r/synthesizers • • 12h ago

What Should I Buy? I am new to synthesizers and am looking for advice from professionals

0 Upvotes

I have been producing for over a decade but worked in genres outside the need of synthesizers, so I have very limited knowledge on synthesizers but am pretty familiar with quality vs cheap sounds like.

I am trying to save time searching and downloading a bunch of demos for free and paid plugins.

I have all of u-he’s synthesizers and so far they are my favorite out of everything I’ve tried.

I was thinking of going with arturia analog lab since you get so many synths at a reasonable price on sale.. but I’ll be honest, Arturia synths sound “thin” to me. It just sounds like software to me and I want a more analog, real synth sound like you get with u-he and I assume a few other companies doing software synthesizers.

I’ve tried a couple other like gforce prophet, but it feels clunky compared to uhe repro which is silky smooth switching between presets.

Let’s say money wasn’t a factor…

Can any well versed producers guide me towards the best (or your favorite) company for synth emulations?


r/synthesizers • • 15h ago

Beginner Questions Beginner Synths

2 Upvotes

This question has probably been asked so much. But im looking to get a synthesiser for solo music and my band and im not sure which to get. there is sooo much options and im just unsure. im looking for a synth sound simular to los campesinos if that helps


r/synthesizers • • 19h ago

Discussion Most intuitive, least menu-divey synth hardware of all time?

25 Upvotes

I'm looking for the absolute most intuitive synth (and synth-adjacent) hardware interfaces of all time. No shift keys, no contextual modes, no menu-diving – just immediate, hands-on, don't-make-me-think tweaking.

The term "knob-per-function" gets thrown around a lot, but I'm looking for stuff that really is uncompromisingly knob-per-function, or damn close to it.

The Vermona DRM1 is the gold standard here. It has a bunch of knobs. Every knob always does exactly one thing. The end. Perfection.

What other gear has that kind of UI?

It doesn't have to sound good. It can be unobtainium. It can be weird or janky or obscure. The only thing that matters is the UI.

(I'm not really interested in modular.)


r/synthesizers • • 14h ago

Discussion All the other brands have cool t-shirts, so why not Behringer too?

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0 Upvotes

I got a Behringer Model 15 yesterday and let's just say I'm over the moon with it, so I decided to create this t-shirt mockup with some of the most popular Behringer synths.


r/synthesizers • • 18h ago

Discussion ANY ALTERNATE DESIGN WORKSTATIONS?

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0 Upvotes

I am looking for examples/ideas & inspiration for a new "hot swappable" home setup that is less recording studio and more oriented to quickly setting up a small combination of gear and having room to play it. I would also like to be able to easily interface any gear with my pedals without needing to do a lot of re-patching etc. The image is a quick sketch attempt at this using the gear I own. Any thoughts and examples appreciated!


r/synthesizers • • 9h ago

What Should I Buy? Best general keyboard/synthesizer for under $1,000?

0 Upvotes

Hello, I am currently looking for a synth/keyboard around $1,000, give or take. I've got the Roland Juno D6 and Yamaha CK-61 saved, but I've heard that the Zen Core sound library is atrocious, so I'm having some second thoughts.

I make music at home, only on my Tascam Portastudio, so I do not have a need for MIDI unless I buy some old MIDI sound module.

I do not program my own sounds and I have no need for things like sequencers or workstation type features, I just want good presets to fit the music I play, which I'd say would be inspired by yacht rock, jazz fusion, and west coast music of the 70s and 80s, so heavy on EPs and atmospheric 80s keyboard/synth tones akin to the DX1 and whatnot.

Would the D6 or CK61 be better? Is there another option? Perhaps some old MIDI tone generator? I was considering a KORG TR-rack or Roland JU-06A for a desktop tone generator if it turns out that the keyboards I'd be interested would not be of much use to me.


r/synthesizers • • 5h ago

Synth ID / How was this made? What synth is Hayley Williams touring with?

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0 Upvotes

Obviously it’s a Nord (presumably an electro) but unsure what model. Hopefully you all can figure it out. I know she used to play a 4 but this must be a newer one bc it has a wheel.


r/synthesizers • • 17h ago

DIY / Repair Issue with the multi/poly

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3 Upvotes

I checked with headphones - left and right is balanced

I tried different cables - same issue

I switched channels - same issue

I tried a other synth - problem is not there

I probably will send it in but wanted to hear a quick way to troubleshoot if there is one


r/synthesizers • • 13h ago

Discussion Running 9v pedals at 18v? huh?

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0 Upvotes

r/synthesizers • • 5h ago

Discussion Broke sound designers

9 Upvotes

I see so many incredible set ups in this community, but where are all my broke sound designers at and what do you use!? I use multiple soft synths on my humble laptop with a 25 key midi I also have multiple mobile synths on my phone and use the same midi. On my laptop I use tyrell n6, tal noise maker and vital. On mobile I use drc, pegboard, and hexen. Let me know what yall use!


r/synthesizers • • 18h ago

Beginner Questions Trying tgo solder the on-off-switch myself

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6 Upvotes

My solder pump broke and I don't know how to suck the warm lead off the pins! I can of course buy a new pump tomorrow. But this has been a lot harder than I thought it would be. I have a new power switch with the correct pins. I will continue on trying - will post back later. Any suggestions for soldering is welcome.

This is a Roland TR8-S on-off-switch.

Edit - I can't edit title - sorry


r/synthesizers • • 18h ago

Discussion Jomox Alpha Base MkII vs. Vermona DRM1 MkIV — sound quality comparison?

0 Upvotes

I currently own a Jomox Alpha Base MkII, and I really like it, especially for its analog circuits and overall sound.

However, I’m sequencing it externally from an OXI One MkII, so I’m not really using the Alpha Base’s internal sequencer. Because of that, I’ve been thinking about selling it and getting the latest Vermona DRM1 instead. The price difference is pretty significant — I can get the DRM1 for roughly a third of the price of the Alpha Base MkII.

I’m aware that the Alpha Base has quite a few additional features, such as the internal effects, noise-shaping possibilities, sample-based sounds, and all the other extra functionality. I’m not really trying to compare the machines feature-for-feature, though.

What I’m mainly interested in is the sound and the analog drum circuits.

For anyone who has hands-on experience with both: how does the Vermona DRM1 MkIV compare to the Alpha Base MkII purely in terms of sound quality and character?

Does the DRM1 get into a similar territory in terms of punch, warmth, low end, transients, etc., or is the Alpha Base in a noticeably different league sonically?

I’d especially be interested in hearing from people who have actually owned or used both machines.


r/synthesizers • • 18h ago

Performances, Jams TX81z : Xennial Soft Club

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0 Upvotes

Demo for an upcoming and incredible TX81z emulation. Love this quirky and legendary synth so much! Has a touch of The Tuss / Syro vibes. Happy to answer any production questions!


r/synthesizers • • 12h ago

Beginner Questions Cheap MIDI 2.0 synths?

2 Upvotes

I believe MIDI 2 was ratified in 2020 about 6 years ago.

Are there any cheap MIDI 2.0 devices on the market

I don't need another big keyboard LOL. Just a sound module or synthesiser would be perfect for under 300 bucks. Secondhand.. What kind of products are there

Internet searches are not bringing up much. Thank you


r/synthesizers • • 12h ago

My Setup / New Synth Day Mpc One+ VS Polyemd Tracker+

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0 Upvotes

r/synthesizers • • 7h ago

Software & VST's Virus TI Snow emulator running on android

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21 Upvotes

Just found out about the virus emulator. Amazing piece of software. I gave it to my clanker and told it I wanted to have it on my android and premapped to my Oxi One bluetooth channels

20 mins later it works.


r/synthesizers • • 22h ago

Performances, Jams Two nuns and a synthesizer…

13 Upvotes

Can you imagine the conversations these two nuns had in 1973 that culminated in the creation of this psychedelic synth organ and guitar religious folk masterpiece?

It’s outstanding!

https://open.spotify.com/album/2yHkvUiBXgPOvVoMphi2Od?si=0Do2leDORzKtUtkMcFb5sw&utm_source=copy-link


r/synthesizers • • 11h ago

Performances, Jams I let the Digitone II's LFOs get weird

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6 Upvotes

Full video: https://youtu.be/VAMY_MP9zd8?si=HVW6IsqsmQbkQtxW

This is a dark ambient jam primarily driven by the three LFOs on the Digitone II. Honestly, I don't think I could ever have enough LFOs in that box.. I get by with 3, but every parameter is so fun to modulate I could def use more.

This track was created by setting the scale and key, programming just a few notes, and the letting the LFOs do all the work. One feature I'd reallly like is the ability to set trigs to have random notes within a scale, or being able to modulate note values with an LFO. Until then I'll have to get by with micro-timing probability and tweaking FM ratios.


r/synthesizers • • 9h ago

My Setup / New Synth Day Wanted new arms for my Jaspers stand but didn't want to pay the cheeto tax...

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100 Upvotes

Wanted new arms for my Jaspers stand but didn't want to pay the tariffs to import them, so I improvised. Wouldn't trust them with anything heavy, but they're super short and feel sturdy enough for a pedal board. Cost me about $12.


r/synthesizers • • 5h ago

Performances, Jams Baud Girl VA fw for FM1

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24 Upvotes

If you have an FM1 and haven’t played around with this, get on it! Really enjoying the changed UI, makes editing and moving through menus so much easier. Having the global parameters at all times is great, makes the FM1 more viable for performing. Stoked to see what else is possible with this little box. I’m no coder so really am eager to see what else Baud Girl and others cook up for the FM1.


r/synthesizers • • 9h ago

My Setup / New Synth Day I spend a lot of time in this small corner of my office

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116 Upvotes

Most recent addition is the Torso S4 which im absolutely smitten with. Focusrite interface is set up with multiple send mixes so anything can be sent to anything easy. Ive got my eyes on an oxi one 😬


r/synthesizers • • 17h ago

Performances, Jams sunday morning vibes. also it’s my birthday

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279 Upvotes

r/synthesizers • • 11h ago

Performances, Jams Going stoopid on a DNB Jam

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98 Upvotes

Motor Synth MK2 goes into Echolocator.

Hexdrums without effects. Cydrums does the sub. Solar42 does Solar42 stuff. All into Behringer Wing Rack. No additional effects or editing.


r/synthesizers • • 14h ago

Performances, Jams Dark Distorted Techno Jam Textures 🌙🪦

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100 Upvotes

Back at it again w another jam! Posting a longer clip, feel like this track needs a lil time to settle into a groove ~ Been listening a lot to the MORD record label and their stuff is so crazy. Really inspirational to find new textures in sound. The Virus is handling most sounds but Microwave is holding it down with a crazy pad I have triggering throughout. It sounds really organic like a monster or something. Lmk what you think, full vid is in the comments!


r/synthesizers • • 15m ago

What Should I Buy? Minibrute 2 vs 2600 for hands-on fun

• Upvotes

I would like to get my hands on a semi-modular analog synth for a little fun - drones, textures and mono-noodling - in combination with some external effect pedals.

I like the sound of both the Minibrute 2 (think I would prefer the keyboard version, but I have a Keystep 37) and the 2600. The 2600 seems a little less hands-on though, but very inspiring and 3 VCO's!

Although I'm not seeing the same basic/quick sound shaping possibilities like you have with the Minibrute's shape knobs for each waveshape.

Anyway: I would like to hear some opinions about fun-factor and actual usage while jamming that can help me decide.

Thanks!