Thanks, it sounds like the modal might be the way to go
Take 5 is great but it is not very portable. I have it already
I’m afraid Hydrasynth Explorer is also not really small. But all these are as portable as it gets. The most difficult part of portability is not the synth itself but the accessories. For example there are not many smaller keyboard stands for smaller setups, so you may have to settle for a DJ stand.
Sure, thank you for your input. I guess the size is not really the issue with T5 but it’s quite heavy, more than double the weight of Hydra E
Yes, stands are always a issue. Thankfully I have some lightweight cases that should do the job
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just get a TI2 Darkstar and make it work
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Modal have a new synth coming out, the Carbon8, that you might want to check out before pulling the trigger on the Cobalt8. Same design, same UI and (I assume) same keybed as the Cobalt.
Also if you like wavetable sounds, you might also want to consider the Argon8 as an alternative to the Cobalt. Again, it’s the same case, UI and keybed as the Cobalt but with a different sound engine and a different paint job.
While personally I found the Cobalt to be a bit anaemic and insipid as VA synths go (not bad, just a little tame), the Argon is a wild beast by comparison. Not seen a full demo of the new Carbon8 yet but from what little I’ve heard of it, it seems to have more character than most of the sounds I was able to coax out of the Cobalt.
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i had a hydrasynth explorer for a bit and can vouch for the very nice keybed
after using its polyphonic aftertouch, it’s something i wish all synths had
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Anyone have experience with the Mellotron Micro? It seems, in many ways, like a foolish thing to buy but I might be able to convince myself if it has a great feeling keyboard
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I think that its best part is the two ribbon stripes. For this kind of size, it’s much easier to wield a ribbon than a pitch wheel or a ridiculously sized “joystick”. Another point goes to the Explorer because every knob and encoder can be used to control an external device/soft synth. I don’t know its keybed but all the rest is a winner. I used to own the desktop.
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That does sound very interesting. I don’t mind minikeys as long as they are not too flimsy
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Hehe I know the feeling of looking for a good argument to convince myself 
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Havne’t used the ones you’ve mentioned, but Minilogue is pretty solid.
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Yes, I was kind of thinking of all of them. Cobalt and Argon is substantially more affordable at used prices but carbon does seem very interesting as well
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just remembered uno synth pro exists. sounds great, fatar keybed, small (for full size keybed)
Yes it seems great but if I understand correctly it can only do 3 voice polyphony right?
oh wow i didnt realize it was a mono synth, my bad
For 37 keys Modal is the best here. Argon8 or Cobat8.
I would pick Argon8.
This is a bit off the path, but the best small keybed I’ve played, hands down, is the Dave Smith Mopho SE/X4. I’ve had a few small-ish keybeds over the last bunch of years, including an Argon 8, an Arturia Keylab 49, a Deepmind 12, and currently the Mopho X4 and a Moog Grandmother. The Mopho is head and shoulders above the rest. The Mopho SE was the first real synth I bought – my greatest regret about selling it was loosing that keybed, which is how I ended up with the X4 a few years later (same enclosure and keybed, just 4 voices instead of 1). It obviously doesn’t have the voice count of the other synths here, but man is it awesome to play. I currently have a Cobalt X, but I think it’s the same keybed as the Argon 8 and 37-key version of the Cobalt – it’s OK but not, at least to my hands, nearly as good as the Mopho. It may not have the voice count you’re looking for, but you can do a lot with those 4 voices. It sounds massive and is great fun to play.
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Oh yes, the Mopho is just awesome! Was the first synth I had (the SE) and I’m still kind of sad to have sold it. Really love the keybeds of DSI. Take 5 is probably my favourite synth to play currently, it’s just a little too heavy for me to take everywhere. I’m aware that I might be a little lazy .
Have really started to consider Argon. Wasn’t really hyped for it before but after hearing the YouTube video from Jexus it has been more and more on my mind. Currently pulled between this and Hydra E. Argon seems like a clear winner when it comes to the keybed but for my techno gigs the HE seems quite cool as it’s smaller and has some nice midi controller features as well