Choosing Your First Hardware Synthesizer for Under $1000

Just saw your excellent video. I am only wondering why you didn‘t address the Korg Minilogue XD which is a very powerful synthesizer.
BTW: I am currently writing articles on the assembly kits Moog Werkstatt-01 and Korg NTS-1. Both are cheap, minimalistic and help understanding the inner workings of synthesizers.

Bass station 2. No other words needed.

BASS STATION.

These miniature boutiqe synths are seriously demaskulating and evil stuff. A real graveyard for modern design. In 5 years nobody wants these toys and are going for cheap second hand,because nobody wants fashion miniatures accesories from the past.The winner is the BS2 with full sized keys, That was easy

Update: 2020 Digital Synth for under $1000: Korg Wavestate. 2020 Analog Synth for under $1000 4 voice Minilogue XD

I am wondering why the Roland JD-Xi was left out? I am in the market and that's the one I'm leaning towards because it seems to me to have a lot of features for the price... Analog, digital, and MANY drum kits. To get all that separate, even just the drum machines, would cost an exponential amount. (And I am not really a software kinda guy.)

The Blofeld is awesome. I almost got the minilogue. Once I found the Blofeld I sent my minilogue back.

Excellent video thanks for this.

Great comments here. Nice review. However, the coverage of the System-1 was very brief, and focused on its "plug-out" feature. System-1 has a lot of positives, including the many hands-on knobs controlling many features (no menu diving) as well as sync-able two oscillators; mentioning only the plug-out aspect is short-selling this synth. The intro says if you are looking at real synths after having messed around with virtual - why go back to all of that virtual hassle when you go for a hands-on synth? Registering, downloading, etc.

Deepmind 12 was my first. Glad to be a part of the synth community.

Sean Evans?!

The sledge kills all of them and isn't over a grand

good one but the microkorg? the mininova? the jd-xi? all $400.

Bass Station 2 is now paraphonic

behringer have basically flipped this whole list on its head

For anyone looking into the Korg Minilogue, check out the Minilogue XD as well. It's only 150$ more, has basically all the features of the Minilogue + another digital voicing and a few effects, the exact things that a first-time buyer might miss in the Minilogue.

Best off buying used synths. With the advent of DAW and plugins, used synth hardware's flooding the market. A musician sells a synth for only 2 reasons, they need to pay the rent or they need the cash to buy something else. Either way you can score amazing deals on the used market. Take for example the following deals just in 2019 alone:
MC307 - $150
MicroSampler - $140
ESX-1 - $185
Gaia SH-01 - $230
Triton LE Pro sampler - $275
MC909 - $185
SP606 - $180
FutureRetro 777 - $260
Behringer Poly D - $175
XoXBoX - $ 225
Ensoniq Mirage - $150
TC Fireworx - $180
Novation Bass STN Rack - $75

microfreeaK??

Get a minilouge you wont regret it. Its easily the best and has shown to hold its value the best of all of them

is the deepmind better than a korg ms20 mini? the deepmind is about 170 dolars pricier

the deepmind isnt just a good first synth - its a great last synth - seems to do almost everything - the fx are amazing and its analog and not 3000 pounds..

I got two synths for under a $1000, a Deepmind 12 ($698) and the UNO Synth ($199) and I'm happy with both.

You forgot the Behringer model D. It is great and cheap!

I got a Korg Minilogue due to my lack of understanding of how synths usually work. Still sounds fine, but a bit metallic for my liking. I may get a DM or Prologue in the future. In the far future, I may consider getting a Prophet 6. Any comparisons between the 3?

Korg Minilouge Xd is well worth it.

This video is awesome

My roland ds....

wow

The Roland Gaia should be here

Were do you find them a pawn shop?

I’d recommend a Minilogue. Everything sounds beautiful from it

You just sold me on a deepmind 6

Get the Bass Station II + Spectrasonic Omnisphere 2.6 software synthetizer

the se02 has ladder filter too

I need a synth under $500. I'm in India and right now only the Korg Volca range is available here. The Novation and Behringer models are available here. So please suggest me a synth from those two brands. I'm a beginner. I haven't used a synth before. I'm planning to buy a synth to make my own music for the videos and vlogs I'm gonna make and also learn to use synths well.

Wait wait
Why should I believe this if there isn't a grandmother in there???

My first synth was an Arp 2600. Dived right in at the deep end.

Dont get a mono synth. Poly or fk off

The deepmind is 1200$ on amazon Canada

You explained this in a way a beginner can understand it. Great video and review.

I have a question.

I don't need these if I have a DAW right? These are all good if I wanna play without a DAW correct?

Couldn't be happier with my Deepmind 12D. Killer analog synth.

Anyone looking for a hardware synth for under $1000, take my advice as GOSPEL.










Roland JX-3P!! Not only do you get a vintage Roland fully programable analog polyphonic synth with patch storage, But you can also purchase the programmer later (which is helpful, but you can still edit all parameters one at a time without it), but at a later date if you are feeling adventurous you can buy and install the mod from Kiwi Technics which adds more envelopes (snappier too!), LFOs, midi capabilities and an arpeggiator, which at that point (IMVHO) makes it better than the Juno series, and maybe even up there with a Jupiter.

Deepmind wins. GG

Drop that synth!
Hey, I'd love to drop this synth from approximately 100 metres up. These synths are huge, heavy and cool.
Peace ✌️ out people

My favourites:

-Deepmind 6
-Minilogue
-Bass Station 2

TERRIBLE audio examples

Bass Station 2 is a killer synth, especially for it's crazy low price.

Thank you for this very helpful video!

Awesome. I still have a Korg Poly-800. 👍