stoken6 Posted June 25, 2021 Share Posted June 25, 2021 Asking for a friend... He has an Electro, and wants some monosynth-y goodness in his life. Requirements: - Cheap (c.$250) - Full-size keys (not a module) I recommended he get Animoog on his phone to start with, but I expect he'll want to move on from that. Thanks for any recommendations. Cheers, Mike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RABid Posted June 25, 2021 Share Posted June 25, 2021 I think he is going to have to double his budget to get something decent with full size keys. The Arturia MiniBrute 2 comes to mind. To stay in budget he is going to have to give up keys and go with a module. Maybe the Uno Synth. Quote This post edited for speling. My Sweetwater Gear Exchange Page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spider76 Posted June 25, 2021 Share Posted June 25, 2021 Used (or new, if he can stretch the budget a bit) Bass Station II. Full size keys with velocity and aftertouch (only 2 octaves though) and more synthesis capabilities than much more expensive synths. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan Posted June 25, 2021 Share Posted June 25, 2021 It's still about $50 over his budget, but I'd seriously suggest he tries a Korg Monologue for himself. I've just bought one and find the keyboard surprisingly playable, and I speak as a classically-trained pianist. It would also sit nicely directly on top of his Electro, weighs nothing and has quite serious sonic heft. Add batteries and he can stick it in a backpack and take it anywhere and practice his synthesis skills. Quote Studio: Yamaha P515 | Yamaha Tyros 5 | Yamaha HX1 | Moog Sub 37 Road: Yamaha YC88 | Nord Electro 5D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnotherScott Posted June 25, 2021 Share Posted June 25, 2021 Behringer MS-1 is currently $299 at Sweetwater, that's probably as close as you get. If mini-keys are a possibility (which still meets the "not a module" criteria), you could look for a used Yamaha Reface CS or Korg Micro-Korg, you might find one of those a bit below that $299 point. If he already owns an iPhone or iPad, yes, an app is a good way to go... you could buy a dedicated controller for it (with full size keys) along with the necessary cabling and some apps and be well within budget. Quote Maybe this is the best place for a shameless plug! Our now not-so-new new video at https://youtu.be/3ZRC3b4p4EI is a 40 minute adaptation of T. S. Eliot's "Prufrock" - check it out! And hopefully I'll have something new here this year. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spider76 Posted June 25, 2021 Share Posted June 25, 2021 No preset memories, minikeys and a very personal sound which many people don't like (surely not the "moog sound" which most associate with "synth"), but the Arturia MicroBrute is an awesome semi-modular (with a real patch bay!) with surprising synthesis features for such a tiny and cheap package. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Mike Metlay Posted June 25, 2021 Share Posted June 25, 2021 All of these recommendations so far are good, but I recommend that your friend consider buying used. He should go to reverb and enter any of the names above and see what he can afford. If he"s not interested in having a lot of modular patch cable stuff, he should just find an original minibrute. Quote Dr. Mike Metlay (PhD in nuclear physics, golly gosh) Musician, Author, Editor, Educator, Impresario, Online Radio Guy, Cut-Rate Polymath, and Kindly Pedant Editor-in-Chief, Bjooks ~ Author of SYNTH GEMS 1 clicky!: more about me ~ my radio station (and my fam) ~ my local tribe ~ my day job ~ my book ~ my music Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cp-the-nerd Posted June 25, 2021 Share Posted June 25, 2021 I second the Korg Monologue. Korg's budget synths never fail to impress and the expandability is endless. I have been enjoying the hell out of my Minilogue XD since Christmas and I feel like I'm just scratching the surface. Quote Keyboards: Nord Electro 6D 73, Korg SV-1 88, Minilogue XD, Yamaha YPG-625 Bonus: Boss RC-3 Loopstation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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