I want to move away from the novation circuit. Love the sound, hate the editing. I’m looking for a poly digital synth that would have as much control over the sound design as a analog synth, like the mopho for example. I want to have something that doesn’t require a computer to edit, as little as possible of menu diving (something like the Digitakt is fine, deeper diving kills the creativity for me) and a desktop unit without a keyboard would make more sense for me. I still want to be able to save preset too. I have the Typhon which I love and the mopho - (and the DT) but just need another layer of polysynth where I have direct access to sound sculpting / live modification.
I’m not too sure where to start with that, any pointer would be welcomed
Any of the Nord Racks would be my choice.
You pretty much described a digitone.
Depends what you want to spend really. There are loads of older VA synths you could grab at pretty decent prices. I’ve got a Novation KS Rack, which is decent. You could get a Nord, as mentioned above, or a Virus.
Sounds like the Peak would be suitable. Or is there something that you want that a fully digital synth can do that the Peak can’t (eg multitimbrality)?
+1 for the Peak in terms of layout, immediacy and sound quality. Second hand you might look at something like a Nord Rack.
Depending on budget you might find a used Roland System 8. Another great sounding poly with a traditional layout plus it’s effectively 4 polysynths in one instrument when you tally up the plug out engines.
the mopho is a monosynth btw
Access Virus rack series
Korg MS2000 rack series, Radius rack
Nord Lead rack series
Novation Peak, Supernova rack
Roland JP-8080, SH-32
Evolver Poly Rack
Micromonsta 2. Bi timbral, great sound, easy ui, 300 euros
If you see one of those babies up for sale (at the right price) I’m all ears! I’d love an 8 voice PolyEvolver!
They’re like hens teeth sadly.
Hydrasynth Desktop
Cobalt 8?
Yeah I see the Virus B to be quite a synth! I’ll research more, but that seems like a winner!
Yes I have that synth, I mostly like the workflow of the sound design of the mopho and would love to have a poly synth with a similar/almost 1 setting per knob type of sound design.
Microfreak: 4 note polyphony, insane modulation matrix, ridiculous oscillator options, and that touchplate keyboard you might love/hate.
The Digitone is great. If you are looking for a virtual analog, then the Cobalt 8 looks nice as well. Do you have a budget? That might help narrow it down a bit.
The first synth that came to my mind when I read your description was a Roland JP-8080.
The Hydrasynth, in my opinion, is an incredible synth for sound designing. Its UI is genius and it’s super easy to learn. It’s also a bargain, price wise.
yep Digitone would make sense! Personally I don´t gel with (the GUI of) the Hydra Synth Desktop after the honeymoon phase … but maybe I´m the only person with this opinion on earth
Virus TI Snow is under a 1000 but with some menu diving.