back with its owner.
@@EspenKraft I really like that video and how tidy everything is in your studio. Not everyone has the discipline to pull it through that way....
Cheers!
I’ve never owned much synth hardware. I did have a Yamaha FB-01 in my early hobby in early 90’s? connected to an Amstrad CPC 6128 when I was about 18 years old and it took a lot of saving for. Nice it got a brief mention. I tried to write my own software to reprogram it but knew very little and just used the presets. Sadly I didn’t really understand FM synthesis then
Great selection, but you didn’t keep the EMAX!?
Those went out years ago.
Great stuff, you mentioned teh Kawai or Yamaha sequencer gave it a sound or was quirky could you please discuss that more , thankyou, Also is that an original Jupiter 8, does it have any issues/faults due to its age/complexity ?
Thanks! I have videos about the MSQ-700 where I show what I mean. Watch those. ;-)
It is an original Jupiter-8 yes. No issues at all.
@@EspenKraft Thankyou Espen , I watched your MSQ 700 video and now I understand what you mean.
Love the 'Sorcerer' album cover, Espen !!! GREAT movie score by Tangerine Dream as it really drives the story onscreen and compliments the entire feel of the movie. Also love your Alesis HR16, Kawai K3m and K1m, and YES !!! Do a video on the amazing Kawai Q80EX sequencer (I have all of these Kawai units along with an original Q80 non-EX).
I'm a big fan of TD. ;-)
Yes, I’ve noticed your 1st series Keyboard issues no.1 with Chick etc. I have them all from the first year through the 80’s. Sold the CS 80, CP 70, D50, 8000, D6 clav, Mini model D, Prophet 600, B3, Wurlitzer, Rhodes, DX7FD2, Mirage, VFX, RE 200, 69 triple pickup SG and so much more. Maybe I should have kept them all but, then what? Sell em? I had fun touring with these for years. Time for the new. Jmo. Good luck Espen🤓
Cheers!
Great selection and great workflow to keep. Makes perfect sense. I would have kept JX8P over Juno106, but always those personal preferences.. :)
All the best, keep enjoying music creativity.
Cheers!
Probably because there is a very good emulation of JX8P available. Espen showed it in a video looong time ago and was very satisfied with it. And he is right there, because it sounds very good.
@@dussie920 I know, I got PG8X as well, sounds really awesome and emulates it pretty perfectly. But thats the case for most of vintage synths, VSTi are mostly extremely close and nearly impossible to distinguish from hardware. For me JX8P simply is inspiring, I like to play its mechanical action keyboard and I came up with quite a few of my tunes just from playing it and improvising, searching for ideas.
@@DestroyER82100% true. Inspiration, nostalgia, the touch and feel, the design. It all contributes.
Exactly. I feel the same way. I just choose not to have 50 synths for that. I can get there with a lot less. ;-)
Getting back to the core
For my curiousity, among all your synths, wich one has the best keybed? (I mean synth action not piano action)
By far the Roland synths/samplers from 1986 to 1991. Anyone of those, but I prefer the Roland Alpha Juno 2.
@@EspenKraft Thanks for this quick answer :) good choice btw
the Arturia controller is mainly used because of the arturia collection of VST? How is as a standard midi controller i mean some of the owners talk about the key action that remind them the D50 key action, is that any real ?
Correct and it's sitting where it is because I've just completed a job where I used those extensively. It's perfect for that. I don't think it feels like the D-50 at all in terms of action. The D-50 is much better.
@@EspenKraft thx
Hi , looks neat and tidy...man the JUPITER 8 is the best looking synth ever..ps any idea why most of the MIDI SOLUTION devices do not require external dc power? I don't quite get how they can achieve this just through MIDI ?
PeaceFromOZ😊
They only draw a small portion of current. Check up on the MIDI DIN Electrical Specification.
@@EspenKraft thanks, i have about 4 DoreMidi devices which all require external dc power... i will check it out.
Thank you,
Jupiter 8 is the goat looks awesome still
Still some nice stuff - if I had any constructive advice to give, it would be that you could streamline your audio paths a bit more - lots of noise around the new Arturia 16 channel hardware line device for example, but there are some nice options. I would ditch the Presonus mixer for example - IMO they sound terrible especially when compared to even some other mid-tier mixers, like the Behringer X32 series - an X32 compact or the M32 equivalent if you needed and used mic preamps more would pretty much blow the doors off the studiolive. Oh, and I always wanted one of the KX88 controllers, but space prohibits.
I don't really have any audio paths any more. ;-) Almost nothing is hooked up by default. Only a couple of samplers. All synths are hooked up when they're being recorded only. Much of the time I go straight into the Audient preamp. Sometimes into the SSL SiX first.
I can't say I agree on the Presonus though. It sounds just as good as any Behringer I've used in the last 10 years. But today it all sounds good. Nothing made today sounds "bad". We're way past that. If we can't make good sounding music today it's because of skill, not the gear itself. ;-)
The Presonus is excellent for my live rig as well, which was the reason I got it in the first place. I have a dedicated video about that. All the backing tracks are coming from the Macbook on USB, into the Presonus. Works like a charm.
Curious why so many old sequencers? (versus just one that you like to use)
I like to play around with them. They all give off different vibes in terms of inspiration and creativity, because of how they work. I find that much more inspiring than playing around with a synth.
You let go of both your EPSs?! Such a beautiful sampler :)
curious as to why you run win 7 with cubase 5? i also keep a 32bit machine and run cubase 5, as i like writing demos on it... but when it comes to recording and going all out, i use a much more powerful machine with a recent DAW... how are you making it work for you? do you run a lot of tracks, heavy plug-ins?
I released a video about this only a week ago. Watch that.
@@EspenKraft will do... cheers!
Cheers!
What's your favourite Midi sequencer to use? I hate DAW's and am thinking of buying a hardware one that'll sequence a few synths and a drum computer in song mode.
To get some mojo going and randomness to spark things off I'd go for the Roland MSQ-700 any day. The Yamaha QX3 is much more advanced and can do it all over 16 tracks, but is much more arcane and cumbersome to learn.
@@EspenKraft Thanks. I'll shop around. Until then I'm trying to motivate myself to learn Linux's _midish_ syntax. Then maybe a Raspberry Pi and a cheap display will do...