Best beginner synthesizer keyboards reviewed here. Want something that is smaller, lighter, and more affordable than most keyboard workstations? Checkout these performance synthesizers that are practical for gigging bands and/or for creating your own unique sounds. You can add the classic virtual-analog-synth textures to your music, or create totally new sounds from scratch, or tweak existing samples beyond recognition? using these synthesizer keyboards.
Best Beginner Synthesizers
Best Beginner Synthesizer: Here are some good entry level synth keyboards that are gig-ready and will help you to produce some cool sounds.
Novation MiniNova Analog Modeling Sythesizer
A tiny synth with powerful analog-modeling engine that lets you create huge sounds. You can even run your voice through the built-in microphone/vocoder.
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Korg microKorg Analog Modeling Synthesizer with Vocoder
This is a powerful synthesizer from Korg that is perfect for the musician looking for a serious yet affordable synthesizer. You get a powerful sound synthesis engine, 8-band vocoder with several features, a full range of effects, and a flexible arpeggiator. Even with only 37 keys, this is indeed a very usable keyboard. Read more…
Casio XW-P1 Performance Synthesizer
Finally, a professional synthesizer keyboard from Casio with 400 fully editable PCM based sounds like stereo pianos, vintage electric pianos, strings, guitars, drums and more. Drawbar Organ Mode comes with 9 sliders, adjustable rotary speaker, key click, vibrato and percussion. The 61 standard-size keys comes with 2 types of touch response. This is a 6 oscillator monophonic solo synthesizer. In the HexLayer mode, a single sound made up of 6 components for gig-ready splits and layers. Read more…
Roland Gaia SH-01 Synthesizer
Roland synthesizers are known for their well thought of layout and this is no different. The SH-01 is based on Roland’s proprietary virtual analog synthesis engine. An intuitive layout with dedicated controls and knobs; this synth is suitable for most beginners. Read more…
Best Pocket-Size Synthesizers
Personally, I think everyone should first use an analog synth as there’s often a direct correlation between the controls and the sound parameters (you can instantly hear how the parameter impacts the timbre).
For those with an experimental mindset, analog synths from Roland, Korg, and Moog are great. For the technically less skilled, I would recommend the [easyazon_link identifier=”B00G31YMVS” locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]Arturia Microbrute[/easyazon_link], which I feel is highly educational.I also like the Korg Volca Bass (NOT the Volca Keys), it easy to use, sounds cleaner although not as educational as Microbrute.
Another cheaper version is the Korg Monotron, which is an analog synth with a warm filter and comes with an audio input as well (you can literally carry one in your pocket). However, at this price, you cannot expect MIDI and other features.
16 punch-in play styles, 16 step-sequencer, 16 styles
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Fun sounds, two oscillators with Pitch Control, original Korg MS-20 filter.
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Three-voice analog synthesizer, loop sequencer
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Classic FM (frequency-modulation) synthesizer. 16-step sequencer.
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Synthesizer Buying Guide
Key Features of Synths
Most musicians looking for a beginner synth are not really piano/keyboard players (in the classic sense) and neither are they looking for the home arranger keyboards that come with several accompaniments and with very little editing features.
What they want is a keyboard that lets them tweak the sounds, something that lets them create unique (and at times weird sounds) so that people around can say “Wow”. A synthesizer is an instrument that lets you do such things.
Now, some synthesizers may let you do that easily whereas on some you have to navigate several menus to apply the various functions to allow you to do this in different ways, some easier than others. For example, the microKorg is a great synth, but there’s a learning curve involved and you need to access several menus to access the various features.
Different musicians have different needs and accordingly they choose their synths:
What do Music Enthusiasts Look For?
Here are the things that Music Enthusiasts usually look for in a beginner synth?
More Synth Sounds
So when we talk about the best beginner synthesizer, basically we are talking about a keyboard with good arpeggiators, built-in vocoder, preferably a mic, and lots of electronic sounds including some cool synth sounds; something that can be used for creating dance / electronic music.
You will find some great synth sounds, bass sounds, analog sounds and filters to have more control over how the various voices sound.
Most of these keyboards may or may not have acoustic piano sounds; some probably may have more of electric piano sounds.
Analog sounds are used a lot in electronic music and since we are talking about entry level synth keyboards, you are most likely to get a V.A or Virtual analog synth (uses digital technology) as opposed to a real analog synth (these are more expensive but produce some deep synth sounds).
More Knobs & Sliders
Since synthesizers are used mostly for live use, they have an easy to use interface with LOTS of knobs and sliders to make it easy for use to control the various parameters.
A keyboard that is dependent a lot on its menu for selection is more suitable for home or studio use. So all those knobs make finding and adjusting sounds a lot easier!
No of Keys
In terms of keyboard size most users opt for 61 keys or even lesser, as you rarely play with both your hands on the keyboard. Usually your one hand will be on the keys and the other would be on one of the knobs/sliders.
But most play-back synths (with more of acoustic sounds) are also available in choices of more than 61 keys.
Best Brands/Models
The brands that make good synths include Moog, Roland, Korg, Alesis, Novation, Yamaha. If you’re looking for used-stuff, you can expect good results from the products of these brands.
If you are just learning and are okay to get a used one, then you may also consider getting something like the Moog Rogue. It could be difficult to find but its quite easy to get started and produces some amazing sounds. Its monophonic though (one note at a time) and limited in features compared to what you get on recent synths. The Moog Little Phatty is the modern Rogue, comes with several more features.
There are many who prefer older models (than vintage), they have more features, polyphony and sounds. If money is not really a factor, you may also consider the offerings from NORD. Some prefer to take the software route, which also can give you better results. Its more about preference but as a beginner its great to have something that you can touch and tweak.
It also depends on the kind of sound you’re after. An easier way to determine that is just have a look at some the bands that you like and see what sort of gear they use to produce those sounds. An easy-to-use synth probably may not give you the sound that you are after.
Using Software Synths
If you really don’t want to spend on these synths, then you still have one more option. But for that that you will need a computer, internet connection and a MIDI controller keyboard. You can buy an old style, non-usb one for as little as $5 on Craigslist, just get an $4 USB to MIDI adapter and you’re set.
Then you can download Synth1 and a VSTi wrapper (such as Audacity) and you’ll have a warm sounding, professional virtual studio technology instrument (vsti) that sounds like a top end analog modelling synthesizer.
With this setup also, you can learn a lot about about analog synths, subtractive synthesis, vst plugins, MIDI, and DAW software. But as you can see, the learning curve is a bit steep, but this setup is a lot cheaper; you just need some patience and you’ll have a setup that sounds as good (if not better than) as the hardware synths mentioned above.
Use More to Learn More
There are many who prefer the “presets” as they are easier to use, but them you don’t get to learn more about synthesis. You should spend time designing your own patches so that you can appreciate more the capabilities of such instruments. Programming some of these synths is not fun initially, especially when you don’t understand much about envelopes, LFOs and the other basic building blocks. However, as you start understanding more, you’ll be amazed with the results that some of these can produce.
This is where some of the software synths can also be helpful as there are several tutorials in the manual that helps you to learn to build your own patches. You build patches using modules, similar to most hardware setups. You start with one component, see how it affects the signal, combine more sources and see how it affects the sounds and so on.
But then the advantage of hardware is that it’s easy to set it up, just plug in headphones or speakers and you are ready to hear the various sounds.
A better approach could be to try out some free software (VST synths, etc.) to get an idea of synthesis and probably move to hardware once you have a better idea of what you really are after.
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KeytarHQ editorial team includes musicians who write and review products for pianists, keyboardists, guitarists & other musicians. KeytarHQ is the best online resource for information on keyboards, pianos, synths, keytars, guitars and music gear for musicians of all abilities, ages and interests.
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