Help me choose my first polyphonic synth.

[Tino Fiumara]

Hi, I'm looking for an 8 voice + polysynth, my budget is between 1000 - 1500 euros (maybe I can spend a little bit more than 1500), I'm not a live performer, I'll use it mainly at my home studio.

My first and only synthesizer is a Moog Grandmother, I love the sound and everything about it, but I'm a little bit undeciced in terms of what to choose when it comes to my first poly. Should I follow the sound route of the Moog GM and go analog? Or should I aim for something more different and go hybrid of full digital? Analog sounds better IMO but is more expensive and less flexible, digital use to be cheaper and more flexible but sound wise is basically like a software synth, I made a post on Gearslutz, KVR Audio and here called ''Software Synths VS. Digital Hardware Synths'' and most people agreed.

I have done my research and these are some of the options that caught my attention:

ANALOGS AND HYBRIDS:
- Prophet REV2: Seems like a good option but some people say that some units have oscillator bleeding and callibration problems (there is a YouTube video from Starsky Carr comparing it with the Prophet 6 and at the end he talks about it).
- Prophet 12: Probably my favorite hybrid option, my only ''problem'' with it is the menu diving (I buy from Thomann and the desktop is the only option that they have available of this synth)
- Novation Peak: Another good option but I have heard bad opinions about the sound, I have to listen more.
- Korg Prologue: Good, but no aftertouch.
- MFB Synth Pro: Affordable, but I haven't heard too much about this synth, not too many reviews out there.

DIGITALS, VIRTUAL ANALOGS, ETC...
- Access Virus T1 Desktop: A lot of people speak wonderful things about this synth.
- ASM Hydrasynth: Good reviews.
- Modal Argon 8: Good build quality, FATAR keys (I also need a good MIDI keyboard so I would kill 2 birds with one stone), affordable, but reviews says that is a little bit limited compared to other digital synths.
- Waldorf Blofeld: Popular and affordable.
- Nord Lead A1: Very popular too.

Well... these are some of the options that I have researched, I'm sure that there is way more options and that I have to learn more about synths (that's why I'm doing this post).
I have to choose carefully this synth because although I love synthesizers I don't have the amount of money to have 2 or 3 polysynths, so this is going to be my main poly for a long time. I forgot to mention that I usually do Hip Hop, sometimes soulful and funky stuff, but I want to open myself to other genres and sub genres.

I would appreciate the help and recommendations from this community, thanks.

Uff... That was a long post...

PD: Not a fan of Behringer gear.

[roman.i]

You don't have a taste in music?
Your listener doesn't care how many buttons you've got on your synth, if it's digital or analog.
You're going in the wrong direction.

[BertKoor]

You have a long list. Homework well done.

Now make the list shorter. I would usually recommend to visit a shop that sells these, and have a play. Then go home with the one you fell in love with.

Alas in these times it's difficult. Can you buy 4 and return 3?

[chk071]

I'd throw in the Behringer DeepMind (6 or 12) in that list. Nice affordable analog poly synth. Which sounds pretty damn good too.

If you want VA/digital, I'd go for the Virus, or the Blofeld.

[AnX]

if you are only using it in your studio/home, i would buy a decent controller and a few great vst synths

[chk071]

Just realized that I didn't read far enough.

PD: Not a fan of Behringer gear.

Well, that's a shame. Don't think it gets any better than that, in terms of price/performance ratio.

[Distorted Horizon]

I'd say go with the digital.. More versatile and you already have an analog synth.

Though with that budget, you could buy Blofeld desktop AND Deepmind 6.

[Distorted Horizon]

PD: Not a fan of Behringer gear.

No need to be.. They have warranty and if the tool breaks, you can return it.

[Septimon]

Korg Prologue!
I own the Minilogue and absolutely love it.
very versatile, one knob per function, Great Sound.
The Prologue is Even More versatile since you can load Third party oscillators and FX.
Not sure how Important aftertouch is for you.

[AnX]

PD: Not a fan of Behringer gear.

No need to be.. They have warranty and if the tool breaks, you can return it.

maybe he doesn't like the sound

[Distorted Horizon]

PD: Not a fan of Behringer gear.

No need to be.. They have warranty and if the tool breaks, you can return it.

maybe he doesn't like the sound

Or the font in the front panel

[Distorted Horizon]

But the idea is still the same. IMO the question is more like "should I spend 1500€ + to an analog polysynth or should I buy cheaper digital synth, analog polysynth (with lesser polyphony) and a midi keyboard".

And IMO the latter. Of course tossing 1500+ euros will bring you money worth of quality analog poly, like korg prologue 16. Will serve you for the next 20+ years.
But you'll miss some flavors sooner or later and will buy a digital synth anyways, for wavetable stuff. Or maybe yamaha modx7 for general all around workstation.

[chk071]

PD: Not a fan of Behringer gear.

No need to be.. They have warranty and if the tool breaks, you can return it.

maybe he doesn't like the sound

I wasn't aware that Behringer has a sound.

[vurt]

PD: Not a fan of Behringer gear.

No need to be.. They have warranty and if the tool breaks, you can return it.

maybe he doesn't like the sound

I wasn't aware that Behringer has a sound.

not much use as musical instruments without...

[BertKoor]

Get the fattest Prophet you can.