Cheap synthesizers? looking entry level noob synth

drgonzo1969

drgonzo1969

Well-known member
I was looking around on sweetwater the other day and came across these cheap behringer synthesizers. I had a cheap synth back in the day that was hella fun to play around with. I dont know a damn thing about synths really but they are fun and easy songwriting tool. here is a link to the one i was looking at. nothing special $99. I am not looking for anythng fancy. anybody got some expertise in this area? all advice welcome! thanks everyone. have a good day
www.sweetwater.com

Behringer Pro VS Mini Hybrid Vector Synthesizer

4-voice Hybrid Synthesizer Module with 16 Vector Oscillators, Wavetable Synthesis, Analog Low-pass Filter/Sequencer/Arpeggiator, Filter/Amplifier/Oscillator Envelopes, 2 LFOs, USB-C, Sync In, and MIDI In
www.sweetwater.com www.sweetwater.com
 
I'm a big synth nerd. I don't have experience with that particular model, but folks seem excited by the cost/features. The touch key pad may be strange depending on your level of comfort with piano.

What in particular are you looking to do with one (sound design, compose, etc.)?

There's a lot available in the below $200 range these days
 
Ya the keypad was my only concern with that model. The guy used a keyboard with the synth in the demo. It’s not s huge turn off tho. Im mostly just going to be noodling around with it at my desk. I don’t have s specific need for it. Just noodling and exploration really
 
If you want a cheapo membrane-pad synth, I’d go for this one, especially since the price drop makes it pretty attractive
www.sweetwater.com

Behringer JT-4000 Micro Hybrid Modeling Synthesizer

4-voice Portable Hybrid Modeling Synthesizer with 32 Memory Presets, 16-note Capacitive Touch Keyboard, 6 Waveforms, Analog Filter, Arpeggiator, and LFO
www.sweetwater.com www.sweetwater.com

For a legitimate instrument, you won’t find something with a playable keybed for under $200 unless you go the route of midi. If you want analog, you’re going to be looking at only monophonic synths within your budget.

You could stay mostly within you budget with a Behringer Wasp Deluxe (which isn’t actually all analog— it’s got digital oscillators but everything else is analog) and an Arturia Minilab— that would be around $230 for that setup, but you might find the 25 key limiting if you later want to integrate some polyphonic softsynths or anything like that. Another great option is the equally revered and scorned MicroKorg, which is a digital modeling synth that’s all over iconic records of the past two decades— it’s polyphonic so you could play chords, and you could learn a lot about synthesis and find more about what direction you want to explore in the future. It’s around $400 new, but they’re so plentiful that they’re available used for around $2-300 on a regular basis.
 
If you can stretch your budget a bit, I think you could find a used dreadbox nymphes for around $400USD. 6-voice analog with the ability to save presets, they sound really nice and have a nice, straightforward, juno-esque interface. You'd need a separate midi kybd to controll it, but those are cheap and easy to find.
 
Something from the roland boutique series might also be rad - the JU06 or JP08 seem like great bargains.
 
If you want to play with modular(and learn what does what in synth), try VCC Rack. They have a free version and it's a real fun time sink.
Can always just beat around the presets too.
You'll need a midi keyboard but you can get 2-3 octave ones cheap and you can always use it with a hardware synth later. Just make sure it has midi out and isn't just a USB controller.
 
I have an Arturia Microbrute (and a Drumbrute) that is a lot of fun to play around with. It's full analog, though, so no saving presets or anything like that. They can be picked up used for a pretty good deal now.

Synths are a lot of fun and a really deep dive. Behringer have been on a roll cloning a bunch of old analog synths over the years and selling them for pretty cheap. If you're into analog stuff it's worth looking into.
 
Im gonna be putting this on my sweetwater card so im leaning towards the behringer options still. The roland stuff looks cool as hell and i want it but i dont know if i NEED it. That might be a upgrade purchase further down the road. Still not sure how far down the hole I want to go. thats why i want to keep it pretty cheap. Im gonna head into Chicago Music Exchange on one of my next days off and fondle some synths and other things to see what appeals to me in person.
 
I recently dove into this after wanting to upgrade from an MPK Mini Play - which is a midi keyboard with a very limited MIDI sound engine and a speaker. It has just barely good enough sounds to be useful as a songwriting tool. I will also say, the MPK Mini Play is in your price range but there is no way you would not regret buying something nicer (and cheaper!), especially with the Behringer options.

For posterity, I ended up going with a Korg Minilogue XD - which is well outside of your budget at $600 new (I got a floor model for $500), which is a great synthesizer and a very good upgrade to the Minilogue but I had different needs and wants. I bought it recently after a lot of research into sub $600 synths.

The Behringer you linked to looks like Behringer's version of some very well regarded similar synths in your price range but at the higher end, specifically Korg's Volca line and the Arturia Microfreak. Behringer synths seem to only be disliked by synth nerds, and only for how well they knock off other products.

I'd buy the Pro VS Mini pretty much without hesitation if it sounds like it fits your needs. The Volca series are $70 more each, and the Microfreak is only maybe within your price range used. Those are the only alternatives I'd consider for your needs and price range personally. Behringer also has the JT 4000 micro for $50 which I might pick up myself actually.

Worst case scenario you learn more about what you want out of a synth from the VS Mini. The used synth market is seller friendly and you could probably flip it without much loss, especially with it being newer.
 
The MicroKORG has been the the gold standard entry-level synth for decades now. They are abundant and you can probably find a used one for about $200-250.

You might also want to consider a MIDI keyboard and software synth if you are willing to play through a computer. These days soft synths are as good or better than the "real thing," and there's a ton of great freeware - PG-8X, Dexed, Synth1, OB-XD, depending on what sound you're going for.
 
drgonzo1969 said:
Im gonna head into Chicago Music Exchange on one of my next days off and fondle some synths and other things to see what appeals to me in person.
Click to expand...
Also go to Rock N Roll Vintage & Synth City to drive the Ferraris, they have the vintage $6k synths the get you inspired
 
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Another vote for MicroKorg. It's super fun and usable. Also, the size is great, keys are just big enough to play, but you can chill on the couch with some headphones and tinker. You can buy it used and sell it later if you don't get into it.
 
Ya MicroKorg looks fuckin sweet but I think I need to get something a little cheaper first before I can justify the big boy toys. I need to make sure I use it fairly often before I dump big bucks in on this one. I have a bunch of guitar gear that I bought and then used once or twice and now they sit on a shelf... however, I do foresee myself eventually going deeper with synths. Im just not there yet.
 
That keyboard isn't the best to play. Don't forget you can get lots of really cool free vst synths online. Just add a midi keyboard and you're in business. I have tons of free stuff that sounds great. My favs are a mini Moog and mellotron both free.
 
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Blipblox looked like fun when it was a Kickstarter, but they wanted too much even then — so I never bought one for niece&nephew.


Now it comes in an “adult” colour too.

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Not a synth, bunI have the MiniLab 3 and you can use that for all sorts of stuff

Arturia - MiniLab 3 - MiniLab 3

Go with your flow Finally, an easy keyboard controller that adapts to your needs, your style, and your workflow, so you can make music just the way yo...
www.arturia.com www.arturia.com
 
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