Member Studios / Setups

[dmanley]

All I can say is "Wow!"
Looking at the impressive recording studios that members have contributed photos of thus far, I keep picking my jaw up off the floor. Of course, I am an old-timer getting back into computer/midi/keyboard setups after, (cough), a few years of being out of the loop. Things are way different now!
Long gone are the days when my setup inspired awe and envy (and great tunes) from my Dr. T.'s/Commodore 64 powered setup of: DX7 IIFD, Kawai K1m, Oberheim Matrix 6, Yamaha DX100, Ensoniq Mirage, Akai AX60, Yamaha RX5, RX15, and RX 21L drum machines.
After a LONG break, I have gotten back into music in the last year or so. I re-purchased (on eBay) a couple of familiar friends (DX7II FD + Kawai K1) - for comfort; as well as a couple of apples that gleamed in my eye as my involvement in electronic composition and bands previously ended (Yamaha SY85 and Korg Wavestation).
Now, I have also bought a couple of workstations in the last couple of years: Roland Fantom X6 (which I sold to buy a Fusion), a Technics SX-WSA-1 (which I LOVE and still own), and a Fusion HD6.
Forgive the rambling, but I guess my observation/question is this: I notice that a lot of folks' setups seem to lean in one of two directions: Fusion + Other high-end workstations or Fusion + Lots of other virtual analog/analog units. If I wanted to slim down my equipment to maybe one or two units besides my Fusion - what should I look at? If the Fusion has great VA, why do I need other VA? If the Fusion is a great rompler/workstation - should I look at a second workstation to make up for Fusion short-comings?
I have hesitated to ask this question of folks, because I know that different musical interests require different kinds of equipment. Oh yes, I should mention that I bought Apple's Logic 7 Pro for recording. Maybe an interesting answer to my question might take the form of the response to: If you had your Fusion and one other keyboard - what would it have to be in order to let you create what you want to create?
I will not be offended if folks consider this question too vague to respond to.

[mps]

I think that everyone is different so I can only speak for myself. The VA engine on the Fusion is very good. I have found no use for a VA keyboard since getting the Fusion. Ditto DX-7 and P-2000 sampler. Gone. Sold. The Fusion's sampling engine and FM capability more than replaces them.

I still have a P-600 and an SD-1 that may stay. I am selling my ESQM, and my AX-60. So I will be down to the Fusion, a DSI MEK, and the P-600. I may sample the SD-1 and sell it off as well. Not quite decided.

The important thing is if you are having fun. We all work in different ways and use variuos gear. The best thing is to use a piece of gear and really learn it. I got too much crap too fast and never really got deep into any of it. So now my setup is not as big and impressive as it once was. But that is a good thing for me.

You may want to find another keyboard that does some things the Fusion can't. The trouble there is that the Fusion can do so much. Learn it for awhile and see what it can do. You may find that it is all or most of what you need.

[mstsfreak]

I also sold a lot of my old gear. I now only have my Fusion and my old humble Yamaha V-50 which i love very much..

I am experimenting now with just using programs of the Fusion and recording them directly into audio with Cubase VST32.
I don't have to use song-mode or mix mode that way and i can make use of all the effects without any limitation and it sounds a lot better that way.

So you don't need a lot of keyboards anymore. I am focusing on just one keyboard to learn to program it and to delve deep in it: The Fusion, of course!!

That way i also learned (and still learning) to program my V-50.

[gwenhwyfaer]

I'd have to say that I'm also finding the V50 a kind of natural complement to the Fusion. Perhaps it's because they're right next to each other... but also the V50 seems to have the programming interface Just Right, the same way as the Fusion does, but to be able to make sounds the Fusion can't (even though the Fusion can do lots and lots that the V50 can't). And it's just fun to program! Even if its buttons are on the way out...

If I had to keep only two of my synths, I'd have to say that I'd choose those two, without hesitation. If I could choose a third, I'd possibly keep the XL7... but possibly I'd decline the choice...

[dfahrner]

I too got rid of lots of older synths whose sounds are covered by the Fusion: Alesis QS8, Korg T3, Prophet 600, etc. I kept two things that have a unique sound: Yamaha VL70-m (maybe someday the Fusion's PM engine will approach this for reeds and horns) and Korg Wavestation (I have the feeling that this is probably one of the best keyboards every built for leads and pads, but no one, including me, has ever spent the required time with it).

df