Best Looking Keyboards Ever

20 Sep 2003, 05:03

Based on looks alone, what do you think are some of the best looking synths ever?
Of course I have a couple to get it rolling:

- The Roland JD-800 with the angled controls on the side etc. always gets me breathing faster.

- A Korg Lambda that I used to have (shouldn't have sold it!) had some unbelievable wood on it. I used to polish that thing and just marvel that it even existed. It was that beautiful!

Re: Best Looking Keyboards Ever

20 Sep 2003, 05:46

I agree - JD800 looks great. I'd also add Jupiter-8 and JP-8000.

But Fantom-S definitely is the best starship available.

Re: Best Looking Keyboards Ever

23 Sep 2003, 14:05

jd 800 is indeed a fine looking unit.

But... as you can import bitmaps to fantom-s, I'd say:

Best looking keyboard = fantom-s + Cat_Deeley.bmp

How about the ugliest synth (lets not mention fantom-s + My_Gran.bmp)

???

Dog

Re: Best Looking Keyboards Ever

23 Sep 2003, 14:12

LOL!!!

BTW, does the Fantom-S need exact 320x240 pixels bmp files?

And what color format should they be?

Re: Best Looking Keyboards Ever

23 Sep 2003, 16:15

My votes (apart from the FS/S88, of course),

Best Looking:

http://www.synthmuseum.com/sequ/seqpro503a.jpg

Prophet -5 (love the wood paneling and general layout)

Ugliest:

http://www.vintagesynth.org/misc/wasp.jpg

The Wasp. 'Nuff said.

Cheers,
RW

Re: Best Looking Keyboards Ever

24 Sep 2003, 05:17

I'll check the exact resolution for you in the manual & get back to you on this one tomorrow (I'm usually on the 'net at work between 07:00 - 16:00 GMT, and do not have a connection at home)

Dog

Right On RW!

24 Sep 2003, 10:51

I was about to rant about how you young whippersnappers have never seen a keyboard with wood panels, but you beat me to it RW. In fact I have a printout of the synthmuseum picture of the Prophet 5 just to look and reminisce. I'm not sorry I sold it when I did (1985), but I sure wish I owned one just for the "cool" factor.

Other great looking synths: The Minimoog and the new Moog Voyager. The Modular Moogs, the Jupiter 8, OB-X/OB-8, and the LinnDrum, even though it's not a synth.

I know, I know, some of the newer stuff looks cool too, but you can't beat the cool factor of those wood-paneled beauties!

Re: Best Looking Keyboards Ever

24 Sep 2003, 15:41

Exactly. The Voyager is definitely a beauty, too. The lighted pitch/mod wheels are a very nice touch. Sounds great as well. If I had the cash, I'd love to have one. Particularly now that there are presets!!! From a sheer cost/benefit perspective, though, Arturia's Moog Modular V looks rather nice. Okay...enough gear lust for today.

Cheers,
RW

Artemio - in reply to your question

25 Sep 2003, 05:03

Yes, p.185 of the manual says that the only files that can be transferred between the Fantom-S and your computer are bitmaps (320 x 240).

I guess this means that you can't transfer MIDI files, SQV files etc... such a shame (Dogzilla pulls funny face and does impression of monkey writing technical manuals)

;-]

PS- Waldorf wave: mean looking synth.

Dog

Re: Best Looking Keyboards Ever

25 Sep 2003, 06:00

LOL!!! Thanks, Dog!

Re: Best Looking Keyboards Ever

25 Sep 2003, 06:27

I am not so sure that they didn't use monkeys to write the manual. I realize there is a translation issue but, for what they charge surely they can afford to get better translators and proofreaders.
Oil Well what's a mother to do?

pianodick

Re: Best Looking Keyboards Ever

26 Sep 2003, 01:10

We should feel lucky to get printed manuals at all. The trend with software is to put everything on-line in help systems instead. I don't know about the rest of you, but I HATE having to rely on on-line help. I seem to grasp things alot better if it is printed on paper.

Re: Best Looking Keyboards Ever

26 Sep 2003, 02:42

“I don't know about the rest of you, but I HATE having to rely on on-line help. I seem to grasp things alot better if it is printed on paper.”

I am the same way and would probably end up having to print out the manual to get a hard copy of it.

You the man, Artemio!

______________________________________________________________________
Check out Lawrence's Fantom-S website: http://fantom.wilkesworld.co.uk/
Check out Artemio's other Fantom-S website: http://artemiolabs.com/