I’ve also been working on some percussive sounds on it. The FM is great! Mix that with the digital waves, and I’ve been getting some great clinks, clanks, plinks, plunks, and other types of drum sounds. 
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OB6 or Virus TI2
Prophet 6 is still the one to me.
Osmose is also a new favorite if you either want a very expressive preset machine or can tolerate the editor. I use the presets but so much of it is just in the performance, that it doesn’t matter so much.
For what it’s worth, I don’t make electronic music per se which probably makes a big difference.
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I too have to give it to the Virus TI2.
I’m really looking for something with built in FX right now but have considered the Prologue. I was just reading on gear space that Korg can no longer service them apparently? That’s the reason why I haven’t gotten a Virus yet is I’m just nervous about lack of support. Probably unlikely that anything will happen, but with that kind of money I’m just a little nervous.
3rd Wave is probably my ideal, but can’t justify spending that kind of money yet
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I had no idea any synth does this, cool.
Unique to the Nord Lead A1 is the new ‘Like’ function, a simple and brilliant practical feature to use during patch creation. When programming a patch it’s often not clear if it’s yet perfect. Now with the Lead A1 you can simply ‘Like’ what you’ve done into a temporary location and continue editing. You can Like up to 50 variations, with the ability to scroll between them to compare your favourites or go back to a specific Liked version to edit in a different way. When you’re ready, save your favourite patch or patches to the Lead A1’s memory.
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The MOOG ONE has variations per patch permanently (and also space for 1000s of patches). I wish EVERY synth had it. It is so useful, not just for creation but also in a track, where you could recall different variations of a sound when needed.
I’m just a few years into this hobby but I’ve come to the conclusion that there will never the one synth for everything. I guess there aren’t too many guitarists out there who only have one guitar. It’s just fun to change things around and inspiring in the best case.
I recently bought a Waldorf M (not here yet…) which is a bit strange because it’s pretty basic and has no FX whatsoever. But it is intriguing to me! It probably won’t stay forever here but I honestly don’t care, I’m in it for the fun. And that’s the takeaway for me. Get what intrigues you, don’t buy a tool, buy an instrument.
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Sounds useful indeed and reminds me a bit of sample slicing. I have many variations of my own patches named stuff like „BBBBB2“ I wouldn’t need with this method. Although, I‘m wondering if having several variations wouldn’t distract me so I can procrastinate forever instead of making decisions.
I‘d be really happy if each synth had an A/B function of a patch. Nina does this wonderfully, where each patch has two variations and you can seamlessly morph between them (with the actual knobs being turned) and stop at any point between A/B. Gives you lots of variations but still a clear start and end. Performances on A4/AR and scenes on OT are also a bit like that.
It’s with 32 bars or more (which i’m asking for for years. Some say “We don’t need so much”. Well, then just don’t use it and be happy, that othars are happy with 32 bars. Same here: If you need less variations per patch, just don’t use it. Others will be happy with it. 
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I agree to some extent, but it’s easy to feel like you have to use all the functions present and nice to have limitations sometimes. It’s why many of us use hardware instead of a DAW after all.
Sure! Although there are limitations and limitations…
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P6 is still my favorite, just because it does this particular vibe I love, like a more liquid sounding swampy p5 sound, it is the most plucky sounding of the three and I think has the best fm sounds…
Having said that both the Trigon and the Muse are very close seconds and if I didn’t love the prophet sound so much I would trade for a Muse. Used they go for only $500 more and also, the super 6 with pa upgrade and iridium keys are very compelling synth’s as well… Really can’t go wrong with any of them.
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I got a nice deal on a TI Polar a few months ago and my Polybrute hasn’t seen much action since… something special going on in that digital granddaddy.
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My current setup is a prophet5 with and AH+FX, but actually before this I had an OG A4, and I think if I’m honest, I preferred that, needs a bit of work to eek the sounds out and obviously not as nice ‘one knob per function’ but if you don’t have one, you can get them second hand for a bargain. I think I may buy one again soon.