Akai AX60?
The Filter Modulation is just nasty as all hell.
If the Juno 106 is warm and soft, the AX60 fills in the cold, metallic range of timbre very well.
yeah the 8 voice is about 750/800 secondhand!
Korg DW8000, but only because it wasn’t very popular (or so I’m told). The way the slightly alias-y waveforms hit the glassy analog filters is gorgeous, and I don’t think there is a vst just yet.
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Seems like a smart answer, but I disagree.
First of all, the post uses the qualifier “synthesizer”
Second, I’ve been scoring to picture for years now without a real piano in studio.
I love playing a nice piano, but there are MANY alternatives ITB that are really great.
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I think you just answered your own question. For your requirements, VSTs have plenty of options.
For my money, I have not been able to recreate the sound of the Quadrantid Swarm with any plugin or combination of other hardware.
It’s not for everyone though, it’s too wild.
Akai Timbre Wolf.
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Bastl Softpop/Bitranger, and korg wavestate.(although I guess with Max or PD, time, and the skill I’m sure it COULD be simulated)
V-Synth.
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Digitone.
Agree that it doesn’t qualify but I have to disagree that there is a piano vst that replaces a real piano. There are really good ones, for sure. But I still go into studios to replace piano vsts with real pianos on recordings. That said, these are piano centric recordings. The piano is not serving a textural purpose.
What are some of those Lyra emulations?
There’s nothing really to disagree with since I didn’t say VSTs replace real pianos.
What I said was that there are alternatives that are really great.
If I had a choice or I was only recording concertos, I would record every piano track with a real piano. I’d also be mixing all my productions through a vintage Neve 8068 and I’d drive to the studio in a Tesla P90.
I didn’t take that as the point or spirit of the thread though, unless I misinterpreted.
I know it’s not new or sexy but I’d die on a hill for my Nord Lead 2. On the Surface its simple. But the way the synth respons to velocity is incredible, it really makes it feel like an acoustic instrument. The engineers at Clavia did a remarkable job!
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Okay
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I recently got a drum 3P and I fell in love with Nord. At first I thought “Virtual Analog” was basically a hardware VST but the tweakability is insane. I’m not experienced but I can recreate Tom samples by ear on the drum 3p as everything makes sense.
I’m currently considering getting (or trading for my Dx7iiFD) a Nord lead A1 which is a bit cheaper than a rev2 second hand.
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Been around for years. They do claim “inspired by”
Imports / Exports [Nord Lead 2 SysEx data]
It definitely has the look 
Access Virus always ends up on these lists so I’ll go ahead a say it.
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I thought about mentioning the nord drum 3p as well. I love it and wouldn’t know how to get the sound and dynamic playfulness in the computer. Certainly nor impossible but not obvious.
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Yeah and it plays well with my Digitakt. The dynamic range is cool as hell and it makes me want a Nord Lead…
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Lmao at least make it orange or something 
thanks! Not sure why this did not pop up on Google.
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It crossed my mind but, first I’m not knowledgeable as whether just because it’s a Nord, it is as unique/playful/dynamic etc… Second, there are many iterations of them, and I don’t know which is best or what.
Do you happen to have some considerations to share regarding these two questions?