Flagship synth options

The Lounge Other Gear
1

I am looking for a few ideas on flagship synths for my studio. This is not an immediate need, just getting a few options in my head. Which ones do people have experience using and/or what recommendations do people have?

Synths that I am considering (this is not an exclusive list by any means) are:

o Yamaha Montage M6 [I just like Yamaha products in general]
o Oberheim OB-X8 [probably winning the race by a nose right now]
o Korg Prologue [I have a Minilogue XD, so maybe not?]
o Roland Fantom 8 [I would prefer unweighted keysā€¦]
o Roland Jupiter
o A Waldorf of some sort [I have a Bloefeld, so maybe not?]
o Moog [$$$$$]
o ASM Hydrasynth Deluxe
o ā€¦and others

I already have an Arturia Keylab 88 mk2 that I love, so I am not really looking for another piano/midi controller with fully weighted keys. I would prefer the lighter keys so that I can play in a different way to my KL. Weighted keys are not a deal breaker, but if I am going to get another full-sized machine, Iā€™d prefer variety.

The synth sounds themselves are the aim, but a set of lighter keys would be great!

Bonus points if it comes in white :smiley:

2

If you like the sound of hydrasynth, itā€™s a great option. I have desktop version and build quality itā€™s outstanding and the sound palette immense.

4 Likes
3

Sounds like you need a Virus TI Polar - itā€™s the best VA synth ever made and itā€™s in white. :slight_smile:

2 Likes
4

1 Like
5

The listed instruments are quite different from one another in terms of sound and features.

What do you want the synth to do, specifically? Do you have a particular sound signature in your mind? Maybe a certain type of workflow youā€™d like?
Currently this just looks like a ā€œPrice: High to Lowā€ -filtered list from a random webstore.

1 Like
6

wall of polychained Behringers

7 Likes
7

The Oberheim or prophet 10

3 Likes
8

I havenā€™t used any of these specifically, however I had an OB-6 for a few years and ultimately moved it on because I felt like I was always missing one more thing to make the sounds I wanted on it (one more LFO, one more envelope, one more oscillator when I put the second osc into LFO mode, etc).

If it were me, Iā€™d be afraid of the OB-X8 feeling the same way after you get past the admittedly amazing sound. That said, if that is the sound you want thereā€™s not a lot else that can give it to you.

I would suggest a few other things to consider at this sort of price point though, both ana-digi hybrids. Either a Novation Summit or a UDO synth (I have a Super 6, though I am hearing great things about the Super 8 as well). I personally feel the sound palette that these are going to give you is much broader than an OB- based synth.

In the case of the Super 6, I canā€™t really compare it to anything else directly, other than to say when I want to just turn on a synth and know it will sound good quickly, that is the one I go to. Huge unison detuned basses and stabs are easy. Washy pads are hard to make sound bad. And itā€™s not too difficult to get to more esoteric territory with the custom waves, crossmod, and some of the other mod routings that are easy to set up (inverted looping envelope jumps to mind). On the face, thereā€™s not a lot more than something like an OB-x8, but it is organized so smartly that you can get a lot farther with it - easily.

The Summit, I recommend because the Peak is what I recommend to anyone into sound design and the Summit is the Peak with keys. I got one guy to buy one of these and he still uses it on everything 5 years later. I think the filter section on this would be the killer feature if it didnā€™t have FPGA wavetables and one of the best reverbs ever put on a synth. And the Summit gives you two of them.

5 Likes
9

What about a Moog Muse, cheaper than an X8 with broader range of sounds.

2 Likes
10

yet another synth list thread, totally objective of course :partying_face:

get a bastl kastl and call it a day šŸ«¶

3 Likes
11

The list is what popped into my head. No particular order to it.

Any purchase that I make is not one that is needed, rather something that I want to be able to enjoy. But my studio space is not infinite, so Iā€™d prefer to be able to gain a useful feature too (for example, synth weighted keys to complement my KL). I am not looking to be completely frivolous here.

As per my original post, the OB-X8 is the one that is winning, mostly because that is a sound that I really like, but it doesnā€™t necessarily mean that I am going to commit to a (relatively) narrow sound range. I can get ā€˜adequateā€™ OB sounds through software, so I wanted to get some opinions on other machines to see if people passionately thought one would be better over another - and thanks to everyone who gave me some suggestions/reasons!

With regard to workflow, I am actually pretty flexible. I tend to learn very quickly, so that is a relatively minor consideration for me.

I have not played any of these synths, hence why I am asking people who own/have owned them for their thoughts/what to avoid/what to consider/etc. This will help me narrow down a shortlist - once Iā€™ve had the opportunity to cast the net wide (ie what I am doing with this post).

@Amy I have considered picking up a desktop module for the Hydrasynth in the past. I put the HS Deluxe on my list because of that previous consideration, but I will probably pick up the desktop unit instead somewhere in the distant future. Iā€™ve only ever heard positive things about that synth!

@Claid Thanks for the tip!

@swanage_fan People already think I am running too many B synths :smiley:

@Umbromaniii +1 for the OB, but that Prophet 10 does look really nice! I have a friend with one, so I might have to pay them a visit (unfortunately in another state)

@White_Noise Iā€™m going to have a look at the Summit. I know nothing about that one. Thanks!

@lkery I am a complete Moog noob (pronounced ā€˜nobeā€™ :stuck_out_tongue: ). Iā€™ve been putting off learning more about them as I understand that it can be a rabbit hole. Thanks for the tip on the Muse!

1 Like
12

Arturia Polybrute 12

Melbourne Instruments NINA

UDO Super 6/8/Gemini

3 Likes
13

:star_struck:

2 Likes
14

Iā€™d also suggest the Nina. It has two fully analogue oscillators, a wavetable oscillator and a fourth oscillator that can either be noise, ring mod or input source. Itā€™s four part multi timbral. It has 12 voices so that you can actually use these four parts without immediately running out of notes. And two stereo outputs so that you can send A/B parts out separately and flexibly.

And of course, it has motorized knobs that will always tell you what each knob is actually set to in the moment. You will not get this on any other synth and it is a feature that makes sound design so much more fun and accessible. Assigning modulation is also pretty great and intuitive this way. Oh and you can program and save A/B parts for each preset and move through them live with a morph knob. If you donā€™t need anything particular but want to try something else, itā€™s a fantastic choice.

If Nina is a bit expensive and/or you need keys, look at Delia, which is a stripped down Nina with keys that is cheaper.

3 Likes
15

Between the Arturia Polybrute 12 and the Moog Muse, I think Iā€™d go for the Muse for the sound over the PB12 that offers so many interesting synthesis/routing possibilities.

1 Like
16

Would the polybrute make my minibrute module and microfreak obsolete? I am guessing that it probably would.

@Tchu @Azzarole That Nina looks GREAT!!

1 Like
17

You can carry these two around the house or bring them with you for a jam. It wonā€™t be the case for the PB12.

4 Likes
18

579Ɨ518

It has the flag part.

6 Likes
19

Gotcha, so youā€™re generally just looking for options to keep in mind then! Apologies for being a bit stand-offish.

On that note I would, specifically for the sonic qualities and wonderful playability of the instrument, recommend the Nonlinearlabs C15.

2 Likes
21

I completely forgot about this one. IDK if they still do this, but they used to let people rent to own and every purchaser gets an hour long sit down with the designer to be walked through the synth when they get it (video call or in person if you can make it to their HQ). I donā€™t think you can ask for better customer service/onboarding in the synth world today.

1 Like