# Hard-Core Gear Porn Friday!!! - Site: Analog Industries - Author: Chris Randall - Date: 2006-03-10 - URL: https://analogindustries.com/2006/03/hard-core-gear-porn-friday-2/ ![Hard-Core Gear Porn Friday!!!](https://analogindustries.com/images/blog/Studio2.jpg) I'm one of those kinds of people that make lists. I make lists in notebooks, in really small handwriting. I have lots of notebooks. It's the sort of thing you'd see in a David Fincher movie, where he would use the large quantity of notebooks full of really small writing by way of illustrating that the person in question was, by any normal standard of measurement, completely batshit insane. That obvious fact aside, I have two synth lists. One is called "The Big Three" or sometimes "The Holy Trinity." It looks like this: 1\. Memorymoog 2\. Prophet 5 3\. Jupiter 8 That should be pretty obvious to anyone who knows anything about fuck all. My other synth list is mainly comprised of synths that, while not part of the Holy Trinity, are quite nice, and each and every one is Something I'd Like To Have At One Point Or Another. In the studio pictured above and below, you can basically see that list. This joint belongs to REwire, and not only does he/she/it (the site is not clear on that fact, so I'll be vague) have two of the Big Three, but a pretty fair portion of my other list as well. ![Hard-Core Gear Porn Friday!!!](https://analogindustries.com/images/blog/Synths2.jpg) There's an OSCar, a VCS3, a 2600, an MS20, and a Voyager. Dude (et al) has a pretty fucking nice collection. Nords are still giving me hives after last week's adventure, so I won't bring those up. And whatever with the Crackie mixer. But otherwise, it's a nice little space I wouldn't mind sitting in for a bit. So, go visit his/her/their [site.](http://rewire.12inch.com/index.htm) There are a couple more pics and a complete gear list in the "studio" section. ## Comments (17) **dm** (2006-03-10): I think the G2's filters are "meh" at best, but the oscillators themselves are very usable. Next time I'm home I'll post up a piece I did last week with the a square wave of the G2 going out into a Blacet Final Filtre and Time Machine. Its really undistinguishable from the similar pieces is did with my Dotcom last year. Actually, switching from the Dotcom to Blacet filter has waaaay more of an effect on the sound than say switching from the square wave on the G2 than Dotcom. I had initially wanted to get an engine too, but you need to carry a computer around to switch patches which makes it pretty unuasable for live settings. (unless i completely misinterpreted the specs of the engine). **cebec** (2006-03-10): no, you're right. you'd need a computer to switch patches, i believe. have you tried any of the DIY filters by Rob Hordijk? many of his patches at the electro-music.com nord modular forum are just what's needed. his DIY four-pole, chebyshev, and amplitude-compensated ladder are better than the stock filters. best way to get good filters on the G2 is to roll your own or use feedback with the stock ones. **Chris Randall** (2006-03-10): You can change patches with MIDI commands, I'm given to understand. Since my live rig (which hardly gets used anymore) requires two computers, it's not such a big deal for me. I do like the big keyboard, though. -CR **synthetic** (2006-03-10): I'm also working on an SSL Buss Comp. I'm hoping to pass audio this weekend. (Hah!) Next I order the box and jacks, followed by the Sifam meter and collet knobs. Does the real nord sound better than the free G2 download? Because... yikes. **cebec** (2006-03-10): well, were you running the demo at 96 kHz, and what are your soundcard's converters? and did you try any patches besides the ones included? i don't hear any difference between the demo on my emu 1616m and the hardware but do hear a difference when i run the demo on a dell optiplex with 'soundmax' or whatever. **dm** (2006-03-10): gadzooks, this is just about my dream synth setup. Chris, may I ask for a clarificatioin on the Nordphobia? The G2 is a REALLY nice piece of kit, espicially when you have all those ins and outs on it to connect to a Blacet or other modular... **PBXorcist** (2006-03-10): That OSCar is soooo sexy it hurts. I swear one of these days I'll buy one for myself. -PBX **Maurice** (2006-03-10): I believe that's an EML 101 in the middle there, too. I haven't actually used one, but I did just fix a friend's, so I should have some time on it pretty soon. Apparently ownership of an EML is a prerequisite for being the keyboard player in Pere Ubu. **Tom** (2006-03-10): +1 for what dm said I'd still prefer if mine wasn't bright red, though... **Chris Randall** (2006-03-10): I don't have any problem with Nords, per se. Personally, I think every sound the Nord Lead series makes sounds like it was pre-programmed for a Cars record, but that's just me. However, if you'll recall, last week I said: "So I've spent the last four hours looking at pictures of every fucking project studio on the face of the planet. Long story short, I've seen a _lot_ of Nord Leads in the last couple hours. They're starting to make me throw up in my mouth a little bit. I hit a link, see red, close the tab. Next." Har har har... -CR **shamann** (2006-03-10): RE: he/she/it/they From the bio page it says: REwire = Dan Levey Used to be they, now only he. **benji** (2006-03-10): i have an EML 101, 200, 400/401. all i need is the 300 and i'll have the super system!!! EMLs are awesome because they have their own sound and not many people use them. another great studio with some more EML stuf... meat beat manifesto http://tapelab.org/ **brandon daniel** (2006-03-10): The G2 is actually pretty cool, but I hear you on the Leads. Check this http://bdu.livejournal.com/1358803.html out for some of the stuff I've found possible just in the first couple weeks of owning it. Screw the sound, it's worth it for the logic patching and midi out possibilities alone. **Chris Randall** (2006-03-10): I actually would really like to have a G2 engine. I've already got a patch panel designed for it in Front Panel Express, too. I just can't afford it right now, and there are about ten things in line in front of it (like the parts to build my SSL buss comp, for instance.) -CR **cebec** (2006-03-10): you probably could hack in a digital output for the G2. i'd like someone to do that, actually. also, try rob hordijks spectrum tilter for better tonal balance on the G2. the DACs are: http://www.cirrus.com/en/products/pro/detail/P224.html curious what others think of the G2s sound. i have one and as long as I don't expect 'real analog' from it, it's fine. **Chris Randall** (2006-03-11): Just a stab in the dark, but I'm gonna guess that Jeff (synthetic) is using a Tascam FW-1804 for conversion duties, which is certainly as good or better than a Soundblast... errr... Emu 1616m. That said, I've been having good fun with the standalone since it was first released, and I find it to sound pretty good. As was noted, I think the filters are kind of "eh," but the rest of it is pretty slick. I have good fun running it through my Blacet/CGS stuff, which is what gave me the first desire to get a G2 Engine. -CR **space_monkey** (2006-03-11): I like the nord modular, for what it is. I've never used a lead. My personal preffered designation for entities of indeterminate gender and species is s/he/it