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Vintage synths like Junos and DX7s command high prices today. But Roland, Yamaha, and other companies often made budget versions that give you nearly the same sounds for far less.
- Read full Korg Minilogue XD review. Image 1 of 6. Behringer’s synth arm might be best known for its controversy-courting ‘tributes’, but the German brand also has a couple of excellent original instruments under its belt.
- Read full Behringer Neutron review. Image 1 of 4. Where the original was a fairly straightforward monosynth with a few unique touches and some CV control, the MiniBrute 2 is semi-modular, boasting a beefed- up synth engine and a comprehensive mini-jack patchbay.
- Read full Arturia MiniBrute 2 review. Originally conceived as a gift for attendees at a Moog event in 2014, the Werkstatt-01 proved so popular it has now received its own launch and is giving synth fans the chance to add a genuine Moog to their arsenal for under $/£200.
- Read full Novation Circuit Mono Station review. As one of the first ‘homage’ models off the Behringer photocopier, the Model D introduced a new generation of synth fans to the classic Minimoog sound while also adding in a few neat tricks of its own.
- The Best Affordable Synthesizers
- Korg NTS-1
- Ik Multimedia Uno Synth Pro X
- Korg Minilogue
- Arturia Minifreak
- Moog Mother-32
- More About Synthesizers
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Whether you’re looking for something with a tiny footprint or a commanding instrument with full-size keys, whether you hanker for analogue or digital, or just want to get the most for your money, these five thrifty synths are packed with functionality.They’re perfect for you or that synth-lover in your life.
Don’t let the small size fool you. Korg’s diminutive NTS-1 is a single-voice digital synththat packs a whole lot of power. It starts with the same multimode digital oscillator that you can find in the Minilogue XD and Prologue synths. Additionally, it has an arpeggiator, threeLFOs, an envelope generator, and a multimode digital filter. Plus there’s...
IK Multimedia’s UNO Synth Pro was one of my favourite-sounding analogue synths of recent years. With its three oscillators, effects and drive circuit, it was capable of some pretty wild timbres and textures. However, the lack of hands-on controls may have kept some away. Now, IK Multimedia have rectified that with the knob-festooned UNO Synth Pro X...
The silver machine. A modern classic. Korg’s Miniloguehelped kick off the modern analogue synthesizer rebirth and it’s still worth considering in 2022. It’s hard to find four voices of analogue polyphony at this price point and that’s the Minilogue’s greatest asset. That’s not all it has, though. Each of the twooscillators has a wave shaper. That’s...
Well, hello there, MiniFreak. One of the most exciting synths of 2022, the MiniFreak is a six-voicedigital powerhouse. It’s got twodigital sound engines, each with 22selectable oscillator modes ranging from virtual analogue to 2-op FM. Layering them together can result in all kinds of incredible tones and textures. As well, you can even use them to...
With all the talk about Moog Music being acquired by inMusic, you may have forgotten that the company still makes synthesizers. One of my personal Moog favourites is the Mother-32. One of the company’s first to make it into the affordable range, the Eurorack-friendly Mother-32 is a semi-modular analogue synth. Although it may look simple with its s...
The best budget polysynths for your home studio & playing liveThe best mono synths under $500 for leads and basslinesThe best desktop synths under $1000 for studio and live performanceKorg NTS-1: KorgIK Multimedia UNO Synth Pro Desktop: IK MultimediaKorg Minilogue: KorgArturia MiniFreak: Arturia- Arturia Microfreak. The Microfreak from Arturia is a bit of an oddball... but in a good way. It's a paraphonic hybrid synth that combines wavetable and digital oscillators with an analogue filter, which enables it to produce a huge variety of different sounds.
- Novation Bass Station II. The Bass Station II from Novation is a powerful analogue synth with a number of great features at a very reasonable price. It has a sturdy, well built chassis containing 25 velocity sensitive keys with assignable aftertouch.
- Behringer Model D. Love them or loathe them, there is no denying that Behringer make some of the most affordable good quality instruments around. The Model D is a "homage" to the iconic analogue Minimoog synthesizer, sharing a similar architecture, layout, and feature list to it's predecessor.
- Korg Volca FM. The Korg Volca FM is an incredibly cheap introduction to the world of FM synthesis. This battery powered synth is enclosed in a plastic chassis with an incredibly small footprint, so will not take up much room on your desktop.
- Korg Monologue. So, when the Korg Monologue first came out, I have to admit, I was skeptical. I mean, making an affordable analog synth that still sounds good?
- Modal Cobalt 5S. Modal Electronics is pretty new to the synth game, but they're coming in hot with some really cool synths like the Cobalt 8 and the Argon 8.
- Roland JD-Xi. Roland always delivers high-quality gear, and this little synth is no exception. The Roland JD-XI is a hybrid synthesizer that combines both analog and digital engines.
- Yamaha Reface CS. It’s kind of funny how I can complain about one company's tacky, flashy design, but then I check out the competition's synthesizer and it has the design I actually wanted.
Mar 28, 2024 · Korg minilogue XD. 4.5. The Korg Minilogue XD is easily one of the most verstaile synths on the market right now. If you're looking for a great option for live shows as well as the studio, you have to check it out. View Price At Sweetwater View Price At Guitar Center.
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Oct 16, 2018 · If you’re relatively new to the wide world of synthesis, you may be wondering about how best to amplify your synthesizer. And with a plethora of PA systems and keyboard, bass, and even guitar amps on the table to choose from, the options are practically limitless.
