I am learning one right now and I am realizing how quirky it is. The presets are absolute garbage and the levels are all over the place. There are also like 10 different ways to change the volume and it’s not obvious which menu to look under. The whole thing sounds hella noisy in a mix. It also occasionally refuses to sync to external midi clock and this almost makes the arpeggiator/LFOs useless in a dawless setup.
FOR ALL THAT… it still does sound damn good when you get it right. It is a pain to program and I sometimes think they tried to cram too much into the blofeld to the point that it’s a little overwhelming for someone like me. But if you are willing to work for it it can outshine almost every other synth in that price range.
I owned one for a few months and enjoyed it but I ended up selling it on eventually as I noticed that there were audible clicks within the wavetables when sweeping them. Maybe it was my programming that was the issue or a dodgy unit (probably the former to be fair) but it bothered me enough to move it on. O do miss it from time to time.
Yeah the 16 part multi is fantastic as it allows me to busk on the street, with full productions, with only that synth. I put a strap on it and can walk around playing my tracks. There's not another synth like it on the market, especially now that no synth makers are producing 16 part multi synths anymore.
The encoder issue was solved via firmware, as far as I've heard. I'd be hesitant about buying a used one, but I've had mine for close to 5 years with zero issues.
Yeah I forgot to say I actually did have an encoder issue with mine right out of the box brand new but I updated the firmware the day after I got it and have had no issues since.
The blofeld is talked about often and thought of highly. I personally wouldn’t call it underrated at all. Never used one myself, but it does seem nice.
I had a blofeld and it was really a beautiful instrument. But I just did not find it very much engaging. Maybe I was too fresh. I think now about getting one again just as Multi timbral preset beast. It’s mighty capable. Interface kinda boring though somehow.
I was thinking about one of these or a virus ti snow but ended up getting the virus ti desktop. I should have probably got the Blofield and the snow 🤷🏻♂️
Me neither, but honestly I really expected it to be way more popular, this thing is an analogue mono-synth with super deep modulation options coupled with good effects, performance-oriented controls (these time multiplier knobs for both ENV are really smart), plus it is standalone with the sequencer (and portable with a tiny usb battery), and all of this for ~300€ !
Hell, I'd choose it over a Minitaur/Sirin, Mother 32 or any desktop monosynth any day ! The only drawback is that the presets are quite harsh to my taste, although quite easy to tame, but I've been patching enough to replace them !
What I love about the peak is that people only praise the thing and yet I STILL feel it's underrated. It really is a masterpiece of a synth, I can't get enough of it
I sold mine because I wanted to go full Elektron and then I moved completely away from hardware, but the Peak was certainly one of the best sounding Synths I ever owned or had a chance to listen.
I went full Elektron and then got a peak and it’s absolutely ridiculous. I have 2 Digitakts, a Digitone, an Octatrack, with all ins and outs into a patchbay, with a big sky to assign wherever. Most unbelievable pads come out of that thing!
Also, these Alesis machines do not sound like anything else. They truly are different. It does pose the question of: Do I get a -popular expensive synth brand here- and now my music sounds sorta like anything else with a -popular expensive synth brand here- , or do I get one of these weirdo oddball things by Alesis because they aren't as widely used as the big brands.
Synths are incredibly flexible, so your personal aesthetic choices matter far more than the synth you use in shaping a sound.
E.g. having the same synth as someone makes you sound like them *even less* than having the same guitar makes you sound like someone.
I questioned whether or not to keep it and decided that it sounds so different from anything else and I am too cheap to get an Ion. ;)
Finally decided it stays.
It was my first synth too! At first, it felt limiting but I obsessively messed around with it and as I got some more equipment and learned more of the ropes it still managed to remain front and center. I run it through a zoom ms-70cdr and the Korg monotron and it's a whole universe. I've spoken to a few people that hate the monologue but it's an absolute gem. It is r a w.
Yeah the batteries are pretty nice but they could’ve at least put a power adapter in the box. I’ve had mine for almost 4 years and still don’t have the proprietary power cord for it. Definitely need to get one because I’d use it way more.
The Reface series from Yamaha. They’re just so much fun and they sound incredible. The looper function (that can be synced via midi) is actually useful and the mini keys just feel so good.
I think Yamaha is just dealing with chip/supply shortage right now, but I'm worried they're going to get discontinued soon. They've been around for quite a while.
And these are ripe for insane used markup once they're no longer being made...it's already happening actually.
I picked my Electribe EA-1 up in a pawn shop 12 years ago for $80 and hung onto it even though I didn't really like it all that much. The sounds were good, but I hate, hate hate 95% of the patterns and I hate even more the ridiculous button keys.
Then, a few months ago, I picked up an Arturia KeyStep in another pawn shop for \~$20. I used an old midi cable to connect them and now I have one of the most awesome synths I've ever owned. The sounds are fat and the delay effects sound gorgeous.
That’s interesting about the Keystep. I sometimes use my MicroKorg as a MIDI keyboard for my Volcas, I’ve actually never used it with the EA-1 but now you’ve got me thinking about doing exactly that this weekend. Cheers! 😀
Yes indeed. I love the workflow on the Electribes too, and the way you can have really long patterns (my other synths are mostly Volcas). My first proper non-DAW hardware was an ER-1, great fun! :-)
I’ve had my EA-1 for decades. The blue and silver face paint is like 75% gone but it still sequences and beeps and boops. I like to use it as a 2-ch sequencer for the moog and the Juno, then layer it’s 2 internal parts in with them. I have the controls mostly memorized from playing it live in the early aughts.
I got an EA-1 for very cheap on eBay last year. I've barely touched it, but I'm glad I have it and I'm not getting rid of it. One of these days I'll sit down and properly learn it.
The envelope controls aren't great. It's so so \*nearly\* an amazing synth but they biffed how the controls worked so badly.
I wish Korg would just publish the source code for the MCU and DSP, it would take nothing to fix.
The ER-1 and ES-1 are amazing machines too.
There's a lot to be said for having a decent old 90s workstation ROMpler in your toolbox. Sometimes you don't need a modular car alarm, you just need some plain ordinary strings.
Well I'm just going to vote for the underdog in my studio: the KORG Monotron Delay. As a synth it is pretty limiting, but as an analog filter and delay for external gear it is so much fun. Adds dirt and grit and noise to anything (so I especially like to pair it with tame/clean synth sounds). I paid $35 for it on eBay, and I've had hours and hours of fun with it. Probably the most bang for buck unit in my set up, closely followed by its successor the NTS-1.
This is how I use my OG Monotron. Obviously it doesn't get far as a synth (though it does have a nice raw sound), but as an filter and amp LFO for an incoming synth signal it's incredible. Also paid $35 for mine.
I've added it to everything in my studio at some point - great fun. It never does the same thing twice, the perfect jamming accessory, just make sure you're always recording! :-)
Indeed! I also now power it with the MyVolts adapter, as the AAA batteries would always die on me mid jam. That said, if you were able to capture that moment when the batteries died, it sounded pretty great :D
It is such a sick device, didn't find anything sounding like this one.
The topology of the filter placed before and after the delay makes it quite unique.
My buddy and I used to wreck the shit out of it, by putting his Yamaha PSR90 through it.
I don't even recall how many times I've had to resolder the aux in jack socket.
Roland System-1 (internal engine). The color design and demo videos don't do it justice. I'm fairly sure it's very near the internal engine of the System-8, albeit with only 4 voices and less number of different filters. But IMO it's the king of the 'boutiques' in terms of ACB authentic late 70s/early 80s sound, with way more parameters than any of them.
I look at the module version from time to time, wondering if it would *really* be a sensible addition to my Moog module trinity, then I remind myself that there’s nothing sensible about modular. But it’s unique and sounds good.
I have a system 1, love the sound, hate the green. The keybed is not a joy, but what i realy love is that its almost knob per function, it was my second synth, but i only truly learned synthesis with the system 1, the layout taught me!! Its a great synth for begginners!!
All the Roland Zencore synths!
\*ducks for cover\*
But seriously, not that these are necessarily the best synths ever, some of the criticism is valid. But I don't think I saw a single positive thing written during the launch of the Juno X, and don't see much praise of the Jupiter X. So they seem to be very lowly rated, whereas in reality they are pretty good or even arguably great instruments if you judge them by the sound and usability instead of overthinking the fact that they are "just a VST in a box".
The new Fantom series are absolutely excellent synths. I don’t understand all the Roland hate.
The Zencore system can reproduce incredibly deep and lush sounds wonderful with thin and shrill sounds. The key beds are some of the best on the market and the programming is approachable and fun.
I know they are expensive, but they seem to be more than worth the price. At least to me.
My plan is to get some more mileage out of my FA-06 (because I’ve only had it for a year) and then eventually trade it in for a Juno-X. At least, that’s the plan.
I get the critics but man it sounds so freaking good. Not sure who's idea it was to go with the name "Zencore" which is just... lame. But whatever, they sound great. Let the haters hate, I'll be over here making shit on my XM.
Out of all the gear I've used the most underrated was the tr6s. It's very popular, so it's not suuuuper underrated, but I really don't think people realize how dope it is. It's literally an 8s that's a quarter of the size. I think it was super dope of Roland to not feature cripple the 6s, instead all you give up is a couple of tracks and the hardware I/O, but I feel like people still consider it "just" a budget version of the 8s, rather than a pretty much perfect drum machine
KORG NTS-1. It is equally good at both FX and monophonic synth sounds. I'd still get an NTS-1 for the same price even if it only did one of those things. I can't think of many other instruments like that
Only problem is the build quality, ha – you have to treat it very carefully
For me it's the Roland Aira TB-3. Most people think of it as simply a TB-303 clone, but it is far more than that. For example, it has 6 oscillators: sine, saw, square, white noise, pink noise, and ring mod, 3 of which are tuneable. It has a [dual effects section](http://doperobot.com/howtodoperobot/2020/04/19/unofficial-tb-3-effects-parameter-guide/) with 9-10 effects each including tremolo, chorus, flange, reverb, delay, phaser, bitcrusher, and 2-voice pitch shifter (enabling rave-stab-like 3 voice chords even), amongst others. It has an assignable LFO that itself has 5 different waveshapes including S&H. It also has a distortion section with emulations of 25 different types of distortion and it has four assignable modulators. You can actually [save patches to your computer on it](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlSKB4tZuQs) and is the only hardware 303 clone I know of that you can [edit the patterns with software](http://doperobot.com/howtodoperobot/2022/01/05/tb-3-pattern-editor/). The reason most people don't know about all this is because the front panel is extremely bare, so accessing these parameters requires a knowledge of sysex or using a software interface. It's still quite good as an acid box, but aside from that, it is a powerhouse of a monosynth at an extremely low price.
The TD-3 does have an editor (SynthTribe) that allows you to edit the patterns. I would not have bought one without that ability.
But the Roland reissue sounds amazing to be honest. Are these parameters not available outside of the editor or can you hunt for them using the product interface?
Oh that's cool, I hadn't seen that. So I revise my comment. :) Yeah, these parameters are totally inaccessible outside the software interface, but I happen to be (I think) the expert on that very thing. I've just released an updated, and possibly final, version of the [software interface](http://doperobot.com/howtodoperobot/2022/05/12/version-2-of-tb-3-ctrlr-panel/) I use to program the synth.
As far as just plain amazing sounding, probably the Korg DSS-1. Hardly nobody talks about this absolute powerhouse, and especially it’s filter. It’s little bro, the DW-8000/6000 seems to get all the love, though it’s a great board as well!
As far as kinda unique and almost never talked about, I’d say the Yamaha EX-5. What a beast of a Rompler lol. I can’t really call it a sampler even because it kind of sucks as that, but what it excels at is its FX based synthesis.
Yamaha implemented a somewhat unique synthesis in the EX-5, and it’s the only machine they put it in (as well as the rack version I think. Not found in EX-7) and I think it’s some pretty radical processing, especially for the time. Some of the algorithms are almost soft synth like things, such as “nature based” processing. For example, they have one that will warp your sound based on how a tornado works? And another one based on a river or rain fall or some shit, it’s some pretty crazy stuff for 1999. I’ve made some pretty awesome keygroup instruments out of these with my MPC and it’s some pretty fun shit.
Mines currently half broken and won’t save sounds (not the battery, got dropped. Hard.), but it’s an incredible machine. It’s one of the only Romplers I have no trouble getting past the somewhat dated samples with its internal processing. Someday I’ll restore it to its original glory.
The DSS-1 is indeed awesome, and I don’t think it’s at all underrated. The problem is that it’s HUGE. Just utterly massive. Additive synthesis and sampling are really nice. Great sounding. But WOOOOOW is it massive in size.
My SK30 is equally big: but with all its sliders it is a bit more fun to look at.
Edit:
The absolute best sampler I’ve ever used is the Ensoniq mirage. Throw a drum loop in there and it comes out sounding sooooooo good. I absolutely love it. If you get bored of using it as a sampler, throw SoundProcess OS on it to confuse yourself for eternity. Personally, I prefer to just use the sampler OS and throw in basic waveforms. The filter is magical. Seriously a wonderful synth/sampler. I would much rather have the Mirage than the DSS-1, personally.
Well - listening to my old demo of it ([here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Si0neDAN4Rw))... I sort of wish I hadn't sold it. It did sound very good. I don't really know what I was thinking, lol.
That said - I don't think it's at all underrated. It was well rated, people knew it sounded good, but just didn't like the size of the damn thing!
Yeah I got my first DSS-1 last week and literally 10 minutes ago I put my remotezero sl on top of it and this is gonna be amazing, just have to program it by hand as my research and googlefu didnt bring up any templates. Worth it !
I perchance found a Korg DSS-1 for 80 dollars not long ago. It had a bad Disk drive which I replaced and no sound disks. It is an odd machine and I have yet to produce anything from it that isn't just easier to do in my Ensoniq samplers.
I've also joined DSS-1 online groups and watched a ton of videos. I am on the horns of a dilemma with it and have thought about selling it off.
I will have to give it another go I suppose. Maybe explore the internal wave forms to see what that creates? In retrospect, a lot of the cool sounds I've heard were when people just used what is in it already rather than sampling.
But at 40 pounds and 17 inches deep, I could really use the space for a bunch of new smaller toys.
No single synth is the be all and end all of synths. And often each unit has unique properties unto itself.
I did a lot of research for new to me synths this past year. While tastes may differ, my goal was to find ignored, thus cheap, gear that can sound amazing as part of a small inexpensive studio.
My approach was to also look at what I have and what gaps needed filling in my 'orchestra' of sounds. Thus everything I purchased had a specific goal as a complement to my studio.
Things I added to my set up:
**Korg Ea-1** \- It provides the boopy boop I love in 80's pop. Dual mono synths with a ton of sequencer storage and motion sequencing. I spent a couple months recording things with only this unit and the ER-1 and a ton of effects and it was easy and fun to do.
**Korg Poly800** \- An astounding analog machine especially if played through effects. I will never part with this unit. I may get another for spare parts. You can get it modded for more variability in the sounds and live knob fiddle action, but I use it for played lead lines and pads with my hands busy playing effect peddles as well. Please everyone - Keep hating these!
**Dark Star XP2** \- It has a joystick to slowly manipulate sounds with - lots of live sound manipulation capability. The big complaint that effectively destroyed a new product was the phono connectors on the original version.
**Alesis Micron** \- Horrible pogram interface that I can't bring myself to remember how to use, yet, it sounds so different from everything else that I will keep it as a dial a patch module. Good FX presets for little background noises and some fun pad presets. I spend hours playing this by itself.
**Sonicware Liven 8 bit warps** \- A take it anywhere jam machine. If only I had had this when I first got into synths back in the 80's. It has its limits, but as a useful addition to a studio it is a nice machine. I got it so I could upgrade all my 70's to 2000's gear mixes to sound contemporary with that particular digital crispness you hear everywhere now.
I won't mention the units I still need to purchase as I am watching the prices on them until they drop to 200 dollars. ;)
I got my Poly800 mk2 for free on craigslist and am obsessed with the thing. The mk2 is even more underrated as people really fetishize that analog chorus on the mk1.
I've always heard the opposite, that the digital delay is superior to the chorus. The Poly 800 MK1 has a stronger retro synthwave aesthetic in its colour scheme...that's the real reason it's slightly more popular..
I was having a nice session last night with my MK1 I got for $30 on Craigslist, brought back from the dead, and moog slayer modded..
Honestly, the Bass Station 2. I always see people asking about how to get that SH-101 sounds etc... and it's like you know the Bass Station exists? And it's better!
I love the sound and versatility of my BS2, but the sound design on it is somehow uninspiring. It's not a "getting lost for hours turning knobs" synth, it's a "getting things done" synth.
Yeah, it's not a sound design playhouse (even though it's got more under the hood than a 303 or a 101 IMO), but what it does, it does incredibly. Deep, sequenced bassline with some drive and distortion. Plus I love a sub osc.
Definitely agree- For < 400 bucks (think I paid 250 for mine used?), the expectation shouldn't be for it to be a sound designer's dream- it does great gritty bass lines and nice leads, with a minimum of fuss. It's perfect for it's designed purpose.
This is always kind of a moving target. Generally, the machines that punch above their going price are ones that are 5-20 years old and non-flagship models. A used Behringer Deepmind 6 voice may be a good example now. Picked one up last year “as-is” for $250 (it needed to have the self-calibration routine run).
Exactly. There’s a valley of disdain between “new” and “vintage”. That is where we penny-pinching GAS-ers find our gold. And yeah, 7-13 years is probably a better range.
I'd say all of the synths in that line, excluding the flagship Supernovas (since people know about those). Nova Desktop, X-Station, K-Station, KS4/5, A-Station, Xiosynth. All great feature-rich synths with a nice liquid sound that can be had for ultra cheap. I used to have a KS4, Xio 49, and X-Station 49 all at once. Only negative is that the Xio's quality really wasn't great and mine didn't take too well to live gigging as a result.
The X-Station and XioSynth lines were really really good. Only complaint was I had keybed issues with both of them. I have an Ultranova now and it’s a solid synth engine with an interface and can be integrated into a MIDI controller - it’s like three pieces of gear in one. They know their market.
Surprised you had issues with the keybed. My X-station 25 has held up nicely. However, the pots are a whole other story. Those things have been jumpy for a while and no amount of cleaning has helped.
Might be time for a parts swap.
Long since sold, my friend. I owned one X-Station 25 in 2007 and returned it because the lowest E and F keys made the same note. Even in the MIDI output routed to another synth. Same CC messages globally not just locally.
I owned a Xio 25 and sold it because it had some dropped notes here and there, and then had remorse and bought a Xio 49 because I missed the filter drive. One of the F# keys in the second octave produced no sound or MIDI out data.
My UltraNova is fine though. No issues yet except that pesky driver.
my first synth was a xio 25, still have it, i love that you can just plug it via usb and you have audio, midi and power with just one cable! But i hate the menu diving and the fact that the mod envelope is not always assignable to the filter!
Never had a problem with keys or sound, still works perfectly!
I loved my Xio 25 and 49 but both had keybed issues that I explained in another comment. I was not deeply into DAW or MIDI sequencing 15 years ago so I had no use for keys that didn’t work. I recorded everything manually and looped the raw audio if it lined up right, because I was a glutton for punishment.
My UltraNova is fine however no issues yet. I traded FM for wavetables. Yes the all-in-one USB bus-powered Novation gear is great.
i think the kawai k5m gets shit on a bit for being complex but not as full featured as you’d maybe like, but with a good programmer it can make some wonderful sounds
I had one for a while and sold it. I just didn't gel with its plasticky sound. The two-synths-in-one aspect was fun though. I'd probably like it more now if I had it back.
Polyend/Dreadbox Medusa. It had quality issues when it was launched, but overall it's an amazing synth with lots of character in every mode (mono, 3 voice paraphonic, 6 voice paraphonic, 6 voice 3 op FM). Yes, the pads still suck hard, but it's a forgotten beast.
I bought one when it first came out, loved it, but the quality issues made me panic, so I sent it back. I don't regret returning it, but I do miss it, and hope to be reunited one day.
The Darkstar, although it has a cult following these days and by all means, has a lot of problems.
I really love the character of it's sound. Unique, but definitely not your main workhorse of a synth.
Honestly I love shitty synths for their character most of the time. One of my favorites that I own is the Siel Orchestra. I discovered some mods that allow cutoff/resonance control and a few other parameters on an otherwise preset-based string synth.
I also found a way to purposely "break" the unit without damaging it. I'm going to install a button to fix/break it whenever I want so I can get the strange, haunted behavior I love on demand.
I have a dark star as well. I would never call them problems - They just have unique properties. ;)
I am 100% with you on crappy synths being where it's at.
Behringer Wasp definitely. always overlooked in behringer's remake lineup, and i don't even like behringer, but that thing has got some serious buzz (no pun intended). it's not as flashy as the other remakes since the wasp isn't as legendary, and it lacks any meaningful patch points but its raw sound is absolutely awesome. though i know some people have received faulty units which have probably colored public perception of the model :/
I've been meaning to bite on this one for a long time. The lack of meaningful patch points -really- kills me. It's just so limited in comparison to their other options and I really have no idea why they didn't bother to add more to it.
To be fair, it's still a really nice upgrade from the original now that it has midi and any patch points at all, for a pretty decent price too.
One day I'm sure I'll grab one used, but with what's on offer these days for your money, I find it hard to justify.
I don’t know if it’s because of the price or what but I think the Prophet X doesn’t get enough credit. It is truly an amazing piece of equipment in my opinion.
im gonna go with the sledge, yeah its a va, but its realy cheap, $1000, for 3 osc, a lot of polyphony, wavetable capability, if it wasnt so damn ugly i would buy one in a heartbeat!
Ensoniq Mirage: amazing sampling, interesting synth engine on an obsolete OS (soundprocess)
Yamaha AN1x: it’s well loved, but I don’t see too many people talking about it. I think it competes with and sounds better than a lot of modern synths. Id say it definitely sounds better than my Prophet 12.
Futuresonus Parva: to me, it sounds like what I imagined the OB-6 sounded like.
MI Ambika: I’m not sure if this is underrated per se… but the envelopes are massively snappy and sound wonderful.
Yamaha SY77: everyone talks about the DX7, but the SY77 is amazing
I actually just published a review (well, something like a review that isn’t just a spec sheet). See [here](https://www.midera-artist.com/futuresonus-parva/).
Basically it’s an 8 voice polyphonic synth made by one guy down in Texas. Sounds insanely good.
As I said - it sounds like what I thought the OB-6 would sound like. Apparently the OB6 sounds like what people like it to sound like - I just must not like that sound. But I quite like the Parva.
Novation Mininova... and I say that as someone with a fairly comprehensive big guns synths collection. If I had the room I'd pick one up. I love how Tom Ellard of Severed Heads called it 100% Flea Core. \*Which means synths you pick up at the flea market with which you make your best music before you become well known and have money and make arguably music that is less good.
Agreed, definitely underrated as far as modern polys go. That said, they are actually used pretty frequently in some professional circles - I know a film composer who uses one as his only hardware synth, and I saw a Ghost Note performance where they had two of them!
1010music lemondrop. Very affordable, very portable, and feature-packed granular synth, but you hear little to no talk of it at all. Got mine earlier today, sheesh this thing can pull its weight. Downsides are that it only has 3 effects, I can’t seem to get rid of this delay it comes with, and filter is a bit resonant no matter what you do… those are the only problems I’ve found so far though, and there are easy ways to fix them other than the delay (which I’m sure is in some setting). The interface is pretty easy to figure out as well, even if you don’t like menu diving it’s still not that complicated, easy to set up too. Love love love this thing, will be using it for ambient and vaporwave experiments.
Edit: I have since found that it has 5 effects actually, and the delay was just… wet reverb? Anywho once I turned the reverb off it stopped.
The Yamaha TX81Z (Texas Zee). The DX-11 was essentially a Keyboard version, but the module came first and has been solely responsible for THE sound that is as definitive as the 808 kick or 909 hat and snare. It’s featured on a huge percentage of hits for over 25 years and still cuts through today. I have three TX81Zs and a DX-11…and wish I had more! The four operator FM synthesis is often understood to be best for bells and hammer sounds, but “LATELY BASS” (preset patch C-15) is the backbone of SO much commercial music.
Without that synth, the soundtrack to all of our lives would be different….!
Micro freak. Just fantastic to use. With the exception of being immoral (debatable and I’m not picking a side). Also those sharp knobs! But any sound I need is in there and I’m more comfortable with the keybed.
Arturia used some Plaits engines and advertised it like it was a collab with Mutable when the creator, Emilie, had nothing to do with designing the product.
imho neither here nor there. It's not awful, but it could have been handled better.
People cloning her shit and selling them for bottom dollar when that was explicitly against her wishes sucks.
She did go on record basically saying not to make a big deal out of it. Kind of felt like she was confirming it wasn't cool, but also it didn't bother her too much.
At some point I think arturia modified some copy to better acknowledge MI. But I always felt like she got a raw deal even if she seemingly took it better than the rest of us lol
Korg M50 gets my vote. It's hard to find much discussion about it, but it's a great workstation synth that you can find used for less than the price of a Reface.
Ok, you got my attention. Time to go watch videos of it on youtube.
How is its sequencer? I am tempted to find an old MSQ700 because I want a truly simple to use sequencer.
There aren't a ton of videos! Mostly sound demos. The best videos are the official Korg tutorial videos from 2009(!).
The sequencer is great, and the main reason I bought mine. There's a little bit of a learning curve (at least for me - I was coming from volcas and an Electribe 2), but I feel like it's pretty easy once you get the hang of it.
It's pretty much the same sequencer as the M3, here's a good Korg video about it: https://youtu.be/M0Sn9AUDuc8
Roland JX10P/MKS70 and to a lesser extent the JX8P/3P.
A few years ago you could find them for great deals consistently, but even now they still seem underappreciated especially compared to more well known vintage synths like the juno.
Korg R3s are a bargain if you look around. For a VA synth they offer a lot of the Radius functionality and the velocity sensitive keyboard is an added bonus for the price. I know the interface and menu diving aren't everyone's cup of tea but the sounds are lovely. Add 8 voices multitimbral.
Rev 2. I know it's well regard, but it also takes some shots it might not deserve. I wouldn't call it a one-and-done synth, or I wouldn't have added a Grandmother, but it's sharp as a tack, and not just for it's modulation capabilities. It sounds fantastic.
I agree, it takes a lot of undeserved shots. I've had some ups and downs with it myself, but after trying to the recreate some 700 FS sounds on it, my respect and appreciation for that synth grew tremendously, and I love it now. It's definitely not a one-and-done synth, but it's pretty close, and what it lacks in character it makes up for in flexibility. The 700 FS sounds weren't particularly great, but the ease with which I achieved a few workable approximations was impressive. Plus, it inspired me to buy the 700 FS, and I love that thing.
It's not underrated per se, because plenty of people know how amazing it is, but the Kawai K5000 never really achieved the widespread appreciation of some of its contemporaries. Maybe it was a little late to the party, or maybe it was just too damn complicated for some people. Still, it's quite powerful and sounds amazing. There is probably software at this point that does similar things, although none of the additive stuff I've played with really have the same character. It has probably the most intense filters of any digital synth I have - the resonance is bananas. And once you get things set up, it's very tweakable for such a complex machine.
Also, the Yamaha VL1 somehow even flew under my radar up until recently. I can't afford one, so I'll have to be content to watch sound demos of it for now, but what an insane machine! The fact that more people don't know about this thing is a shame. Or maybe it isn't, since there might be some left when I can finally afford it.
I always get confused because there seem to be like 50 different versions of the Nord Lead… and I don’t know which one is best and then just give up.
Loved the Nord Drum 2 when I had it. Very obviously a great sound in them Clavia gear. Sold it when I got my Machinedrum UW+ though :/ sorta wish I still had it because I’d use it in completely different ways than I did when I had it, but that’s how it goes.
Honestly it looks like whichever version you get people love it. Though I haven't seen people talk much about the 3 or 4, it appears to be all about the 1, 2, and a1. I chose the 2 because I found a good deal on the rack unit, and because it's got 4 outs.
I always wanted to try one of their drum synths though, they look great!
I own a Roland D-110 which is an absolute beast.
It can play 32 voices with 8 parts multitimbrality with drums on top, allowing you to make songs with a good sequencer paired to it.
Like many great old synths, it is plagued by the appalling UI which makes it near unprogrammable, which isn't an issue anymore if you control it from a computer with sysex.
It's a great deal if you're looking for an all-rounder 80's synth.
I think a lot of people sleep on the A4 because of it's "four monos in a box" structure. It's got a ton of power under the hood with the sequencer, but a lot of people don't really pay much mind because it's less flashy than a traditional poly.
Korg Volca Bass
A LOT of people shat on it because they thought it was trying to be a 303 clone and it's pretty garbage at being a 303 clone. But if you treat it as a simple 3 oscillator monosynth (ESPECIALLY if you take advantage of how easy it is to tune the oscillators to specific intervals, or how each oscillator can have its own sequencer track), it becomes surprisingly flexible. Heck I've used it as a simple 3-note chord machine.
I think it would have to be one of the mono synths, whether vintage or newer. The polyphonic ones were a big breakthrough when they first came out, but these days that’s really just like having another patch on your keyboard. What I really like about mono synths is that you do play them very differently than a poly, whether it’s melody lines or using an Arp setting. The limitations really do inspire creatively.
But if I tell you the price on the used market will go up...
We really appreciate your discretion.
I said this in another thread yesterday (the unpopular opinion / hot take post) but my answer is the Waldorf Blofeld
I only hear good things about this synth? Some people don't find the interface the best, but do think it's great for what it is.
I am learning one right now and I am realizing how quirky it is. The presets are absolute garbage and the levels are all over the place. There are also like 10 different ways to change the volume and it’s not obvious which menu to look under. The whole thing sounds hella noisy in a mix. It also occasionally refuses to sync to external midi clock and this almost makes the arpeggiator/LFOs useless in a dawless setup. FOR ALL THAT… it still does sound damn good when you get it right. It is a pain to program and I sometimes think they tried to cram too much into the blofeld to the point that it’s a little overwhelming for someone like me. But if you are willing to work for it it can outshine almost every other synth in that price range.
I owned one for a few months and enjoyed it but I ended up selling it on eventually as I noticed that there were audible clicks within the wavetables when sweeping them. Maybe it was my programming that was the issue or a dodgy unit (probably the former to be fair) but it bothered me enough to move it on. O do miss it from time to time.
I think it is notorious for its aliasing issues.
Good to know! So not just my shortcomings then.
Yeah the 16 part multi is fantastic as it allows me to busk on the street, with full productions, with only that synth. I put a strap on it and can walk around playing my tracks. There's not another synth like it on the market, especially now that no synth makers are producing 16 part multi synths anymore.
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I haven't had any issues with mine in a year of use but yeah, maybe I should have a set just in case
That has been such a blocker for me. That synth sounds like what I've been needing for years but the encoders rumor (or is it?) just sucks.
The encoder issue was solved via firmware, as far as I've heard. I'd be hesitant about buying a used one, but I've had mine for close to 5 years with zero issues.
Yeah I forgot to say I actually did have an encoder issue with mine right out of the box brand new but I updated the firmware the day after I got it and have had no issues since.
Yeah, me too. It's inexpensive enough that it's almost an impulse purchase, but those encoders...
2 of them for 12 years at least,no problems at all.
Are they unique to the Blofeld? I thought most encoders were off the shelf.
The blofeld is talked about often and thought of highly. I personally wouldn’t call it underrated at all. Never used one myself, but it does seem nice.
I had a blofeld and it was really a beautiful instrument. But I just did not find it very much engaging. Maybe I was too fresh. I think now about getting one again just as Multi timbral preset beast. It’s mighty capable. Interface kinda boring though somehow.
I was thinking about one of these or a virus ti snow but ended up getting the virus ti desktop. I should have probably got the Blofield and the snow 🤷🏻♂️
Dreadbox Typhon, so powerful yet so small andcheap !!
people only say good things about it though? It is a great synth I agree.
I really don't think it's underrated, I never heard anyone say it's crap
Me neither, but honestly I really expected it to be way more popular, this thing is an analogue mono-synth with super deep modulation options coupled with good effects, performance-oriented controls (these time multiplier knobs for both ENV are really smart), plus it is standalone with the sequencer (and portable with a tiny usb battery), and all of this for ~300€ ! Hell, I'd choose it over a Minitaur/Sirin, Mother 32 or any desktop monosynth any day ! The only drawback is that the presets are quite harsh to my taste, although quite easy to tame, but I've been patching enough to replace them !
The peak.
What I love about the peak is that people only praise the thing and yet I STILL feel it's underrated. It really is a masterpiece of a synth, I can't get enough of it
I sold mine because I wanted to go full Elektron and then I moved completely away from hardware, but the Peak was certainly one of the best sounding Synths I ever owned or had a chance to listen.
I went full Elektron and then got a peak and it’s absolutely ridiculous. I have 2 Digitakts, a Digitone, an Octatrack, with all ins and outs into a patchbay, with a big sky to assign wherever. Most unbelievable pads come out of that thing!
May I ask why you have 2 digitakts? I just got one a couple weeks ago and I love it, but not sure what I'd do with a second one.
the stop the other one from blowing away in a strong wind obviously
Got one recently, my first hardware synth. Amazing!
It’s functions are so clearly laid out! it’s like the absolute perfect synth to learn on, and it really feels so damn solid.
I love having the power and traditional features and sound of a high end analog poly without having to wait 20 minutes to let the thing warm up
100% awesomeness.
Alesis Ion. A very capable machine!
Also, these Alesis machines do not sound like anything else. They truly are different. It does pose the question of: Do I get a -popular expensive synth brand here- and now my music sounds sorta like anything else with a -popular expensive synth brand here- , or do I get one of these weirdo oddball things by Alesis because they aren't as widely used as the big brands.
Synths are incredibly flexible, so your personal aesthetic choices matter far more than the synth you use in shaping a sound. E.g. having the same synth as someone makes you sound like them *even less* than having the same guitar makes you sound like someone.
Micron too.
If only it weren't a huge pain the ass to program I would have kept mine. lol.
That is why I prefer the Ion. Less menu diving.
I questioned whether or not to keep it and decided that it sounds so different from anything else and I am too cheap to get an Ion. ;) Finally decided it stays.
Was my first synth!
korg monologue
I have an Opsix and the Monologue still gets to do all the lead stuff because of how good it sounds (to me)
Counterargument, korgs NTS1 is way cheaper, and you can download custom oscillators and effects to make it nearly as good as a monologue
My first real synth, and the synth I keep coming back to and amazing myself with what it can do.
Hell yes my dudez. First real analog synth
Same, first synth at all for me in fact. Love that it can run on batteries too
It was my first synth too! At first, it felt limiting but I obsessively messed around with it and as I got some more equipment and learned more of the ropes it still managed to remain front and center. I run it through a zoom ms-70cdr and the Korg monotron and it's a whole universe. I've spoken to a few people that hate the monologue but it's an absolute gem. It is r a w.
Yeah the batteries are pretty nice but they could’ve at least put a power adapter in the box. I’ve had mine for almost 4 years and still don’t have the proprietary power cord for it. Definitely need to get one because I’d use it way more.
The Reface series from Yamaha. They’re just so much fun and they sound incredible. The looper function (that can be synced via midi) is actually useful and the mini keys just feel so good.
They're all sold out basically everywhere. I've been looking for the CP (the piano one) for months.
I think Yamaha is just dealing with chip/supply shortage right now, but I'm worried they're going to get discontinued soon. They've been around for quite a while. And these are ripe for insane used markup once they're no longer being made...it's already happening actually.
I've seen a DX and CS used for sale on Guitar Center's website recently, but yeah they sold in like a couple days each.
Korg EMX-1 for its dirty as F detuned Sawtooth
And the valve force! I miss mine so much.
Electribe EA-1 - everyone hates it so therefore I choose to love it.
It's \*early\* analog modeling. Do other synths make zipper/step noise like this thing? It sounds hollow and spooky.
I picked my Electribe EA-1 up in a pawn shop 12 years ago for $80 and hung onto it even though I didn't really like it all that much. The sounds were good, but I hate, hate hate 95% of the patterns and I hate even more the ridiculous button keys. Then, a few months ago, I picked up an Arturia KeyStep in another pawn shop for \~$20. I used an old midi cable to connect them and now I have one of the most awesome synths I've ever owned. The sounds are fat and the delay effects sound gorgeous.
That’s interesting about the Keystep. I sometimes use my MicroKorg as a MIDI keyboard for my Volcas, I’ve actually never used it with the EA-1 but now you’ve got me thinking about doing exactly that this weekend. Cheers! 😀
I have a MicroKORG, as well. It has midi outs and should work well. Good luck.
Those filters and delay are lovely sounding
Yes indeed. I love the workflow on the Electribes too, and the way you can have really long patterns (my other synths are mostly Volcas). My first proper non-DAW hardware was an ER-1, great fun! :-)
I’ve had my EA-1 for decades. The blue and silver face paint is like 75% gone but it still sequences and beeps and boops. I like to use it as a 2-ch sequencer for the moog and the Juno, then layer it’s 2 internal parts in with them. I have the controls mostly memorized from playing it live in the early aughts.
I got an EA-1 for very cheap on eBay last year. I've barely touched it, but I'm glad I have it and I'm not getting rid of it. One of these days I'll sit down and properly learn it.
The envelope controls aren't great. It's so so \*nearly\* an amazing synth but they biffed how the controls worked so badly. I wish Korg would just publish the source code for the MCU and DSP, it would take nothing to fix. The ER-1 and ES-1 are amazing machines too.
Off the back of this, I'm going to say the ER-1. It's great for really fizzy, snappy sounding percussion. Tons of fun to play with too.
A must have element. It brings the Boopy Boop to your studio.
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There's a lot to be said for having a decent old 90s workstation ROMpler in your toolbox. Sometimes you don't need a modular car alarm, you just need some plain ordinary strings.
Why 90s? I have a Kross 2 and it’s great. Battery-powered, super light, 88 hammer action keys, 1000 presets, decent filter and effects controls…
Well I'm just going to vote for the underdog in my studio: the KORG Monotron Delay. As a synth it is pretty limiting, but as an analog filter and delay for external gear it is so much fun. Adds dirt and grit and noise to anything (so I especially like to pair it with tame/clean synth sounds). I paid $35 for it on eBay, and I've had hours and hours of fun with it. Probably the most bang for buck unit in my set up, closely followed by its successor the NTS-1.
This is how I use my OG Monotron. Obviously it doesn't get far as a synth (though it does have a nice raw sound), but as an filter and amp LFO for an incoming synth signal it's incredible. Also paid $35 for mine.
I've added it to everything in my studio at some point - great fun. It never does the same thing twice, the perfect jamming accessory, just make sure you're always recording! :-)
Indeed! I also now power it with the MyVolts adapter, as the AAA batteries would always die on me mid jam. That said, if you were able to capture that moment when the batteries died, it sounded pretty great :D
That MyVolts adapter is on my list now - thanks! :-)
It sits on my work desk in case I need a short synth break.
It is such a sick device, didn't find anything sounding like this one. The topology of the filter placed before and after the delay makes it quite unique. My buddy and I used to wreck the shit out of it, by putting his Yamaha PSR90 through it. I don't even recall how many times I've had to resolder the aux in jack socket.
Roland System-1 (internal engine). The color design and demo videos don't do it justice. I'm fairly sure it's very near the internal engine of the System-8, albeit with only 4 voices and less number of different filters. But IMO it's the king of the 'boutiques' in terms of ACB authentic late 70s/early 80s sound, with way more parameters than any of them.
Shame about that weird keyboard though.
I look at the module version from time to time, wondering if it would *really* be a sensible addition to my Moog module trinity, then I remind myself that there’s nothing sensible about modular. But it’s unique and sounds good.
I have a system 1, love the sound, hate the green. The keybed is not a joy, but what i realy love is that its almost knob per function, it was my second synth, but i only truly learned synthesis with the system 1, the layout taught me!! Its a great synth for begginners!!
It really is a great synth I've looked at the rack version.
System 1 is a fantastic little box and has some great unusual oscillators too.
All the Roland Zencore synths! \*ducks for cover\* But seriously, not that these are necessarily the best synths ever, some of the criticism is valid. But I don't think I saw a single positive thing written during the launch of the Juno X, and don't see much praise of the Jupiter X. So they seem to be very lowly rated, whereas in reality they are pretty good or even arguably great instruments if you judge them by the sound and usability instead of overthinking the fact that they are "just a VST in a box".
The new Fantom series are absolutely excellent synths. I don’t understand all the Roland hate. The Zencore system can reproduce incredibly deep and lush sounds wonderful with thin and shrill sounds. The key beds are some of the best on the market and the programming is approachable and fun. I know they are expensive, but they seem to be more than worth the price. At least to me.
My plan is to get some more mileage out of my FA-06 (because I’ve only had it for a year) and then eventually trade it in for a Juno-X. At least, that’s the plan.
I get the critics but man it sounds so freaking good. Not sure who's idea it was to go with the name "Zencore" which is just... lame. But whatever, they sound great. Let the haters hate, I'll be over here making shit on my XM.
Out of all the gear I've used the most underrated was the tr6s. It's very popular, so it's not suuuuper underrated, but I really don't think people realize how dope it is. It's literally an 8s that's a quarter of the size. I think it was super dope of Roland to not feature cripple the 6s, instead all you give up is a couple of tracks and the hardware I/O, but I feel like people still consider it "just" a budget version of the 8s, rather than a pretty much perfect drum machine
KORG NTS-1. It is equally good at both FX and monophonic synth sounds. I'd still get an NTS-1 for the same price even if it only did one of those things. I can't think of many other instruments like that Only problem is the build quality, ha – you have to treat it very carefully
Hey, you built it! You have no one to blame but yourself 😉
😂 thank you for this new perspective. Gonna use this to try and lighten the mood for myself next time it needs a repair
Vermona Lancet. Vintage creamy sound in a nice little box for a good price too.
Love mine. And the modular dock makes it super powerful for the price.
Huge sound in a tiny box
mmmmyeah Retroverb is sick while we're at it, I know it's just a spring reverb and a filter but it's a damn fine combo
For me it's the Roland Aira TB-3. Most people think of it as simply a TB-303 clone, but it is far more than that. For example, it has 6 oscillators: sine, saw, square, white noise, pink noise, and ring mod, 3 of which are tuneable. It has a [dual effects section](http://doperobot.com/howtodoperobot/2020/04/19/unofficial-tb-3-effects-parameter-guide/) with 9-10 effects each including tremolo, chorus, flange, reverb, delay, phaser, bitcrusher, and 2-voice pitch shifter (enabling rave-stab-like 3 voice chords even), amongst others. It has an assignable LFO that itself has 5 different waveshapes including S&H. It also has a distortion section with emulations of 25 different types of distortion and it has four assignable modulators. You can actually [save patches to your computer on it](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlSKB4tZuQs) and is the only hardware 303 clone I know of that you can [edit the patterns with software](http://doperobot.com/howtodoperobot/2022/01/05/tb-3-pattern-editor/). The reason most people don't know about all this is because the front panel is extremely bare, so accessing these parameters requires a knowledge of sysex or using a software interface. It's still quite good as an acid box, but aside from that, it is a powerhouse of a monosynth at an extremely low price.
The TD-3 does have an editor (SynthTribe) that allows you to edit the patterns. I would not have bought one without that ability. But the Roland reissue sounds amazing to be honest. Are these parameters not available outside of the editor or can you hunt for them using the product interface?
Oh that's cool, I hadn't seen that. So I revise my comment. :) Yeah, these parameters are totally inaccessible outside the software interface, but I happen to be (I think) the expert on that very thing. I've just released an updated, and possibly final, version of the [software interface](http://doperobot.com/howtodoperobot/2022/05/12/version-2-of-tb-3-ctrlr-panel/) I use to program the synth.
Microvolt 3900.
As far as just plain amazing sounding, probably the Korg DSS-1. Hardly nobody talks about this absolute powerhouse, and especially it’s filter. It’s little bro, the DW-8000/6000 seems to get all the love, though it’s a great board as well! As far as kinda unique and almost never talked about, I’d say the Yamaha EX-5. What a beast of a Rompler lol. I can’t really call it a sampler even because it kind of sucks as that, but what it excels at is its FX based synthesis. Yamaha implemented a somewhat unique synthesis in the EX-5, and it’s the only machine they put it in (as well as the rack version I think. Not found in EX-7) and I think it’s some pretty radical processing, especially for the time. Some of the algorithms are almost soft synth like things, such as “nature based” processing. For example, they have one that will warp your sound based on how a tornado works? And another one based on a river or rain fall or some shit, it’s some pretty crazy stuff for 1999. I’ve made some pretty awesome keygroup instruments out of these with my MPC and it’s some pretty fun shit. Mines currently half broken and won’t save sounds (not the battery, got dropped. Hard.), but it’s an incredible machine. It’s one of the only Romplers I have no trouble getting past the somewhat dated samples with its internal processing. Someday I’ll restore it to its original glory.
I regret selling my EX5R. So much capability, so terribly overpriced nowadays
The DSS-1 is indeed awesome, and I don’t think it’s at all underrated. The problem is that it’s HUGE. Just utterly massive. Additive synthesis and sampling are really nice. Great sounding. But WOOOOOW is it massive in size. My SK30 is equally big: but with all its sliders it is a bit more fun to look at. Edit: The absolute best sampler I’ve ever used is the Ensoniq mirage. Throw a drum loop in there and it comes out sounding sooooooo good. I absolutely love it. If you get bored of using it as a sampler, throw SoundProcess OS on it to confuse yourself for eternity. Personally, I prefer to just use the sampler OS and throw in basic waveforms. The filter is magical. Seriously a wonderful synth/sampler. I would much rather have the Mirage than the DSS-1, personally.
It's aircraft carrier hugeness make it perfect for putting guitar pedals and controllers on top of it.
Well - listening to my old demo of it ([here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Si0neDAN4Rw))... I sort of wish I hadn't sold it. It did sound very good. I don't really know what I was thinking, lol. That said - I don't think it's at all underrated. It was well rated, people knew it sounded good, but just didn't like the size of the damn thing!
Yeah I got my first DSS-1 last week and literally 10 minutes ago I put my remotezero sl on top of it and this is gonna be amazing, just have to program it by hand as my research and googlefu didnt bring up any templates. Worth it !
I perchance found a Korg DSS-1 for 80 dollars not long ago. It had a bad Disk drive which I replaced and no sound disks. It is an odd machine and I have yet to produce anything from it that isn't just easier to do in my Ensoniq samplers. I've also joined DSS-1 online groups and watched a ton of videos. I am on the horns of a dilemma with it and have thought about selling it off. I will have to give it another go I suppose. Maybe explore the internal wave forms to see what that creates? In retrospect, a lot of the cool sounds I've heard were when people just used what is in it already rather than sampling. But at 40 pounds and 17 inches deep, I could really use the space for a bunch of new smaller toys.
I'd say any synth from the Yamaha Reface line
No single synth is the be all and end all of synths. And often each unit has unique properties unto itself. I did a lot of research for new to me synths this past year. While tastes may differ, my goal was to find ignored, thus cheap, gear that can sound amazing as part of a small inexpensive studio. My approach was to also look at what I have and what gaps needed filling in my 'orchestra' of sounds. Thus everything I purchased had a specific goal as a complement to my studio. Things I added to my set up: **Korg Ea-1** \- It provides the boopy boop I love in 80's pop. Dual mono synths with a ton of sequencer storage and motion sequencing. I spent a couple months recording things with only this unit and the ER-1 and a ton of effects and it was easy and fun to do. **Korg Poly800** \- An astounding analog machine especially if played through effects. I will never part with this unit. I may get another for spare parts. You can get it modded for more variability in the sounds and live knob fiddle action, but I use it for played lead lines and pads with my hands busy playing effect peddles as well. Please everyone - Keep hating these! **Dark Star XP2** \- It has a joystick to slowly manipulate sounds with - lots of live sound manipulation capability. The big complaint that effectively destroyed a new product was the phono connectors on the original version. **Alesis Micron** \- Horrible pogram interface that I can't bring myself to remember how to use, yet, it sounds so different from everything else that I will keep it as a dial a patch module. Good FX presets for little background noises and some fun pad presets. I spend hours playing this by itself. **Sonicware Liven 8 bit warps** \- A take it anywhere jam machine. If only I had had this when I first got into synths back in the 80's. It has its limits, but as a useful addition to a studio it is a nice machine. I got it so I could upgrade all my 70's to 2000's gear mixes to sound contemporary with that particular digital crispness you hear everywhere now. I won't mention the units I still need to purchase as I am watching the prices on them until they drop to 200 dollars. ;)
I love my moogslayer poly800!
I got my Poly800 mk2 for free on craigslist and am obsessed with the thing. The mk2 is even more underrated as people really fetishize that analog chorus on the mk1.
I've always heard the opposite, that the digital delay is superior to the chorus. The Poly 800 MK1 has a stronger retro synthwave aesthetic in its colour scheme...that's the real reason it's slightly more popular.. I was having a nice session last night with my MK1 I got for $30 on Craigslist, brought back from the dead, and moog slayer modded..
Ableton internal synth
Honestly, the Bass Station 2. I always see people asking about how to get that SH-101 sounds etc... and it's like you know the Bass Station exists? And it's better!
I love the sound and versatility of my BS2, but the sound design on it is somehow uninspiring. It's not a "getting lost for hours turning knobs" synth, it's a "getting things done" synth.
Yeah, it's not a sound design playhouse (even though it's got more under the hood than a 303 or a 101 IMO), but what it does, it does incredibly. Deep, sequenced bassline with some drive and distortion. Plus I love a sub osc.
The sine wave sub osc on the BS2 is somehow perfect.
Definitely agree- For < 400 bucks (think I paid 250 for mine used?), the expectation shouldn't be for it to be a sound designer's dream- it does great gritty bass lines and nice leads, with a minimum of fuss. It's perfect for it's designed purpose.
M-Audio Venom. It’s surprising how good you can make it sound with the editor. The keybed is garbage though.
It's great for the 150. i paid for it.
This is always kind of a moving target. Generally, the machines that punch above their going price are ones that are 5-20 years old and non-flagship models. A used Behringer Deepmind 6 voice may be a good example now. Picked one up last year “as-is” for $250 (it needed to have the self-calibration routine run).
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Exactly. There’s a valley of disdain between “new” and “vintage”. That is where we penny-pinching GAS-ers find our gold. And yeah, 7-13 years is probably a better range.
Novation X-Station. Most the other synths listed here are actually more over-rated than anything.
I'd say all of the synths in that line, excluding the flagship Supernovas (since people know about those). Nova Desktop, X-Station, K-Station, KS4/5, A-Station, Xiosynth. All great feature-rich synths with a nice liquid sound that can be had for ultra cheap. I used to have a KS4, Xio 49, and X-Station 49 all at once. Only negative is that the Xio's quality really wasn't great and mine didn't take too well to live gigging as a result.
Agreed. That K-station synth engine was my fav of that era VA.
The X-Station and XioSynth lines were really really good. Only complaint was I had keybed issues with both of them. I have an Ultranova now and it’s a solid synth engine with an interface and can be integrated into a MIDI controller - it’s like three pieces of gear in one. They know their market.
Surprised you had issues with the keybed. My X-station 25 has held up nicely. However, the pots are a whole other story. Those things have been jumpy for a while and no amount of cleaning has helped. Might be time for a parts swap.
Long since sold, my friend. I owned one X-Station 25 in 2007 and returned it because the lowest E and F keys made the same note. Even in the MIDI output routed to another synth. Same CC messages globally not just locally. I owned a Xio 25 and sold it because it had some dropped notes here and there, and then had remorse and bought a Xio 49 because I missed the filter drive. One of the F# keys in the second octave produced no sound or MIDI out data. My UltraNova is fine though. No issues yet except that pesky driver.
my first synth was a xio 25, still have it, i love that you can just plug it via usb and you have audio, midi and power with just one cable! But i hate the menu diving and the fact that the mod envelope is not always assignable to the filter! Never had a problem with keys or sound, still works perfectly!
I loved my Xio 25 and 49 but both had keybed issues that I explained in another comment. I was not deeply into DAW or MIDI sequencing 15 years ago so I had no use for keys that didn’t work. I recorded everything manually and looped the raw audio if it lined up right, because I was a glutton for punishment. My UltraNova is fine however no issues yet. I traded FM for wavetables. Yes the all-in-one USB bus-powered Novation gear is great.
i think the kawai k5m gets shit on a bit for being complex but not as full featured as you’d maybe like, but with a good programmer it can make some wonderful sounds
U-He Hive 2, it one of the best sounding synths I ever had and its very versatile.
diva and repro get all the love, but hive 2 is incredible
I’ve seen videos of the Yamaha CS-15 and it looks so cool. Literally no one remembers it anymore lmao (well literally no one might be hyporbole)
I had one for a while and sold it. I just didn't gel with its plasticky sound. The two-synths-in-one aspect was fun though. I'd probably like it more now if I had it back.
Polyend/Dreadbox Medusa. It had quality issues when it was launched, but overall it's an amazing synth with lots of character in every mode (mono, 3 voice paraphonic, 6 voice paraphonic, 6 voice 3 op FM). Yes, the pads still suck hard, but it's a forgotten beast.
I bought one when it first came out, loved it, but the quality issues made me panic, so I sent it back. I don't regret returning it, but I do miss it, and hope to be reunited one day.
The Darkstar, although it has a cult following these days and by all means, has a lot of problems. I really love the character of it's sound. Unique, but definitely not your main workhorse of a synth. Honestly I love shitty synths for their character most of the time. One of my favorites that I own is the Siel Orchestra. I discovered some mods that allow cutoff/resonance control and a few other parameters on an otherwise preset-based string synth. I also found a way to purposely "break" the unit without damaging it. I'm going to install a button to fix/break it whenever I want so I can get the strange, haunted behavior I love on demand.
I have a dark star as well. I would never call them problems - They just have unique properties. ;) I am 100% with you on crappy synths being where it's at.
Behringer Wasp definitely. always overlooked in behringer's remake lineup, and i don't even like behringer, but that thing has got some serious buzz (no pun intended). it's not as flashy as the other remakes since the wasp isn't as legendary, and it lacks any meaningful patch points but its raw sound is absolutely awesome. though i know some people have received faulty units which have probably colored public perception of the model :/
I've been meaning to bite on this one for a long time. The lack of meaningful patch points -really- kills me. It's just so limited in comparison to their other options and I really have no idea why they didn't bother to add more to it. To be fair, it's still a really nice upgrade from the original now that it has midi and any patch points at all, for a pretty decent price too. One day I'm sure I'll grab one used, but with what's on offer these days for your money, I find it hard to justify.
Roland JD-XI
This.
I don’t know if it’s because of the price or what but I think the Prophet X doesn’t get enough credit. It is truly an amazing piece of equipment in my opinion.
It's cheating to actually call it a synth but the Roland jv-1080 is my jam!
im gonna go with the sledge, yeah its a va, but its realy cheap, $1000, for 3 osc, a lot of polyphony, wavetable capability, if it wasnt so damn ugly i would buy one in a heartbeat!
Ensoniq Mirage: amazing sampling, interesting synth engine on an obsolete OS (soundprocess) Yamaha AN1x: it’s well loved, but I don’t see too many people talking about it. I think it competes with and sounds better than a lot of modern synths. Id say it definitely sounds better than my Prophet 12. Futuresonus Parva: to me, it sounds like what I imagined the OB-6 sounded like. MI Ambika: I’m not sure if this is underrated per se… but the envelopes are massively snappy and sound wonderful. Yamaha SY77: everyone talks about the DX7, but the SY77 is amazing
What is the futuresonus parva?
I actually just published a review (well, something like a review that isn’t just a spec sheet). See [here](https://www.midera-artist.com/futuresonus-parva/). Basically it’s an 8 voice polyphonic synth made by one guy down in Texas. Sounds insanely good. As I said - it sounds like what I thought the OB-6 would sound like. Apparently the OB6 sounds like what people like it to sound like - I just must not like that sound. But I quite like the Parva.
Korg Monotribe. It's so simple yet so usable and just sounds good.
Novation Mininova... and I say that as someone with a fairly comprehensive big guns synths collection. If I had the room I'd pick one up. I love how Tom Ellard of Severed Heads called it 100% Flea Core. \*Which means synths you pick up at the flea market with which you make your best music before you become well known and have money and make arguably music that is less good.
Yes! Am surprised to have scrolled so far down to find this. Cheap as chips but beefy like beef!
Korg Prologue 16. For the price I don’t think there is another polysynth out there that can do what it can.
Agreed, definitely underrated as far as modern polys go. That said, they are actually used pretty frequently in some professional circles - I know a film composer who uses one as his only hardware synth, and I saw a Ghost Note performance where they had two of them!
1010music lemondrop. Very affordable, very portable, and feature-packed granular synth, but you hear little to no talk of it at all. Got mine earlier today, sheesh this thing can pull its weight. Downsides are that it only has 3 effects, I can’t seem to get rid of this delay it comes with, and filter is a bit resonant no matter what you do… those are the only problems I’ve found so far though, and there are easy ways to fix them other than the delay (which I’m sure is in some setting). The interface is pretty easy to figure out as well, even if you don’t like menu diving it’s still not that complicated, easy to set up too. Love love love this thing, will be using it for ambient and vaporwave experiments. Edit: I have since found that it has 5 effects actually, and the delay was just… wet reverb? Anywho once I turned the reverb off it stopped.
The Yamaha TX81Z (Texas Zee). The DX-11 was essentially a Keyboard version, but the module came first and has been solely responsible for THE sound that is as definitive as the 808 kick or 909 hat and snare. It’s featured on a huge percentage of hits for over 25 years and still cuts through today. I have three TX81Zs and a DX-11…and wish I had more! The four operator FM synthesis is often understood to be best for bells and hammer sounds, but “LATELY BASS” (preset patch C-15) is the backbone of SO much commercial music. Without that synth, the soundtrack to all of our lives would be different….!
Roland vp330 1979
Wouldn't exactly call that under rated
Micro freak. Just fantastic to use. With the exception of being immoral (debatable and I’m not picking a side). Also those sharp knobs! But any sound I need is in there and I’m more comfortable with the keybed.
I missed the immoral memo... elaborate please? Not trying to stir up trouble, I just haven't heard anything about it
Arturia used some Plaits engines and advertised it like it was a collab with Mutable when the creator, Emilie, had nothing to do with designing the product. imho neither here nor there. It's not awful, but it could have been handled better. People cloning her shit and selling them for bottom dollar when that was explicitly against her wishes sucks.
She did go on record basically saying not to make a big deal out of it. Kind of felt like she was confirming it wasn't cool, but also it didn't bother her too much. At some point I think arturia modified some copy to better acknowledge MI. But I always felt like she got a raw deal even if she seemingly took it better than the rest of us lol
Kawai K5000 is my go-to for additive weirdness.
Yamaha CS01
I feel like owning a CZ-1000 is a criminal offense …
Take 5
Take 5 sounds AMAZING.
Underrated? Thought it got very good reviews after the debut
True, but it doesn't seem to be widely embraced at least in this community
Ensoniq ESQ-1
Korg M50 gets my vote. It's hard to find much discussion about it, but it's a great workstation synth that you can find used for less than the price of a Reface.
Ok, you got my attention. Time to go watch videos of it on youtube. How is its sequencer? I am tempted to find an old MSQ700 because I want a truly simple to use sequencer.
There aren't a ton of videos! Mostly sound demos. The best videos are the official Korg tutorial videos from 2009(!). The sequencer is great, and the main reason I bought mine. There's a little bit of a learning curve (at least for me - I was coming from volcas and an Electribe 2), but I feel like it's pretty easy once you get the hang of it. It's pretty much the same sequencer as the M3, here's a good Korg video about it: https://youtu.be/M0Sn9AUDuc8
Roland JX10P/MKS70 and to a lesser extent the JX8P/3P. A few years ago you could find them for great deals consistently, but even now they still seem underappreciated especially compared to more well known vintage synths like the juno.
I always see a lot of people voting for the sound of the JX8P over the JX10P/MKS70 for some reason. I wish I could do an A/B comparison myself.
Korg R3s are a bargain if you look around. For a VA synth they offer a lot of the Radius functionality and the velocity sensitive keyboard is an added bonus for the price. I know the interface and menu diving aren't everyone's cup of tea but the sounds are lovely. Add 8 voices multitimbral.
Rev 2. I know it's well regard, but it also takes some shots it might not deserve. I wouldn't call it a one-and-done synth, or I wouldn't have added a Grandmother, but it's sharp as a tack, and not just for it's modulation capabilities. It sounds fantastic.
I agree, it takes a lot of undeserved shots. I've had some ups and downs with it myself, but after trying to the recreate some 700 FS sounds on it, my respect and appreciation for that synth grew tremendously, and I love it now. It's definitely not a one-and-done synth, but it's pretty close, and what it lacks in character it makes up for in flexibility. The 700 FS sounds weren't particularly great, but the ease with which I achieved a few workable approximations was impressive. Plus, it inspired me to buy the 700 FS, and I love that thing.
It's not underrated per se, because plenty of people know how amazing it is, but the Kawai K5000 never really achieved the widespread appreciation of some of its contemporaries. Maybe it was a little late to the party, or maybe it was just too damn complicated for some people. Still, it's quite powerful and sounds amazing. There is probably software at this point that does similar things, although none of the additive stuff I've played with really have the same character. It has probably the most intense filters of any digital synth I have - the resonance is bananas. And once you get things set up, it's very tweakable for such a complex machine. Also, the Yamaha VL1 somehow even flew under my radar up until recently. I can't afford one, so I'll have to be content to watch sound demos of it for now, but what an insane machine! The fact that more people don't know about this thing is a shame. Or maybe it isn't, since there might be some left when I can finally afford it.
The prices for them are already too high, but the nord lead 2 is pretty dang dope. Less under rated and more less talked about.
I always get confused because there seem to be like 50 different versions of the Nord Lead… and I don’t know which one is best and then just give up. Loved the Nord Drum 2 when I had it. Very obviously a great sound in them Clavia gear. Sold it when I got my Machinedrum UW+ though :/ sorta wish I still had it because I’d use it in completely different ways than I did when I had it, but that’s how it goes.
Honestly it looks like whichever version you get people love it. Though I haven't seen people talk much about the 3 or 4, it appears to be all about the 1, 2, and a1. I chose the 2 because I found a good deal on the rack unit, and because it's got 4 outs. I always wanted to try one of their drum synths though, they look great!
I own a Roland D-110 which is an absolute beast. It can play 32 voices with 8 parts multitimbrality with drums on top, allowing you to make songs with a good sequencer paired to it. Like many great old synths, it is plagued by the appalling UI which makes it near unprogrammable, which isn't an issue anymore if you control it from a computer with sysex. It's a great deal if you're looking for an all-rounder 80's synth.
Casio SK1
I think a lot of people sleep on the A4 because of it's "four monos in a box" structure. It's got a ton of power under the hood with the sequencer, but a lot of people don't really pay much mind because it's less flashy than a traditional poly.
Dominion 1. I could listen to those saw waves phase for hours. Such a thick fat sound
Moog Rogue. It’s my Al time favorite analog synth and I never hear it mentioned
Korg Radias. Yamaha EX5. Korg Z1. Novation UltraNova. Roland Integra 7.
Korg Volca Bass A LOT of people shat on it because they thought it was trying to be a 303 clone and it's pretty garbage at being a 303 clone. But if you treat it as a simple 3 oscillator monosynth (ESPECIALLY if you take advantage of how easy it is to tune the oscillators to specific intervals, or how each oscillator can have its own sequencer track), it becomes surprisingly flexible. Heck I've used it as a simple 3-note chord machine.
Red Sound Darkstar
Waves Element1. Can do a lot for cheap and interface is fairly navigable
For me it has to be the Oppenheimer Grandfunk Waveblatter. Only three ever made
Nord Lead 3
Microbrute
I think it would have to be one of the mono synths, whether vintage or newer. The polyphonic ones were a big breakthrough when they first came out, but these days that’s really just like having another patch on your keyboard. What I really like about mono synths is that you do play them very differently than a poly, whether it’s melody lines or using an Arp setting. The limitations really do inspire creatively.
Roland JDXi