Best synth under 3000 euros (new or vintage)

[kritikon]

I've got to make me sit down and put some time into the B2600. It just never lit my fire from the moment I got one - mostly sits there unused, which seems silly to me. I should love it, I know I should, but we sit there staring at each other like we're both alien species. Odd, and I can't explain it. It's got flashing lights, knobs/sliders galore and looks like it's come from a Tardis - I should be twiddling with it...

[vitocorleone123]

Best monosynth under $3,000 is the Studio Electronics SE-3X (to me, it's the best on the market, period). Runner up is the Pro3.

[cryophonik]

Best monosynth under $3,000 is the Studio Electronics SE-3X (to me, it's the best on the market, period). Runner up is the Pro3.

A month ago, I would’ve agreed with this, but I’ve since added a Matrixbrute and I’d probably rank it as tied with the SE-3X. But, I honestly might be in denial that the MatrixBrute hasn’t displaced it as my favorite.

[pdxindy]

Best monosynth under $3,000 is the Studio Electronics SE-3X (to me, it's the best on the market, period). Runner up is the Pro3.

My choice would be Matriarch

[vitocorleone123]

Best monosynth under $3,000 is the Studio Electronics SE-3X (to me, it's the best on the market, period). Runner up is the Pro3.

A month ago, I would’ve agreed with this, but I’ve since added a Matrixbrute and I’d probably rank it as tied with the SE-3X. But, I honestly might be in denial that the MatrixBrute hasn’t displaced it as my favorite.

I don't have the opportunity to use one in person, but I'll give more listens online (YT to date has always given an accurate representation of character, just of a much more limited scope than a synth in person can). In the past, I've not liked the sound of Arturia's hardware though I've only use a Polybrute in person not the Matrixbrute. Nor do I like their software, as it turned out after many attempts, though I'll separate the two.

Videos of the SE-3X can give me goosebumps, so it's likely one of THOSE for me, like the OB-6 is/was. We seem to have some overlapping tastes in synths (I only have an OB-6, Digitone, SE-02, and LXR-02 for hardware instruments), so I'll listen to more Matrixbrute videos. Do you have any favorites?

[cryophonik]

No favorite videos, really, but it comes down to a lot more than just the sound. I watched a lot of videos over the years, but none of them prepared me for the experience of having it right in front of me. It’s the entire package, the sheer amount of features, the interface and that matrix, those vintage sounding effects, the arp, etc, and basically no menu diving. Arturia really thought it through and made a fantastic instrument. I have to admit that, even after hearing a lot of demos on YT, I still expected it to sound much like a monophonic PolyBrute, but having them side by side, they sound very different.

Also, I should clarify that I have an SE-1X Nova Edition that has been upgraded to the 3X eprom. The 3X took the features/improvements of the Nova Edition and added the additional filters and an additional stage to the fuzz switch (neither of which can be saved per patch fwiw). So, my Nova edition is more limited than the 3X, but the firmware functions the same. It’s definitely a workflow improvement in many ways, but there’s still more menu-diving than I’d prefer. But the sound is just

[christian f.]

Since you already have a Prophet 6 , I would pick something digital or hybrid :
- Waldorf M , Waldorf XT or Microwave 1 REV A (my fav) , Prophet 12 , Poly Evolver will all work very well for the kind of music you make.

[SLiC]

I dont think you can get much better than a Novation Summit for sound and ease of use. That said, if you want something really different go for the Osmose, it’s an amazing all round experience and represents the most modern of synthesis.

[CoolColJ]

Matrixbrute just doesn't demo well through videos

One of my patches -

I created a custom shape on the user LFO, that modulates its own rate, and then this modulates the triangle wavefolder, the 12db Steiner Parker filter and the delay time and feedback of the BBD analog delay.

https://soundcloud.com/coolcolj/matrixb ... ting-drone

[BertKoor]

Best monosynth under $3,000 is ...

... is not relevant. This is what the OP wants:

I'm looking for a Poly.

[pdxindy]

In the past, I've not liked the sound of Arturia's hardware though I've only use a Polybrute in person not the Matrixbrute. Nor do I like their software, as it turned out after many attempts, though I'll separate the two.

FYI, the Matrixbrute and Polybrute have a somewhat different sound character.

[cryophonik]

Best monosynth under $3,000 is ...

... is not relevant. This is what the OP wants:

I'm looking for a Poly.

Oh, you mean the OP that hasn’t replied to any of the suggestions since he posted that two weeks ago? It’s all good, we’re just chatting amongst ourselves and hopefully someone will find it useful.

[dellboy]

Hello,

I managed to sell some gear I don't use much, and now I have about 3k to spend for a synth.

I want something versatile that keeps things simple (no menu diving), and most of all, it has to sound great.

I already own a Prophet 6, which does what is said above. So I want something a bit different. It doesn't have to be 3K. It can be vintage.

The music I do is kind of Balearic : https://kekoskekos.bandcamp.com/

What would be the best pick, in your opinion?

Thx for your help.

I had a listen to uour music, which I like. I also enjoyed the other stuff on that page, summery, light and airy, Junoesque style. So I guess thats the type of synth that would suit - Juno-ish.

[thecontrolcentre]

Don't forget the Nymphes from Dreadbox ... https://www.dreadbox-fx.com/nymphes/
Amazing polysynth for what it costs imho

[vitocorleone123]

Agreed that since the OP seems to be another of those "must boost post count so I can sell stuff" (just guessing no actual data), it doesn't seem as relevant if they were looking at a polysynth and we talk monosynths.