Korg Triton Le 76



My first synthesizer, bought back in 2002. The Le was a cheaper version of the Triton series. It featured the same ROM sample set, the main disadvantage being the number of IFX per program / combi / song and the absence of expansion ROM slots. The keyboard action is very light, the main problem being the short run of the keybed. I have developed a good feel with the keys by the way.

Many ignorant preset players claim there's no point in buying something which is half of a top of the line.They probably have no idea what the word "programming" means. Oh and the presets are even better than the original Triton.
A good programmer could dig anything out of this digital synthesizer, it is a sampler with one of the best FX units ever. The filters are mostly biteless but that's what romplers are about.

I found two 16mb SIMMs in an old computer of mine, which were compatible with the Triton Le's standards. Loading external samples (without paying for the EXB-SMPL board) to RAM opens a brand new world of possibilities to this ROMpler. I am currently loading a Steinway piano, choirs, solo strings and other acoustic samples which Korg isn't really strong at.

This keyboard is also the main midi performance controller for most of my gigs.

Alesis QS 6.1



It was about 2003 when I chose to add another el-cheapo keyboard to the rig, even if the main purpose was buying a second-hand controller for the Triton, with some internal sounds of its own to play with. Well, I happen to like it. It's great when you're rehearsing for amateur bands, sounds very eighties indeed.

The action is semi-weighted, it feels just ok.
I still use this as a controller and I'm not afraid of breaking it. Thinking of selling it to get a decent master controller.

Kurzweil K2000



This was THE digital synthesizer flagship back in 1991 (when I was barely 5 by the way). I picked this up on eBay in 2004 and it's still one of the best synthesizers I've ever tested. The VAST engine is infinite. As the time it takes to program your idiot string patch. There are plenty of presets and some of them are even good. The best thing you could do is editing them to find out "what does what".

There are almost no realtime controls, and the keyboard action is even worse than the Triton Le.
I use this synthesizer to waste my time and brain programming sounds I'll never ever finish.