M3 - worth keeping for the brass/woodwind expansions?

[The Magic Hoof]

I'm gonna be honest - the only reason why I keep my M3 is for the potential use of the brass and woodwinds expansion sets. The pianos come in handy too. However, everything else that's stock on the M3 doesn't come in handy to me. There's the Triton, Trinity, and some of the older AI2 stuff that takes care of that.

I compose orchestral stuff from time to time so the only reason I keep my M3 around is for the brass/woodwinds expansions. I haven't even used them much yet, so I keep it mainly for a 'just in case' scenario for sometime in the future. My predicament is that while I WOULD keep the M3 just for those, I need cash for other parts of my studio. And if I do end up selling it, I might regret it if I don't have those expansions around. I wish those expansions were available somewhere else on another synth.

So I'm kind of torn right now. What would you do if you were in my position? I'm not sure that I want to keep an entire synth just for those few patches, but they might be exactly what I need in the future as I said.

[McHale]

I can't really help you on the decision but I will say that your assessment on the Brass and Woodwind expansion is correct. It's very good. However, my question is on the other gear you have. If your M3 can take care of the things that your Triton, Trinity, etc are doing, why not sell those?

[Bald Eagle]

Keep the M3. Every synth has something that you just wont get from another. I am going to buy a Kronus but I will be keeping my M3-73.

Upgrade your studio and try to reproduce you favorite patches first. If its all good then you can sell the M3, otherwise keep it.

[The Magic Hoof]

Actually, it's more like my other synths can cover 95% of what the M3 does, and I just don't want to get rid of that 5% that the M3 offers me - the brass and woodwinds. I just looked at the Kronos and turns out it offers the brass/woodwinds expansions included in the synth itself, so that's good.

I don't think I'll be needing the expansions right this minute, so what I might do is sell my M3, upgrade other parts of my studio, and in the future buy the Kronos when I've got cash laying around. Or just get another M3, but I'd probably go for a Kronos instead.

It's just difficult to part with a synth sometimes, even if you don't even use it, you know? But the Kronos being released makes me feel a little better about it.

[RI Producer]

You could always get the Kronos then sample the M3 patches that you cant recreate, then sell the M3. Personally i would KEEP the M3.

[J.Q]

I compose orchestral stuff from time to time so ...

Sell the M3 and buy a good brass/woodwind library.

[ozy]

I'm gonna be honest - the only reason why I keep my M3 is for the potential use of the brass and woodwinds expansion sets.

[Muji]

If you only want sounds, and not the workstation sequencer, sampler, etc. functions of the M3, you might consider picking up a Ketron SD2 sound module. They're available for $380 brand new or maybe less than that used. Their brass, woodwinds, strings, actually all acoustic instrument sounds are pretty killer. Then you could sell the M3 and pocket the difference. Check it out.

[tritonlover2000]

I am keeping my M3 for more than the brass/woodwind. I love the overall synth sounds and pads, radias vocoders etc.

It is futile for me to sell all my investment dirt cheap to get the Kronos. The only thing that impresses me about the Kronos are the pianos and the Mod 7. But I have pianos on the computer and Korg Legacy Analog collection so nothing I would tremendously miss.

M3 has tiltable screen, X-Y mode on screen, piano roll/event editor like DAW, several channels of audio recording via firewire.

Seriously, why would I upgrade every 3 years and waste my money?

Not to mention a lot of time wasted in learning the new way of things.

Now if I hadn't had a new synth since M1 or Trinity and a lot of time (i.e. without a family and job), then I would upgrade to Kronos. But for those with Tritons and M3s, its not really needed unless you have the money and gear lust.

[Miggz McFly]

for studio use, I think its a good keep. of course.

Dont listen how sounds impact you individually, but critique the sounds of how they "fit" in your mix.

Everything changes drastically when dynamic range is tinkered with anyway.

Now for live playing (which i don't do) i can see why someone would want to change that.

Equipment upgrades usually are for making things easier, not for making them sound better.

[gurn]

I'm gonna be honest - the only reason why I keep my M3 is for the potential use of the brass and woodwinds expansion sets. The pianos come in handy too. However, everything else that's stock on the M3 doesn't come in handy to me. There's the Triton, Trinity, and some of the older AI2 stuff that takes care of that.

I compose orchestral stuff from time to time so the only reason I keep my M3 around is for the brass/woodwinds expansions. I haven't even used them much yet, so I keep it mainly for a 'just in case' scenario for sometime in the future. My predicament is that while I WOULD keep the M3 just for those, I need cash for other parts of my studio. And if I do end up selling it, I might regret it if I don't have those expansions around. I wish those expansions were available somewhere else on another synth.

So I'm kind of torn right now. What would you do if you were in my position? I'm not sure that I want to keep an entire synth just for those few patches, but they might be exactly what I need in the future as I said.

I'm keeping my M3m despite the Brass/Woodwind & Stereo Piano Expansion. They're mostly useless to me.
But wow! There is a lot of other great stuff on this synth. I haven't even touched the surface yet.

I just came across an orchestral strings & winds combi in bank C that
amazed me today. And every patch with a 4/4 Disco or Dance beat is great.

And "no". I'm not buying a KRONOS. I have no need.
But this M3m is a keeper.

[billbaker]

Hoof -

Time to downsize.

Get an M3m... It can take your expansions - no loss of sounds, no loss of functionality, one less board in the studio.

You can do without the keyboard - sounds like you have enough, just midi to one - and when you get Kronos it'll get you the vector joystick back.

BB