Synth for kids?

For cats and kids?

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i bought this, but my kids didnt really enjoy
and me neither

We just ordered a TE PO-35 “speak” for our niece’s upcoming round-number birthday.

My wife enjoyed watching the demo videos so much that she ordered a PO-35 for herself, too.

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I have the PO35, unfortunately the mic is brocken. Have to repair it. I also have PO33 and PO32, fun too. I think the PO33 is the best TE for kids. But they miss mutes my son particularly enjoy. I feel like my new Digitakt will be the most appropriate for him soon (7.5 yo), more than MS I tried during a month.

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I’m thinking of something for my son who’s coming up to 3. I’m close to getting the reface cs. It has built in speakers and is something I could use too. Any comments on the build quality?

Very interesting! My nephew 6 asked for a keyboard for Xmas. Of course I want him to learn how to play in the traditional sense, but I also remember that I was a little disappointed about my first keyboard - and I wished for a synth.
So, as mentioned I am inclined to get him Casio or Yamaha keyboard so he can learn to play. But also I want to get him something more fun. Thought about pocket operators, but he is just learning to read German. So I think an English unit might be a bit much.

You son is 5 and makes music on a circuit? That’s just wow! Will look into it!
Do you have to show him a lot or is he figuring things out himself?

I considered doing this for my son, but I eventually baulked at the price of the Refaces (and the thought of knowing it was possibly going to get covered in sticky fingers, dropped, keys bent back etc) and got him a Yamaha PSS-A50 instead:

I am told the keybed is the same as in the Refaces, not sure if that’s true. But it does have velocity sensitivity, importantly, plus it has a record function so you can record a phrase and then play over the top using a different sound. I’ve been happy with it. The synthesis quality is not something you would necessarily want to put on a grown-up production but it has piano, drums, synth sounds etc. and a fun arpeggiator (which produces different rhythm patterns when using a drum sound).

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Had a duo data. It’s quite beautiful crafted, but very limited in expression. The „drum pads“ have to be played without sync, the idea of having a young kid (mine was 3) sharing its toy is not working. He always wanted to play both sides. It does have some nice sounding rough synth styles tho. It’s not being updated, at least not that 1/2 year I had it and it’s a bit overpriced. On the plus side It can be connected with pocket operators. The USB port isn’t build to last, but that can be fixed with an attachable magnet usb cable (for These „stumbled over the cable“ situations )

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Friend of a friend asked if I knew of a kid (6 year old) friendly desktop synth that’s visually stimulating and not too technically overwhelming. I suggested Novation Circuit but any other ideas? He’s alread discounted a Blipbox and Dato Duo (?) He’s looking aroung £300 mark.

op 1

That was my first thoughts but he’s on a budget of about £300 - post editied.

Circuit!
op1 is imho a bit complex for 6y.

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What about a Korg Kaossillator?

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I picked one of these up for my boys, just arrived yesterday. I may or may not be spending more time with it than they will.

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I’d go for a microbrute. It’s in the budget range. Not strictly a desktop but about the right size and some keys as well. Control for every function. Very tactile for someone who won’t understand what’s going on for a little while yet.

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TE Pocket Operators with their cases. You got Street Fighter Edition now :joy:

I think something that makes quite consistently ‘pleasant’ sounds. I had an experience where I set up my blofeld with headphones for a friend’s wee boy, and he pretty much hated it and it made him cry :grin:

I think he was party not used to wearing headphones, but also it’s too easy to make very harsh or loud sounds by random knob twisting, and this can be an unpleasant shock to a child. I’d go with the circuit as mentioned. The parent can even prepare patches that are suitably PG and load them in.

I bought the dato. No luck, sold it for a Nintendo. Some people spoke about novation cirquit, might be better.

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Alesis Micron. I took it out and put it on my keyboard stand absentmindedly. My kiddo started jamming on it straightaway. They are probs going for cheap now. If you have a bit of patience the sound engine is quite good.

Appreciated by everyone involved :dizzy_face:. We use scale / key to help with that on Push. Circuit can do it, right?

Or how much is a Tenori-on these days?