Your choice for a synth under $300?

[Seten]

How about this for $299 new?



For a few dollars more you could pick up a used Wladorf Blofeld if your not totally sold on analog or mono.

I've been wondering this, so would you just buy an external keyboard to plug into it?

[Seten]

For synths that don't have one built in.

[blakestree]

The Rocket is a good choice. I think its Launch button plays a C. (Or, perhaps, the last note that was input.) But, yeah, you'd want to use a MIDI keyboard or sequencer with it.

Also, have a look at the Moog Werkstatt. Volas are a good way to test the waters. But, consider a microKORG, too. If you want it all, and aren't afraid to spend a little more, the new Roland JD-Xi is poised to be the best bang for your buck, $500 or less.

[MaxFischer]

The Akai Miniak is pretty cool too. It's digital (analog modeling), it does an OK job at emulating the mono analog synths, and it's awesome for pads. Kind of a bitch to edit directly (but there are unofficial software editors). I think it's much better than the Microkorg (it has a nice keyboard, for one).
The Rocket is also a good choice, if you like its aciiid filter.
And, like everyone has already said, the Microbrute kicks ass.

[rustywire]

What the.


Want, want, want sight unheard

[oscillateur]

The Akai Miniak is pretty cool too. It's digital (analog modeling), it does an OK job at emulating the mono analog synths, and it's awesome for pads. Kind of a bitch to edit directly (but there are unofficial software editors). I think it's much better than the Microkorg (it has a nice keyboard, for one).
The Rocket is also a good choice, if you like its aciiid filter.
And, like everyone has already said, the Microbrute kicks ass.

The Miniak is basically an Alesis Micron inside. It's actually doing a very good job at emulating analog synths (it's a really good VA) and is indeed great for pads and all kinds of things. It's polyphonic and multitimbral, I forgot how many voices but defintiely enough if you're planning on only playing it directly. The only problem is that the interface is not great, only a few knobs so you need to select your parameters first and then edit them most of the time. Still, if that's not a problem for you this synth is far more capable than something like the MicroKorg. You can assign any parameter you want to the performance controls though (4 knobs, mod wheel, etc.) so you can still make something quite expressive but you have to work a bit more on your patches. It's not a 1 knob = 1 function synth.

[Inconuucl]

At this point the ipad should be considered the greatest value in synthesis, because there are $20 apps that are more powerful than any hardware synth under $2k. Arturia's recreations are an amazing deal, synths that cost thousands in their original beast forms, for fucking pocket change. It's beautiful. An ipad with iMS-20/Animoog/Nave/Thor/iProphet/whatever is way more bang for the buck than you're going to get out of any mini/micro/brute/korg, at least as far as pure synthesizing power is concerned. The difference in power is so great in fact, it may even outweigh your need for real keys and knobs. One thing you can count on is that it will never leave you wanting more synth. You can just give it more, and turn it into an entire synth arsenal.

This by far! Ipad has been one of my favorite musical purchases in ages.

[greeny23]

i'm a 100% MicroKOrg guy.

[GardenoftheDead]

https://obxd.wordpress.com/

[spacelordmother]

https://obxd.wordpress.com/

Got this a bit ago and sounds so effing good!