Best synthesizers on Reddit
181 reviews from r/synthesizers, r/FL_Studio, r/ipadmusic and 9 more subreddits
181 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Korg
4.3
(30)
"I've been using the modwave mk2 and am super happy with it."
"Those little boxes have not been used at 100%, I have been ignoring them but I was speechless that day."
"Mini but look into Hydrasynth Explorer too."
"Korg ms-20 onelove."
"I would suggest a Minilogue or Deepmind if you can at all afford it."
"Go with the Korg. It's a trusted brand and popular within the genre."
"Korg opsix top 3 in my opinion."
"Korg ms20 :)"
"If you have an iPad get the Korg gadget app."
"Used volcas."
#2
Elektron
4.9
(14)
"The new Digitone 2!"
"Analog Rytm. The synthesis is pretty amazing."
"Another vote for the Syntakt. Just bought one and I’m amazed at the drum sounds you can get from this."
"Syntakt is my favourite and a sound designers dream."
"Analog Rytm MKII has a unique Slide functionality which makes a parameter lock basically slide into the next p-lock."
"I personally feel like Elektron outdid themselves with digitone ii."
"I'm thinking the 2024 answer to this question is digitone 2."
"Definetly syntakt."
"You should either go for the analog rytm or the machinedrum, they are both good for sound design, and have individual outs!"
"Digitone!"
#3
Serum
4.7
(10)
"I think what makes Serum so great is the versatility."
"Serum,sylenth1,omnisphere,hybrid 3, keyscape. Have fun"
"Serum (or vital if you want a free alternative)."
"Serum is an industry standard, but check out vital first."
"Spire and serum are great sounding ones!"
"Serum is a zero risk pick."
"Serum 100%."
"Serum is extremely powerful without being debt-inducing."
"I use mix of lotta things.. Diva,Serum,Nexus,Omnisphere,Sytrus,harmor for neuro sound design and much more!"
"I would say it depends what genre you want to get into as to whether or not it's worth picking up over Serum, Pigments, PhasePlant, Diva/Hive2, etc."
#4
Moog
5.0
(9)
"+ Model 15"
"Moogs, KQ Dixie, FRMS…. Lots."
"There are a lot. Animoog z is great as are all Moog's."
"The Moog apps are great."
"Moog Model 15, you are welcome!"
"Moog Grandmother is nice."
"The Grandmother seems super good for jumping right into experimentation."
"Grandmother is a dream."
"I’d go with moog grandmother"
#5
Arturia
4.1
(8)
"Microfreak and a ms70 cdr"
"I would go for the Microfreak, it's very versatile."
"Arturia Microfreak"
"Microfreak, Opsix, any of the Moog offerings in the mother32, subHarmonicon, dfam and more line."
"The focused nature of the sound design tools on the Drumbrute Impact are a strength rather than a weakness."
"Digital with some odd oscillators that would open up some sound design options."
"My choice: Arturia Microfreak or Novation Circuit Tracks"
"I should warn you against Polybrute or anything polyphonic if you’re looking for a monogamy eventually."
#6
Phase Plant
4.8
(6)
"Phase Plant is the easiest hard recommend in the planet."
"Phase Plant is the easiest hard recommend in the planet."
"Phase Plant."
"Phase Plant and vital."
"Phaseplant does an amazing job with sounds I enjoy creating and experimenting with"
"Phase Plant is incredibly powerful."
#7
Behringer
4.7
(6)
"I actually prefer the sounds of this thing over my Vermona DRM-1 and it's super affordable."
"Their DeepMind-12 really is a fantastic and affordable poly-analog."
"The deep mind 12 is the best synth under 1000 for modulation and effects."
"Deepmind 12."
"Someone mentioned the Behri 2600 and I have to second that if you’re really into the idea of sound design."
"The Behringer 2600 is also well within your price range."
#8
Roland
4.5
(6)
"It is widely seen as one of the very best drum machines, I think it has deep sound design as well"
"TR-6S is a great option."
"For me personally, Roland D-50 or Yamaha TG-33. Both are super versatile and lush AF."
"The brain from a Roland V-Kit can be shaped any way you like."
"Maybe something like: Roland U-110 / U-220 (rack-sized unit)"
"What you may be looking for is digital vintage / Wavetable - Roland D50."
#9
Vital
4.8
(5)
"Serum and Vital are probably by far the most popular."
"Vital is my main workhorse synth."
"If you are new to sound designing, grab Vital first."
"Vital"
"The lord god Vital."
#10
Yamaha
4.6
(5)
"8 voices for $300."
"HUUUUGE fan of my Reface CS just for that, it’s mostly what I use it for!"
"A cs80"
"See if you can find an old Yamaha V50 for cheap."
"Get a Reface CS to pair with that DX."
#11
Novation
5.0
(4)
"Keep your eyes peeled for a used Novation Peak."
"I just got a Novation Peak on sale for a little over a grand."
"You might be able to find a used Peak for 1k which is great for analog."
"Novation Peak used. I don’t own but want to own and it’s in every producer I respects studio."
#12
ASM
4.8
(4)
"I’d say Hydrasynth 49 key (can find like new used for $800-900) or Hydrasynth Explorer paired with a Microfreak."
"ASM Explorer has the ability to do what your looking for in spades."
"The ASM Hydrasynth is an amazing synth and is under $1k for the desktop version."
"ASM Hydrasynth Keyboard is 1159 €, so not quite in that category, but something I would very much consider for close that amount of money."
#13
Reason
4.7
(3)
"If you are into sound design, get Reason 11."
"Europa from Reason has tons of crazy modulation options with some really cool features for the LFOs and envelopes."
"Uhh, Reason 11..."
#14
Sylenth1
4.3
(3)
"Serum,sylenth1,omnisphere,hybrid 3, keyscape. Have fun"
"Sylenth1."
"I think sylenth1. Although it's expensive, it's a really good vst."
#15
Perkons
4.0
(3)
"Perkons HD-01 & DFAM."
"Erica Synths Perkons"
"Is pricey but may be worth a look"
#16
Erica Synths
5.0
(2)
"I ❤️ my Erica Synths x Sonic Potions LXR-02. This thing is a BEAST of creative synthesis potential."
"It's my favorite drum machine."
#17
Image-Line
5.0
(2)
"Sytrus
Transistor Bass
Groove Machine Synth
Harmor"
"Sytrus, flex , vital is all you need"
#18
MiniFreak
5.0
(2)
"I really enjoyed making music with the Minifreak."
"I would go for the MiniFreak."
#19
Make Noise
5.0
(2)
"0-Coast. It gets you out of the 'subtractive zone'."
"Make Noise 0-Coast"
#20
Dreadbox
5.0
(2)
"Great mono synth, small form factor, and the built-in effects sound absolutely massive"
"Dreadbox Typhon"
#21
Behringer Neutron
4.5
(2)
"I've been making some crazy good leads with those two lately."
"For your budget I’ve heard others recommend a blofeld or a neutron."
#22
Spire
4.5
(2)
"Spire and serum are great sounding ones!"
"I keep coming back to diva and spire.... but im more trance than house atm"
#23
Hydrasynth
4.5
(2)
"I’d get a Hydrasynth."
"It seemed like you were interested in this one."
#24
Modal
4.5
(2)
"For me the Modal Cobalt 8 :)"
"Take a look at the Modal Cobalt 8 or, Korg Wavestate."
#25
Access
4.5
(2)
"On top of the versatile synthesis capabilities."
"Virus C. Just a generation older and is almost the same."
#26
Jomox
4.5
(2)
"Jomox Alpha Base (mk II) is specifically tailored to generating, shaping, and controlling parameters to create drum tones."
"Alphabase jomox mk2. Check it out !"
#27
Analog Rytm
4.0
(2)
"Rytm and Perkons are good"
"You should either go for the analog rytm or the machinedrum, they are both good for sound design, and have individual outs!"
#28
Surge
4.0
(2)
"For synths, have a play with Surge or Vital, both very deep synths capable of lovely evolving sounds and also both free."
"Get a decent free DAW and Surge, watch some Loopop videos."
#29
KV331
4.0
(2)
"Also Synthmaster One - go get the everything bundle."
"Also synthmaster one has a lot of presets and works on iphone."
#30
Bitwig
5.0
(1)
"They just released their "The Grid" update with their new modular interface."
#31
Kilohearts
5.0
(1)
"Kilohearts phase plant is a great option."
#32
Mini Synthesizer
5.0
(1)
"Go the mini. I have both. Love both. Mini = more flexible."
#33
Syntakt
5.0
(1)
"Just buy a syntakt. you get everything you want."
#34
SH
5.0
(1)
"Its drum synthesis engine is incredibly deep, and has the most sounds per kit of all the devices I own."
#35
Hydromyth
5.0
(1)
"It’s got so many LFOs bro plz"
#36
Omnisphere
5.0
(1)
"Serum,sylenth1,omnisphere,hybrid 3, keyscape. Have fun"
#37
Hybrid 3
5.0
(1)
"Serum,sylenth1,omnisphere,hybrid 3, keyscape. Have fun"
#38
Keyscape
5.0
(1)
"Serum,sylenth1,omnisphere,hybrid 3, keyscape. Have fun"
#39
Massive
5.0
(1)
"MASSIVE"
#40
FM
5.0
(1)
"King of FM"
#41
Kawai
4.0
(1)
"Long abandoned, my secret weapon continues to be the Kawai XD5. True synth, individual outs, can be circuit bent."
#42
Modular Synthesizer
4.0
(1)
"Thought about going modular? Not sure if you can see but daaaaaaaaaaaymn."
#43
Tempest
4.0
(1)
"Tempest is a good drum synth."
#44
Division Department
4.0
(1)
"Definitely check out the Division Department 01/IV."
#45
Tanzbar
4.0
(1)
"Tanzbar, Perkons, or go modular with a Pico system."
#46
Kick
4.0
(1)
"Kick 2."
#47
IK
4.0
(1)
"You could buy a decent synth (something like an IK Uno, or maybe a used Behringer synth) for almost the same price as that workshop."
#48
Pulsar
4.0
(1)
"Pulsar 23"
#49
Modor
4.0
(1)
"It's spendy but has some unique features, lends itself to both live and studio, and sounds amazing."
#50
Clavia
4.0
(1)
"Have a look at the Clavia Nord Drum 3P"
#51
Juno
4.0
(1)
"There are SOFTWARE versions of the Juno!!!!!"
#52
Syntorial
4.0
(1)
"I got a lot out of Syntorial personally, which is $99 and not $180."
#53
Dave Smith Instruments
4.0
(1)
"DSI Tempest comes to mind even though it’s been discontinued for 10 years."
#54
Pure Data
4.0
(1)
"Pure data is one that might interest you; bespoke is a DAW like piece of software with a modular setup."
#55
Crave
4.0
(1)
"Of the ones you listed, they’re all probably usable in darkwave. The crave looks like the most fun on its own and most learning potential to me."
#56
MSoundFactory
4.0
(1)
"MSoundFactory. I kind of don’t need much else except for Repro 1/5."
#57
Vengeance Avenger
4.0
(1)
"Vengeance Avenger"
#58
Pigments
4.0
(1)
"If you enjoy sound design, I would rather pick Pigments or phaseplant 🙂"
#59
Nlog Pro
4.0
(1)
"I really like Nlog pro"
#60
Diva
4.0
(1)
"I keep coming back to diva and spire.... but im more trance than house atm"
#61
Casio
4.0
(1)
"You might be able to find a Casio CZ of some kind, or Korg M1."
#62
Matrix
4.0
(1)
"Matrix 1000"
#63
MicroFreak
4.0
(1)
"Microfreaks, the name is accurate to both halves."
#64
Digitone
4.0
(1)
"Digitone is a contender"
#65
Blofeld
3.0
(1)
"I know Blofield is tempting but for the bugs."
#66
Hydra
2.0
(1)
"Hydras and the like are only good for one-song stands."
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