And those have a Fatar keybed as well! That’s definitely a plus.
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There’s also the Digitone keys, excellent keyboard, fatar too. And a great fm synth.
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I’ve thought about those interesting synths. I don’t know why, they didn’t convince me as main keyb synth. More as second module synth.
I have forgotten about it! Thank you!
It’s certainly great. I already have a TG77 considering fm. Though, I keep it in mind!
Have a look for a second hand Roland JDXA… it’s an absolute bargain sleeper synth and makes for a fantastic midi controller (you can blend 8 ext synths with it in any combination).
It also has its own 4-part fully analogue section (4 mono parts or one 4 note poly engine) plus another 4-part VA plus Supernatural engine with 64-note polyphony.
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Personally I went with the Take 5 when I was looking for a “main synth” but I’m not a player per se, just a knob twister and sequencer user. It kind of made sense to me because it ticks many boxes and sounds good. But yeah, even used, it will be above 1000 eurodollars.
These days we are lacking proper VA synths above the entry level.
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Have you considered a MIDI keyboard such as the Novation 61SL mk3?
Nice thing is you can map the controls (yum faders!) for up to 8 instruments, easily switching from one to the other. Really opens some boxes like the AH+ that can lack some direct controls…
It can also do CV.
The sequencer and arp don’t replace Elektron sequencer but can lead to very interesting stuff.
And you can e.g. program different chords on the pads and play them instead of keys…
You can also split the keyboard to play several synths at the same time.
I personally prefer a setup with a good master keyboard and several desktop/module synths I can control from there.
No MPE though, guess it’s for the mk4 that should come some time soon, as the SL mk3 is from 2018…
Anyway, pretty solid keyboard.
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N’thing the Hydrasynth Keys, or any Hydra really.
I was sold on the specs from day one, but playing one at B&H in NYC made it an insta-buy for me. I also have the Novation 61SL Mk3 that @LyingDalai recommends. That is a nice 61-key controller, but the HSK fits more readily into my work space, and poly AT and the massive touch strip are easy to use with the HS engine.
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…polyaftertouch is a must, these days…
hydra has it…digitone keys has it…dunno who else has it, but hey, don’t get any new keybedded synth without polyaftertouch…
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When was PolyAT added to Digitone Keys?
…right from it’s get go…
The DeepMind might be maligned in some circles (eye roll) but it is a damn good synth. The Studiologic Sledge ain’t bad either. Both a few years older than what you might be looking for, but both come in under your budget, especially used. I enjoyed both when I owned them.
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I’d say MPE, then.
But to me, making better use of what I already have comes in higher priority.
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Certainly, but a little bit out of my price limit. And, no poly AT.
The take 5 looks great, but too much money for me. To me, the hydra is a VA above the entry level. Don’t you think?
I don’t like the concept of a midi keyboard. I prefer to have a synth which can be used as a controller. At work, I have komplete kontrol. It’s ok, nothing more, and I’ll ever think I’ve lost one synth.
And, after month/years of using it, how do you feel about it? Still excited, or has it lessened?
Concerning deepmind, only 2 waveforms on osc 1, 1 waveform on osc 2. So, no! And concerning the sledge, I think I’d keep my Ion.
Of course! But after using my Ion for +/-20 years, and needing aftertouch to gain in expressiveness, I think it’s time to change…
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Maybe a used Nord Lead 2x or 3 or Wave? Small synths with a good synth engine… no PAT but I am still not convinced that it is necessary. Depends on how good one is as keyboard player…
…errrrr, i was…until now…
never had one…but played it a lot back then, when it was out brand new on display at elektron hq in berlin…hmmmmmm…
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Months - I got the Hydra back in fall 2023.
I’m well past the honeymoon stage and on to living with the synth and using it regularly. It fits comfortably in my studio, is fun to just jam on and also fun to program. It sounds great and has a wide sonic palette.
One of the great challenges of product design is balancing power and ease of use. The DX7 is powerful, but isn’t easy to use until you’ve memorized the menu structure, and even then it isn’t a breeze. The DX200 is arguably the first easy to use synth of the DX series, but that is achieved by sacrificing much of the DX’s power (although you still have access to the full DX engine via sysex).
Prior to the Hydra, the Novation SuperNova II Keyboard was my favorite VA, but knob-per-function on a VA yields a massive keyboard. The Hydras offer one of the most powerful VA engines ever and combines that with a user interface that is truly easy and intuitive to use.
If I had to complain about something, it would be that the Hydras are monotimbral (bitimbral for the Deluxe). I don’t really mind because MIDI doesn’t have enough bandwidth to do the sort of real time modulations that I’d want to be able to do with a 4- or 8- part multi Hydra. I’ve got a Virus TI1 and Blofeld if I need a multitimbral VA, but the Hydra is still my preferred synth.
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Does seem like Hydrasynth is the all the boxes ticker here. I’ve seen them recently on Reverb for under your budget. I had the Explorer and man that was bang for buck,
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I would also consider the Modal Cobalt or Argon. Great synths both, and amazing keybeds
I totally forgot the nord wave! Thank you!
That was all I wanted to know!
Not too prohibitive for me.
Indeed!! All I have to do now is sell my Ion before buying it.
I’ve considered those and still would prefer the hydrasynth. But thank you!
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