Kodamo EFM - 300 voices, 8 outputs, 16 part multi timbral, effects, sounds amazing, super easy and fun to use, quality hardware.
It’s well within that budget too and I’d really struggle to think of anything better, you could can create entire songs within this thing and Kodamo are fantastic as a company who’ve been great in listening to user feedback and have implemented many great new features as a result and they plan to continue to do so. The product shows that they know what they’re doing as debilitating bugs are not something I’ve come across or heard of from other users and any bugs that have popped up are usually squashed almost immediately.
The Iridium is really a not that complicated. I’ll say it’s flexible with a ton of options but super easy to navigate. Probably the easiest synth I’ve worked on because of the visual feedback.
That’s encouraging as most of the videos I’ve watched gave me the impression that due to the depth and breadth of options, it would also be difficult to program. I initially gravitated towards this synth based off of sound demos sound palette and overall versatility. I may look into this again Thanks!
I’m very picky when it comes to equipment. Especially with poly synths I find it dificult to decide. It’s the money vs. Sound, posibilities and user interface. You know the “is it really worth that much money to me?” Question.
Poly synths that I’ve owned:
Prophet 6 for a short while. Though I enjoyed the sound and usage, I just didn’t feel that it was worth the huge amount of money.
JX-3P for a very short while. Too big and heavy compared to that compact PG200 controller that I was lucky to get with it. The sound wasn’t anything special. Lacked options and that special thing.
Digitone. I really liked that one and had it for a year or so. But I felt that I ran Into a wall in terms of synthesis. But only sold it because I needed the money for something unrelated to music.
Minilogue for a very short time. I didn’t like it so much for poly sounds. But for bleeby spacy scifi-ish fx sounds it’s great.
Blofeld for a very short time. Found it a little confusing to use and a little dificult to get away from the harsh and cold sounds.
So, but the next one I’ll try, will be Opsix. It seems like it would be the perfect choice for me at the moment. It doesn’t lack possibilities, and it’s FM, so it doesn’t just do cold and harsh (horrible), but also almost analogue, organic, soft and dirty sounds. It doesn’t seem too menu divy, but let’s see how I feel when actually using it. If I don’t get along with it, I’ll probably just get a Digitone again
A virtual analogue polysynth, rompler, effects box and supreme sample manipulator, with a D50 emulation and a vocal processing synth or vocoder included as alternative functions.
this would be also my choice if I could pick only one, it’s amazing as an allrounder.
I use it with a digitone for sequencing, that is also my second choice as a specialist.
It becomes much easier once you get the structure of it, cause It’s basically 4 Poly Synths in one.
ZEN-Core is really something special. If I could only spend $2,500 on an engine, that would be it. The Jupiter’s not on my list mostly because I’m rubbish with keyboards, but I’ll take Zenology and/or a MC-707 on an island.
I wish they had the Fantom in something like a desktop form (“Fantom Zero” has a nice ring to it. Just saying…)
-Prophet Rev2
I call it my “Boards of Canada Machine.” It’s very easy to recreate those Yamaha CS-70M tones. The interface is excellent as well. Hold the assign button, wiggle a knob. Hit the destination button, wiggle a knob. Set the amount, and boom, you’ve got a modulator.
Runners up would be:
-Minilogue XD
The filter sounds amazing and the envelopes behave so perfectly. I use it for dub stabs and those Bodzin style melodic techno bass lines. And onboard micro-tuning should be standard on all synths.
-Digitone
You can always find new tones with FM synthesis. It never ends. And of course the sequencer is fantastic. But I’m sure I’m preachin’ to the choir on that one.
Thanks!
