This is a kinda long review, sorry. I have a lot to say about the DarkStar cos I feel some of the opinions here have been very misrepresentative.
I am obsessed with 1970s/80s analogue synths (have owned twelve in total) and within five minutes of switching the DarkStar on I made amazing sounds which I have NEVER been able to create on any of my other machines. The first time I touched it, I made the most amazing warm, fat slow-sweeping tone which gradually disintegrated into amazing random bubbling and crackling. It took about two minutes before two fellow analogue-lovers came over to have a go, and pretty soon there were three of us fighting over it/playing it at the same time.
Addressing a few previous comments...
1. It's only digital-sounding if you want it to be, or you don't know how to manipulate the sound. You just can't make assumptions on first impressions, especially if you're not prepared to play with it. Presets are for demonstration, you're not actually obliged to use them!
2. Compared to other virtual analogues, including the Novation K-Station, the DarkStar *honestly* does so much more and is much more loyal to its predecessors, sound-wise, despite the K looking better on paper. If I had the choice I would buy another DS over a K (the only thing I would miss is the arpeggiator). Novation is trying to convert the analogue lovers to its' (very good) modern equivalents, and until I got this instrument I thought they were the be-all and end-all of VAs just because of the 'proper keyboard'. But I am now a total convert. I have no vested interest in dissing Novation, I just think the DarkStar is a better product for the same RRP.
3. No problems at all with noisy outputs or hiss, even through a cheap amp with no EQ. Maybe those units were faulty??
4. The controls are not as immediate as a less compact synth, because so much is crammed in to one space. You need to read the paperwork before you dive in, that's to be expected. If you buy one without a manual you might struggle with the more complex functions but the process of creating a sound should be obvious.
5. If I had paid the RRP of £395 for this I would have been disappointed in the display... it does not do the unit justice and makes the learning curve quite steep. But I paid £180, which I would consider cheap (and US$200 would be an absolute STEAL - if you see them at $200, PLEASE buy two... or buy three and send me one of 'em!). For £180 it's totally value for money, and the build quality and size suggests it's rugged enough to be toured (another reason why it's better than the K Station).
Finally, Mr/Miss "no one" (below) is talking absolute crap when s/he implies that anyone "serious about making music" would not want a DarkStar. How patronising!! This is the one and only problem with the synth reviews on SonicState - the high number of lesser-known synths that are damned by those who only care about having the most fashionable collection of numbers and letters on their equipment. I've never even heard of RedSound before - I just know a good synth burble when I hear one and my first impressions of the DarkStar tell me it's one of the best burble-makers I've ever heard... my SH09 is sitting lonely in the corner right now. If you're interested in a unit like this, you NEED to go out and try one through a quality amp... don't rely on what other people say... I nearly did, and I could have missed out on an amazing piece of kit. And besides, you have to see it in action just to witness the booting sequence (makes the thing look like a flight deck!) and the Knight Rider-style edit lights.
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