This area of the message board doesn't see much action, so here goes... I don't want to sound like a total idiot, but terms like "synthesizer" and "keyboard" are a little loose and are causing me a little confusion. I have a Yamaha PSR-225 which is a basic, simple midi keyboard. It has a bunch of pre-sampled voices and doesn't really do much except add some effects. What I want to look into getting is a synth... but what kind? I know there are those strange sounding contraptions that wail at the movement of your hands... the real old things. I've even heard the keyboard I have be referred to as a synthesizer. What I am looking for is a Keyboard that allows for the creation of your own strange sounding voices by setting tone, echo, digitizing, etc... So basically I am not sure which types of synths I should be looking at. Can anyone help me??? P.S. I am talking hardware here... I know there are some great soft synths out there, and can find them easily... need the hardware version for later... Edited by - Opticon on 9/6/00 10:39:39 PM

You''re right, that was a little more general than I hoped it to be... I''ll narrow it down a little, LJG... what type of synths do you use? What do they do? How do they work?
I''m planning to make all types of music from Pink Floyd-ish sounding stuff to atmospheric music...
Built in sequencing might be helpful, and effects definitely. I am just looking for more than a simple pre set panel voice with some added effects. I am interested in building an original sounding voice, and change the oscillation over time... pulse sounds and drawn out pitch bends... spacey sounding stuff (Think Pink Floyd - On the Run, Welcome to the Machine, Cluster One).
Price range is not much of an issue now... once I know what I am looking for, I can look around for something I can afford.

Sorry if I am being too general again. If I knew more of what I am talking about...

Thanks, that is very good advice... Now all I gotta do is find a music store around here that has a synth or two on the floor. The place down from me had a Korg Digital Piano for $800 and it had like 6 voices. That was pretty much the extent of it''s capabilities... Thanks a lot, LJG!

BTW, I downloaded all your music... It''s great!