any tips on synths

It'll be pushing the limits of your budget, but check out the novation x-station. It's 2 in 2 out audio interface, with phantom power (for condensor mics) and guitar input. It has two effect units (one for each input), a build in synth (novation k-station), it's a midi break out box, and a midi control interface (almost all buttons and sliders and pots can be used for midi)

I personally think it's a great all in one solution :)

Go for a simple midi keyboard, like M-audio and the likes and with that get a Behringer BCR2000, then you got knobs and everything you need... forget the korg (imho) it's way too expensive... I got an M-Audio 49-keys Keyboard, The BCR2000, the BCF2000 and the Korg padKontrol (for the jaming), besides my beloved NovaII, the JV-880 (which I use very rarely) and my Electribe EA-1... Behringer is really the beginners choice... you could also go for an Evolution UC33e, but I heard it's as cheap as it feels...

You could also take a look at the BCA2000 from Behringer to connect the mic, but I connect the mic to my PC, through my olde Audigy...

Hope it helps!

From what I understand Behringer is ok for mixing tables and DI boxes, but don't come near a behringer synth with a 50-foot pole.

Yes the synths suck big a**, but the midi contollers are WOOT! But what I understood from the first post, he is more looking for a controller than a synth... If he would looking for a synth with that budget i would perhaps consider the Alesis Micron: http://www.alesis.com/products/micron/

Originally posted by : Jemenfish

From what I understand Behringer is ok for mixing tables and DI boxes, but don't come near a behringer synth with a 50-foot pole.

didn't even know they máde synths =o°

As ReadyDot said, I think you are more searching for a midi controller than a synth. To control reason, a great choice is the Novation serie SL (with or without keyboard). It has the automap, which means all controllers are automatically set up by selecting the reason instrument in the sequencer window. Personnaly I have a lot of fun with it ;-)

Considering the mike input now... Reason doesn't deal with audio inputs, so you don't really need one for reason... If you want to record audio you'll need another software.

I'm going to get myself the m-audio axiom49, looks like a fine piece of material!

Originally posted by : benga

As ReadyDot said, I think you are more searching for a midi controller than a synth. To control reason, a great choice is the Novation serie SL (with or without keyboard). It has the automap, which means all controllers are automatically set up by selecting the reason instrument in the sequencer window. Personnaly I have a lot of fun with it ;-)

Considering the mike input now... Reason doesn't deal with audio inputs, so you don't really need one for reason... If you want to record audio you'll need another software.

and if you want the two, check the smaller brother of Novation's X-Station: the Xiosynth = synth + soundcard working together !!! :D :D ( with the XStation you have to choose ) The synth is the same as that of the X-Station with some nice extra's like the sequencer, but less midiknobs and faders. Nice price too ;)

the novation sounds really cool indeed! (the xiosynth was already on my wishing list) ..so does the m-audio!

it's really the all-in-one thing i'm looking for. I have a simple keyboard now (coutesy of yakka, cheers mate ;) ), but it reacts rather slow so the sound always comes a fraction of a second after you hit the keys. So acctually, i have to play faster than the music :)) .

I know its a contradiction, asking for mic plugin when working with reason, but i plan on expanding my software horizons ;). For now i just record voice in audicity and import it in reason... but (with my knowhow) possibilities are qiut limited. That's why i liked the idea of a build in vocoder like the microkorg has.

anywayz... thanks for all the advice so far!!! ..and keep m comming ;)

damn! it all looks sooooo goood :D

it's really getting hard to choose. if i had money to spare, i would deffinately go for the x-station ...but atthat price i can get a simple keyboard+ the bcr2000... and then i would still have money enough for an electrick violin and a semi-accoustic guitar... ...but the novation stuff looks sooo sweet...

:( damned dicisions