Top 5 Best Synthesizers That Deserve Your Attention
One of the most understated musical instruments in use today is the synthesizer. They may resemble miniature electronic pianos, but they are much more than that. The best synthesizers have significantly altered the contemporary music business. In the 1970s, they started to gain popularity. In this post, we’ll give you a comprehensive tutorial on how to use a synthesizer and where to find the finest ones to buy.
Synthesize is the creation of something fresh or original. So that’s what this musical instrument does, precisely. In essence, it combines the already-existing sounds to produce a new tune.
Best Synthesizers For Professionals: Comparative Table
| Product | Features | Latest Price |
|---|---|---|
| Korg Prologue 16 Polyphonic Analog Synthesizer |
|
Buy on Amazon |
| Moog Grandmother Analog Synthesizer |
|
Buy on Amazon |
| Yamaha Motif XF8 |
|
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| Roland JD-Xi |
|
Buy on Amazon |
| Arturia MicroFreak |
|
Buy on Amazon |
Top 5 Best Synthesizers for Professionals:
1- Korg Prologue 16 Polyphonic Analog Synthesizer
The Korg Prologue 16 Polyphonic Analogue Synthesizer, which is designed for professionals and has a bigger keybed, a vast musical palette, and many voices, is the first synthesizer on the list. You get a 61-note Natural Touch keyboard, which is perfect for players who truly want to feel the music. It reacts nicely to the dynamics of your playing.
The built-in voice styles include POLY, MONO, UNISON, and CHORD, and you may use the DEPTH knob to mix the intensity of each mode. With the built-in arpeggiator’s 4-octave range, 6 arpeggiator kinds, noise generator, FM oscillator, and new analog Comp/Boost tool, you may make elaborate and complicated runs. Finally, a variety of DSP effects let you customize your sound, and the user-friendly interface makes it simple to create music.
For Prologue-16, a brand-new oscillator called the VPM (variable phase modulation)/FM oscillator was created. Its metallic, acute sounds with their intricate overtones, could never be reproduced analogously. You will be easily guided through challenging sound design using the 16 different oscillator types and the SHAPE knob. Prologue-16’s stunning analog filters combined with these waveforms will produce sounds you never imagined.
The premium digital effects further refine the sound of Prologue-16 and use flawless 24-bit floating-point processing. You have a broad range of options with the two effect units included (a modulation effect and delay/reverb), including chorus or ensemble, warm tape delay, and various reverbs. You can load custom effect applications using the user effect slots.
The potent arpeggiator unlocks a universe of unending ideas. It has six different arpeggiator types, including a manual set, and a four-octave range. The arpeggiator can do a wide range of tasks, from phrases that cannot be executed on a keyboard to sound patterns that resemble sequences.
The 500 programs’ ordering can be quickly changed using the Program Sort tool. The applications may be sorted by category, alphabetical order, LIKE to display the ones you’ve designated as favorites, FREQUENT to organize them by how frequently you use them, or ENVELOPE to arrange them according to the form of an envelope (note duration).
2 – Moog Grandmother Analog Synthesizer
The Moog Grandmother Analogue Synthesizer is the ideal solution if you’ve ever desired an authentic analog synth but weren’t able to purchase one or were a bit too nervous about learning how to operate one. This is inexpensive, plug-and-play, and a lot of fun. It was made to assist you in producing extremely complex sounds and modulation without the need to manually patch components together.
For skilled musicians, the 32-note Fatar keyboard with velocity is fantastic since it reacts to your touch. Amazing features include the built-in arpeggiator, sequencer, and spring reverb tank, and the semi-modular architecture lets you avoid using patches if you like. One of the greatest synthesizers available today has two analog oscillators with configurable waveshape and hard sync so you can master the likes of sine, sawtooth, ramp, and square modulation oscillators.
The modulation component of the Grandmother is built upon an oscillator that has a greater frequency range than you might anticipate, ranging (unpatched) from 0.07Hz to 1.3kHz, suggesting a wide variety of FM and AM possibilities. You may raise the frequency even more and even use the modulator as a regular oscillator if you connect the KB Out CV to the modulation Rate In.
It features four additional knobs in addition to its Rate knob that controls the waveform (sine, sawtooth, ramp, and square waves), the maximum amount of modulation applied to each oscillator’s pitch, the amount of PWM used by the oscillators, and the filter cutoff frequency. Sync, a different CV input, functions similarly to sync on a standard audio frequency oscillator.
The outputs are then split into two, with one carrying the created signal and the other an S&H signal obtained from the noise generator at the modulation rate.
A spring pitch-bend wheel and a mod wheel, which regulates the amount of modulation used through the hard-wired mod routes, are both found on the controller panel to the left of the keybed. The portamento (glide rate) knob is likewise located on this panel. Surprisingly, the Global options let you pick between linear constant time, linear constant rate, and exponential glide modes. You may even toggle legato portamento on and off by pressing the Shift button while adjusting the pace. That makes six different sorts of portamento.
3 – Yamaha Motif XF8
A musical instrument that costs a lot. This price tag shows that even professional musicians who perform in groups or solo utilize the Yamaha Motif XF8. The product includes a color display that clearly illustrates nearly all of the current settings. 88 playing keys with aftertouch and touch sensitivity have been specifically built for this purpose. The device’s heavyweight is a result of the hammer action; in this way, it is virtually identical to a classical grand piano or upright piano.
Since there is no audio system in place, speakers outside must be used to play the sound. The processor has 128-voice polyphony to its credit.
The Yamaha Motif XF8 has two USB ports that can hold 2 GB flash memory. Using this additional RAM, you can compose as much music as you like. No other theme on the market can provide you 3 GB of sound (internal plus memory plus RAM). You may always swap out your samples for fresh ones thanks to the rewritable Flash memory.
The Yamaha Motif XF8 has amazing sound quality. It contains a 741 MB internal wave ROM with excellent piano and other instrument sounds, hip-hop sounds, and vintage synthesizer sounds. With the Yamaha Motif XF8, you may create unrivaled sounds of silky horns, piano key release sound, and guitar harmonics.
Half-damper pedaling is supported by the Yamaha Motif XF8’s FC3 foot pedal. By connecting your microphone to the keyboard and using the internal vocoder, you may create effects using your own voice. The Yamaha Motif XF8’s superb user interface, which offers user buttons, assignable knobs, and sliders, is another outstanding feature. All of this enables you to work uninterruptedly on projects of a high caliber. The Yamaha Motif XF8 may connect to a computer through Ethernet or USB. This implies that utilizing the Yamaha Motif XF8, you may easily upload or download, alter, and record your favorite sound or song.
The built-in sampling sequencer on the Yamaha Motif XF8 is another intriguing feature. With the use of this tool, users may simply combine audio and MIDI data. Additionally, it permits WAV/AIFF loading. You may quickly slice the sample sound supplied to the keyboard in Yamaha Motif XF8 by utilizing the slice function.
The Yamaha Motif XF8’s greatest advantage is that it makes the instrument sounds more expressive. With the Yamaha Motif XF8, it has successfully made an 8-element-per-voice structure viable by utilizing the tone generator from its predecessor, Motif XS. High-quality results are produced when the 8-element voice structure is paired with Yamaha’s enhanced articulation. Even the most seasoned keyboard user will find it easy to use because of its beautiful user interface and simple keys.
4 – Roland JD-Xi
Synth lovers have reason to celebrate as a new challenger enters the analog renaissance. The JD-XI small synthesizer is Roland’s first entry into the analog genesis market since 1986. Furthermore, unlike the Moog Phatties, Koorg Monotron, and Arturia’s Brute family, the Roland JD-XI is not only a mono synth. The Roland JD-XI is a hybrid keyboard designed for professional performers and other non-keyboardist player types. It has an integrated and powerful sound engine with digital polyphony and a sequencer.
First off, the Roland JD-XI is a compact keyboard with excellent features for the price. It’s a strong synthesizer despite the overly plastic exterior and cheap-feeling encoders and buttons. In addition, it features 128 digital voices split between two PCM-oriented digital synthesizers, 26 voices for the drum section, and 1 analog voice for a total of 129 sounds spread across 4 areas.
The three-octave small keyboard on the Roland JD-XI features tiny pitch and mod wheels and is velocity responsive without aftertouch. A built-in 32-step pattern sequencer with real-time, TR-style, and step recording is available. For dialing in complicated sound productions, the Menu button provides access to a wealth of editing choices.
The Roland JD-XI uses a single USB 2 connection to function as an audio/MIDI interface. To start it up and make it work, you must download the proprietary driver from the Roland website. Make sure to download the most recent firmware update, which includes bug fixes and several anticipated improvements.
A very condensed set of controls are available on the front panel. For each of the four built-in effects, a single knob is used to control a parameter with the name “Envelope.” Upon closer study, changeable parameters upon parameters are shown to be hidden menus and submenus. By clicking the “Menu” button, you may access a wide range of editing options for adding sophisticated sound compositions.
There are two remarkable digital synth parts in the Roland JD-XI. You may choose from 256 pre-set categories, including Lead, Brass, Seq, Vocoder, FX or other, Strings, Bass, and FX or other. Although Roland has included a broad variety of sounds, it is clear from the patch and program architecture that their primary market is EDM creation.
There are 4 components in the Roland JD-XI. The first two are made up of Roland’s vast SuperNatural synth engine-powered Digital Synths one and two.
Electric and acoustic pianos, strings and brass, pads and organs, analog emulations, tuned percussion, guitars, and FX sounds with one-shot are all included in the range of sonic bases. You receive sounds with an incredibly wide range and personality.
At this price point, the Roland JD features, XI’s including adaptability and sound quality, are unsurpassed. Its Supernatural synth engine and incredibly flexible drums are its strongest points. In conclusion, the Roland JD-XI is a reasonably priced, expertly designed combination of synthesis, drums, and sequencer. It’s a very portable groove box with sounds you’ll always like using for playing or recording, despite not being one of the most durable instruments.
5 – Arturia MicroFreak
Because it meets the demands of practically all musicians, this best synthesizer earns a position on our list. Although it may seem impossible, this synthesizer offers all you want without breaking the bank. The reason it is the greatest is that it combines all of the advantages of both digital and analog synthesizers. Consequently, using this musical instrument gives you the best of both worlds.
This synthesizer allows you to play four notes at once. The greatest polyphonic synthesizer, it enables you to play many tunes at once. It distinguishes out in the market due to its adaptability and capacity to create a range of sounds. Let’s talk about some of its outstanding qualities.
The MicroFreak is small, sturdy, and lightweight (1.02kg). It may be bus-powered through USB (even from a mobile phone charge bank or converter) or from the included DC adapter, however, using the DC adapter is advised for the keyboard’s greatest pressure responsiveness. Through the Utility button, a tiny OLED display offers menu system access, a thorough display of parameter values and statuses, and 256 patch memory navigation. The panel is decorated with a strip of what appears to be fruity art that, when you look closer, alludes to the sonic safari that awaits you within.
The MicroFreak sports a two-octave capacitive-touch keyboard instead of a typical mechanical keyboard. In essence, polyphonic pressure response is produced by more skin making contact with the circuit when you apply a harder touch with your fingertips.
The back panel’s connectivity supports both DAW-centric and DAW-less installations as well as modular device setups. Both USB and 1/8-inch TRS connections provide MIDI communication, and the box also includes a pair of female DIN tails. Because the MicroFreak has analog CV and Pressure outputs on 1/8-inch sockets, it may be used as a keyboard controller for analog modular systems. Not only do the 1/8-inch TRS connectors’ Analogue Clock In/Out give clock data, but also start and stop signals (via TRS cables). The analog CV outputs may be configured in a variety of ways under the Utility menu, enabling conversion to the majority of popular formats. A single mono TS 1/4-inch socket connection is used for audio output.
The MicroFreak offers a lot of versatility since it has a digital oscillator, and it does so. For a synth of this budget, there are no less than 12 different oscillator engine types available, each capable of significant harmonic complexity. The oscillator component is controlled by four clearly visible orange encoders, with Type choosing the engine and Wave, Shape, and Timbre being the other three parameters. Emulation of conventional analog waves, a harmonic oscillator, a wavetable oscillator, and a physical modeling oscillator are all covered by the first five engines.
A 12dB/octave (two-pole) multi-mode analog SEM filter with Low Pass, Band Pass, and High Pass circuits is a feature of the MicroFreak. The LFO has six waveforms available. By adjusting the speed from 0.06Hz to 100Hz, the Rate encoder enters the realm of audio rates. The LFO is synchronized to different clock divisions of the tempo of the Arpeggiator/Sequencer Clock by pushing the Rate encoder (which may be synced to MIDI or incoming analog pulses).
The MicroFreak includes a digital modulation matrix that is totally accessible on the front panel without navigating through menus, which is a stroke of fantastic design. It offers five sources and seven destinations; the first four are set, while the latter three can be chosen by the user.
MicroFreak provides a multitude of amenities for a little investment. Because of its excellent design, you won’t need to read much of the instructions to quickly grasp the exploration of the oscillator’s engines and the modulation matrix. The quantity of musical variety offered more than makes up for its absence of an integrated effects engine and stereo output, and this synth improves after processing through effects.
Now that you know our top 5 best synthesizers for professional musicians, you can start making the music you’ve always wanted to!
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Best Synthesizers For Professionals: Our Top 5 Picks was first posted on October 26, 2022 at 9:36 am.
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