Hey guys

So after a few years of producing only on a MIDI keyboard and some (pretty cool) vst's... I'd like to purchase my first hardware synth. I'm still in university so for now, my budget is around 500€.

As for the sounds I'm typically engineering - I like "fat" basslines, pads, and plucks. All in all, a pretty deadmau5-ish sound.

Obviously, a fully analog synth would be the coolest thing to have, but sadly, analogs are pretty expensive so going analog would mean being restricted to a single-OSC mono synth. Minitaur, Doepfer DE and the Arturia Minibrute come to mind. Of all three, I like the sound of the Moog the most. Minibrute and Dark Energy sound good as well, but the Minitaur is in a class of its own. DE and Minibrute have a few more features tho, so the Moog is the most basic of the three.

On the other hand, VA synths are a lot cheaper than fully analog models - the Mutable Shruthi sounds great, has a lot of features and has a really reasonable price tag. It's not on sale anymore tho, so I'd have to get a used one.

So as you can see there's a lot to choose from. Make suggestions!

 

I own a microkorg standard edition, would not want to go without it.

I also like "fat" basslines, pads, and plucks

 

You sure about a hardware synth ? don't you need something else? or is your studio already complete and doesn't need any other stuff ?

 

Blofeld looks nice, added to the list

The reason I'd go for an analog mono is that I like a synth that is designed to do one single thing properly, instead of having a VA that does a lot of things but none of them very well and sounds like just another vst.

I should have added that I'm looking for a compact desktop synth. Anything with more than 25 keys in it will require an extra stand, and I currently don't have any space for that in my living room

I really want one. :D I have a decent pair of monitors, an audio interface, Maschine and Ableton Push. For me, all that's missing right now is an instrument that I can touch & feel.

 

Korg ms20mini
Recreated by those old engineers, same analog circuit, same sound. Fat, warm and vintage.
It is even a semi-modular synth.
USB support there. But there is all the same. Fuck that if it is not, it is electronic analog architecture , not mathematical digital algorithm. Nuances don't matter.

 

Virus TI may be more expensive, but it's extremely easy to integrate it into your setup with their total integration vst. Not even an audio cable is necessary to get the signal into your daw (works via usb) ;)

 

Mopho is on sale on Amazon

Code:

http://www.amazon.com/Dave-Smith-Instruments-Mopho-Keyboard/dp/B003KQYT80

soundcheck without any processing

• Affordable, fully programmable mono synth with a 100% analog signal path Two oscillators capable of producing sawtooth, triangle, saw/triangle, and variable pulse width square waves, with hard syncOne classic Curtis low-pass filter (switchable 2- or 4-pole) with audio rate modulation, self-oscillating in 4-pole modeAnalog VCAsThree envelope generators (ADSR plus delay)Two sub-octave generators (one octave down and two octaves down)Feedback loop with programmable level and gainWhite noise generator

 

For 400 euro I buyed a second hand KorgTriton . I use this as a workstation and as midi controller 76 keys

 

Used to have couple DSI Mophos, cool and fat sound, but not so flexible when working on automation, sell them both.

 

blofeld is a very nice one, another one you could consider is the system-1, really has an awesome sound. the JD-XI could also be a nice choice, also because it has very nice drumsounds that are editable and has an integrated soundcard.

 

With that budget, I would definitely consider a used synth. I picked up an Access Virus C from a local guy for $400 U.S.--which is definitely within your budget. Amazing bang for the buck with that particular purchase...

As for new synths in that price range, I'd probably go with a Blofeld personally.

Update: Make sure you are in touch with local gear exchanges and gear swap groups. I have come across some excellent equipment for rock bottom prices this way. I've even traded old equipment for stuff I really needed at the moment. But, almost more importantly, you can really get to know most of the "real deal" music people in your area--which is great for collaboration or for opening up opportunities in the local scene.

 

Last edited: Nov 11, 2015

I've not long sold my minitaur, and I'm missing it already. You can use it like a plugin with the editor but I'm guessing you'll be more hands on with it sitting in front of you. This thing sounds amazing, and I was blown away by the deep fat bass sounds it can produce, I've heard nothing like it. The filter sounds awesome as well... You should try and demo one as videos don't really do it justice. I have a virus and as good as it is, it don't sound as fat or lush as the moog.

Having said that, it is limited so it really depends what you want out of a synth but don't let that put you off. The Mophos, Minibrute and ms20 mini are all also good shouts.. I would buy another, I only sold it as something came up and I needed quick cash but if I were you, I'd try and save a little extra and buy a virus snow, it can do so much more.

I'm sure you will be happy with what ever you decide to buy, they are all good synths

 

@ Smartlad - With the virus, I've found a great technique for getting that fat analog/moog type sound is the modulate the filter contour with an lfo. Hope this helps.

 

+1 for a blofeld. You already own a MIDI keyboard, and the blofeld is a beast if you are ready to dive into programming (or just get the fantastic "Analog Voltage" soundset). If your Midi keyboard has some knobs/faders, you can map them to the most important blofeld parameters. Since it's multitimbral, you can even set it up to morph between a number of different sounds e.g. by moving a fader or the mod wheel etc., and today there's a number of good software editors available. The blofeld can really sound like anything, from the fattest analog basses to the thinnest digital voices, it's just a matter of tweaking it right.
Many guys don't see it that way because the factory presets are mostly too lame to show its potential.

 

I'm sure you know which synth you liked most of all the ones you tried, but if I was buying my first hardware today I would go for instruments away from the current hype. Myself I bought all my analog stuff in the 80s and early 90s, very cheap then, very rare now. (Is there a worthy museum I can leave it when I'll pass away? Would they pay for all the maintenance until my time has come? ;-))
When digital workstations hit the scene in the 1980s, all the classic analog stuff was sold almost for free. So the upcoming artists could afford and (mis-)use it to create a new style. Today analog is the new mainstream, fun to play, but getting a bit boring for the listener imho. To me Analog synths feel a bit like great vintage style guitars now, designed more for collectors than for musicians.

Are you aware that a hardware synth is not necessarily an upgrade from a VST? It may give you some kind of "character", but character is not always desirable from a synth (like from a girl-/boyfriend). It could happen to stand in the way of your own creativity, if it gives you all of today's standard cliches for cheap, making it harder to develop your own style.
Today the only motivation for me to buy a hardware synth would be for live use. And even then I would consider an iPad plus keyboard.
The pioneers of analog synthesis were not "retro" at all, but cutting edge at their time. Bob would use computers, let alone Lev. For studio use your VSTs can give you at least 90% of the analog sound and 200% of all the other. And tools do not have too much relevance for creativity.

Bottom line: In the case of G.A.S. I would go for controllers to play my VST stuff first, and if it had to be retro, I would buy some of the less popular stuff of the early 90s cheaply: Kurzweil K2000, Ensoniq EPS/ASR, arcane Korg samplers, even italian GEM workstations. All around 200 if you are lucky (less than many plugins), and a whole world to discover.

 

If you like monophonic synths you can get a second hand Minibrute in the UK for 200 pounds and it sounds very good. Another good cheap option is the Bass station 2 or if you wanna get in to the Modular world nothing better than the Mother 32 from Moog.

To get a real poly analog you are gonna need more money than that but to be honest I USE SOFT-SYNTHS for poly sounds.

 

Best bang for your buck new monosynth: Bass Station 2

Best bang for your buck used polysynth: Ensoniq SQ80 or ESQ1

Both sound amazing and will keep you happy for years to come.

 

Thank you so much for your suggestions guys

Mapping MIDI controllers to vst Synths is (at least from my experience) a tedious process. I own a Novation 25SL, which uses the Automap protocol (which is designed to make mapping your keyboard to vst Plugins easier), and getting it to work with my favorite vst's was an incredibly tedious process that just didn't work half the time. That's why I'm looking for a hardware synth.

I'll go take a closer look at the Blofeld (which seems to be an incredibly powerful synth with a bunch of incredibly crappy sound demos on youtube) and the Bass Station 2. Also, what do you guys think of the AIRA System-1?

 

the system-1 is also a very nice piece of gear, very glad with mine. the other plugouts from roland have an incredible cool sound and quality.