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.<\/b>
\nSome people prefer vinyl to CDs. Others insist film is better than CCDs. Likewise, if you\u2019 ve ever used an analog synth, you are probably someone who can hear the difference. Sure, digital synths can sound really cool, but there\u2019s 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\u2019 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\u2019 re a musician, you may want to avoid the more modular synths and stick to the ones that have keyboards. If you\u2019 re more into synths and weird sounds, there\u2019s no wrong answers, but in general the synths without keyboards offer more complex routing options and the like.
All that in mind, here\u2019s 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\u2019s 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\u2019 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\u2019s keyboard to an extreme, this Gakken SX-150 truly cannot be used for melodies or riffs, but that doesn\u2019 t mean it\u2019s 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\u2019s a lot of power under the hood. With a pulse or saw oscillator (it\u2019s 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\u2019 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\u2019 ll have to check out the video below; surely no one can say this thing doesn\u2019 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\u2019s well-built, and offers a lot of interesting ways to play with one\u2019s sound. Sure, the oscillators and filter aren\u2019 t Moog-level, but they\u2019 re very decent. Plus, one gets so much more from this device. If you\u2019 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\u2019 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\u2019 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\u2019 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\u2019s a reason Korg revamped it; it\u2019s still useful. It sounds like the\u2019 80s, but in the best way possible. Frankly, not my cup of tea, but for fans of the\u2019 80s and genres like chillwave, it\u2019s a fantastic choice. Electro house it is not, however.
Price: $449.99
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The Minilogue isn\u2019 t really a synthesizer\u2019s synthesizer. It\u2019s polyphonic and some people can\u2019 t stand the sound, but it\u2019s the editor\u2019s choice for a reason: a polyphonic synthesizer at this price is crazy. Of course, it wouldn\u2019 t be crazy if it didn\u2019 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\u2019s 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\u2019 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\u2019s great as a piece or introduction to a modular synth or as a stand-alone unit, but it\u2019s 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\u2019 ll have to be the type that\u2019s 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. One minor issue is that it has some harsh sounding sync (read review here) , but beyond this, this synth does a ton of things. Like the mother, it has a robust MIDI to CV converter, which can be helpful in a modular environment. It\u2019s not for the faint of heart; much like the Mother, you\u2019 ll need to put in some learning time before you\u2019 re able to make the sounds you want. That said, if you\u2019 re into modulars, this is a great starting point for a powerful and diverse kit.
Price: $699
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Closing our list out is truly a performance and stage ready synth. Inheriting a form factor and general vibe of its brother, the Slim Phatty, the sub phatty doesn\u2019 t change things up too much, but it does add some distortion and grittier timbres that for some music makers, make it a far more preferable choice. It\u2019s a great instrument and playable as is; it\u2019s meant to be jammed upon. Beneath it\u2019s not-overwhelming exterior, is an array of parameters and controls, some of which are annoyingly buried (arpegiattor rate ugh!) , but it\u2019s still wicked fun to jam on, make weird sounds, and get really into some sound design.
Price: $789
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Sentiment rank: 1.4<\/div>\n

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