Looking for that special Moog, Korg, or classic sound? There’s just something special about the timbre of analog synthesis. Here’s the best cheap keyboards.
Some people prefer vinyl to CDs. Others insist film is better than CCDs. Likewise, if you’ ve ever used an analog synth, you are probably someone who can hear the difference. Sure, digital synths can sound really cool, but there’s something organic and warm about true analog sounds. Fortunately, analog synths have become more popular with time. This means that major synth makers have made plenty of affordable yet high-quality models.
Don’ t be fooled, despite their low prices, all of these synthesizers offer great sounds and that true analog feeling (knobs, sliders, etc) and sound. Some factors to consider are how complex you want your synth to be and how musical. If you’ re a musician, you may want to avoid the more modular synths and stick to the ones that have keyboards. If you’ re more into synths and weird sounds, there’s no wrong answers, but in general the synths without keyboards offer more complex routing options and the like.
All that in mind, here’s the top 10 best cheap analog synthesizers.
You ever lost three hours playing with a device that has five knobs? Thanks to the Mini Duo and Korg’s line of cheap synths (my personal fave being the Monotribe [see on Amazon] ) , that can easily be achieved. Boasting two great sound oscillators, a simple ribbon keyboard which isn’ t exactly a grand piano for coming up with melodies, but can be used to create interesting riffs nonetheless, and a nice filter. For some who are kept in creative gridlock overwhelmed by options or complexity, this simple device can be a great tool or simply a fun time. Either way, it undeniably produces some really cool sounds.
Price: $49.99
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Taking the Korg Monotron’s keyboard to an extreme, this Gakken SX-150 truly cannot be used for melodies or riffs, but that doesn’ t mean it’s not a ton of fun. Great for coming up with all sorts of bleeps and bloops, this little guy packs a variety of parameters and a solid sound. PLus you can run sounds into it for use as an effects pedal type of device. If the video below has some sounds you find interesting, the Gakken is a great way to blow an afternoon or ten.
Price: $57.77
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The Moog Werkstatt may look like a tame black box, but this little synth packs a ton of punch. It boasts 13 buttons for playing notes which is considerably more ergonomic than a ribbon synthesizer, but beyond this, there’s a lot of power under the hood. With a pulse or saw oscillator (it’s Moog, so you know it sounds good) , an LFO, and an envelope, this synth can make sounds that are very interesting. A couple other things take it to the next level: namely a modulation matrix and a glide parameter. This is a mini synth with a ton of flexibility and a great, affordable intro to modular synthesis, if you’ re thinking about dabbling.
Price: $199
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While you may lose the credibility of a Moog, the Microbrute is a real keyboard synth with a very nasty, grimy sound. Some find it to be a bit cheap sounding, but you’ ll have to check out the video below; surely no one can say this thing doesn’ t create interesting noises. Frankly, the acid sound is great to my ears. On top of this, the Microbrute is easy to learn and use, it’s well-built, and offers a lot of interesting ways to play with one’s sound. Sure, the oscillators and filter aren’ t Moog-level, but they’ re very decent. Plus, one gets so much more from this device. If you’ re on board for its tone, the Microbrute delivers in every other aspect.
Price: $299 (14 percent off MSRP)
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The Novation Bass station isn’ t wildly different from the Micro Brute in terms of flexibility, but it does offer a few big perks. Namely, a step sequencer and arpeggiator. That said, you can always run MIDI into the Microbrute and achieve similar results (assuming you have a decent DAW with a MIDI output device) . If you don’ t, then a step sequencer is a cool feature to have. Beyond this, the best indicator is sound. The Bass Station is a bit more aggressive and harsh sounding, especially with its gnarly acid filter. The Bass Station has a harshness, but many prefer it. As per the other synths, listen to some of its timbres and if you like it, know that you’ ll be getting a high quality product cherished by many.
Price: $399.99
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The MS-20 is a famous synthesizer for its lush tones and juicy filters. Needless to say, it also offers excellent routing options which lead to spacy, big sounds. This synth is less aggressive than the Microbrute and Bass Station, but there’s a reason Korg revamped it; it’s still useful. It sounds like the’ 80s, but in the best way possible. Frankly, not my cup of tea, but for fans of the’ 80s and genres like chillwave, it’s a fantastic choice. Electro house it is not, however.
Price: $449.99
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The Minilogue isn’ t really a synthesizer’s synthesizer. It’s polyphonic and some people can’ t stand the sound, but it’s the editor’s choice for a reason: a polyphonic synthesizer at this price is crazy. Of course, it wouldn’ t be crazy if it didn’ t sound amazing. Boasting a hefty set of oscillators, filters, and envelopes plus a few great effects is enough to set this synth apart, but it also has eight different modes and they all add a lot of variety and for lack of a better word, phatness, to the sound. Be sure you love the tones, but this is a synth that has a ton of power in an easy setup. Plus, changing the mode means you can get a really nice sound in one mode, and then an amazing sound in another. For me, it’s not even close, this is an amazing synth for its great sounds, and the fact that it can actually make chords!
Price: $499.99
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If you’ re looking to get into modulars, the Mother 32 has those classic Moog oscillators and filters with a matrix section that will do well, lots of stuff. It’s great as a piece or introduction to a modular synth or as a stand-alone unit, but it’s not for the faint of heart. Sure, one can get sounds out of it fairly easily, but to really enjoy this unit and get enough value from it, you’ ll have to be the type that’s ready to spend a lot of time plugging and unplugging patch cords.
Price: $599
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Offering a ton of patching options, two oscillators and a great sound, the LifeForms SV-1 is a great starting point for a modular setup.
