Elektron Musical Instruments

Now, if you don't know anything about synthesis and midi, it doesn't
really matter. I didn't either before starting with it. The thing is
the SS is a real basic piece for a first synth, it might be a little
confusing because the programming is strange and a little
disappointing because it requires at least a midi keyboard or software
to pilot it.
When I first said it was monophonic, I forgot about the poly mode. So,
true, the ss can play poly (understand, you can play more than a note
at a time = more than one note sound. You can't play chords with a
mono synth. That's the main point).
Then, about the midi : midi sequencers have 16 channels. One midi
instrument can have from one to sixteen channels timbrality (I'm not a
real king of midi, so correct me if I'm wrong), meaning you can
dispatch the programming on 1 to 16 channels. As far as synths are
concerned, you can play 1 to 16 patches in a song, one patch being
assignable to one channel. I don't know if I'm really clear...
Example: my JP8000 has two channels multitimbrality, so I can only use
2 patches at a time. The sidstation has one channel. So: u can use it
on ONE channel only. The three oscillators have nothing to do with it.
Three oscillators means u have 3 sound sources. THIS is VERY GOOD !!!
That's one of the main things with the SS . The 3 oscilators RULE !!!
It's just too bad you can not exploit them on three different midi
channels. THAT would make it THE ultimate synth !!!! But u still can
exploit the machine real good.
My point remains. For a first buy, this is not an easy synth, and can
be a little disapointing if you use a midi sequencer wishing to do
complex harmonic stuff.
You can go vintage as some told you to. But my advice would be : check
the JP 8000 or Korg MS 2000 (cheaper with as a good sound and a
vocoder kinda thing). THey have midi implantation and are very very
easy to use, almost all the parameters are tweakable with the knobs,
they sound real cool, wild and wide spectrum of sounds. That's the
first synth I would buy today if I had to. It does bleeps too(less
good than the ss, but, still) but are better for rich sounds, and
that's I would want for a first synth.
My point of view.