I couldn’t afford one as a student. I did get a lot of enjoyment out of my MS2000. Unsure what that would cost in that day’s £.
1 Like
This was my actual first setup, pirate copy of Cool Edit and all 
Loads of great suggestions in these replies but one thing to bear in mind (from someone who was in roughly this situation at the time!) is that gear was out and laptops were in. There was just this excitment about writing music with the computer without gear. I knew one person who had an Electribe but everyone else was using Reason/Fruity Loops/trackers or whatever on underpowered budget PCs. Can even remember Propellerhead advertising Reason with a photo of loads of vintage synths stacked in a cupboard and a tagline about how you could do it all in the box, or words to that effect. If I’d had £500 in 2000 as a teenager, realistically I think I’d have spent the money on a Playstation 2. Who needs a proper machine when you could pick up a copy of Computer Music and get into the production powerhouse that was Computer Muzys 
Everything you need, everything you need, everything you need to makemusicwithyourPCandyourMac…
3 Likes
JP-8000 and Emu XL-7.
1 Like
Still a great midi sequencer today. Okay, it’s missing p locks and some of the modern sequencing goodies but it’s rock solid and will survive almost anything.
I think I got my first one around that time?
For me it was Nord Modular and Sidstation.
With PC and Cubase.
2 Likes
Korg Ms2000. Music for PlayStation, or a cracked Fruityloops. Used 4-track.
Then again vintage analogs were really cheap on eBay back then, so you could have probably bought a room full of them for a few grand
3 Likes
I got a Korg MS2000 despite everyone saying it only sounded okay when it came out. I thought it sounded great.
Funny how now on VS it’s sound is amazing. Shows how initial takes on something can change when you spend a little time with it.
Came out in 2000. I loved it when I had it. Shoulda held on to that one
7 Likes
Ms2000 is one of my favourite synths ever and if you could have one with 8 or 12 voices I would buy one in a heartbeat. I love how it’s a little lofi sounding, fits well within the legacy of ms20 and ms10.
3 Likes
everyboby is dumb (i also buy mc303 
)
2 Likes
I wouldn’t call anyone dumb for buying one but I sure am stupid for watching that video. It was so bad I couldn’t turn it off!
3 Likes
2 Likes
I really liked the time spent on the MC303. For sure, it wasn’t the greatest choice for an entry level device but I like to deconstruct the logic behind a Machine.
After the MC303, I went for the super easy to understand Korg EM-1.
When I said I’m dumb, it meant, in a general way, I don’t take life too seriously and I like to goof around. My friends and I like to call ourselves dumb or if you prefer, « con » in French.
3 Likes
I remember passing up a Yamaha a3000 around the year 2000 which my friend bought for around or just under £500
Blew me away that entire tracks could be made using this, excellent machine
And i really hated the mc303 because I remember playing one with friends and someone had Rebirth on their PC and it sounded better comparing them. This was a turning point for me with software sounding as good as and in some cases better than hardware. I know the mc303 wasnt exactly expensive but it felt like software in a box for more money if that makes sense.
There was also loads of amazing hardware that couldn’t be replaced by software but some of these digital groove boxes and basic synths just started to feel obsolete and lazy
1 Like
In 1999 I was a music student at Shoreline Community College. I bought a Nord Lead.
I kick myself in the nuts several times a day for ever having sold the thing.
4 Likes
The first synth I bought brand new in a bricks and mortar shop!
1 Like
My first hardware synth as well. It was one of the “affordable” VA ones. I think around $700 in the early 00’s for the rack.
5 Likes
My mate had one new back then. From memory didn’t it have some dealbreaking midi issue? Either it only transmitted on ch 1 or omni? Anyway it wasn’t able to sequence more than one synth over midi. I got the RM1X about the same time.
1 Like
Yup, it was that or the Roland JP. The Korg was quite a bit cheaper from memory? I’m sure I paid £499 for it whilst the JP was maybe £749 ish?
2 Likes
on se comprend 
2 Likes