BassTractor

Seeing as you've introduced the EML and Maplin in the thread (asking for trouble in my mind, but it's your money), as well as the Voyager old school, I guess that you're not that preoccupied with getting a real old Odyssey after all, in which case you might be open to a few alternatives that I think would probably serve you better: - If you have £1,300 to spend, why not look at the MFB Dominion 1. It's new and built like a tank, has warranty, and resembles the Odyssey in many ways - especially in its sound - - apart from it being more flexible that is. Me, I'm getting one. - The aforementioned Blofeld Keyboard is the highest quality and deepest synth you're gonna find under £1,000 or at least under £600, and it has a great keybed, 4 octaves and both Velocity and Aftertouch - which is rare. Me, I'm probably getting another one. - The new Korg Minilogue is a STEAL at only £435. You can make it sound beefy as well as thin, and has 200 patch memories and a sequencer and other goodies. It's simple user interface does not show well what it can do. The built-in "oscilloscope" also is a great tool when sound designing. Me, I'm probably getting one - not because its the end-all of synths, but because it's a great, great addition (or a great, great first synth to others). Also, I believe that for once, Korg are gonna raise its price rather than their usual tactics of reducing the price by one third after some time. - The aforementioned KARP, for obvious reasons, which also is reported to drop in price after the NAMM show, by possibly £150, making it another steal for those who are already Odysseyally inclined. Me, I already have one, but might even invest in a second one.

[quote name='dand666' timestamp='1452790204' post='2953555'] Dude Im gonna Spotify them right now lol [/quote] You do that. But be aware the core of my attempt at a joke was in the 24 quarter tones. We wouldn't want you to Spotify their earlier stuff, now would we?

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1452787791' post='2953536'] I preferred their earlier stuff; you know, before you liked them. [/quote] Aye. I wasn't there.

[quote name='dand666' timestamp='1452776331' post='2953334'] I think it's crazy that people have not listened to Floyd, or The Doors it baffles me. I can forgive people who maybe arent into Converge as much as they're into CCR but you need to see the importance of both bands. I just love it all. f***ing 12 notes man. [/quote] I think it's crazy that people have not listened to Iannis Xenakis, or Krzysztof Penderecki it baffles me. I can forgive people who maybe arent into Tristan Murail as much as they're into Pierre Boulez but you need to see the importance of both composers. I just love it all. f***ing 24 notes man.

[quote name='interpol52' timestamp='1452695872' post='2952523'] It was Tangled Up In Blue that got me on board with Dylan. [/quote] ...and here's me not knowing BassChat existed back in 1975, and that Dylan even would be a member.

Yup. My DNA commands me to investigate thoroughly through reading up and asking questions to retailer, distributor and manufacturer, and then putting every available quantifiable data into a spreadsheet, and after weighing the different parameters in an accomplished parameter prioritising system, letting the computer decide which product best serves my needs, after which, if I then notice I'm disappointed with the outcome, I must immediately order the one I wanted it to be in the first place. This system is perfect, if slightly long-winded. Knowing however that that is how my DNA works, in real life I just buy the one I wanted in the first place, and I'm not preoccupied too muchly with what I pay for it. So if I want a Bongo, then I don't ask whether a RockBass Corvette will do nearly the same job at a fraction of the cost (which I think it will, BTW). I'll then just buy the Bongo. ...without looking back ...as well as the Corvette, just to be sure. Other than that, I tend to ask questions in such a manner that if the recipient can be arsed to read and understand them, they can save a lot of time answering in a condensed manner. Most recipients can't be arsed, and they will most probably use their time not answering my questions and probably losing a sale by doing so. Happily, some recipients do understand and appreciate. Mark Stickley and Marc Vanderkley are some of the good guys in my book, giving adequate info. Hm. Statistically speaking, I seem to trust Mark a lot more than John, Thomas, Peter or Judas.

It probably says "Precision" in Precision's own handwriting. I hear Fender built Pino Palladino a Precision Signature Bass. Other than that: - Which bass? His Freedom Rhino, his StingRay, his Precision, his... ? - Which clip?

[quote name='JellyKnees' timestamp='1452616377' post='2951709'] Well that and Breaking Glass... [/quote]

[quote name='JellyKnees' timestamp='1452598596' post='2951417'] fave track is probably Always Crashing the Same Car [/quote] Bah! That's not because of the song itself, but just because it's connected to your fave pastime!

[quote name='The-Ox' timestamp='1452559305' post='2951238'] This is the waldorf right? Does it coem with a keyboard? Looks nice! Ok thanks! I'm getting mixed reviewd eith the karp, some say yes, others slate it (i notice its vintage arp owners who slate it) [/quote] That desktop one's called just "Waldorf". The one with keyboard is called "Waldorf Keyboard". IMS, both can be had in black as well. The Keyboard not only has keys, but also comes with readily usable wavetables and samples. If one wants those on the desktop, one has to lock them up (they are pre-installed, but locked), and a license for that costs roughly 100 Euros or so. Mind you, I only mentioned it as a very deep and very flexible synth. Its few knobs belie its capacities as well as its ease of use. But it is unashamedly digital and is not the first synth I'd think of as a 1:1 Odyssey replacement. It can be used as a virtual analogue synth, but many more dedicated VAs exist, like the Akai Miniak that was discussed earlier. Yes, here on BC. Some like VA, others hate it. I like it, and I particularly like the Miniak for its sound and depth. Hate the tiny display though. Yeah, I've seen the slating in the "Korg announce Odyssey"-thread on GS. Also there it was immediately picked up that the slating came from people who saw the value of their own Odysseys drop. No serious review of the KARP has not lauded it. Tiny differences with the original exist, especially in filter details, but then each and every Odyssey built back then sounded differently at any rate, amongst other things because of component tolerances in those days (and ARP also made a mess in their factory). Also, an old Odyssey will sound different now than it did when it was new, and after an expensive service it will sound different again. The only serious criticism against the KARP that I have seen is against its form factor with slimline keys, and its mediocre keybed. Personally, I expect to use an external keyboard for it. Not sure yet.

[quote name='The-Ox' timestamp='1452556758' post='2951226'] have any of you got an opinion on the ARP Axxe? Up for sale at £650 - can I save cash here? [/quote] Yup. That was their bread and butter machine. Very easy to learn on, but I personally didn't like it. Since the Teiscos/Kawais have been mentioned already, I liked their Synthesizer-100F a lot better than the Axxe, but then that one, also with one oscillator only, did have the routing switches that made it good for weird noises. Also its core sound to me was nicer, but that is taste. Personally, I'd rather have an Odyssey at £1,300 than an Axxe at £650. Then again, personally I'd rather have a KARP for that Axxe price than an old Odyssey for that same price. YMMV.

[quote name='The-Ox' timestamp='1452545629' post='2951104'] what was yer favourite one? I'm thinking of purchasing a mk2, its on deal for me at £1,300 [/quote] I'm no expert, mind. Roughly speaking, whilst I liked the Moog-like filter in the Mk2, my fave was always the lively, fun filter in the Mk1 (without entering into details as to exactly which build number had which filter etc.). I never liked the Mk3 as much as the other two, but would've bought that synth at any rate. The last version is also said to be technically speaking the best one, but I forgot for which reason. A Mk2 at so much money must mean you're talking about a vintage one, yes? Fully serviced and ready to serve you many years to come or more like a risk you're willing to take? [quote name='The-Ox' timestamp='1452545629' post='2951104'] essentially, I want to kinda make sounds similar to The Who on their 70s material in order to make demos (apologies if me bleating on about them is getting tiresome!) How did you find the odyssey in this regard? In terms of its versatility and ease of use? Thanks! [/quote] BRX has already answered this better than I could've done, and I concur. Even if Townshend had used an Odyssey, I still don't see the need to use an Odyssey if you're not aiming at millimeter correctness in a tribute band. I feel the Odyssey was versatile for its time, and because it had many switches like the Teisco, the alternative routings gave a lot of possibilities for other sounds than everyday bread and butter sounds. I felt it was easy to work with only after one had studied the routing possibilities very carefully. Many of the same sliders and many switches in a row, and not all of them immediately clear as to their consequences make this synth not the one that one masters on the first day. I've experienced much easier models there - even very knobby ones. Today however, synths like for example the Waldorf Blofeld are soooo much more flexible and sooo easy to use, that for general purpose synthing I'd take that one any day before an Odyssey, unless I had specific reasons to buy an Odyssey, that is. Also, the Blofeld Keyboard has a great little keyboard. I don't remember how the original Odyssey's was. The KARP's is amateuristic. Also, of it's for demo purposes only, and you must have the sound of the Odyssey as well as its routing possibilities, a softsynth exists that comes very close. You may know it. [quote name='The-Ox' timestamp='1452545654' post='2951106'] did you happen to be on gearslutz by any chance? [/quote] Yes, but that's not the one I was thinking of. The discussion on GS is millions of pages long, and they're fighting-animals over there. I meant a friendlier one, but still can't remember where it was.

Thanks, RhysP! Sadly there's not much info in that thread. I just realise the discussion I meant probably was not on BC at all, or the Odyssey was discussed in another thread about synths - though I couldn't find it. Over to The-Ox, I think.

There's a BassChat forum called Other Instruments in the Gear section. If I recall correctly we had a discussion about the Odyssey there, so you may want to have a look there. But to answer your question: Yes. I played all three originals a few times in the seventies and eighties, and own a Korg remake now. I've sadly not taken it into use yet. Is there something you want to know?

"Warszawa". It was the song that drew me to his work, and it has always done it for me. Other than that: "Subterraneans" as well as "Heroes", though there really are dozens.

Another sad loss. Very gentle indeed. I met him in '02, and was struck by how he had no star antics at all then, but cared about the well-being of everyone around him - including the cleaning lady. In my book, that is what class is! I loved how he integrated relatively simple pop music with relatively avant-garde artistism, and am amongst the many who believe his name will be remembered. RIP

It's been some years since I investigated MIDI keyboards, but from what I read on Gearslutz, the Arturia is very shoddily built also as to other aspects than the keys themselves. I think there's no reason to take the risk, seeing as there are so many alternatives. Nobody really raves about the Akai, but they do seem to be well satisfied with Akai's keyboards, both as to key response and as to build quality. As an Akai Miniak (a synth) owner, I concur that the Akai keys are quite adequate. The NI seems well regarded. I can't say anything about the others, but I personally went for a few M-Audio KeyStation models as their semi-weighted keys are not too bad. However, when I did, I was surprised by the following: some of the models (they come in many lengths, from 25 to 88 keys IMS) come with manuals that implicitly state you can use USB MIDI at the same time as a 9V wall wart, whilst other manuals state you'll ruin the keyboard if you use both. As I use several of them, and one can't expect the computer to deliver enough power, I use a powered USB hub for them. This seems to work well. Also the different KeyStation models come with different ports for pedals (like Volume and Hold) as well as MIDI. Be aware of this. In the end, whilst I wanted 49- or 61-key boards, I felt forced to buy the 88-key version as it was the only one that had it all and was flexible enough. That said, I think it's very much a case of how well adapted the key action is to your needs and your experience level. If you're only entering individual notes one by one, and use a DAW to edit the velocity data afterwards, then any action will do. If you need full piano control over velocity, then only a good piano action board will do. Personally, I never use the M-Audio for piano sounds, and instead use my trusty piano-action board for those (a Yamaha KX-88 from the mid 80s).

Cool and lovable. Thanks for posting. Can't remember ever having heard of this.

[quote name='pfretrock' timestamp='1452241611' post='2947868'] Is your band any good at Metal? [/quote] Dunno really. We hope we are, but most of our songs are so short that we haven't heard enough of them to know whether they really are Metal. We call our style Decay, or sometimes Fragile Metal.

[quote name='ead' timestamp='1452206412' post='2947736'] failed to notice the protective film on the p/g [/quote] You're not the first, and you won't be the last. There must be a special switch in the human brain specifically for allowing or not allowing the needed "protective film" thought, as I've heard this story literally dozens of times - often from people with an actual brain. Don't know who or what controls this switch. Anyway, good luck with the rest of the proceedings.

At any rate, it's not gonna happen. There's rules for this, you know, and there's no way they're naming yet another element after a rock icon after my own band Ununoctium received this honour recently.

Congrats! Luvverly machines, those. Personally, I haven't found a richer, deeper hardware synth than the Blofeld below the £1K mark. You probably already know this, but just in case, as well as for other readers: It's not hard to start with a Blofeld (mastering its depth is a different matter), but one has to be aware of its OS glitches. Personally I'd not use it live for parts that need to be perfect. That said, depending on who you ask, OS v1.22 or v1.23 is said to be quite stable. Also, reportedly Waldorf have retracted v1.23 from the market for some time, in order to iron out the last glitches, so it should be near perfect once it's re-released. Have fun!

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1452087902' post='2946235'] Do VHS players even exist anymore? [/quote] Of course they do. I just bought a used one from Cash Converters for no more than £3,000. Bargain!

[quote name='ras52' timestamp='1452078411' post='2946094'] "Van der Graaf Generator" and "recognisable" don't sit together well [/quote] You know, I probably didn't understand the word "recognisable" really well. From the last pages of this thread, I get the impression it's about "many people recognising", whereas I took it to mean something like "so specific that you'd recognise it under any circumstance (given of course that you'd heard the song before)". You Brits are a strange lot, using your own language in a way that you yourselves understand perfectly!

[quote name='NancyJohnson' timestamp='1452034677' post='2945858'] Scott, Virgil, Alan etc. [/quote] So what did you call the pink one?