

This two VCO, all-analogue poly-synth took the world by storm when it leaked ahead of NAMM in 2016, with its incredible feature set being complemented by a simple knob-per-function design and intuitive waveform visualisation. Korg MinilogueĪn undisputed titan in its field, no modern synth in this price range comes anywhere close to topping the Korg Minilogue. Head here for more gear columns and how-to features. Other options, including the Korg MicroKorg, Novation MiniNova and Roland JU-06A feature virtual analogue technology and can be more versatile for some applications.

Units like the Korg Minilogue, Behringer Crave and Arturia MicroBrute feature all-analogue signal paths and are perfect for achieving classic ’70s and ’80s synth sounds.Modern hardware synths are cheaper and easier to learn than ever before, and prove to be a great entry into the world of electronic sounds.When I bought my first MicroKorg as an enthusiastic Flying Lotus wannabe, I thought I’d be set for life: five years later, I’ve since rotated through around a dozen different synths, and am seriously considering selling one of my vital organs to fund my burgeoning fascination with West Coast modular synthesis.Ĭonsider that as a disclaimer when perusing the following picks, and make sure your wallet is prepared for the damage your hobby is bound to cause it in the long run.įor now, however, these ten beginner synths are more than enough to get you started on your adventures. Of course, it’s important to note that buying synths can prove to be quite an addictive hobby. With so many excellent products out there to choose from, we thought it’d be worth pinpointing some of the best beginner synths in today’s cluttered gear universe. Words by Will Brewster Embrace the world of electronic music with these ten entry-level units.Īlthough the phrase ‘entry-level’ barely existed in the synth world until around 20 years ago, nowadays, budding electronic musicians are totally blessed by the amount of options available on the market.
