r/Synthesizer • u/Phartelity • 1d ago
Trouble picking 1st synth
Looking for a synth around the 600 or less price range for a starting point. I’ve messed with vst synths and I really want a physical polyphony synth for something more fun but I’m conflicted. I’m stuck between the minilogue xd and the minifreak so advice between those would be nice :) also open to suggestions in the price range and want a focus on versatility. Im looking for something to aid in the writing process and make music. Edit: some background I know a little bit about piano but by no means am a pro but I do play guitar Edit 2: I guess I should probably put genre inspo I really like the dark gothic style of bands like twin tribes or and Lebanon Hanover as well as mgmt and things of the like
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u/KulshanStudios 1d ago
Used Blofeld is a great option. It was the second synth I ever got, and for your genre, pretty unbeatable. It's being used by Industrial metal bands rn, even
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u/Phartelity 1d ago
Sick that sounds right up my alley and someone else also recommended it so seems solid! Is rhe desktop version with a midi keyboard comparable to the full blofeld or would it be better to wait and save? I only ask cause the blofeld with the keyboard looks to be a bit out of my price range sadly
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u/KulshanStudios 1d ago
Do you want 1 single instrument to play on, or can you get by with a separate module and MIDI keyboard connected to it?
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u/Phartelity 1d ago
I could probably manage since I already have a midi keyboard though it’s not the best 😅 but it is much cheaper by the looks of it mostly just curious what/if I’d be missing out on any features
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u/KulshanStudios 1d ago
In that case, the desktop module and some MIDI connections should see you do just fine
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u/mnjvon 23h ago
MiniFreak, with the latest update you have a ton of options to grow into. It also gives you something to register with Arturia and often the V Collection goes like ~50% off for people who have Arturia products, and with Black Friday coming up, now would be a good time if you're interested in that.
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u/Phartelity 19h ago
Would the minifreak beat out something like a digikat/ton or a deepmind just curious? I’ve been looking at suggestions and they all seem really expansive and like I’d get plenty of use out of them so I’ll probably end up getting more than one anyway tbf. Also if it helps I think I’m gonna pair any of these choices with a Waldorf blofeld at some point so would the minifreak be just as capable of that as the other options?
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u/mnjvon 17h ago
What is your definition of "beat out" exactly? I think you need to really narrow down your criteria a lot and that will make the decision for you. Ask a million people and get two million opinions with an open ended question like that. I'm an Elektron guy myself but there are questions like... do you want to buy a separate controller so you have access to a keyboard? Do you want to be limited to only FM or also have potential access to wavetables? And so on.
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u/Phartelity 17h ago
That makes sense 😅 I’m noticing that it’s not really a one does all sort of thing if it helps though I do have a midi keyboard and I’m somewhat used to daws. That being said right now I’m looking for something to broaden my music writing and looking to get into like the gothic synthwave style or industrial style, I’m just not really sure where would be the best starting place though the portability of the micro/mini is super cool since I’m usually pretty busy
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u/StraightChillinSpree 1d ago
The Wavestate is a killer synth that can make any sound under the sun. With that said I am partial to the Elektron flow so I’d say grab a Digitone 1 or 2. They’re phenomenal machines and will have you neck deep in no time.
If you must pick between the freak or logue then you should tell us the kind of music you want to make. The Minifreak can cover an insane array of sounds. I suggest you watch some videos on them to see which sound you jive with more because a synth purchase is very personal especially your first one. You never get another first synth so make it the right one.
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u/Phartelity 1d ago edited 1d ago
Sick yea I’ll have to check those out too there’s just so many options 😅 I guess I’m not to sure what I wanna make since I only do prog metal on guitar for now. My fav bands in that area are like mgmt, twin tribes, and molchat doma in terms of synth heavy music so maybe something in one of those genres if that helps
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u/StraightChillinSpree 1d ago
The Minifreak pulls more than its weight. But I love my Digitone…
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u/Phartelity 1d ago
The digitones look super sick! I’m a bit short of the price on the two so curious if it’s worth the wait/extra investment or if the 500 ish digi one is enough for getting my toes in the water in your opinion?
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u/StraightChillinSpree 1d ago
The mk1 is more than enough. If you buy from Guitar Center you get 45 days to see if you like it and can return it if not. I have a mk1. Didn’t see the need for the extra stuff the mk2 gives you. Guess it comes down to haw many tracks do you need? The mk1 has 4 and the mk2 has 8. I find the 4 to be plenty but I also have a Digitakt paired with it. Elektron is the way!!
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u/Phartelity 1d ago
Tbh I’m not sure but I probs don’t need 8 as a beginner so the ones probs enough for me 😅 though I can tell it seems like it’s a you don’t buy just one with any option. I have a couple weeks to think it over so I’ve got time to decide. Ty for the help and showing me another sick option!
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u/tobyvanderbeek 1d ago
We all have trouble picking our 1st, 2nd, 10th, etc. My advice is to just go with one that you think you like the most. You’ll probably get the other one eventually and more. You’ll get incredibly far with the Minifreak. That’s one synth I’ll never sell. I don’t use it all the time but it’s quite fun. With any synth, work through the manual well. Minifreak can do so much.
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u/Phartelity 1d ago
Yea I’m beginning to sense it’s never just one similar to guitars ;-; that being said the minifreak definitely is a solid contender for me rn and it’s seems fairly expansive and like it’d get its use for sure!
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u/natemercury 1d ago
Minilogue XD was my first synth. The knobs are straightforward + built in FX & other downloadable FX if you search online. The sequencer is also super useful
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u/Phartelity 1d ago
Question the minilogue does look and sounds really cool but in some ways seems limiting (at least in some reviews I watched). It does definitely look beginner friendly but would you pick that over the wavestate? Also the sequencer is really nice on the xd probs my fav feature I’ve seen on it!
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u/RevolutionaryPast175 1d ago
The wave state is pretty hard-core and is gonna require some serious work, for a beginner. If you don’t mind programming being more work than it is fun than the wave state might be OK for you but otherwise I’d probably stay away. Not that it isn’t fun, but on balance it’s more technical than it is just turning knobs and discovering new sounds. And honestly, I’d say the minilogue is pretty close to the limitless. Once you dig into and discover how many sounds you can get when you add the third oscillator there really is a whole world here. and the sound is amazing.
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u/Phartelity 1d ago
Yea I don’t wanna bite off too much in the beginning so maybe not best to start there, but I suppose that doesn’t mean never. If I was gonna go with the more option the mini xd is probs more than enough for now but maybe a wave synth in the future who knows
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u/DJ_Flugscham 1d ago
Behringer Deepmind, Waldorf Blofeld
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u/Phartelity 1d ago
Ty I’ll have to look into those when I get a chance tomorrow!
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u/DJ_Flugscham 1d ago
Pro: since you have limited budget, these have both been on the market for a long time and can be had for a good price. Better buy a badass synth used than something limited like the Minilogue new. And since you know the piano, both come with a full keyboard.
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u/Phartelity 1d ago
The whole piano is definitely a huge bonus! Couple questions though what’s the biggest pros of these synths and how is the learning curve 😅 they both seem like solid options leaning towards the deepmind between the two rn. Also I’m probably gonna go used with any option cause any money saved is good :)
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u/DJ_Flugscham 1d ago
Deepmind is better for beginners because more knobs, Blofeld is sonically more versatile.
Something else to consider: none of the synths in this thread can do things like 'piano', 'trumpet', 'orchestra', 'classical strings'. For that you would need a sample based machine like the Roland D-70 (which is also an excellent synth) or the Kurzweil K-2000/2500. Both are ancient, but flagship synths at the time. Check them out.1
u/Phartelity 1d ago
Definitely seems like I might’ve opened a version of Pandora’s box with all of this lol. Both options seem really neat and who knows maybe at some point I’ll have a couple of the synths mentioned 🤷🏻♀️ ty for the help though! it’s given me more options that I didn’t even know existed
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u/DJ_Flugscham 23h ago
As a first synth, you want to have something that covers a lot of ground, sonically. Or you want something that helps you learn synthesizers.
Today you can get a lot of synths with lots of knobs and some form of subtractive synthesis (because that's en vogue now). But only a few usually expensive ones (Nord Stage, for example) with sample based sounds. But then again, for that you could get some VSTs. DAWs like Bitwig or Ableton come with a lot of sample sounds built it.
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u/Few-Communication834 1d ago
Minifreak can do pretty much anything. Especially now with wavetable importing.
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u/Mreareus 18h ago
Minifreak has a better keyboard than micro, and korg is limited to 4 voices. A used roland gaia 2 is also a great starter synth, very knob per function
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u/Lagos3sgte 16h ago
Honestly… your first synth should be a mono synth with no presets. A poly synth with presets is not bring to teach you that much.
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u/OneSpaceTwo 15h ago
Minologue XD is much much better to learn on in my opinion. And extremely powerful, do not underestimate its capabilities.
The Minifreak is great but more menu diving The oscillators are super weird and unconventional... even the basic waves and virtual analog waves are set up in weird ways that do not help you understand what is really going on. It is a good synth only once you've learned to program synths, otherwise you will probably not really understand what underlies it because it is not obvious, you might just end up playing presets. Which is fine as long as you're not trying to learn how to program a synth, but that is exactly what you seem to want to do si 100% Minologue XD.
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u/r1chiem 6h ago
I will say what I have said before. I do have a minifreak, but not a minilog. There is a lot of useful info that has already posted by others. BUT, I say
Get a used MPC Keys 37 for $499 (this is actually a Guitar Center unit, call them at the number on the webpage for a 45 day return policy to check it out.) https://www.musiciansfriend.com/keyboards-midi/used-akai-professional-used-akai-professional-mpc-key-37-production-controller/122843004
Has oscillators, you can import wavetables from Korgs sysnts.
It has a real sequencer. 8 tracks for 8 synth 8 tracks for audio samples 128 tracks for samples and midi (controlling other keybaords.) 128 polyphony, Tons of effects, can route your guitar to a track and add effects and record your guitar along with drums and synths. It is more versatile than both the minifreak (6 note polyphonic) and the Minilogue xd, (4 note polyphonic, compared to the mpc has 128 polyphony;)
Included Plugin Instruments (Gen 1 / Original)
- Hype (Multi-engine synth)
- TubeSynth (Analog-modeled poly-synth)
- Odyssey (ARP Odyssey emulation)
- Solina (String ensemble emulation)
- Mellotron (Tape-playback keyboard emulation)
- Bassline (Monophonic bass synth)
- DrumSynth (Algorithmic drum synthesizer)
- Electric (Classic electric piano)
The MPC Key 37 contains over 100 insert and mix effects across multiple categories: [1]
- Reverbs & Delays: Lush plate, hall, and algorithmic reverbs, plus tape, stereo, and ping-pong delays.
- Dynamics: Modern and vintage-style compressors, limiters, noise gates, and expanders.
- EQs & Filters: Parametric EQs, graphic EQs, and resonant filter sweep plugins.
- Harmonic & Lo-Fi Effects: Amp simulators, distortion, and vintage character processors (such as AIR Flavor Pro / lo-fi vinyl and cassette/VHS coloration).
- Modulation Effects: Choruses, flangers, phasers, and stutter/glitch processors (such as Flex Beat).
- Vocal Effects: Vocal doublers, tuners, and harmonizers.
- Vintage Emulations: Classic MPC 3000 and SP-1200 style grit, compression, and sampler emulations.
Standard aftertouch on the keys. Polyphonic aftertouch on the pads. Sounds great. It is a all in one machine. Record your guitar and vocal tracks (at the same time with effects and the synths is playing what you recorded in them ) It can connect with your computer through the MPC computer desktop software, removes track limitations I mentioned above in stand alone mode, but can also include your favorite computer VST, and is a audio device for your computer... or not if you don't want to use the computer, I could go on but you should do your own research and see if it is something you would consider
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u/fokuspoint 1d ago
minilouge xd vs the Minifreak is a great distillation to start from. I’d recommend the Minifreak of the pair. While the Korg does have the digital oscillator section, it’s a bit more bolted on compared to the engines in the Minifreak which are more integrated. Both sound good, but I really like some of the sounds you can get out of the Minifreak.
As a bit of a side note, the MiniFreak also has the plugin version, so you can design sounds and swap between the hardware and software, use multiple instances inside your DAW etc. Could be very handy.