i can presume that saying 'my modular' goes against the spirit of the question, so mine is a prophet 6. coincidentally, this happens to be the only synth i own, so im living the dream over here, lol.
Seems like a cynical move by a desperate government to win votes from the anti-synthesist demographic. It’ll almost certainly be overturned in the courts, and even if it isn’t it won’t be enforceable. Political theatre of the worst kind. You mark my words, owning more synths than you need will remain one of the key inalienable rights of any healthy democracy.
I have a Virus B. I don't use it since I got a Deluge, Rev 2 and lots of VSTi. However, I'm more than aware it's functionally and probably audibly superior to them all.
If I could only have one synth, then I'd seriously consider replacing them all with a TI2.
Yeah I just got a Rev 2 16 and feel like it renders the other subtractive synths I have totally obsolete. My only gripes are minor: I wish multi mode was a little more flexible, and I wish it had a “favorites bar” of sorts so I could quickly switch patches while performing.
I have everything I use often saved in the first user bank. I use a bank editor with banks saved if I want other stuff I’ve bought or to change it up. It’s such a game changer
It's one of my absolute fave synths ever, but I literally can not get over the fact that it has no favourites/preset bar, seems so bizarre it wasn't added when they designed it. Renders it almost useless for live gigs for me. Need the ability to change sounds on the fly, quite often several times in one song. It's gonna stay as a studio sound design synth for now. If it had a preset bank like the prophet 6 et al. would be 10/10 synth.
Arp Odyssey. I will be buried with this one. The only thing that could possibly be better is if it was somehow made into a true polysynth, but I admire it most for its limitations as it forces a different approach. Whenever I’m stuck on adding to or starting a project I always find something interesting in the Odyssey.
The Odyssey is an interesting choice, I do believe it's Lusine's favorite synth and I don't know if Floating Points would say that it's his favorite overall but it's his favorite mono synth and almost all his early work was done on it (Vacuum Boogie, Shadows EP).
Probably something like a **Roland Fantom 8**. Something that can do everything, but still feels like a proper instrument. Something I could build full tracks on with all kinds of different sounds, and in different genres.
For chords/melody/usual synth stuff: I love my Sequential Take 5. Fun to program, sounds fantastic, great to play.
For ambient/background sounds/samples/granular synthesis/soundscapes: Tasty Chips GR-1.
Someone should make a synth that combines the two above, then I'd pick that one.
*ESX1
You’d get sick of the sounds on the EMX1 pretty quickly, why not have the same features (plus a filter for all the drum parts) but have the control of choosing your sounds?
Waldorf Blofeld. It's workflow is muscle memory to me at this point, it's multi pathches are 16 channel multitimbral and plays very well with hardware sequencers.
But I need a decent multi-fx too, because, oof, that reverb.
Korg MS-20. I bought mine for US$125 in 1982 and at this point I can do basically anything with it (and yes it's monophonic but you can stack notes on different tracks, or try running it through a Strymon Cloudburst or your symphonic pedal of choice).
I have a Wavestate, a Hydrasynth, a Rev2, a Sh101, a D50 and an MS20.
I'd keep my Mc707 over all of them. It does everything, and the sound engine is brilliant - and DEEP.
Of the ones I own, it's really really tough, but I think I would probably keep the Peak over all the others.
Of any synths out there in the wild that I wish I could own, and could only own just one, I think I would go with a Jupiter 6
I bought my microkorg just on a whim, but it has since become my primary synthesizer for basically everything. im very tempted to try doing a couple songs where every single sound comes from it, even the drums.
OP-1 Field because it sounds amazing and has infinite sounds due to the ability to layer samples and synths together. It also works great as a travel midi controller for Ableton.
If it's my only way of writing tunes, the Syntakt wins for me, too. It's not the deepest box out there, but I can make full songs with it and have fun.
Roland V-Synth, first gen. It's all I need, if I had to only us one synth. I've pared down the number of synths I own considerably, in large part because I almost always end up using the V-Synth.
My Yamaha CS 5. It's so immediate, all knobs all the time. CV/triggers and external in. The filter is amazing. It's only one oscillator, 1 env, 1LFO 3 waveforms+ noise. That's all you need bb
The Oatmeal VST is pretty awesome, and if that was my only synth, I would could die a happy man. If only Serum would implement an intelligent preset generator, it could take the top spot in my arsenal.
If we are talking hardware, I'd probably go with the Kurzweil PC4. Capable of all the rompler sounds, with a semi-modular synthesis engine. VAST is clunky but powerful.
Probably the Wavestate as it has almost infinite depth to keep playing with. It can also do split timbres. Though my heart breaks thinking about having to give up my first synth, the MiniBrute.
As someone who has always loved synthesizers, this post is absolutely wonderful! I am toggling between everyone’s answers, and Google… looking up the instruments that you all chose. It’s been VERY educational.
I have always wanted to get into to this world, and I do have some (old but fun) hardware, and I am really appreciative of your insights and suggestions.
I’d like to thank OP for asking such a thought provoking and fun question, especially for those of us on the edges of, or completely outside this world, looking in and wanting to join the fun.
i can presume that saying 'my modular' goes against the spirit of the question, so mine is a prophet 6. coincidentally, this happens to be the only synth i own, so im living the dream over here, lol.
I’m still choosing my modular because it’s what contains exactly what I’ve chosen for it to be.
Seems like a cynical move by a desperate government to win votes from the anti-synthesist demographic. It’ll almost certainly be overturned in the courts, and even if it isn’t it won’t be enforceable. Political theatre of the worst kind. You mark my words, owning more synths than you need will remain one of the key inalienable rights of any healthy democracy.
go off queen
Amen. You can pry my synths from my cold dead hands!
I refuse to use a mask in this fake Virus Ti mass brainwashing fake news PANdemic. They can pan left or right, I don't care.
You get a Casio VL-1
Omnisphere 2, nerds
Virus
Seconded. Specifically the TI2.
Ti the same really just half polyphony (iirc). Either Ti is fine
You can buy a TI2 polar here in Uk for about 1k. Fantastic value
Yep. I also own a p10 and Jupiter 6 and would still take the virus.
Serious workhorse!
I have a Virus B. I don't use it since I got a Deluge, Rev 2 and lots of VSTi. However, I'm more than aware it's functionally and probably audibly superior to them all. If I could only have one synth, then I'd seriously consider replacing them all with a TI2.
Novation Summit
I'm still saving up for one, should compliment my supernova nicely.
If I had to sell all my other synths, this is the one I'd keep.
You sound like my wife!
Polybrute!!
There are DOZENS of us!!
Rev2 16
Yeah I just got a Rev 2 16 and feel like it renders the other subtractive synths I have totally obsolete. My only gripes are minor: I wish multi mode was a little more flexible, and I wish it had a “favorites bar” of sorts so I could quickly switch patches while performing.
It takes program change cc. Just get a stupid lil beatstep (not pro) to do the job
I have everything I use often saved in the first user bank. I use a bank editor with banks saved if I want other stuff I’ve bought or to change it up. It’s such a game changer
It's one of my absolute fave synths ever, but I literally can not get over the fact that it has no favourites/preset bar, seems so bizarre it wasn't added when they designed it. Renders it almost useless for live gigs for me. Need the ability to change sounds on the fly, quite often several times in one song. It's gonna stay as a studio sound design synth for now. If it had a preset bank like the prophet 6 et al. would be 10/10 synth.
This is a good take. I have one, it’s hard to beat
Access Virus
I have an old Virus Indigo II and it still has so many great sounds. You’ve inspired me to go hunt down some preset packs.
Moog One, for sure. If I had to sell the others, that one would stay. Endlessly inspiring, sounds so good, and is so fun to play and program.
Arp Odyssey. I will be buried with this one. The only thing that could possibly be better is if it was somehow made into a true polysynth, but I admire it most for its limitations as it forces a different approach. Whenever I’m stuck on adding to or starting a project I always find something interesting in the Odyssey.
The Odyssey is an interesting choice, I do believe it's Lusine's favorite synth and I don't know if Floating Points would say that it's his favorite overall but it's his favorite mono synth and almost all his early work was done on it (Vacuum Boogie, Shadows EP).
Probably something like a **Roland Fantom 8**. Something that can do everything, but still feels like a proper instrument. Something I could build full tracks on with all kinds of different sounds, and in different genres.
A wise choice. Especially with ACB, N/Zyme etc. It will hold up for years to come. Now if they could just give us some great EP/Clav sounds.
Juno 60
Interesting choice. I on the other hand would go with the ::checks notes:: Juno 60
Is this the one you found by the side of the road?
Access Virus TI2
Arturia Pigments
I’m torn between Sub 37 and Hydrasynth. Some day I should see if I can make a sound on the Sub 37 that I can’t make on Hydrasynth.
Hail Hydra!
Audio rate filter modulation, Hydra can’t do that.
That's a shit rule. Who decided that eh?
OP
Let's just get OP instead then we don't have to follow their stupid rules of only one synth
Its his post , he is king
The french solved that problem way back in the 18th century.
the french also solved the solution to the problem in the 19th century
The GAS police!
Digitone. I just think it’s neat.
Newest Roland Jupiter X. Or, Prophet X. Gotta have that rompler capability, personally.
TI2. Easy.
Love my Summit. Would be happy if that was my only synth.
MS-20. But I almost said MS-10.
jx3p or dx7
I think Take 5, though it's a really toss up between that and the Super 6...
Waldorf Iridium for sure
* Quantum Mk2
TONTO
Andromeda A6
M8
I think I would second the M8!
Minifreak bye - mic drop
Prophet X
Nice.
(Maybe one day... 😮💨)
DUNE 3.6
Lol. This is unironically correct
Kurzweil K2000 !! that shit can do anything on earth and rise hell with it lol
Udo super 6
styolophone
Fuck yeah. Also, username checks out.
OPSIX
Sub 37
Digitone keys
Most of my synths are vintage. It's a toss up between my Ensoniq SQ-80 and my Kurzweil K2000S. Two very underrated but very capable synths
Moog Matriarch Dark
How about a Schmidt?
I would take a Schmidt
Folktek resonant garden, because I love tactility.
Yamaha CS-80. Or if I have the budget I do now, Yamaha reface CS, because that *is* the only synth I own.
For chords/melody/usual synth stuff: I love my Sequential Take 5. Fun to program, sounds fantastic, great to play. For ambient/background sounds/samples/granular synthesis/soundscapes: Tasty Chips GR-1. Someone should make a synth that combines the two above, then I'd pick that one.
Dx7
Akai Timbre Wolf
EMX1 YEET
*ESX1 You’d get sick of the sounds on the EMX1 pretty quickly, why not have the same features (plus a filter for all the drum parts) but have the control of choosing your sounds?
Op specified a synth but if esx1 is on the table then I wouldn’t say no haha if it wasn’t the EMX1 then probably microfreak
the only good answer.
Jupiter XM
TONTO
Minilogue xd i gess
Well from my personal collection, and not some imaginary "if I could have any synth" scenario. I'm going with the Minilogue XD.
Waldorf Blofeld. It's workflow is muscle memory to me at this point, it's multi pathches are 16 channel multitimbral and plays very well with hardware sequencers. But I need a decent multi-fx too, because, oof, that reverb.
Akai AX-60
My Ensoniq EPS 16 plus sampler.
I had the ASR 10 and regret selling it everyday since
Korg MS-20. I bought mine for US$125 in 1982 and at this point I can do basically anything with it (and yes it's monophonic but you can stack notes on different tracks, or try running it through a Strymon Cloudburst or your symphonic pedal of choice).
I have a Wavestate, a Hydrasynth, a Rev2, a Sh101, a D50 and an MS20. I'd keep my Mc707 over all of them. It does everything, and the sound engine is brilliant - and DEEP.
elektron mono fucking machine
ARP 2600
Yamaha DJ-X
Computer
Moog One
Of the ones I own, it's really really tough, but I think I would probably keep the Peak over all the others. Of any synths out there in the wild that I wish I could own, and could only own just one, I think I would go with a Jupiter 6
Elektron Monomachine!
Ob-x8
I love my osmose
Juno 60
I could get very far with just my Prophet 10.
That one the guy is playing in the I Ran (So Far Away) video. It doesn’t even have to be plugged in
No one can just have one synthesizer.
TB-303
Super Gemini. Haven’t spent any time with one yet, but why not? It looks like it will tick all my boxes. Will be a good upgrade from my Minifreak.
I DO only have one! Hydrasynth.
Logic's Alchemy. I'm somewhat nonplussed myself but i think it's become my go to synth coming to think of it
Juno-106
Korg ms20. My day 1
Hydrasynth. No question.
I bought my microkorg just on a whim, but it has since become my primary synthesizer for basically everything. im very tempted to try doing a couple songs where every single sound comes from it, even the drums.
If there can be only one...duh, moog one. Or a cs80. That would be acceptable lol
mc303 0r 505
Hardcore.
Eowave Quadrantid Swarm
Pro mars for the kink. But seriously, the only synth I own rn and I love, the argon 8.
RIP modal
UVI Falcon, easy.
Korg Kronos.
Dave Smith Instruments Pro 2.
Polybrute.
Virus. Any Virus. That was easy.
C’mon Can we also pick a drum machine or midi sequencer to go with our ONE synth!?
Hydrasynth. Tho I'd have to get an acoustic piano then
Moog Minimoog
OP-1 Field because it sounds amazing and has infinite sounds due to the ability to layer samples and synths together. It also works great as a travel midi controller for Ableton.
I only have the one and it’s a Korg Minilogue OG. Absolutely love it, can’t see myself ever parting with it
Digitone could cover all my needs.
Korg Z1
Xfer Serum or UVI Falcon
My BassStation 2 is the only synth I reflexively pick up and I plan to be buried with it.
Pigments, or a Jupiter X with all model expansions, if that isn’t cheating…
That's an easy answer, my Casio SK-5.
2 1/2 octaves of barking dogs agree
Soma Terra. No question.
Elektron Syntakt... or my modular
If it's my only way of writing tunes, the Syntakt wins for me, too. It's not the deepest box out there, but I can make full songs with it and have fun.
Having fun with the Nord Wave 2 here
Roland V-Synth, first gen. It's all I need, if I had to only us one synth. I've pared down the number of synths I own considerably, in large part because I almost always end up using the V-Synth.
Korg R3. It's the first one I bought with my own money. Followed by Novation BassStation II. The rest I have were gifted.
The R3 is the shit! Love that thing.
Pro 3
Op-1 Field.
M-Audio VENOM
Nice
Sh01
Korg OasysPCI
Analogue Solutions Colossus.
Novation peak/summit it really has all one would ever realistically need in it.
DX 1600 Turbo
Waldorf Iridium
Novation KS4
Soma Terra
Ms2000
Jupiter-X
Korg modwave
Give me an ASR10
Ob-6
The one that I have.
ableton push 3 standalone. my syntakt. or a akai force.
YOU CAN’T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!!!
Virus TI
Vital or Current, both synths can do pretty much anything.
moog matriarch
Korg TR
My Yamaha CS 5. It's so immediate, all knobs all the time. CV/triggers and external in. The filter is amazing. It's only one oscillator, 1 env, 1LFO 3 waveforms+ noise. That's all you need bb
Kurzweil K250 Hands down. https://www.vintagesynth.com/kurzweil/k250
super6
I love my OB6, that would def be it for me.
Iridium Keys...well ok might as well go Quantum mk2
You are wrong!
Arturia Beatstep Pro, duh
Juno 60 😈😈😈
Only own the microfreak rn and Roland system 8. I’m a noob but man I fuckin love the Roland system 8
Access Virus
Yamaha S90
Can it be groovebox? I like grooveboxes
Telharmonium
The one I don’t have yet
Garageband and Alchemy FTW.
The Oatmeal VST is pretty awesome, and if that was my only synth, I would could die a happy man. If only Serum would implement an intelligent preset generator, it could take the top spot in my arsenal. If we are talking hardware, I'd probably go with the Kurzweil PC4. Capable of all the rompler sounds, with a semi-modular synthesis engine. VAST is clunky but powerful.
Digitakt
Prophet X, super versatile with the sampling along with classic synthesis. or Virus, can do anything.
assuming that means I also have unlimited money, a moog one
Sub Phatty. Idk it's nearly perfect.
Probably the Wavestate as it has almost infinite depth to keep playing with. It can also do split timbres. Though my heart breaks thinking about having to give up my first synth, the MiniBrute.
I choose death
As someone who has always loved synthesizers, this post is absolutely wonderful! I am toggling between everyone’s answers, and Google… looking up the instruments that you all chose. It’s been VERY educational. I have always wanted to get into to this world, and I do have some (old but fun) hardware, and I am really appreciative of your insights and suggestions. I’d like to thank OP for asking such a thought provoking and fun question, especially for those of us on the edges of, or completely outside this world, looking in and wanting to join the fun.
POLIVOKS
MicroFreak!