This was fantastic for a new member to the synth world! I actually went with a Take 5 this past February, as my 1st synth, and I love it! Now just wanting one more synth, this post was so useful! Thanks so much!
I've been infected with my Viruses for many years now, and I still think they sound incredible. That being said, I recently got a Novation Summit, and wow, it sounds gorgeous - easily as good as my TI2, and maybe even better in a few ways.
I'm a Korg shill with you. Love my Trinity, Triton rack, and Wavestation A/D, will never get rid of them. That being said, really thinking about snagging a wavestate, but waiting for the big boy edition with more keys. I don't think anything has rivaled the original Wavestation in uniqueness / sound until the Wavestate. Korg is just killing it in both the hardware and software domain
Sure. Because in a global shortage they really want to make 1599 priced SE models 3x over just because people wanted AT on everything and extra keys. Why wouldn't people just buy the identical VST's they've released and use a superior controller/AT to their preference to control all three? Massively saving space, development delay and money. I can just imagine it now, ''I bought all three of the Korg 3 octave boards....now they've been replaced with 61+ keys versions. If I'd have known that I wouldn't have bought these toys!' Nothing like adding even more of a PR disaster to those who already feel cheated out of pandemic funds, with software that costs a 3rd of the price of the original hardware or less. Hardware has its place but when its of a good quality. Opsix vs the build quality and poly AT of Hydra explorer which costs much less? Imagine if the Wavestate SE is rocking cAT and the comment becomes, ''It sounds better on my Hydra with pAT for less money!'' Yeah. Those will sell. Especially when people want a new Korg Arranger. A new Kronos and a refreshed Prologue all at the same time - none of which are likely either. With that same global shortage..
@@ErraticFaith I kinda agree, but if Korg is smart. They’ll upgrade the SE significantly-maybe even combine their modern tech into one device. And it’d make sense that they change their plans given the shifting nature of the market.
Thanks Jon! The XD is an insanely great package for the price. I mostly don't use the extra voices in the Prologue, I find I prefer the choruses built in over using the duo-voice detune to get thick sounds anyways.
Great video - even if I don't agree with all the awards (but can definitely understand your case for many of them). First off, for any newbie just breaking into home music production I 100% agree that NI Komplete is the way to go. But you failed to mention several of the reasons. Their integration with their MIDI controllers is just fantastic, whether you prefer keyboard or drum "maschine". It's impossible to overstate just how flipping convenient it is to find sounds in Komplete with their controllers when you can audition the sounds so quickly by just rotating a dial. There are just so many "quality of life" benefits to using Komplete with their controllers (including controlling most of the popular DAWs). I don't love all the instruments that come with Komplete as some of them are not as intuitive as I'd like. But as you mentioned, you'd be hard pressed to think of a preset sound that you can't find in that collection. In addition, because they are NKS compatible, you can also use any VST synth from Arturia and U-he (and many others). Just through the sound auditioning feature of Komplete Kontrol I feel like I discovered more of the sounds in V Collection and U-he Hive. Pigments is one of my fav VSTs to program in due to its visual display of modulation. It basically teaches you synthesis as you use it. I saw a lot of love for Falcon in the reviews, but another full-featured VST that I'm really starting to appreciate is Synthmaster (now also NKS compatible). It covers a lot of synthesis techniques and the presets sound amazing for any type of EDM. With regards to hardware, last year I purchased one of your "dream" analog synths, the Arturia Polybrute. As you mentioned, due to the morphing ability I think it is one of the most unique analog synths on the market. Also, its integration with software editor is fantastic. I'm a long time Access Virus owner, and every time I hear a Hydrasynth demo I just shake my head, as the sound just doesn't work for me. Although I would love the poly AT, every time I fire up my Virus TI2 and start playing or programming sounds it just brings a smile to my face. I would still love to see someone on RU-vid do a quality comparison of a Hydrasynth to a Virus TI... And with regards to your best value analog, I want to throw one more out there for you to consider. The IK Multimedia Uno Synth Pro is honestly a really great sounding 3 oscillator paraphonic synth with lots of features. The plastic desktop unit is currently on sale for $270 which is mind-blowing for a unit that can be made to sound a lot like a $2000 Sequential Pro 3. Its honestly one of the only analog synths I would consider throwing in a backpack and playing while I'm travelling. Cheers
All great points! Man - I don't think I've ever met a Virus owner who didn't love that sound and would never part with it. It really is the best in class for what it does!
I know it's expensive, but I'm getting a lot of use out of the new OB-8X. They have the desktop module out now, so you can save on money and space. If you happen to be choosing between this and the Prophet 5 or 10... my Prophet 10 is not getting used nearly as much. It's cool, but it has a certain character that might not blend to taste. Vintage sound. Very tweakable, but somehow less versatile than the Oberheim sound. This probably wasn't very useful, but i was bored lol
If somebody want to get into analog synthesis while his workflow is still around DAW, Elektron Analog Four MKII might be a great choice. Using the Overbridge engine you can seamlessly transfer it into a plugin while keep 100% analog sound. Also because of the hardware interface and extremely powerful sequencing capabilities, it’s kind of a killer in both worlds.
Sequential 10 is amazing. Just grabbed one. Grabbed the sequential 6 for a friend to help him with his future production. The Moog-1 is my next go-to. The OB-6 is on back order but I would love to add one to the collection.
Man, I'm loving the Sequential Take 5... feeling what Korg is doing, but went with the Modwave and Opsix boards. I have access to the Roland JD-800 sounds via model expansion on my Jupiter Xm. Another Roland product that gets a ton of interweb hate, but I think it's a powerful little unit... if you can live with miniature keys, small form-factor, and 8-voices I think the ASM Hydrasynth Explorer is a no-brainer and can be ran off batteries. Similar scenario with going for a Novation Peak instead of the Summit. A space-saving desktop unit, 8-voices, and lush sounding hybrid synth... in the semi-modular category I can see a nod to Arturia's Minibrute 2s and Moog Grandmother... Overall, a well thought-out list you got here.
“The Roland Boutiques are not the best analogue recreations on the market” lol what an idiotic statement. Their acb line is probably the best analogue emulations ever. The downside is the 4 voice polyphony instead of 8. However i would like to know what do you think emulates those Roland units better than the boutiques.
Model 84 by Softube, Tal-u-no-lx, and Jun-6V all sound closer to the original than the Roland acb stuff unfortunately. Don't get me wrong, Roland acb / cloud can sound great but in a blind shoot out is surprisingly off.
@@VultureCulture to be fair, although they are the same engine (acb) i never compared the boutiques with the originals, but i have compared the software version (same as system-8) with the Juno-60 and 106 and i completely disagree with that. Actually, in the event i was, most people, including people with the originals, chose the software as best sounding most of the times, which is kinda funny. Everyone was surprised. I don't think you've ever tried them side by side.
@@VultureCulture Juno 106 owner and former Juno 60 here. You just don’t know what you’re talkin about unfortunately. It kinda aggravates me when people who are ignorant about a subject start spreading their “opinion”.
Some very well reviewed soft-synths (also present in this video) regularly are offered for 50% off prices. So they may become (more) accessible with some patience (and alertness ;-)) .
First time visitor... well done Sir. great thoughts on the products mentioned. As an owner of several of the products you talked about I totally agree...keep up your great work!
I have a Yamaha PSR900 , two 32 bit arm processors 24 bit 96khz DA 20bit 44,1khz AD , 65MB ram , 8GB compact flash V3 firmware and Tyros 3 sounds? Very good piano sounds and I can choose original PSR9000 sounds or Tyros 3 sounds. Polyphony 128. Then a Behrringer deepmind 12 , analog with digital control and as last an Roland JV2010 (Based on roland XP80) I payed 400 euro for the PSR9000, 650 euro for the Behringher deepmind 12 and 200 euro for the JV2080. I don't use software synths because they are pricy and I've used then a while ago but sound was not that good. I rather have a synth that drifts a bit and that no VST can do The PSR can handle Tyros 3 since the hardware is not much different.
Great picks. I’d change only two items though. Deepmind-12D over the Minilogue-XD module. Sure, it’s DCO instead of Korg’s VCO, but 12 voices and far more extensive FX section. I think it’s far more versatile for the price point. And for softsynth value: At barely over $100, Gforce OB-E is the most bang for the buck analog sound on the market.. I have the U/HE synth bundle and love it, but I still haven’t been able to pick up my jaw from the floor after spending a few hours w/ the lovely poly-aftertouch patches of OB-E, controlling it with my hydrasynth. It’s incredible. U/HE finally has someone else in their tier.
I also sold my Dm 12 for change, Above bye the sound. I took a Novation Peak, and the 8 channels are much more powerful (Analogic filter and Reveb of this synt are Nice). I have also a Prophet rev² with Strymon Blue Sky and EH Overlord (Overdrive) ... For bass I take principaly a Moog Sub Phatty. Also, a Behringer wall witch Cat, pro 1, wasp and crave can help. (but is juste a game) The Peak and the Rev2 are the nuclaire core of my system. I cant Use VST, for me is a Killer of Crativity. I wait the Behringer UB-XA :p For have the same in true Analogic device. But i Nead tu buy in first a true Drum machine ( a Vernoma DRM 3) I have only a Roland Tr-8, so limeted for me.
Imho, the deepmind12 should be taken to the highest building and thrown off of it. I bought that thing 2 years ago. The keybed is loose. It feels like my first keyboard, a 1986 casio 37 key pos. It has all kinds of controls. It looks great and its heavy but for 900 bucks 799 plus tax, I'd rather get a Modal Argon 8 which sounds awesome sauce! I got used to Triton, Karma, Motif, Modx8, and Montage . Its so hard to go from using a workstation that feels and plays great to something that detunes and is cheap sounding. I still have it but I only use it to layer awesome sounding things to give it a little dirt.
Awesome beginners guide! I liked the Minilogue XD so much I got two of them to make one 8 voice poly. I feel lucky because when I got them, they were both $80 less than they are today, and I've only had them for 2 years.
I'm a bit surprised by the ' beginners' choice, for both desktop devices (' expanders?') require additional gear (and experience) to let them make any sound. At least a MIDI keyboard (with CV-options) and maybe an amp or computer with an audio interface and monitor speakers.
@@VultureCulture Thx for your reply, but my idea is a beginner would be better off with a 'stand-alone' synth (including keys), requiring preferably no additional gear, although I realize synths with built in speakers are a bit flimsy, generally. But they still are synths. I have a model D, and it requires indeed a CV-MIDI-keyboard (vs. a regular USB-MIDI one, and needing another power supply), and also, after turning the wrong knob(s) it won't produce any sound, and if so, I think a beginner might not find that knob(s). My MS-20 mini is easier to use 'stand-alone', I bought a cheap second-hand 2.1. computer speaker/monitor-set in a thrift shop (10-15 bucks). Using only headphones might be dangerous, causing hearing damage in inexperienced hands. Finally, wouldn't a beginner be better off with some presets? But all this might be worth a video of its own ;-)
Interesting! I understand they effectively have the same sample library? What makes the Mod wave sound better to you? I think I went WaveState because it seemed like a really big moment for Korg historically. They haven't released a "flagship" digital synth that didn't feel like a workstation since the Wavestation.
@@VultureCulture The WaveState is basically sample-based. So you are playing through and morphing samples. Like any ROMpler, these can be filtered and modulated to some extent, but a lot of them aren't really that inherently interesting in themselves. By contrast, the ModWave is mostly working from wavetable sounds, which already have a lot of internal motion and sound new and unusual in themselves. Both of them can produce interesting results, but it's a lot easier on the ModWave, since the tones that you are starting from are more engaging, lively and interesting to start with. Of course, this is just my experience, so others may disagree. And both are worth having for the money.
" we should just all buy Moog Ones." Is that the new benchmark? I had one, got rid of it pronto. It lacks balls, and its UI is kind of lame. That aside, my motto is "buy cheap-buy twice." I'm not any type of hater, I truly respect this review/er but the title maybe should be re-titled: "Best Synths to Buy in 2022 for the Budget-Minded Synthesist."
Not everyone likes that I talk about value but I think it's an important point. Not everyone can afford expensive gear. What's your all time fave synth if not a Moog One?
Dont buy any of them new! I bought a Access Virus Ti2 Keyboard for half retail ( yes they still sell them because they are still the best all round digital synth you can buy) and a Rev2 16V for half price as well. All these options are good synths, but none can match the Ti2 in versatility and the REV2 is just a massive workhorse synth...
How in the bloody f**king hell, did the Modal Cobalt8X not make it on this list? I'd choose the Modal over any of the synths in this video(without hesitation.)
I've got NI Komplete and I have to say it feels old and clunky and as if there's been no money or development put into it for years. The interfaces are small and non-resizable and much of the stuff has to work inside Kontakt which is a drag, not many are standalone and they don't sound that amazing. Absynth is great but so old, a tiny interface and not updated and now they have discontinued it. I'm not spending any more money on NI. I think the Arturia Collection is much better. Their Jupiter 8 is fabulous. Pigments is stunning.
What a joke! It might helpt to start with definning your criteria because what make ssomething the best for you might be completely irrelevant to everyone else. e.g. Someone with a small studio space might prioritise size/weight over anything else. Because, I gotta tell you, I have assessed every synth mentioned here and not seen the value in any of them. About the only selection I might agree with is Minilogue XD. I dont even agree with the categories that he's chosen. They seem kind of arbitrary.
Just got an ASM Hydrasynth Deluxe a few months ago for first hardware synth and then ended up buying Bluetech's Waldorf Quantum because I had the chance and couldn't pass it up.
Keep looking at things like this but you still can't beat the Microkorg i've been looking for the next step up but nothing avaiable with a vocoder as well !
Just picked up Omnishere this month! Been waffling on purchasing for a while, but first heard of it When Jordan Rudess demoed it with version 1. I am so far amazed at what it can do, it is definitely a POWER synth as advertised.
Love the video. I think overall you touch all the points. First analog mono synth I would go with the behringer ms-1 or maybe the odyssey. Ms-1 is very easy to use and almost hard to make a bad sound. Great price point too. The ms-1 is discontinued though
My first synth did not function when I got it, that machine was an Arp Axxe my uncle picked up in 1976, or close to that year. My cousin and I played with it and I was in love with the synthesizer from that moment on. It went through a flood and took extensive water damage, my uncle then let me have it. It sat in my basement and bedroom until I (regrettably) sold it in non-working condition in 1986 for $300 USD. It was cosmetically in very good condition and I found out how much it would be worth today. I actually hope the guy who bought it from me was actually able to get it to work again! Apologies for the very long post.
And ASM, maybe Korg too for affordable new wavetable and other all digital synths. The Blofeld is neat but I have to imagine the thing is showing it's age when you really push it compared to something with newer DSP tech like the Hydrasynth line and some stuff Korg has been pumping out lately. That and if I'm not mistaken the Blofeld sound can be found in spades in the Largo software synth by Waldorf, which is like 30 bucks periodically on Audio plugin deal sites these days.
Yeah you could be a bit of a shill for korg because with the Hydrasynth Explorer, ASM is eating Korg's lunch so badly the sales of the Wavestate and Opsix must've plummeted since it's release. With that powerful synth engine, both wavetable and FM synthesis, in a compact keybed with poly aftertouch and at that price, ASM can't make them fast enough to keep up with demand. And you don't even mention it.
That was deliberate. I decided to only feature a synth in one category, and since I recommended the Hydra Deluxe and the Explorer is just the stripped down version of that, I felt that was appropriate. I don't actually get paid by Korg 🤣
@@VultureCulture yeah you had the Hydra in the hybrid category despite it being purely digital. but besides that, it's clear the Explorer is having a huge impact on the market and a cultural impact enjoyed by few synths including the Deluxe.
Pretty good list--I own a bunch of these: Typhon, Hydra (module), Summit, B2600, B303... and OB-6. Totally agree with choices for Typhon, Hydra, OB-6. I've never been a fan of the modern Korg analogs--I tried and sold both a Minilogue (MKI) and Prologue, but I guess that's down to taste. I'll say that I think the Pro-3 (which I also have) is the best all-around mono/paraphonic in production, even though the Matriarch sounds pretty great (just more features on the Pro-3). Also, fair comments about price: we all have to start somewhere, and you could put together a pretty great setup for under $2k with a couple of Behringers, a Typhon, and a DAW for sequencing. The main issue for me is that while plenty of budget synths sound "good," they rarely just put a smile on my face with a simple patch and no fancy fx. The closest is maybe the Hydra, which is a damn good digital for a fraction of a Waldorf. The Take 5 just doesn't do it for me, but if you can only afford one poly analog and only have $1500 to spend, maybe it's worth it. Personally, I'd go with a Hydra (desktop or explorer) AND something like a Typhon or B2600. The T5 oscs are so precise they don't sound all that "analog" to me--unless you crank the "vintage" knob and then you might as well just have a good digital recreation. At $1500, why not save a bit longer and get an OB-6? I got mine new on sale for just over $2k for the module. A far better synth for not that much more (and with an extra voice!). A decent controller or two (I have a Keylab and a Keystep will save you cash and space in the long run if you go for modules, plus give you cv options for semi-modular and modular gear. I can't agree with you, though, on the Roland Boutique. Just get V Collection if you want fake digital repros of classic synths... or find a used JX or MKS for a bit more and get the real thing (in a more stable and cheaper form than a Juno)!
Ok I get what you say about price but buying Physical gear sythersizors is the most expensive way to get into sythersizor sound. If someone wants the best sythersizor sounds and capabilities then software sythersizors is the way.
Phase Plant beats everything else. This is coming from a guy with hardware synths like a bunch of dave smith and moog stuff. Everything pales in comparison to Phase Plant
I agree with many of your choices, but I think UVI Falcon is easily the best overall software synth In terms of sound quality and versatility. It’s UI it’s a little challenging at first, but once you understand it, it is clear why it is the way it is. I love Omnisphere, especially Keyscape, but UVI’s sound quality is matched only by Diva (which is nowhere near as versatile).
Poly Brute a monster in modulation and morphing, but the sound was not my favorite in terms of sound. But it’s just my take. Who knows I could come back to it again.
There's something to be said for geling with a sound or not. I prefer the sound of the Prologue over the Rev2 even though the Rev2 beats it in terms of features.
Thank you very much! 🙏 Personally my entire collection is vintage now 🤣 but more because it's an experiment in seeing if there's any real magic in the old gear. Tldr: probs not
I own a crave and a neutron, plus a micro freak , I’m only after some decent FM , everything else is just not needed , I use the MPC one for samples and a DAW , I’m good for synths , once an FM gets released for the MPC I’ll be golden
I need your help, I hope you don't mind me posting / asking here. Right now I have at home the Hydrasynth Deluxe and I am waiting for the Novation Peak. At first I wanted the Roland Xm, but now I keep thinking why not send everything back while I can and buy the bigger Jupiter X. What will be for my Ableton home studio be of more use, producing EDM, Techno etc.. The Hydrasynth/Peak combo or the Roland Jupiter X. I hope you don't mind me asking here, but for me it is a lot of money and I don't wanna make the wrong decission. With the Hydra/Peak combo I think I am perhaps more versatile, but I have no experience in sound design and if it comes down to playing patches, I can probably better buy the Jupiter? Looking forward for your reply.
Hard to answer so I suggest you keep researching but I can say for me, I'd love to have a Hydrasynth Deluxe and a Peak, what an awesome combo! Conversely although the build quality on the Jupiter X is insanely good - I simply don't find it that captivating. Now technically there's a lot more sample + synthesis stuff you can do with the Jupiter X - but you could always get the Roland Cloud for that. I think for EDM and Techno you already have a monster setup with the Deluxe and the Peak. Keep me posted with what you ultimately decide.
@@VultureCulture It is of course a bit of a Deluxe problem, but I guess I'll stay on this track and keep the Peak and Deluxe. After this weekend I'll let you know what I will do. You've helped me big time. Thanks a lot!
I use Diva and Dune. Haven't tried Serum I'm more into analog as you say. I love dune sound. The only other software I use is ezdrummer and ezbass and keyscape I'm more a real keyboard player as in complex chords I play myself
After getting into physical synths earlier this year, I'm starting to think that nobody on the internet knows what 'value' or 'budget' mean 😂All jokes aside, this is a great video!
Good list, I'm talking myself out of a Polybrute, and funny enough I'm selling both my Wavestate and Hydrasynth for the Korg modwave, seems like most people don't like this one. The OB-6 is definitely an amazing synth, it's just too expensive.
I bought the minilogue XD recently and loved it but when I saw guitar center put the Moog grandmother (black version) on sale, I had to take the minilogue back. Now I’m trying to figure out whether I should get the minilogue again to work alongside the Moog, or a digital like op six or wavestate. I want to blend analog and digital but the minilogue also has an fm oscillator. Soooooo many choices!!! And then! I learned about the MODWAVE! Wtf?! What to do….🤦🏻♂️
That's a tough call! The grandmother is a great analog synth, everyone loves it. Nothing wrong with something digital to complement it. What kind of music do you make?
@@VultureCulture well I have experience on piano and late 80s Brit pop synth kind of stuff but the majority of the stuff I have done in my life has been guitar and vocals. Electric (I have a les paul custom), martin acoustic. I’ve been really into indie for a long time but come from a rich history of rock, grunge, to brit pop, to electronic sounds such as Front 242 and Gus-Gus. Right now I’m just going back to those days and experimenting with electric guitar and synth elements. I do music for culinary videos of mine as well since I am a chef by profession but that’s the work side, not the music passion side.
I'd say 60% of the sound of the 80's came from the DX7, D-50 and other digital synths, so a digital synth would complement that nicely. If you like Front 242 - do you know Micro Chip League? My fave band of that style ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-lGBQf2GSNC0.html
@@VultureCulture I don’t know them by name but it’s likely that I’ll recognize some of their songs if I hear them. I’ll check it out. I’m still trying to decide if I should just get the minilogue xd module, the modwave, wavestate, or opsix. I know the minilogue is analog but it does have an FM oscillator and something that I’m still not too clear about is patches. There are 200 presets, and you can down load so many more from Korg and 3rd parties. Are those patches possibly done on FM digital? Multiple voices 8/16/32/64? Or are they all analog 4 voice patches. I probably should call Korg but they are hard to get a hold of. If you were working with Logic with a controller, a Moog grandmother, and wanted to add a hardware synth to add more texture, polyphonic, with some FM, which would you get? Thanks for taking the time by the way, I appreciate that.
Great video!! I agree to most of your choices, I sold my OB6 and bought prophet 10 and boy did that make me happy!!! I also sold Prophet X and bought ASM Deluxe and yes - a great choice!! For the soft synth I agree all the way. I have many of them and favour Spectrasonics new extensions! There is another synth I missed in your wish list it's the UDO 6 which in the new table version is on my wish list.
This year I built a synth rack. I got a Roland fantom-08, Korg minilogue xd module, novation peak, arturia minibrute 2s, and the akai mpcx is sequencing everything.
If one waits for the Sales to come around, and come around they do, the relative pricing can vary widely. As in the most expensive ones halving their RRP. With a little patience one can get most of what one wants for Big discounted prices.
That's really tough. They're both really great. My gripe with DM12 is oscillators are either on or off, like the Juno it's based on. Either are amazing choices.
@@VultureCulture I also have an EX-8000, so this was a nostalgic choice too! The Modwave is incredibly deep and having an editor/librarian makes all the difference for me.
As you can imagine modwave is almost a joke next to hydra deluxe. But you can just get the VST now and save yourself on the embarrassment Korg call 'hardware/keys'. It's pretty evident with how much the software costs vs the unit - and comments from Korgs own staff laughing at the 3 octave keybeds - that they don't take the form factor seriously. If the shortage does eventually allow for the production of the SE models (Starting with the Wavestate) I expect to see better attitude, quality and support/value for money. I imagine most having upgraded to hydra deluxe however, will just just use that as a Poly AT for korgs software, which is a vastly superior solution considering the toy build korg seems to be going with atm.
Hello friend....I own a Moog Sub 37 and Dave Smith Prophet 6 and want to add a new synth to my arsenal. I bought a used polybrute today but now thinking I could have made a better choice to compliment the synths I already own. I have 48 hours to change my mind. Just wondering in the $2000 range, what synth would you be looking at. I also like the Access Virus T12 Polar and HydraSynth Deluxe. You seem so knowledgeable and I trust your opinion. Thanks🙏
I think a PolyBrute is a really phenomenal synth and a great choice. Viruses are great but have "that sound" of the 2000's. Hydra deluxe feels unbeatable but people have been saying the keys feel plasticky. Poly aftertouch though and *that sound* is great. Consider a Novation Summit in that area too.
DO you like the MS2000 at all/ Digital hybrid. I thought maybe it sucked, but listened more and liked it. JX3P and Yamaha CS10 are more favorites of mine. You nailed the Omnisphere and other reviews. You omitted Sylenth, which I think sounds phenomenal. TD3 bought it and it sucked. It did sound OK for the mids to bass, but the top end was not good at all, not squelchy. It's like they nailed just enough of the sound to be credible, but not even close to really go to town with. The build was literally the most fragile plastic shell with letters that would rub off quick which makes me suspect any modern Behringer gear. The TD3 needs a box to go in or it will shatter in any short fall. I actually felt it was built to fool people for a while, and that really bugged me. Your number one choice for amateur synths is recommended elsewhere, so I may check it out. WIsh it had a sequencer in it. I'm surprised you're doing this and not being a voiceover king.
I have an ms2000 - here's a playthrough I did: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-sbuWmWWh0C0.html Sylenth is amazing - doesn't seem to be selling as much nowadays.
@@VultureCulture Sylenth came out of the obscurity it was in for a year or two, and has updates now. Whoever coded that thing was a miracle worker because it sounds credibly analog compared to many dreary VSTs I've obtained. Too bad its save and recall presets setup is no fun.
I need to replace my Hammond Organ that blew up a year ago so I’m buying the Mojo Classic Desktop. I also need a synth so I’ll be getting the Gforce OB-E .
No doubt the Cobalt sounds amazing, and although it's reasonably priced it's not as reasonable as say ModWave or even an analog synth like Nymphes, so it's usually hard to squeeze one of their products into a list like this.
To diminish Roland's acb as "not the best analog recreations on the market" is absurd. To compare them A:B and prefer an actual analog in the end when giving a well-balanced opinion that considers the inherent issues with an analog is one thing, but to suggest that Roland's acb VA is somehow inferior to other VA's is just not true.
I would suggest watching this video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-KtN3HgPhVdY.html and Starsky Carr's Softube comparison to his own 106. Roland is not *bad* but surprisingly not as close as we'd all like.
@@VultureCulture Your "isn't the best" assertion is that there's a better VA out there than acb. If what you meant to say is that "Roland's VA doesn't sound exactly like, or even as good, as the real thing", or that "there are good software only alternatives out there", that isn't what you stated. Starsky certainly liked Softube's offerings (it's a good emulation), but he didn't say that the emulation itself is better than acb, only that he liked the modular aspects of it (Roland cloud's offerings didn't expand the OG's capabilities at all), and it's VST only besides whereas acb can and does live in hardware. Jack demoing the 106 vs cloud only showed that that particular 106 is brighter and many of the patches are bang on. To say that acb is simply "not bad" is just way off the mark. Here's Zack explicitly saying to skip a real 106 and pick up either a deepmind OR Roland acb ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-0bH3FeW4kG4.html. I've got a deepmind 12D, and as good as that thing is at emulating a 106, it's effectively no better than my system-8 to the end that having a deepmind with its heat issues, and hella noisy fan, and components that are surely going to break down before the system-8 just doesn't seem worth it: one way or another, the deepmind is going out the door before the system 8. The only model that brought huge debate is the 303, highly transient and unpredictable as it is. But, again, I've got 3 of the TD-3 and a couple TB-3 (the highly berated pad one) and I end up using the latter way more often because they can do way more and sit in a mix better at the end of the day besides. The TD3 can out Josh-wink the TB-3, but in so many other ways the TB-3 is more useful. I'm no Roland fanboy. I've got more Sequentials, Moogs, Elektrons and even Behringers than Rolands, but Roland acb is a very good offering. But you suggested a JD-08? No one even likes those sounds to begin with, true digital recreations or not.
Hey man - definitely didn't mean to cause any offense by that remark. I hear you about acb being good, and I shouldn't have been dismissive. My point would have been better expressed by saying something like "I, personally, haven't found Roland's emulations of their synths to capture my excitement. It could just be the presets, or the fact that cheap VST's from companies like Tal do a pretty good job of nailing the sound. Not a knock against Roland, but I also just find myself not excited for something like the Juno-X."
I quite like this rundown. Sequential cut WAY too much meat off the bone (why such an anemic sequencer) at the Take 5 pricepoint; too many options for a LOT less (minilogue/deepmind) or preferable unit especially if used is an option (peak/summit/rev2) or the analog "sleeperbeast" in this segment prologue. All better choices IMHO. If swimming upstream Polybrute is a no-brainer. Moog One screwed the pooch with first tracking/tuning issues then the 1.4 release to fix it that also wrecks phasing! Pigments with 3.5 has pulled ahead of other "main/core" soft synths I feel.
If you are truly a beginner you would have no idea what to do with any of your recommendations except maybe the Typhon. I would recommend the entry level groove boxes from Elektron and Novation.If you wanted to spend a little more the JD-Xi.
i picked up a new copy of keyscape for 215$ and funny enough paid the same for a used copy of the v collection 8 so for 215$ i couldnt not get it same with abelton live 10 suite liscense transfer for i want to say 220 max so for less than 700 $ i got keyscape v collection 8 and abelton live suite also picked up a second hand maschine that came with the basic komplete so i upgraded when they had there big sale i dont like paying full price for anything almost everything i own is from goodwill great video love the content keep up the great work
I have just bought the ASM Explorer, only £425, same engine as both the ASM keyboard and desktop, 8 voice with a full polyphonic after touch keyboard. A sound designers dream. Only problem is its in such high demand that you have to wait for delivery.
Being on a tight budget and up to my ears in powerful software synths, MIDI controllers are all I need. I’m not going down the GAS route again in a hurry. Sold my 4 Korg Volca’s, sold my Behringer Crave synth, sold my Korg NTS1, sold my 6 pocket operators. Still got my Yamaha QY70. The New Volca FM 2 would be an awesome purchase and more affordable. You can store your presets or pick from thousands of DX7. Probably you can get one before me and make a video on the FM2
I have a little Novation Xio synth I bought second hand for forty bucks I have written hundreds of songs on it and it was the best money i ever spent. Finding a bargain in the second hand market would be my first choice if i was starting today, a vst costing more than four hundred bucks is a bad first move.
Great video. Just wanted to mention, in case no one else did: the Novation Summit does (at least, according to Novation's website) have Poly AT. That said, the Hydrasynth is a steal at $1700.
The Summit does not have Poly Aftertouch. A new update enabled the Summit to respond to Poly AT from another source over midi but the keyboard itself is not capable of polyphonic aftertouch. But I guess you could use a Hydra to drive Summit's Poly AT lol
The Moog One is 3 synths in one with fairly decent built-in effects. Yeah it’s expensive, but when you actually look at what it is……It’s actually the best value synth available.
moog one is everything but a value synth lol, you could literally get like 30 other synths for the same price and i mean what do you think you can do more with and have more fun with? like you could literally get a new synth every other month or only have the moog one for 5 years and nothnig else. moog one is for people that have so much money that they dont have to worry about 7000 bucks more or less, but its defenitely not a value synth.
@@donit. It’s the best value Moog synth available and that’s not even debatable. Go drop 3 Matriarchs in a cart and it’ll be the same price. Now add on top of that that it’s polyphonic, has extensive effects and an incredibly deep mod matrix, 4LFO’s, 3 envelopes, mod wheel plus the most useful x/y pad ever made, midi, cv, usb, multiple outputs, huge memory capability, and on and on I could go. The features on the Moog One are far and away better than anything ever. It’s incredibly fun to play once you learn it. It did take me quite a while to get my head around it, but it still continues to surprise. 30 cheap bullshit synths might fill your room out, but you’ll be disappointed and kicking yourself in the ass that you didn’t get the One. It’s completely worth every penny. Until you have one, you just won’t get it.
@@MPrint67 you don't have to buy cheap bullshit synths to get 30, actually if you'd get cheap bullshit synths you'd be closer to 60 or 70. Saying the Moog one is cheap because it's the same price as 3 matriarchs doesn't make sense because matriarchs aren't good value synths either. But ok, let's look at the features you mentioned and compare them (just as one example) with the poly brute, that costs less than 1/3 of the Moog one: Polyphonic - Polybrute too Effects - Polybrute too Big mod matrix - Polybrute has it too 4 LFOs - Polybrute has 3 3 Envelopes - Polybrute has 3 too Mod weel plus x-y pad - Polybrute has modweel and x-y-z pad Connectivities Polybrute has 2 instead of 4 outputs oh no Big memory - Polybrute has too And sure, im not saying the Polybrute is BETTER than Moog one, but I'd say the Moog one is maybe 1.4 times better at best. Therefore it's 3 times more expensive. You pay extra for getting the all in one packet. It's not a value synth.
@@donit. Best value MOOG synth. There’s is a difference between the Polybrute and the One, the sound. The internals are vastly different. It’s the same argument people had for the DeepMind. Yeah it’s a great value, but the sound isn’t good then the argument falls on its face. What is that worth when the Polybrute sounds thinner than a newspaper? Arturia isn’t challenging Sequential or Moog anytime soon. Sure they’ll be fanboys that will argue their worth solely based on their personal affordability, but those with experience with both won’t even say it’s a fair fight.
@@MPrint67 of course sound is subjective, but i dont think the polybrute sounds thin at all. the deepmind i dont think it sound thin either. and if you want a fatter sound, just buy 7 deepminds, still only half of what the moog one costs.
