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Hello guys, I'm a 25 year old who is getting interested in synthesis music. However, being disabled, I cannot truly play a keyboard. Do I need a board for the Radias-R synth or can it stand alone? Also any keyboard ideas for my situation is appreciated

Hi there Sirio, welcome to the forums.

Just to clarify, do you mean 'can you play the Radias rack by itself (without a [MIDI] keyboard)', or 'can it stand upright', or 'is it a stand-alone "groovebox"'?

I don't think it's necessarily ideal for stand-alone usage (in other words as a "groovebox") without a keyboard and/or a software sequencer of some sort. It can do it for short sequences (several bars long), but you can't build full songs with it, so it's limited in that respect.

What is your level of physical ability? And what would you like to do (what specific aspects would you like to get into, and the music you'd like to make)? We may be able to advise.

Timo wrote:Hi there Sirio, welcome to the forums.

Just to clarify, do you mean 'can you play the Radias rack by itself (without a [MIDI] keyboard)', or 'can it stand upright', or 'is it a stand-alone "groovebox"'?

I don't think it's necessarily ideal for stand-alone usage (in other words as a "groovebox") without a keyboard and/or a software sequencer of some sort. It can do it for short sequences (several bars long), but you can't build full songs with it, so it's limited in that respect.

What is your level of physical ability? And what would you like to do (what specific aspects would you like to get into, and the music you'd like to make)? We may be able to advise.

To clarify, I meant can the Radias synth rack be played by itself or is a keyboard needed to generate the tones that it then alters? My physical ability is such that I don't have good reaction time nor motor controls. For instance, I can hit single notes easily but hitting two or more at once is very difficult. My musical interests lie in making techno/trance/"spacey" tracks...

And I'll willingly answer any questions those assisting me have

Stand upright timo????

Stand alone as Sirio mentioned means "by itself"...

You can play the radias Stand alone through the 16 note buttons along the bottom and also by programming the internal sequencers and arpeggiators....
The Modulation sequencer also aids in automated knob moving while coping with the Note/button entries......The Octave switch allows the range of the 16 buttons while the timbre select allow you to route the 16 button board to the alterative timbres 2, 3, and 4.

slammah2012 wrote:Stand upright timo????

Stand alone as Sirio mentioned means "by itself"...

You can play the radias Stand alone through the 16 note buttons along the bottom and also by programming the internal sequencers and arpeggiators....
The Modulation sequencer also aids in automated knob moving while coping with the Note/button entries......The Octave switch allows the range of the 16 buttons while the timbre select allow you to route the 16 button board to the alterative timbres 2, 3, and 4.

I did a bit of research and it seems like what I should be looking to buy is a 'groovebox' or something akin to one. It sounds like the Radias can be used like one. Am I correct in this regard?

Sirio wrote:

slammah2012 wrote:Stand upright timo????

Stand alone as Sirio mentioned means "by itself"...

You can play the radias Stand alone through the 16 note buttons along the bottom and also by programming the internal sequencers and arpeggiators....
The Modulation sequencer also aids in automated knob moving while coping with the Note/button entries......The Octave switch allows the range of the 16 buttons while the timbre select allow you to route the 16 button board to the alterative timbres 2, 3, and 4.

I did a bit of research and it seems like what I should be looking to buy is a 'groovebox' or something akin to one. It sounds like the Radias can be used like one. Am I correct in this regard?

The Radias is a 4 timbre sound module with a big hands on control surface... and the unique features of a 16 button polyphonic keyboard built on the rack face, Vocoder/Formant recorder, and 3 Modulation sequencers....

FX wise , there is 2 FX devices per Timbre and then a master FX covering all 4 timbres....

One of the Timbres eg. (4) can act as a Drum Kit...with each of the 16 drum instruments in the kit , fully editable and storable through the radias synthesis module.
There are 2 x "32step" sequencers and an arpeggiator which can be assigned to different timbres, so you can use 1 sequence for a drum beat, and a second for a bass line... you can set the root of the bass line so it follows the keyboard and play ....
you can have a third timbre with the arp playing in sync/ratio sync with the sequencer, and have a vocoded pad on the last timbre....

The Ratio feature allows syncronisation of LFO/FX/Arp/Sequencer/Modulation Sequencer/....(does not apply to formant recorder)

Additional sequences can be added over Midi if you have an Alesis MMT or other type of midi recorder......and External drum Machines can synchronize and play the Radias drum Kits via Midi....

I am pretty sure a ?groovebox? is midi compatable and will work in conjunction with the Radias Rack...

Could I take a Radias and do this with it? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZaqlSudOuw

Or would I need a keyboard, too?

You could do some of this....The Filtersweeping and the Muting of individual timbres the drum sequencing...

But this sounds like it has more accessible sequences on board....

I know You can bypass and retrigger drum instruments in patterns but I dont think as easily as this shows...

But this is not how I use my Radias in my setups, so I haven't spent the time trying to do acheive likewise with mine.....

If you want to do stuff like the Electribe MX does in the video, then by all means, get an Electribe MX! I love mine. If you have no keyboard ability and are just getting into synths, I can't think of a better choice than the EMX. And it's half the price of the Radias.

The Radias is an awesome multi-faceted synthesizer. Its vast repertoire includes some groovebox-ish features, but you can't really use it like a full-fledged groovebox. They're different animals, designed for different purposes. If you're looking for an actual groovebox (which I agree is a good choice for you), I think you'll be much happier with the EMX.

slammah2012 wrote:Stand upright timo????

Was covering all bases.

I'd go with Shabudua, a groovebox might well be the best option, as you can build components up a bit at a time, like muting/unmuting drum instruments one by one etc. Which you can't do with a Radias (it has one rhythm/drumkit channel - which is either on or off).

The Radias.. it's more a studio workstation than a standalone groovebox/electribe, as MIDI is required to get the most out of it (building up drums, etc.). A groovebox/electribe, however, is more suited to tweaking and building up tracks in realtime.

The Korg Electribe stuff would be really good in this area.

To find out more, Sound on Sound have reviews of all the Korg stuff which you may want to read to get a better idea of them:-

[Korg Electribe MX]
[Korg Radias]

[Korg's other DJ/Dance stuff]

[Other grooveboxes] such as the Roland [MC909], etc. The much earlier MC505 sounds dated now, though.

And there's the [Yamaha RM1X] and [here], albeit from 1999, so may be old now, but not sure what this sounds like as I haven't tried it.

Sirio wrote:

Timo wrote:Hi there Sirio, welcome to the forums.

Just to clarify, do you mean 'can you play the Radias rack by itself (without a [MIDI] keyboard)', or 'can it stand upright', or 'is it a stand-alone "groovebox"'?

I don't think it's necessarily ideal for stand-alone usage (in other words as a "groovebox") without a keyboard and/or a software sequencer of some sort. It can do it for short sequences (several bars long), but you can't build full songs with it, so it's limited in that respect.

What is your level of physical ability? And what would you like to do (what specific aspects would you like to get into, and the music you'd like to make)? We may be able to advise.

To clarify, I meant can the Radias synth rack be played by itself or is a keyboard needed to generate the tones that it then alters? My physical ability is such that I don't have good reaction time nor motor controls. For instance, I can hit single notes easily but hitting two or more at once is very difficult. My musical interests lie in making techno/trance/"spacey" tracks...

And I'll willingly answer any questions those assisting me have

Sirio,
I have a Radias Rack and have some major physical challenges similar
(perhaps) to yours.
The Radias (rack or w/kbd) has a killer arpeggiator and two step
sequencers (32 notes each) that can be "chained". . . for each of the
4 timbres.
Yes, the front bottom buttons will play in real time but are also used
to enter steps as well as choose programs/edit functions.
I find this all very useful, having only one fully functioning hand and
it being rather awkward at live playing.
BTW: any MIDI source will play the Radias-R. like sequencer in
computer or pre-programmed MIDI loops in any groove box.
(I have 2 groove boxes but usually write my own MIDI in either
hardware sequencers in the boxes or in Ableton LIVE! in computer.

How are you at computer screens using the mouse?
It is a bit difficult for me but a piano roll MIDI editer in software
is my main MIDI writer/editor.
I love my Radias! The internal sequencers will play the crap out of it.
Especially music that you suggest.

Also, typing this is slow but I'm getting better but must have my own
computer available to do much.

HTH,
John

I really appreciate the advice, guys. I think the EMX is what will work best for me. That said, I'm on a limited budget so what I'm going to do is buy the new synthesizer for the DS (lame, I know) and see how I do before making the big purchase.

You mean the Korg DS-10? Not a bad place to start at all.

shabudua wrote:You mean the Korg DS-10? Not a bad place to start at all.

That's the one. Obviously I won't get maximum sound quality, but it seems impressive for being what it is.

Yeah, it reminds me of the classic ReBirth software, which I enjoyed immensely. Hard to believe that's now so old, it's freeware.