Please help me decide a hardware synthesizer

[LoveEnigma18]

I would go for the Nautilus Based on your music style and description.
It has a lot of different synthesizer engines built in and many good sounds for those genre's.
Back in the day the Triton was used a lot for those types of music styles and the Nautilus is a big step up from that tech.

The Juno X is also a great option but you have to remember that if you go for that one you will buy into the Zen core Eco system that is tempting you to buy more sounds and synth models for it to get more sounds.

Instead of the Juno X i would go for the Jupiter X If you want a Roland Keyboard that has more synth models included instead of being stuck with Juno models.
You can also buy Zenology Pro and buy the SRX banks and Synth models you want instead and save some money and you won't get into polyphony issues (only remember that the Vst version needs reactivation every 30 days).

https://www.reddit.com/r/synthesizers/c ... t/hdq4lrx/

Thanks for the suggestion.

Nautilus AT has been in my shortlisted synthesizers, but it is over $2000 where I am, so still not sure about it. Also, the controls seem to be limited compared to other options in similar price range.

Similar case with Roland synths. Also, since I already own Zenology Pro and other software libraries from Roland, I want to buy something else - likely something Korg or Yamaha.

[LoveEnigma18]

Luckily, I got an opportunity last week to try out Yamaha MODX M7. I contacted a local Yamaha dealer who fortunately had it and I went there excited immediately and with the intention of bringing it home.

However, to my surprise (or not), I did not find it that good. I am not a professional keyboardist by any means, so it may have had some contribution to my disappointment.

Starting with the keybed, I felt that even my Yamaha PSR E423 has a better keybed than MODX M7. That already made it less inspiring.

The sound was decent but nothing impressive. This could be because of the environment and that I could only test it in mono, but I think it was also because we have so many amazing sounding software synthesizers in our DAW these days.

So, while I certainly want to buy a hardware synth, here I am still undecided on what to buy.

[EnGee]

Luckily, I got an opportunity last week to try out Yamaha MODX M7. I contacted a local Yamaha dealer who fortunately had it and I went there excited immediately and with the intention of bringing it home.

However, to my surprise (or not), I did not find it that good. I am not a professional keyboardist by any means, so it may have had some contribution to my disappointment.

Starting with the keybed, I felt that even my Yamaha PSR E423 has a better keybed than MODX M7. That already made it less inspiring.

The sound was decent but nothing impressive. This could be because of the environment and that I could only test it in mono, but I think it was also because we have so many amazing sounding software synthesizers in our DAW these days.

So, while I certainly want to buy a hardware synth, here I am still undecided on what to buy.

IMO, this is a very good step! You know now more of what you want exactly. I suggest doing the same with the hardware synth. You never know, you might don't like the experience/sound! For me, I prefer using soft synths than the hardware! I also discovered lately that I like a lot the playing and sound of the electric guitar and bass! So, I'm enjoying learning the basics on them for now! What I want to say, you really don't know what you really like until you play with different instruments. Don't take the things logically, but what you really enjoy and inspires you

[LoveEnigma18]

IMO, this is a very good step! You know now more of what you want exactly. I suggest doing the same with the hardware synth. You never know, you might don't like the experience/sound! For me, I prefer using soft synths than the hardware! I also discovered lately that I like a lot the playing and sound of the electric guitar and bass! So, I'm enjoying learning the basics on them for now! What I want to say, you really don't know what you really like until you play with different instruments. Don't take the things logically, but what you really enjoy and inspires you

Yeah, true. Not sure I will be able to try more synths from my list if any, but trying MODX M7 at least gave me some good insights as I had finalized it after all the research and feedback here. I am not sure if my view of MODX M7 is correct or not and if I did right by not buying it, but it just felt a bit underwhelming during the short time I played it.

[LoveEnigma18]

I have been thinking and researching hard the last few days based on the discussion so far and what I really want.

I have bumped up my budget significantly especially as I want to buy something that lasts for many years and not compromise on sound/features and buy something just for the heck of buying it.

So, I am thinking about buying one of the following now:

Roland JUNO-X
Korg KRONOS 3
Roland FANTOM 6 EX
Yamaha MONTAGE M7 (M7 only because the display is centered!)

All feature at least 61 keys, aftertouch, and balanced outputs.

I am leaning towards JUNO-X from affordability point of view and that it has built-in speakers that would be useful for basic work without having to hook it up to monitors or computer using my audio interface. Offers tons of sounds and immediacy with the sliders/knobs for tweaking sounds is the best. It is readily available. However, I read that the aftertouch on this is very stiff and the keybed is probably the least impressive between the options above.

I am leaning towards Kronos 3 in terms of sound, keybed and the 9 engines along with many other features. For the price, this seems to be the best deal overall. It is readily available as well. Although the looks and immediacy may not be the best.

FANTOM EX looks and sounds amazing and has everything I want in terms of sound and features. It's great to be in the Roland Cloud system and all the ACB and Model expansions are free. It is the most expensive of the list and availability is a concern here based on my interaction with various dealers so far.

MONTAGE M7 would be the least preferred for me in terms of sound and overall compared to the above. Not sure why, but I am just connecting with Yamaha in terms of sound. The only reason to consider it would be as an alternative to FANTOM EX (if I don't go for JUNO-X or Kronos 3) as it is a bit more affordable (even more if were to choose M6) and most importantly readily available to order.

Any thoughts on the above would be appreciated.

[zerocrossing]

Luckily, I got an opportunity last week to try out Yamaha MODX M7. I contacted a local Yamaha dealer who fortunately had it and I went there excited immediately and with the intention of bringing it home.

However, to my surprise (or not), I did not find it that good. I am not a professional keyboardist by any means, so it may have had some contribution to my disappointment.

Starting with the keybed, I felt that even my Yamaha PSR E423 has a better keybed than MODX M7. That already made it less inspiring.

The sound was decent but nothing impressive. This could be because of the environment and that I could only test it in mono, but I think it was also because we have so many amazing sounding software synthesizers in our DAW these days.

So, while I certainly want to buy a hardware synth, here I am still undecided on what to buy.

You seem to be under the impression that hardware has some sort of magic that makes it better than software, and that is not the case. In the class of instruments that you're looking at, software is superior in every way but mass.

[LoveEnigma18]

Luckily, I got an opportunity last week to try out Yamaha MODX M7. I contacted a local Yamaha dealer who fortunately had it and I went there excited immediately and with the intention of bringing it home.

However, to my surprise (or not), I did not find it that good. I am not a professional keyboardist by any means, so it may have had some contribution to my disappointment.

Starting with the keybed, I felt that even my Yamaha PSR E423 has a better keybed than MODX M7. That already made it less inspiring.

The sound was decent but nothing impressive. This could be because of the environment and that I could only test it in mono, but I think it was also because we have so many amazing sounding software synthesizers in our DAW these days.

So, while I certainly want to buy a hardware synth, here I am still undecided on what to buy.

You seem to be under the impression that hardware has some sort of magic that makes it better than software, and that is not the case. In the class of instruments that you're looking at, software is superior in every way but mass.

It may have seemed that way, but I am not expecting hardware synths to do any magic. I am just hoping to select the one whose sounds and sound quality are decent enough for the price.

For example, Kronos 3 and FANTOM sound better than Montage/MODX M to me based on what I have heard. It seems to me that the hardware synths at relatively lower price points that I was looking at are not worth bothering (not just for sound, but other reasons too).

I am looking to add a hardware synth in my setup for two reasons: firstly, I have never had one, and secondly, I wanted an inspiring instrument that sounds great and it is fun to play with in standalone and record in DAW.

edit: some text edit in second para, first sentence

[zerocrossing]

Luckily, I got an opportunity last week to try out Yamaha MODX M7. I contacted a local Yamaha dealer who fortunately had it and I went there excited immediately and with the intention of bringing it home.

However, to my surprise (or not), I did not find it that good. I am not a professional keyboardist by any means, so it may have had some contribution to my disappointment.

Starting with the keybed, I felt that even my Yamaha PSR E423 has a better keybed than MODX M7. That already made it less inspiring.

The sound was decent but nothing impressive. This could be because of the environment and that I could only test it in mono, but I think it was also because we have so many amazing sounding software synthesizers in our DAW these days.

So, while I certainly want to buy a hardware synth, here I am still undecided on what to buy.

You seem to be under the impression that hardware has some sort of magic that makes it better than software, and that is not the case. In the class of instruments that you're looking at, software is superior in every way but mass.

It may have seemed that way, but I am not expecting hardware synths to do any magic. I am just hoping to select the one whose sounds and sound quality are decent enough for the price.

For example, Kronos 3 sounds way better than MODX M to me based on what I have heard. Of course, the price difference is almost twice, but that's what I have learnt. It seems to me that the hardware synths at relatively lower price points that I was looking at are not worth bothering (not just for sound, but other reasons too).

I am looking to add a hardware synth in my setup for two reasons: firstly, I have never had one, and secondly, I wanted an inspiring instrument that sounds great and it is fun to play with in standalone and record in DAW.

Sure. That’s a fair goal. I have a bunch of them, and aside from a short period in the 00s, I’ve always had a few. My advice is to sort of forget about multi-engine digital synthesizers, which are basically just software running on dedicated hardware, and look at picking knobby, esoteric types of instruments. Look for things that either sound very different than what you’re using for plugins, or have some unique features, or both. For example, my Prophet 12 module has a tuned feedback feature that’s different than anything I’ve ever seen in software. My Polyvera module has a wide variety of different lo-fi DAC emulators, which in and of itself is not all that difficult to find in a variety of vintage hybrid emulators, but it also has analog performance-voice distortion that sounds amazing and filter FM on analog filters. Add a bunch of modulation sources and you have something that’s a lot different than something like Waldorf’s Microwave 1 plugin. Even my Prophet 6 is different from any Prophet emulation.

So, look at fun stuff that has no emulations. Dreadbox makes a good variety of great sounding synthesizers. The Analog Four is really unique sounding instrument. I could go on all day, but what I like is irrelevant. It’s going to require some research on your part, and most likely you’ll be returning some stuff which doesn’t work out, but you’ll get there in the end.

[stoopicus]

Sure. That’s a fair goal. I have a bunch of them, and aside from a short period in the 00s, I’ve always had a few. My advice is to sort of forget about multi-engine digital synthesizers, which are basically just software running on dedicated hardware, and look at picking knobby, esoteric types of instruments.

Yeah. I keep getting back in to and out of hardware. I am currently in. Basically, last year I needed a smaller MIDI controller, and I am extremely particular about keybeds - so really only a very very few mini key options felt ok to me.

Meanwhile I am also a huge fan of digital hybrid synths - stuff like the late '80s Kawai or Ensoniqs, with analog filters and VCA's but digital oscillators and effects. Or, today's MiniFreak.

So at the time I looked hard at the price difference between a KeyStep Pro and a MiniFreak and just spent the extra to get a MiniFreak.

I'm glad I did (my MiniFreak Stellar is gorgeous, fun to work with and sounds amazing) - but if I am honest, MiniFreak V isn't 90% as good as the hardware - it's more like 99% as good. And I almost never use the synth without the VST in parallel because Arturia did such an amazing job of linking the two - changes in either are instantly reflected on the other so really the VST becomes like a perfect control panel for the synth and the synth a perfect MIDI controller for the VST. It's totally awesome, workflow-wise.

[Uncle E]

Montage M7 sounds pretty much the same as the MODX M7.

Juno-X can't load ACB's and seems to have overly simplistic oscillator control. On a positive note, Juno-X and Jupiter-X are the only things that have Roland's I-Arpeggiator, which I've heard is a good reason to own them.

Fantom isn't as immediate feeling as the Juno-X.

Kronos 3's analog modeling seems to be a lower level from the Multi/Poly.

Maybe check out the CK-61 and CK-88?

[Uncle E]

my MiniFreak Stellar is gorgeous

Arguably the best looking keyboard ever made.

[stoopicus]

my MiniFreak Stellar is gorgeous

Arguably the best looking keyboard ever made.

I totally love it

[LoveEnigma18]

Sure. That’s a fair goal. I have a bunch of them, and aside from a short period in the 00s, I’ve always had a few. My advice is to sort of forget about multi-engine digital synthesizers, which are basically just software running on dedicated hardware, and look at picking knobby, esoteric types of instruments. Look for things that either sound very different than what you’re using for plugins, or have some unique features, or both. For example, my Prophet 12 module has a tuned feedback feature that’s different than anything I’ve ever seen in software. My Polyvera module has a wide variety of different lo-fi DAC emulators, which in and of itself is not all that difficult to find in a variety of vintage hybrid emulators, but it also has analog performance-voice distortion that sounds amazing and filter FM on analog filters. Add a bunch of modulation sources and you have something that’s a lot different than something like Waldorf’s Microwave 1 plugin. Even my Prophet 6 is different from any Prophet emulation.

So, look at fun stuff that has no emulations. Dreadbox makes a good variety of great sounding synthesizers. The Analog Four is really unique sounding instrument. I could go on all day, but what I like is irrelevant. It’s going to require some research on your part, and most likely you’ll be returning some stuff which doesn’t work out, but you’ll get there in the end.

I appreciate the advice, thanks. But I realized during my research that what I want currently are not the esoteric types and pure analog synthesizers, rather workstation or synthesizers that include various types of sounds (even though if they are not the most authentic) and offer ability to tweak them to certain extent and to create new sounds (which might need more time and effort).

For now, I will limit myself to the options that I have shortlisted, else the research may just never end. However, I may consider getting a synth along the lines you mentioned or an analog synth (like the Korg minilogue XD) in the future.

[LoveEnigma18]

Montage M7 sounds pretty much the same as the MODX M7.

Juno-X can't load ACB's and seems to have overly simplistic oscillator control. On a positive note, Juno-X and Jupiter-X are the only things that have Roland's I-Arpeggiator, which I've heard is a good reason to own them.

Fantom isn't as immediate feeling as the Juno-X.

Kronos 3's analog modeling seems to be a lower level from the Multi/Poly.

Maybe check out the CK-61 and CK-88?

Thanks for the suggestion. CK-61/88 looks good, but I wonder if it will become too basic in the long run, especially now that I am looking at all these other bigger synths.

The current situation is Kronos 3 vs Fantom EX (mainly)/JUNO-X. I am mostly leaning towards Fantom EX, but if there is no availability, I might need to go with Kronos 3. Hopefully the Kronos 3 analog modeling is not that bad and is equal or better than the Montage M; at least it looks more diverse to me than Montage M and sounds great with what looks like a great keybed too.

[zerocrossing]

Sure. That’s a fair goal. I have a bunch of them, and aside from a short period in the 00s, I’ve always had a few. My advice is to sort of forget about multi-engine digital synthesizers, which are basically just software running on dedicated hardware, and look at picking knobby, esoteric types of instruments. Look for things that either sound very different than what you’re using for plugins, or have some unique features, or both. For example, my Prophet 12 module has a tuned feedback feature that’s different than anything I’ve ever seen in software. My Polyvera module has a wide variety of different lo-fi DAC emulators, which in and of itself is not all that difficult to find in a variety of vintage hybrid emulators, but it also has analog performance-voice distortion that sounds amazing and filter FM on analog filters. Add a bunch of modulation sources and you have something that’s a lot different than something like Waldorf’s Microwave 1 plugin. Even my Prophet 6 is different from any Prophet emulation.

So, look at fun stuff that has no emulations. Dreadbox makes a good variety of great sounding synthesizers. The Analog Four is really unique sounding instrument. I could go on all day, but what I like is irrelevant. It’s going to require some research on your part, and most likely you’ll be returning some stuff which doesn’t work out, but you’ll get there in the end.

I appreciate the advice, thanks. But I realized during my research that what I want currently are not the esoteric types and pure analog synthesizers, rather workstation or synthesizers that include various types of sounds (even though if they are not the most authentic) and offer ability to tweak them to certain extent and to create new sounds (which might need more time and effort).

For now, I will limit myself to the options that I have shortlisted, else the research may just never end. However, I may consider getting a synth along the lines you mentioned or an along synth (like the Korg minilogue XD) in the future.

Good luck, just don't expect them to be better than a variety of plugins like Falcon, Omnisphere, or similar. They're all generally a compromise to be an all-in-one solution that you can take to gigs.