Posted a thread here the other day regarding advice on a Moog and decided to go the mono route with the Subsequent 37 and I honestly couldn’t be happier with it. Bass lines have always been a secondary thing for me and I’ve had issues writing them, tbh but the S37 is very inspiring.
It’s also my first synthesizer with full sized keys. I have quite a few smaller synths and modules (Hydrasynth Explorer, Digitone II, Prophet Rev 2 desktop, Microfreak, Mother 32, Reface DX, etc…) and a large range of VSTs covering all the classics, plus Serum 2 and Pigments, but I know at some point down the road I will be wanting to get a flagship or higher end poly synth with full sized keys to set up with my S37.
Not something I will be purchasing any time soon, but everyone was super helpful and insightful in my Moog thread, it made me curious what Polys we are using or are excited about.
I tend to lean more towards analog synths when it comes to hardware, so several of the Sequential synths, Summit, Super 6, etc. are all very appealing options. I don’t keep up with new gear releases and the YouTube gear review stuff outside of Loopop, so what is everyone using, or what would your recommendations be.
Criteria would consist of: great sound (obviously), versatile (pads/leads/keys/bass), intuitive and if not knob per function entirely, very close to it, build quality, and how inspiring it is to play and write on.
yeah…
ive not played one myself, but I would speak up for Dreadbox.
Their stuff is inspiring and sounds boss
But OP was suggesting that they need to have a keybed…
I’d probably go for a leviasynth if I wanted a keyboard polysynth right now. What I’d really like would be a summit with the leviasynth keybed, but I’d be pretty happy with either of those. The polybrute 12 and Moog muse would be on the list of options and so would the magnolia and udo stuff. If funds were unlimited… PS3300.
I’m excited to hear about what Korg has on deck for their secretive new flagship because the prologue is kind of a beast and their cheaper digital and VA synths like opsix and multi/poly are outstanding too.
In the desktop synth world I I really like my Artemis and peak both an awful lot and would be hard pressed to pick which I like better but if I could only have one I think it might be the peak.
Many affordable analolg synths sound great, but are limited for sound-design beyond typical “subtractive synthesis” with - maybe - one filter only. We get typical Moog, Sequential, Oberheim sounds - that’s it - and this is no bad thing.
The PolyBrute is an exception. It has an impressive modulation matrix, many modulation sources and destinations, a very different oscillator section - compared to most other analog synths - two different filter types, which can be used very flexible, and last but not least, it has a morphing function for patches.
This morphing is great and rare. We can define two complete different patches, morph between the both, and save them in one preset.
Versatile and pads leads IMO to modulation options as much as possilble
I’ve got a TEO-5 desktop at the moment and it’s a consistent joy!
I’d like to try a Quantum mk2 (does annyone else think those analong filters seem disproportionatly expensive??) and the Polybrute 12 if I was going to go big. I tink about it sometimes but ill prob not be brave enough to take the plunge.
The new Bree6 with keys is quite exciting because the Bree6 is such a great little synth but it really feels like a synth for playing, so it deserves keys. Juno-style simplicity with a focus on being nice to tweak live.
I think the Modal Cobalt 8 is exciting because the used prices are a steal for great-sounding VA with a great keybed. The interface is an acquired taste though - quite the opposite of the Bree6’s simplicity and immediacy.
Redshift 6. It is a seriously good analog poly which has a bunch of tricks that extend it far beyond its 6 voices (which in reality are 96 voice… yep, 96… dynamically allocated across 6 parts).
It has 6 x audio outputs on quarter-inch jacks and 6-part multitimbrality.
In my setup I use it for 1 x polysynth part (with onboard FX including a great Juno chorus) plus 3 x mono synth outputs each with their own dedicated jack output.
There’s a good thread on the Redshift6 on Elektronauts which is worth a look. I think it’s a bit of a sleeper hit (I’m surprised how few people have heard of it). One of the best synths I’ve ever had, and I’ve owned a lot over the years.
Honestly, from a utility/value perspective the Prophet 6 is pretty high up on the list for me and has been for a long time but there are a ton of really interesting newer options, albeit pricier.
Solid points, thanks for the recommendation. I’d love to play a Poly Brute, I’ll have to try and hunt one down. I haven’t seen one at either of my local synth shops before.
Woah, that Magnolia looks really interesting. I’m not sure if I would be able to harness it’s full potential, but I’d love to play one and experience the workflow and sound design capabilities.
