There are some solid modern options like the XD, Microfreak and Micromonsta in that price range, but based on your needs I would looks hard at 90’s romplers like the Roland JV-2080 and Korg Triton Rack (with a Keystep or similar controller…)
Those synths are on a million tracks for a reason.
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In that price range, you also have :
- Minibrute 2
- Behringer Monopoly
- Dreadbox Nymphes (no KB, though)
- IK Multimedia UNO Synth Pro (X)
- PWM Malevolent
- Roland Gaia 2
- Korg Wavestate or Opsix
- Modal Electronics Argon, Cobalt
- Yamha Reface CP, CS, DX or YC
- Roland Boutique with a K-25 Keyboard
- Arturia Minifreak or Microfreak
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I would suggest a polyphonic one. You can play it monophonic too, but not the other way round.
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…the most versatile and timeless hw synth, sturdy rocksolid instrument design, covering all analog classix and a little fm on top, in fad and dry direct hi gain 4 outputs is clavias good old nord lead 2x…
it’s 20 voices can do it all…in four individual parts at once…from drums to all fledged analog poly synth that smooth u out or bite u hard…
whatever they did there in designing virtual analog…u can tickle all the famous sweetspots out of it…moogish, oberheimish, sequentialish, korgish, rolandish…it convinces at all such sonic flavours…no fx makeup needed…just naked dry supertight envelopes straight out…
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Does it respect the : « I’d love something in the £500 max range »?
…yes it does…it’s a shame how cheap the nord lead2 x is sold on 2nd hand markets…
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virus snow?
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What are you making your Beats with?
Depending on the answer to that it might inform what the best partner would be?
I’m assuming if you are a keyboard player then something with keys is important?
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I picked up my Digitone second hand for $550. It’s awesome and I have no clue about FM or anything in general!
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Roland MC-101 with a solid midi controller. i also make hiphop adjacent music and the 101 has been a perfect addition. loads of presets, loads of “realistic” instruments as well, deep synth engine if you want to dive into sound design, small and compact. loads of polyphony and four part multi timbral.
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Did you consider getting a soft synth and a solid MIDI controller, possibly with a nice sequencer like the Keystep Pro? iPad is also a very good option paired with an interface and controller. If you want to avoid “the box” completely:
- Arturia Minifreak
- Dreadbox Erebus v3 (Paraphonic)
- Dreadbox Typhon (Monophonic, with nice FX)
- Syntakt ( Probably hard to get for 500)
- Digitone
- Analogue Four (MK1 can be bought very cheap used)
Dirt Cheap:
- Roland S-1
- Arturia Microfreak
- Volca FM Mk2
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+1 for these. I know Modal is in trouble as a company, but their synths give a ton of bang for the buck. 8 voices, FX, great keybed, sequencer, and even a companion app for editing.
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The J-6 is a solid choice and is also a pretty good controller.
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I’ve picked up a Yamaha MX49 recently and I’m not sure if it’s the exact right thing for you, but it is pretty cool. You get 49 full size keys and a ton of presets from the Motif era of Yamaha. There’s real MIDI ports and 1/4" stereo line out. It’s also pretty light if you need to put it away when you are done.
I don’t find the presets quite as strongly flavored as Roland and Korg stuff from the same time, so they are more versatile and you could use external effects without it being too much. You can control ADSR for the sounds on the front panel and add chorus and reverb. The presets have good coverage of various instruments and basic synth sounds. The piano sounds are particularly good. And you get Lately Bass!
I also have the MC-101 on long-term loan/trial and think it’d be a good choice too. You get a lot of JV/XV era Roland sounds (in my book, the apex of rompler achievement) and it’s fun and fast as a groovebox too. The pads work OK as a keyboard but I’d pair it with a controller if I weren’t just entering notes in my pattern. You can edit the synthesis parameters but I’d probably want the manual open while editing.
Romplers overall are great for focusing on your songwriting without getting in the weeds with sound design, sample management, etc.
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I second the Soft Synth thing, something like the Arturia V-Collection in a black friday sale gives you sounds to sample for ages. Or if you are in the Apple Ecosystem give Garage Band a chance, there‘s a ton of free downloadable sound packs available.
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was going to suggest MPC One as it can do several types of synthesis plus sampling but you said it didn’t click for you.
MC-101 does rompler and VA which makes it versatile. Sampling side of it is not super great tho compared to MPC
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I think Korg is doing the most bang for your buck on keyboard synths these days.
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Roland JD-Xi and SH-4d should also fit the bill. With JD-Xi you get analogue and digital oscillators and with SH-4d multiple digital models and PCM sounds of real instruments.
If I was looking for easy to program all around synth with keys and fx in this price range, primary for sampling (so no multitimbrality needed), I’d probably pick either Minilogue XD or Minifreak. I have their smaller brothers Monologue and Microfreak and they’re both great for different reasons, just without fx and for only synth, I’d want something polyphonic.
DeepMind 6 is also good option in this price range (I used to own DM 12d), but I preferred smoother operation and more aggressive sound character of Korg and Arturia.
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Pulsar 23
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Where are you finding a Pulsar 23 for 500 pounds? Hook me up!
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