Some have asked me which my favorite (non-Elektron) synthesizer is, but I thought it was more fun to ask everyone (well, almost) at Elektron. So here you go!
Do keep in mind that we like to kid around a lot, so don’t take some of the more, uh, colorful answers too seriously.
R&D
David T.
It’s the Juno-106. Just… So good.
Andreas H.
But, but… My favorite really is the Machinedrum… Uhh, I once made a tone generator out of a DC motor, does that count? It sounded pretty cool. 30 minutes pass Actually - SP1200!
Oscar D.
The Bible Synth!! [The meme?] Yes, the meme. It sounds awesome. [Cheeky.]
Martin S.
I have a piano. shrugs
Ali C.
NI Razor probably. It’s great as a vocoder, really interesting filters and side chain functionality.
Johannes A.
TB-303 … A bit boring maybe. Or, SQ-80 sounds very nice, but I’ve never actually played one.
Oscar A.
Oberheim/DSI OB-6, such a fat polysynth. It’s gotta be something polyphonic. And the OB-6 sounds really good.
Christer L.
Yes, TB-303. no hesitation
Magnus F
MS-20 of course [EBM fan right here] … Emulator 3 is the best spec-wise though.
Erik Å
Hmm! It has to be something polyphonic… I’ve had so many synthesizers, I need a list or something. Continues to ramble about all the synthesizers he’s owned for at least 20 minutes … I really liked my Juno 106, I would buy one again. But it’s not my favorite. [Ok, Erik…]
Mattias R.
Oh. Ooh. Hm. pause … I have to choose the CS-80.
Jimmy M.
It has to be the TB-303. No wait, can I change that to the MC-303? Ha ha ha.
Applied Design
Ufuk D.
I’m really more into samplers. Octatrack- Can’t say Elektron? Meehhhh… Mellotron then, I really love those classic sounds, it’s very special. Oh, and I really like my E-MU 6400 sampler.
Jon M.
Ensoniq ESQ-1. The first ‘real’ synth I ever got. I knew Skinny Puppy had used it on my then favorite record VIVIsectVI, which influenced the purchase a lot. I also thought it sounded really good and was fun to program, and the built-in sequencer was pretty good.
Simon M.
My best tool is Ableton Operator, but it’s not very exciting. NI Razor is very exciting, I like that a lot, so many wacky and amazing sounds! I love the MC-202 and its quirky sequencer. I love all the Bugbrand devices, especially the DRM1. Nord Drum 2 is very clever. OP1, if only for the GUI. And out of nostalgia, the wave channel on Nintendo Game Boy. I usually prefer stuff that has a specific concept and way of doing things rather than modularity/open structure. That and FM synths.
Support & Repairs
Olle P.
Mono Evolver Keyboard … and Buchla 200e… And Bugbrand uhh, damn these are too many. Thinks … Hrmm… Yeah Buchla 200e. Final answer.
Fred A.
Avalon Bassline.
Christian K.
Ouf, I hate synths. snickers Do drum machines count? Does Octatrack count? No? Damn. I don’t like anything else.
Martin M.
Hmm… Out of nostalgia… Or no, can I say software? Then Omnisphere. It’s boring but, damn, I’ve used that for everything. [What about the nostaliga] Korg Triton! Classic.
Klara A.
My Glamour Box from Skychord is my go to synth. Best little gizmo. It can do so many weird, uhh, the knobs are impossible to understand and it’s really nice. Anyone can have fun with it, but for me it’s a great instrument that I always use in my live sets.
Hans A.
TB-303. Yeah, it’s gotta be the 303. That and the Sleng Teng Casio keyboard.
Jocke F.
Casio SK-1… Maybe it’s too lame? I really like it anyhow.
Marketing
Ivan I.
DX7, just because it sounds great … It’s not fun to program. Oh, I really liked that Cs1x they made, the blue one. Oh and this very strange tabletop module, Darkstar… Super strange and somewhat bad, but pretty unique.
Gustav B.
Korg M1 - my dad had one in his home studio, equipped with a- then- very futuristic Atari for sequencing stuff. I think there still exists some embarrassing recordings of young me trying to sing over some of his slick west coast tracks.
Johan M.
Hmm, always hard to come to one single synth, but … The Korg Mono/Poly has always worked for me, for a lot of different things. It sounds really good and is fun to use. Can do everything from really lush sounds to biting stuff.
Daniel S.
What a hard question! I can’t say Analog Rytm? Ok. Hmm. For me, a great memory is my sister’s old brown cheap organ that made some kind of FM piano sound, and the old Casio keyboards. Oh! I really love Theremins. It’s like clay, but with sound.
Johan D.
First preset in Omnisphere … giggles
Thomas E.
I hate synths. cold stare … Naah, SH-101. Yeah.
Cenk S.
Can’t say Digitone?! Let me think… I would say, Bastl Microgranny and Novation Bass Station 2 are the ones I like. OP1 also! And the Bastl Softpop - so much wtf going on in there that I love it! But… Out of all this, I have to say OP1. Cause I can make full tracks on it… I even made an album just on that! [https://dataline.bandcamp.com/album/mistakes]
Sales
Tony A
Emulator 2. Me and my bandmates were in New York and found this odd second hand place for instruments. We waded through loads of gear and ultimately found the Emulator 2. Our synth guy was enamoured by it, and when the seller told us that it was recently used on Peter Gabriel’s Sledgehammer tour it was no question about it. After getting it home to Sweden(!), we realized that the floppies that it came with had all of Peter Gabriel’s signature sounds! Unfortunately, it was stolen from our studio two weeks later."
Daniel T.
https://youtu.be/xJaZ4zNaZkM … I’ll give you a real answer later.
[later] MPC4000. It’s the first real non-computer thing that you could make almost everything on.
Christian A.
Juno-60 … If I may be that boring. It’s a bit like picking the Volvo 240 as your favorite car, but it always works - it’s a big sweet spot and fits well in any production. Oh, the Make Noise 0-Coast is also a big favorite of mine, the semi modularity makes it very special.
Joel S.
Hmm, I am admittedly a bit new to actually playing synths, but I have a deep love for the sounds of the 80’s, so I have to go with the DX7.
Johan O.
Access Virus TI2 is a solid synth. The Nord Lead 4 is also really good, very well thought out and sounds great.
Dejan M.
My first synth was the Supernova from Novation, and I loved it… But, for me the DX7 made the sounds that I enjoyed the most, the deep club bass hits and such. Back in the day, I used the Nord Lead 2 alot in productions. Access Virus TI2 is also just an all round great synth! Can I say software? Oh, then U-he Diva for sure!
team 