R3 Replacement

[Blankman8503]

When I first got into producing electronic music I bought an EMX-1 and then a couple of months later an R3 (I was playing in an instrumental dance group at the time). Since then I have greatly expanded my gear, including a Radias-R, and have switched to a solo project. I love my R3, but I feel like I'm neglecting it because of the nature of my present project and the redundancy with the Radias. In my present project I sequence the Radias-R and the EMX via Ableton, so anything I could do on the R3 I can do on the Radias. Additionally if the issue is needing another synth sound in a track, I'll just record it as an audio in Ableton.

Recently I have been talking to some friends about starting another live music group and the question of the R3 came up again for me and led to this post. Considering my use of the EMX and Radias, would I be better off swapping out the R3 for another synth? I feel like I would be better off at least choosing a synth with a different sound engine. My love for Korg products has led me to look at the MicroX. But I have also read about synths such as the M-Audio Venom, Moog Taurus, Arturia MiniBrute, Roland GAIA, Novation UltraNova.

What are people's thoughts. Am I right in feeling that I should swap out the R3? If so what are people's thoughts on good options in the general price range of the R3?

[Re-Member]

If you have the Radias, I say dump the R3. It's literally the same engine, but less features.

As for the other synths you mentioned... I'd personally go with the microX simply because it would offer more variety to your sound pallet. As of now, you have two VA synths, plus the Electribe that has a VA and drum machine section. The microX is a rompler and you'll get a large selection of acoustic and digital sounds that all those other synths you've mentioned can't do. Plus it would be great to sequence with the Electribe since both have 16 timbres.

[rtofvnt]

If you do really want to change synth enginine - go microstation if the keys size isn't an issue for you. Its got bit better effect section than MicroX. It's got 5 insert fx instead 1 and in multi mode you've got eq per channel.
If you want to have synth as R3 but with something completely different go for Venom. Or at least go to your local store and check it.

[3DOFan]

I would suggest the Minibrute or any analog synth that you could pick up on ebay for cheap, I think if you want something different you should probably do that, although the GAIA is an interesting synth, I never cared for it(and its a VA). I personally think the microstation sounds like a mediocre general midi soundcard so I have no idea why you would want that. If you want realistic sounds that arn't platicy or too cheezy I'd get an korg M1, Roland D50, Yamaha Tx81z or Fs1r or Ensoniq SQ80.

While the Yamaha I posted is not really for realistic sounds, it is a unique FM synth capable of synthesizing fairly realistic FM versions of real instruments.

[Re-Member]

I personally think the microstation sounds like a mediocre general midi soundcard so I have no idea why you would want that. If you want realistic sounds that arn't platicy or too cheezy I'd get an korg M1...

The microSTATION comes from the same synth engine as the Korg M3 and M50, there's just not as many preset sounds or samples. I have Korg's software version of the M1 and the microSTATION actually has many of the same preset sounds, plus a handful of vintage drum samples. They are unlisted by name, but I've been able to identify parts of the CR-78, TR-606, 808, 909 and Linndrum scattered on certain kits. It's a good synth if you need something portable, though I think the M50 would be a million times easier to operate.