Thinking of buying an R3 (Mega noob to synths)

deception217 · Post by **deception217** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 10:26 pm

Heya all, mega synth newbie here. Thinking of purchasing an R3 or maybe a Micro XL, not sure yet. However I have a question or two if anyone on here would be kind enough to answer...

*If I pick up an R3 or XL will I need to buy cables separately for audio output and/or PC connection

*For a Synth newbie like myself am I better off getting an XL or an R3, baring in mind there's only €66 between in most places

Cheers for any feedback.

X-Trade · Post by **X-Trade** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 10:46 pm

You would typically still have to buy your own audio connections, headphones, decent speakers (don't use a guitar or bass amp! get some at least cheap studio monitors or maybe PC speakers if you really have to).

As for the actual synth. The R3 is capable of all the microKorg XL can do and more, with the exception of the rather low-quality piano sample on the XL that isn't on the R3. But the R3 is otherwise an all-round better synth and definitely worth way more than just the small price difference between the two. I'd consider the R3 a much more 'smart buy' for features to price ratio compared to the XL which is missing a lot.

You get more effects processing, many more actual effect types (all the ones that are in the Radias), and a sturdier more professional build with a few more hands on controls and full size keys.

The microKorg XL is only really useful if you particularly want something battery powered and portable - that's about all it offers over the R3.

It doesn't matter if you're inexperienced or not, the as the XL has the same basic sound engine but is crammed into a smaller box with less hands-on controls. so IMO you're better off as someone with little experience in synths by getting something which is easier to use - i.e. has more controls - rather than something where you most certainly have to rely on the software editor and menus.

deception217 · Post by **deception217** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 10:56 pm

Ah cheers for that man. So audio wise if I don't get something it's pretty much muted? or does it have in-built speakers?

Failing it doesn't have inbuilt speakers, I assume connecting to my PC via USB will do the job?

X-Trade · Post by **X-Trade** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 11:10 pm

No, it doesn't have built in speakers.

That is one of the things that usually sets a real synthesizer or workstation aside from an arranger or toy. Of course there will always be a few exceptions, but I don't know of them (just covering myself there).

I think the general thinking is, why stick some rubbish speakers in for twice the price, weight, and internal space, when anyone who is doing any even slightly serious sound production will have a set of monitors in their studio anyway. At a gig you'd go through a keyboard amp or the PA system. I'm sure plenty of people would be running it through a mixer or external effects too for example. So it's just redundant on a professional synthesiser.

You can connect headphones to it though.

A USB connection to the computer won't transfer any audio sound either. It is for MIDI control which means altering the parameters of the synth and controling it (e.g. getting it to play notes) from a sequencer/DAW program software (for example Cubase, Logic, etc).

If you're planning on recording and producing tracks on your computer, you'll need some software where you can record audio and possibly MIDI, and you'll need an audio interface or sound card. You can also connect to your PC's Line In connection if it has one, although it'll be lower quality.

The audio connections would be a pair of mono 1/4 inch jack leads (guitar leads for example), which will give you a stereo connection.

You can't produce entire songs on the R3. It's not a workstation (like for example a Triton, M50, M3, etc) with a sequencer and MIDI recording facilities and the ability to play 16 different sounds at once. Rather it is more of a singular instrument like a guitar or bass or piano. It can layer and I think split up to two different sounds, but that's about it.

So make sure you know what you want to do and what you need to do it! If you're unsure about something then by all means ask away.

deception217 · Post by **deception217** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 11:18 pm

I assume the Korg software that comes with the R3 will allow me to record though, right?

You've been mega helpful X-Trade! Thanks for answering my questions btw.

X-Trade · Post by **X-Trade** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 11:43 pm

deception217 wrote:I assume the Korg software that comes with the R3 will allow me to record though, right?

You've been mega helpful X-Trade! Thanks for answering my questions btw.

No, as I said you would have to buy software to record. When you buy a guitar you don't normally get recording software or a tape machine with it. The R3 is just another instrument. It isn't any form of production station. Often people buying such a machine would have a preferred recording package they are already using anyway.

The software that comes with it is for getting at all of the synth parameters easier - having them all laid out in front of you on the screen - so that you can make your own synth sounds and keep them on your computer, share them with other R3 users, download others and load them to your R3, etc.
You don't even have to use the software to make your own sounds - all of the parameters are accessible from the knobs and the screen. The whole point of a synthesizer is it allows you to make an almost unlimited number of different sounds. Programming synth sounds is an art in itself though, but certainly one you should try to engage in if you are planning on using synths.

There are a number of free recording packages available online. Audacity is one which is fairly simplistic but powerful too. Reaper is popular and cheap. So is EnergyXT. Kristal is another free one.
On an apple mac computer you would typically have garrageband installed as part of iLife, which is a good entry level recording software.