Stand-alone Solutions / Synth For Good Things Ltd. Options

[Jens Siegfried]

Hey everybody,

I'm searching for something that propably (hopefully) many of you already found while investing a lot of time and experience.
Us, my band and me, want to add a (software) synth to our all analog "rock" setup. Although I have some
tiny experience with some synths and instruments, I kinda don't know whrere to start due to the huuuge range of possibilities.
So I realy have to ask some pros here!
Here's some basic information:
MacBook 2,4 GHz, 2 GB RAM, OS 10.6, Novation ReMOTE 25 LE controller.
The Sound it has to fit can be heared at
http://goodthingsltd.org/?page_id=400
If u want to.
If not ;-) - it's indie rock w/ female vocs and kinda sonic youthish guitars.

It hast to be rocksolid to work in life performances, a stand-alone solution would be nice if it helps to
do that.
Oh, and if it is easy to assign the MIDI knobs of the novation thingy - that'd be way cool.

We, the guys of Good Things Ltd. would veeery much appreciate your ideas!
Thanks everybody in advance for taking time for us!

[houstonmusic]

hey,
great stuff on your page.
as a keyboardist and arranger, if i were called to add keys to these songs, my first reach would be for older synth and over-driven retro-organ textures. (farfisa, vox) it's a strong analog vibe you've got going, and i'd support that.

i always prefer a 'standalone' solution, though old keys can be unreliable.
your computer/controller set up is adequate, though may lack ram. add a decent audio interface and you're good to go. synths like Reason (even an old copy of 4.5 would be great) or Arturia's Analog Experience, will have tons of sounds that will integrate into your arrangements. both will be knob and slider friendly.

just get started. GarageBand synths, through a couple of stomp boxes and out to an amp, may be the lowest hanging fruit. i'll be interested to hear where this all takes you. good luck.

[Jens Siegfried]

hey,
great stuff on your page.
(...)
synths like Reason (even an old copy of 4.5 would be great) or Arturia's Analog Experience, will have tons of sounds that will integrate into your arrangements. both will be knob and slider friendly.
(...)
through a couple of stomp boxes and out to an amp, may be the lowest hanging fruit. i'll be interested to hear where this all takes you. good luck.

Hey Houston,

thanks a lot for your input!
I'm already on my way, hunting some "old copies".
And funny you brought up the idea using " an amp", cuz actually we're thinking of using one of several unused git amps.
Oh, and I never would use the built in audio card. I have several other to choose from, most propably we're going tu use my NI Traktor Audio 2 card, which is small, reliable, sounds very good and has good driver support.
It'll take a while (end of year?) before there will be some results on our page, but I hope I'll remember and let you know.
Thanks again!