Thank you for all the time and effort you put into this RU-vid channel and one my favorites along side Sonicstate, Espen Kraft and Pro Synth Network. Happy New Year and looking forward to your episodes in 2024.
Great summary Scott! I got the Arturia MiniFreak for Christmas and it is a great little synth. Love the tight integration with the MiniFreak VST - very well done.
I've got the GAIA2, in Europe it was eventually discounted from 900 euros initially to 760, which is a good price. I absolute love this synth. Both the sounds and the keybed are amazing. I got the WC-1 roland cloud connect which allowed me to add Juno, Jupiter and JX-8P to the model expansions. It's also very nice to create sounds with all these controls. Now if Roland could also write a real manual for this or at least a video manual....
Great video Scott. I too would like to get a UB-Xa. There are alot of reviews on RU-vid about it. It sounds really good. Would like to see you do a review on it. Hope you had a great Christmas and have a happy new year!
Good list. What was Yamaha thinking not putting poly aftertouch on the M7 and M6? Especially considering we’re seeing more keyboards with it at a fraction of the price? Anyone who buys either (like me) will love the instrument, but will be slightly disappointed it’s not on there.
Wow, I was completely unaware of that Fantom EX upgrade. Now if I decide to upgrade my MODX I have a harder decision. Montage M or Fantom EX!?? Great video and I hope you have a synth-tastic new year!!!!!
Hello Scott. Happy New Year to you! Thank you so much for the review, I especially liked the sound of your Hydrasynth. I wanted to buy myself a small Hydra, they always say that its engine is exactly the same as the big models. but I don't agree with this that Hydrasynth explorer sounds the same. Thank you. Your fan from Tallinn.
The engine in the Hydrasynth Explorer is IDENTICAL to the larger Hydrasynths, so it will sound exactly the same. The keybed, while still a poly aftertouch keybed, is different, so that might account for why people think it sounds different - but send it the same MIDI, and the sound will be exactly the same.
Just discovered your excellent Channel and subscribed 😀 👍. I'm a guitar 🎸 player just starting to learn keyboards. Keep up the great work. Thanks a million 😊
Thanks for all great videos this year! Excellent top 10 for sure, and I have a video suggestion for you: a direct comparison between the Fantom EX and the Montage M, I’m really looking for it!
Synthstrom Deluge has an open source version now. And from what I’ve seen so far it’s pretty amazing. An extremely capable device with an incredible (if somewhat steep to learn) workflow. That’s the most impressive thing I’ve seen released this past year.
The two synths that felt like they were worth the price were the Microfreak and the Behringer OB-X clone. I think in the next 10 years, we'll see more originals out of Behringer. Their staff engineers are getting so familiar with some of the greatest synth architectures of all time. I think, we'll start seeing more synths like their Deep Mind 12... which feels like a MkII or modern update of the Juno. Then they will go more original once they've made MkIIs of everything popular.
Thanks for all your videos Scott. I’m very glad that Korg made the 37 key versions of the Wavestate and its brothers and hope they’ll continue. I have the original Wavestate and love it. Its smaller profile fits the small space that I have for my home setup and, as I mainly use a Yamaha YC88 as midi master keyboard, do not find the 37 keys a problem at all. I also have an arranger for its wide choice of voices plus, of course, its accompaniment when needed and a tiny Roland D-05 boutique for its unique patches. All on midi from the YC master keyboard. I do not have room for anything else so would not purchase a larger Wavestate.
I, too, expected the 3rd Wave to top this list. It helps me see how our perspectives differ. Thanks for the many useful comments explaining why each one of these picks stands out to you.
00:45 - Korg wavestate mkII - 96 voices polyphony; wavestate SE - 120 voices. Thanks for the list - it's always fun to geek out about new hardware. Personally I'd put Behringer UB-Xa at number 1 - for the value and the delivery on the promise it really can't be beat, especially considering how much hate Behringer got this year over RU-vid. Number 2 Osmose, and number 3 UDO Super Gemini. 4 Yamaha Montage Mx. Looking forward to your vids in 2024, Happy New Year! 🎉
I feel like the Nina deserves a mention. I guess it actually started shipping late last year, but most people didn’t get hards-on with it until this year. And while the automated knobs are something that ought to be copied, I think the “force feedback” feature of the knobs is the real stand-out.
I agree, that is a REALLY cool feature. There are a few synths (3rd Wave) for one that would have been on this list as well, but I really wanted it to be JUST brand new announcements in 2023, and both of those were announced/released in 2022.
I used it most when travelling, as it was tiny and easy to play. I wasn't travelling much and wasn't using it and I sold it...and I regret selling it. I may buy it again someday.
For me at least, the open sourcing of the Synthstrom Deluge firmware, as well as the amazing Community firmware release that expanded the versatility of the device beyond even what the designer realized was possible, deserves mention.
Just a question from a nubie… is the Nord Stage 4 in the synthesizer category? It has pretty much a Nord Wave 2 built in. Is it a synth or a stage piano 🤔
I like your list and comments. I have shaken my head for years about Korg's path of products, features and pricing. Would like to see manufacturers stop products with keyboards, now that most folks have a couple of their favorite controllers. Especially would like a desktop/cheaper Montage. I bought a MODX61 really just to get the FMX engine, since I missed the whole FM/DX7 craze when I spent my life savings on a Memorymoog to play in bands back in the day. I think Yamaha is missing an "affordability demographic". Would love to see desktop versions with the different engines. Thanks for all the vids. Do you have a UB-XA on order?
Nice vid and all that Scott... my one criticism would be that you didn't fly to the top 10 synths and then home again. I would also accept parkouring to the top 10 synths or maybe travelling by Ford Model T to the top 10 synths. Merry New Year!
Noticed no mention of the 3rd Wave, which for me is one of the best, and maybe the objective best this year. Personally I'd put the Super Gemini at #1 myself, it's just incredible what it can do. No doubt the Montage M8x would be in a top spot, not much else competes in that digital space. I really think they should do a Desktop M8x in a few years.
The 3rd Wave would definitely have been VERY high on the list, what an amazing synth! Except...it came out in 2022, not 2023. Yamaha will not be doing a Montage module/desktop, instead they are putting out a VST3 version of Montage, which Montage M owners get for free. Instead of a module, you get a laptop with a VST3.
@@ScottsSynthStuff Ahh good catch about the year, I noticed in many others' end of year lists. Thanks for the tip about the VST3 version, I'll have to look into that. A full M8x is a bit out of my budget and there are plenty of other physical gear I'd rather put the budget towards. I do really like the physical interface though, which is where the module would be well received.
Thanks Scott for your detailed tests. You are an extremely competent resource for all of us. My feelings are mixed. I tested a Montage M8X but I didn't fall in love. I even thought it was not good enough on pianos and organs where my YC73 rules. As usual it was a few minutes test in a shop with a headphone so not enough to get a full evaluation. Surely headphone output is really bad, no way to drive a decent headphone like Audio Technica AT50X. I will try it again when VST version will be ready, I love to use VST live, a full MontageM engine could be a killer software. I think I would love an Hydrasynth deluxe but I never found one here in Italy. I need a full contact to decide. As a keyboard player in cover bands I am not interested in analog recreations which are mono and without effects. For me having those big analog synths as pure seventies clones is pure nonsense. A Behringer Deepmind is more usable on stage than an UBX. Best wishes to all synth fans in the world!
Another very informative video!! I'm outta room.. but that UB-XA???? I've been listening to it and it sounds Oberheim but it has something else to it that just cliques' as something unique..... And that price?? It's hard to just pass up!!! Thank you for all your help and videos!!! Happy New Year to You!!!
haha - If I knew of an upcoming launch...not saying I do necessarily...but if I did, I would be bound by NDA and not allowed to mention it. Just saying. :)
Your hair is good. May I ask what brand of hair gel you use? This year I bought a Synclavier, a PPG Waveterm B and a Fairlight CMI Series 3. Then there was water damage and everything was destroyed, except for the floppy disks.
I agree with the list. I would also have chosen the Montege M7 first. Unfortunately, it is not yet available for purchase anywhere in Europe. I want to buy a Montage M7, but it will be available at a very late date, in several European countries, especially in the EU member states. Currently, Montage M7 is scheduled for May 22nd, but this date keeps getting pushed back more and more. No one really knows when it will be in stock. Someone wrote that Yamaha only stocks Montage M for pre-order. If that's the case, it's quite annoying, because it would have been nice to try it out in a musical instrument store.
As I mentioned in the video, the Montage M has been a runaway hit for Yamaha. They can't keep them in stock here in the US. Sweetwater, the largest online retailer in the US, sold through their initial allocation in one week after it was released, and they have been backordered since. I'm sure Yamaha is cranking them out as fast as they can, but right now the demand is far outpacing supply.
@@ScottsSynthStuff I don't mind if it's later, so be it. Currently, Roland Fantom 7 and Korg Nautilus are a good pair. By the time the Montage M7 is available, I'll have saved the price and not have to sell the Fantom 7. Fantom 7, Montage M7 and Nautilus 73 are great together. I wouldn't be happy to part with any of them because they all excel in certain areas.
I'm wondering how much longer hardware syntesizers will survive. The same or more advanced sounds can be created in software for a fraction of the price of a syntesizer.
Quick question Scott: Are you implying that with the Fantom EX upgrade, that ALL ACB models(plug-outs) will now be compatiable with the Fantom going forward? This would be awesome but I"ve never heard this mentioned before. I probably misunderstood you.
I'll probably boycott Behinger and stick with the real deals. I did buy a Black Corp CS80 clone because Yamaha hasn't offered one in 46 years. Behringer is also cloning the CS80 for pennies. I have mixed feelings about mass production for pennies when it's someone else's intellectual & physical property. How would I feel if it were mine? Pay royalties and proper respect to the original creator is how I think is what's fair and ethical. China steals our intellectual knowledge because we're dumb enough to send it to them for manufacturing. Self-destruction model for us and a brilliant model for them.
Hello Scott, thanks very much for your videos. Could you please comment on how ground noise can be avoided at home? What type of cables do you use and so on? Thank you very much.
I actually did a video on this a while back. Apart from also using balanced cables everywhere, and ensuring everything is on the same circuit branch, I use what I show in this video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-0SVgmVokq1k.html
Interesting list. For me the biggest release this year was the 3rd Wave. I'd love one, but here in Australia they are over 8k. Can't ever see me owning one at that price point.
No Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave? That was the best imo this year. I did pick up the MiniFreak and it’s a great synth for the price. My only complaint is no after touch and small keys so I midi it to my Hydrasynth. But the 3rd Wave is the one I’m picking up this year.
How do you get the discount on the Fantom EX upgrade? I already paid for N-Zyme and heard I should be getting a discount code but never received one. I also reached out to Roland a couple times but got no reply. 😕 If anyone could shed some light I’d appreciate it. Thx.
Thank you for a great video, and a great list. However,... 🙂 For me, number 10, the Wavestate SE is a flop. First, I do not know where you got your prices, and in which currency it is. In the Montreal region, a Wavestate SE is about $ 2700 CAN. In Europe, on the Thomman website, it is listed at $ 2579 CAN, in January 2024. I would have given number 10 to Erica Synths Bullfrog Educational Synthesizer, a great educational electronic music instrument. Happy new year to you, and all the person you love ! 🙂
@@ScottsSynthStuff Hmm, that is weird. I cannot find any Wavestate SE, on their website. In fact, I cannot find any website in the US, with that price. Even Reverb does not have any entries at that price,..
I would say it is extremely unlikely. The AN-X engine is very resource intensive, requiring the extra SWP DSP chip that the Montage has. Also, a considerable amount of the AN-X engine is accessed through the sub display, which the MODX+ does not have. Maybe they will release a newer MODX with it? Or perhaps an AN-X only synth? Who knows?
Why haven’t you sold your SH-101, if the Gaia 2 has that covered now … ? Ditto, JD-800 / Fantom EX c ACB? Haven’t been convinced by the UB reviews, so far … A comparison of the UB and Hydrasynth Deluxe as Poly-A/T controllers would be great!
My SH-101 has a Tubbutec SH-1oh1 upgrade in it, so it does quite a bit more than a regular SH-101: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-23T7WGZgzJk.html The Fantom does sound like a JD-800 - but a significant part of the JD-800 is the massive control surface, that allows you to control virtually every parameter with its own controller. The Fantom requires menu-diving to do the same thing.
Bunch of limitations on the Fantom upgrade. The problem was Roland didn't disclose this was coming so like I did, many people sold their Fantoms to buy the Montage or something else. Roland was stupid to hide the upgrade for way too long. I'm NOT going to buy another Fantom so that opportunity is forever lost. Bad decision Roland. I also sold my Hydrasynth Deluxe as no reason to have this with all my authentic analog and now M8x. Just don't like leaving gear collecting dust. I have the real Oberheim so I doubt it sounds anywhere close, we'll see. Not sure how they are stealing from other companies but some don't agree with it. Is likely why Oberheim re-released the units because they knew Berhinger was copying it. Cheap copies is not always a good thing just because someone can. If it costs $1,200 then they made it for about $400 using the 1/3 rule. How much quality can there possibly be in a $400 per unit assembly line?
Behringer can put out stuff at this price because it dumped its R&D department and blatently copies other companies achievements with low quality Chinese counterfeits. While an Oberheim OB-X8 will last you a lifetime, you will have to buy 5x UB-X8 over time when they break, and you're also bringing classical companies like Sequential and Oberheim close to extinction. This should be illegal - it probably is, but Sequential is better off selling quality work to synth lovers who can appreciate their work instead of starting endless legal battles against an overwhelmingly huge worldwide company. But YOU as a consumer and influencer could make a difference. For example by not doing free adverbs for Behringer on your channel ☹️
