Once you’re talking about the System-8 you’re also within range of stuff like the Novation Peak and Rev2 desktop. All good options but 2-3x the price of something like a Minilogue or System-1.
I recently scored an Alesis Micron ($160 near unused), just for the vocoder, but I’ve been blown away by just how flexible and fun it is as a 2-op FM / VA texture and percussion maker. It has an odd 20 or so modeled filter types that sound way better than I expected, and modulatable waveshapers that are capable of a lot of textural motion. 8-part multitimbral (but only 8 voices of polyphony). The reverb is even surprisingly usable. Interface is tiny, but there’s a great free AU editor.
5 Likes
I love mine 
2 Likes
Another +1 for the Alesis Micron. It’s been a workhorse for me for years, only to be sidelined recently by a Prophet 6. You can get them cheap and they have a really wide range, plus some effects including a vocoder.
1 Like
Analog 4 and keys are very cheap polys 
2 Likes
If you have sysex control, a vintage FM or vector poly should do the trick:
Kawai K1m/r (Vector, $150)
TX81z (FM, $100)
Roland JV880 (Vector, 150)
Yamaha TG33 (both, $250ish)
…come to mind.
A lot of those old machines have taken a lot of flak because of bad emulative presets, but sound bloody murder with good ears/sequencer control.
5 Likes
MicroMonsta UI is better than you might think. It flat enough that I often muck with patches while performing. And the sound architecture is “safe” in that you can veer off in various directions without becoming derailed (like you can with most FM devices).
2 Likes
oh damn thanks for all the feedback! actually been going over this and researching all day and i think i’ve decided on the nord rack 2 over the JU. it’s got the things i crave. will looks in to the alesis for shits n giggles too. thanks y’all!
4 Likes
Roland D-05 is also in the mix if slightly-weird-digital is an option. With a midi editor it’s a lot more usable.
I have a blofeld and it’s lovely and all, but I can’t for the life of me get myself into tweaking sounds or creating my own from zero. The interface is just so… I dunno, unfriendly. Awkward. I feel like I have to go into a very calculation-heavy headspace to use it.
Luckily there are loads and loads of presets that I can do a tiny bit of messing with (mostly just tweaking the filters…)
Is that just because I am a blofeld noob?
2 Likes
i have yet to play with one but that’s my concern… at that point i might as well just stick to the absynth + controller.
Yeah! That said though, I am no old-skool synth guru, so perhaps if you’re more experienced in sound design than I am ymmv…
I gotta say it sounds gorgeous. And it has multi mode which is super flexible and cool. It feels very … limitless. If only I could get my head into the blofeld sound design headspace 
1 Like
Some people get on fine with the Blofeld, some people don’t. I didn’t. It does sound good though.
2 Likes
Has the encoder issue been fixed yet on the Blofeld?
18 note polyphony
14 conventional waveform: square, sine, sawtooth, pulse, triangle and combinations
36 wavetables
20 digital waveforms
12 band Vocoder
14 filter types: can run 2 simultaneously
6 envelope generators
3 LFOs
20 modulation slots, for shaping sound by linking modules of the synth engine together
5 FX simultaneously
Novation Mininova
Around 250 clams new.
5 Likes
Everytime I think about buying a cheap poly I end up watching demos for Prophet 6/ OB6 
7 Likes
Every time I read this thread title I think of a Monty Python sketch about a parrot ^^
5 Likes
That. Yes.
Better safe up and buy what you really want! Will safe money in the end if … able to duck for the stream of more affordable gear coming by 
1 Like
Access Virus A B or C Desktop (great sounds / built in Fx / Plenty Polyphony / lots of knobs / lite menu diving) Should be able to find a Virus A/B for $450 - $600 Virus C will be about $700 - $800 . (not that inexpensive perhaps) You can find a deal on one, but it does seem prices are starting to increase. Due to rarity I believe.
Reface CS (Great sounds / built in Fx / 8 note polyphony / no menu diving / solid mini keys / battery power option / simple looper included) bought mine for $300 brand new a year ago
3 Likes
That changes quite frequently 
But yeah, these two polys seem to be on a different level soundwise