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Well, I just got this synth a couple of weeks ago for 295 quid, and I've got to say I don't really think it is all that hard to program. After a couple of days I had already programmed a synth/trance pad sort of sound (with a really cool metallic edge on it). OK, so it took me two hours to program a realistic perc. organ starting from an INIT VOICE, but I did it, and really enjoyed it. The key is to look at each parameter logically and find out how it affects the sound, and then start maniulating each different value until you get what you want.
The build of the synth is excellent, pretty heavy steel which is what I like to see in a professional synth. I have the original MK1, and I don't really mind the membrane keypad because you can still feel a good positive click in the buttons under the surface, and you don't get dust trapped in the gaps between the buttons and the front panel like on many synths. The LCD display is small, but displays the information you need. Could do with a backlight perhaps for those dark studios but hey, at least you haven't got to worry about the bulbs burning out if there aren't any!
I was impressed with electric piano and organ sounds, and even a couple of the ordinary piano sounds are pretty convincing in the lower registers when we consider this synth is almost 18! I was also impressed by the synth effects and lead sounds on the ROM cartridge. String sounds are a bit weak, although I quite like Strings 4, in internal memory, and also Strings 7 on the orchestral ROM cart.
The verdict? I give this synth a four out of five. I like my thick swirly pad sounds and can't get them from a DX7 and must leave that to my Korg, but piano, organ and bass are a real strength on this board.
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