What would be recommended for someone looking to dip their toes into the realm of hardware synthesis? Is it worth getting any of the newer, cheaper units like the Arturia MiniBrute or small Moog offerings, or should I save up towards a grand and get something really decent?

Matt, that picture just makes me drool. Do you use any of the Mutable Instruments modules?

Yeah in there is braids, clouds, ripples, warps, elements, peaks, shelves, yarns.. So yeah I suppose I like mutable a bit

Quote from: mattlange on January 07, 2016, 10:27:26 pm

Fractal Audio AxeFXII for all sorts of processing

Harvestman Piston Honda as an external waveshaper.

*Goes shopping 

There you are

It's a great synth.  Nothing in software really sounds like it, which is somewhat bizarre since it in itself is essentially software.  It's beautifully wide and sounds much more alive than your average VA soft synth.  I used to use the granular/formant synthesis side of it a ton.

Quote from: mattlange on January 07, 2016, 10:23:26 pm

instead of searching for them online, (which to be honest, defeats the purpose a bit), get a field recorder and do it yourself.  It's way more satisfying and educational.  Will be the best $200 you've spent in a while.

Was just talking about you in another thread, and how you build your atmospheres with foley, and such.

it's a great technique.

Fractal Audio AxeFXII for all sorts of processing

Harvestman Piston Honda as an external waveshaper.

Quote from: mattlange on January 07, 2016, 08:23:14 pm

just say no to presets, kids

Or learn from them, then try to make your own

the problem is most people don't.  At least when you're starting out it's better, imho, to start from a blank initialized setting and to learn from there, as opposed to reverse engineering something you don't understand.

exponential pitch envelopes are your best friend

usually:

UAD Brainworx B2
UAD Massive Passive
Multiband comp:  Could be Fabfilter Pro MB, UAD Precision Multiband, McDSP ML4000... depends what I'm feeling on that day.
Slate VCC
UAD Maximizer
Slate FGX