Best synth on Reddit

305 reviews from r/synthesizers, r/TechnoProduction, r/FL_Studio and 5 more subreddits

305 reviews from

and

By Brand

By Product

Korg

4.7

(98)

"Korg Monologue if you are intending on teaching her subtractive synthesis."

"Surely the Korg Volca Drum needs a mention."

"Korg Minilogue! I can only recommend the OG one because that's the only one I've tried lol."

"Best machine to start with i would say korg m1."

"I love this synth. Never going to sell it."

"I recorded a full dub album using mainly the Korg minilogue XD."

"The choice of 2024 will also be the choice for 2025: Korg Minilogue XD synth."

"For modern synths like a Polybrute."

"If one can find a Korg Radias for sale then, imo, you will also have a great analogue modelling synth and vocoder along with great ambient capabilities."

"Korg wavestate, and put together your own super-slow wave-sequences."

Arturia

4.7

(58)

"Get them a Behringer CAT, and Arturia Keystep, and maybe an RD-6."

"Arturia Pigments, got it in discount. Amazing!"

"Buy Arturia pigment 5. The gold standard."

"I always like to pair an analog mono with a digital poly so my suggestion would be either the Hydrasynth or Microfreak."

"How about a Minifreak, with the extra budget spent on a pedal?"

"Melody/Harmony - MicroFreak."

"SOund design - opsix (I'm a sfx designer for film; so far this is one of the best synths I've used)."

"Arturia MiniBrute 2 or 2S."

"For Under $200 buy pigments or serum and be done!"

"I suggest the Arturia Minilab 3."

Roland

4.3

(35)

"I would get 1 VA, 1 analog, and 1 digital."

"I'm using a SE-02 for my baseline and it absolutely crushes the task!"

"Massive polyphony, 4 synth parts plus a drum part, classic Roland drum sounds and multiple synth models onboard."

"But also consider the sonicware megasynthesis."

"Fantom 06 if you can afford it."

"A fantastic mono synth also capable of drones and pads."

"I find most things out of the Juno or Jupiter sound great."

"Apparently there is a sale on the Roland GAIA 2 right now. It's the best bang-for-buck right now."

"I say Roland Gaia 2 for $600, hands down."

"I would recommend a Roland SH-4d."

Novation

4.7

(15)

"Second the bass station 2. It has everything you need at a decent price."

"Seems like a Bass Station 2 would be a good pick."

"Novation Peak is an ambient powerhouse."

"If you’re for an analog type of synth, look at the Novation Peak or Summit."

"Bass Station 2 seems like the obvious choice."

"Novation peak."

"Worth looking into."

"Look for a used Novation Circuit Tracks."

"Used Novation Circuit Tracks."

"Bass station 2."

ASM

4.8

(13)

"I always like to pair an analog mono with a digital poly so my suggestion would be either the Hydrasynth or Microfreak."

"I would get 1 VA, 1 analog, and 1 digital."

"ASM Hydrasynth is really good also for these kind of ambient/drone/lush/cinematic sounds."

"Get a Hydrasynth Desktop. It is very versatile, sounds great, and easy enough to navigate given how complex it is."

"Get a Hydrasynth Desktop. It is very versatile, sounds great, and easy enough to navigate."

"Gotta have love for the Hydrasynth, too."

"It has minikeys but it is fully professional, and has an incredible synthesis engine."

"Hydrasynth explorer? The hydrasynth is so deep."

"Asm Hydrasynth Explorer."

"ASM Hydrasynth Explorer or Arturia MiniFreak."

Elektron

4.8

(12)

"Surprised it hasn't been mentioned yet."

"I would probably recommend a digitone II over a syntakt for ambient music."

"My favorites for are the OpSix and Syntakt."

"Syntakt"

"Elektron Analog Four mk1 if you can find one used. It's insanely flexible."

"Digitone mk1s are selling for little over £300 and are perfect for hypnotic sounds."

"I just got my first hardware synth/groovebox, an Elektron Model Cycles."

"The Digitone Mk1 will be a bit cheaper since the Mk2 just dropped."

"I would get a Digitone, the new one is $999 but you can get the 1st gen really cheap right now."

"The Model:Cycles is a good candidate, kinda slept on for how much it does and can sequence external gear as well"

Behringer

4.5

(11)

"Get them a Behringer CAT, and Arturia Keystep, and maybe an RD-6."

"My first synth was a behringer model D fitted to a keystep."

"Behringer Edge is the answer 100%."

"Behringer Edge - Affordable, sounds great, has MIDI, and is semi-modular."

"Behringer EDGE. Thank me later."

"It’s $200 and it has so many sick sounds."

"The Behringer JT-4000 offers quite a lot without pushing any kind of commitments on the user."

"Bass - behri model d."

"Behringer Edge(Clone of DFAM)."

"I did get a few hardware synths as well. The Behringer model D was what I purchased."

Yamaha

4.4

(11)

"I’d recommend a workstation if you want versatility like a Montage."

"My 10yo loves my Yamaha CK61, it has a ton of synth voices, real time control knobs and effects."

"Might I suggest a Yamaha Montage?"

"Yamaha reface series are great for live playing with a band."

"Used Yamaha MX49, or Roland FA-06."

"I'm thinking of a used Montage and Sequential Take 5."

"I started with a Yamaha DX21. A complete pain in the ass to program."

"Look for a used Yamaha MX49 or MX61."

"My recommendation is the Arturia."

"Yamaha Reface CS (if he doesn't mind mini-keys)."

Moog

4.6

(7)

"Consider the Grandmother, I think it has the best Moog tone."

"Try find a used Moog Lil Phatty Stage 2."

"It sounds great"

"Fat, thick and luscious tones. Huge bass and pristine leads."

"Used Moog Grandmother."

"Moog Minitaur"

"If you look around you might be able to find a used Sub Phatty in that range, although it’s a stretch."

#10

Sequential

4.8

(6)

"If you want a versatile monosynth, Sequential Pro 3 would be fantastic for metal."

"I’d wait a bit to save up for a nice poly like a Prophet 6 desktop used and use VSTs in the meantime."

"Or get a used Prophet 6 and a mono synth."

"Just got a take 5 with strymon mobius."

"My vote, it really does just sound great."

"I'm thinking of a used Montage and Sequential Take 5."

#11

Dreadbox

4.0

(4)

"Dreadbox Typhon."

"Dreadbox typhon."

"Would suit but why not use a nice bass sample."

#12

Deepmind

4.7

(3)

"If he's good keyboard player I would pick something with full size keys and many octaves."

"It’s the biggest bang for the buck."

"Maybe a deep mind 12, pro800."

#13

Circuit

4.7

(3)

"Super easy, relatively cheap and fun as hell."

"Cicuit tracks! My steph daughter love it."

"You might find more use out of a groove box eg Circuit Tracks rather than a single synth."

#14

Waldorf

4.3

(3)

"Get him a Waldorf Blofeld keyboard."

"+1 for Waldorf Blofeld"

"Waldorf Blofeld is deep and easy-to-program."

#15

Vital

4.3

(3)

"Get Vital. It's free. It's like Serum-lite."

"Vital is a great plugin not only because of its functionality but because it’s free."

"Get Vital tho, it’s free."

#16

Serum

4.3

(3)

"Serum is my love."

"Rent-to-own serum for $10/mo on splice."

"I feel like serum is a must have for bass."

#18

Ableton

5.0

(2)

"Wavetable is fantastic!"

"Ableton’s synths are magnificent. They can do it all."

#19

Phase Plant

5.0

(2)

"Phase Plant, and maybe Diva for paid ones. Vital for free."

"Phase Plant blows both out of the water."

#21

Vermona

4.0

(2)

"Also don't discount other options like the Vermona Mono Lancet or Roland SE-02."

"Is pretty solid for bass."

#22

Retro Synth

4.0

(2)

"I don't see how anyone could go wrong with Retro synth and Alchemy."

"I would begin with retro synth."

#23

U-he

4.0

(2)

"Paid: Diva (phase plant is close second)"

"But my favourite is Diva. Analog synth, comes with 1000s of really cool presets."

#24

Neutral Labs

5.0

(1)

"Look no further than the Neutral Labs Elmyra 2 for lofi drones."

#25

Bastl

4.0

(1)

"The Bastl SoftpopSP2 checks most of the boxes apart from poly."

#26

Vk

4.0

(1)

"Vk-1 synth, free"

#27

Drift

4.0

(1)

"I found Drift a good place to start."

#28

DRC

4.0

(1)

"DRC, if you are on android."

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