Keyboard Synthesizers
Spotlight
Reviews : Keyboard
Self-contained keyboard synths have an immediacy that is seldom matched by synth modules or software instruments. There’s a great variety of them available at the moment, but how do you know which one is right for you? Here’s a selection of the models we’ve looked at over the last couple of years, with links to the SOS reviews, to help you decide.
Arturia MiniBrute £429$549
Arturia MiniBrute
Newly launched at the recent NAMM show, the MiniBrute is a genuine all-analogue monophonic synthesizer with an appropriately approachable set of controls. The MiniBrute can process external audio signals, and even doubles up as a MIDI controller, and you can read our exclusive review of it on page 22 of this very issue.
Source Distribution +44 (0)20 8962 5080
Korg Kronos £3000$4350
Korg Kronos
The Kronos is Korg’s most advanced keyboard workstation to date, featuring over 30GB of samples stored on its solid-state disk drive, endowing it with highly realistic acoustic instrument sounds, in addition to extremely powerful physical modelling and virtual analogue synthesis engines. With its built-in drum kits and comprehensive sequencing abilities, there’s not an awful lot it can’t do! It’s not for the short of arm and deep of pocket, however.
Korg UK +44 (0)1908 304600
Korg +1 631 390 8737
Roland Gaia £579$699
Roland Gaia
Although it’s a digital synth, the Gaia’s control arrangement is very analogue-like, making it convenient for real-time performance tweaking. Features include Roland’s optical D-Beam controller, a variety of built-in effects, and a generous 64 notes of polyphony. Emphasising the Gaia’s performance credentials is the fact that it can run on batteries!
Roland UK +44 (0)1792 702701
Roland US +1 323 890 3740
Yamaha MOX £1048/£1614$1199/$1999
Yamaha MOX
Available in 61- and 88-note versions, the MOX employs Yamaha’s Motif synth architecture to generate sounds. Thanks to its USB port, the MOX can also act as an audio interface, and as a highly integrated controller for Cubase and Nuendo.
Yamaha Music +44 (0)844 811 1116
Yamaha +1 714 522 9011
Novation Ultranova £600$699
Novation Ultranova
The latest in Novation’s popular Nova range, this analogue-modelling synth includes a vocoder, and can also act as a USB audio interface. The Ultranova isn’t as knob-laden as some synths featured here, but employs a system Novation call Touch Animation to assign to its eight rotary encoders the parameters you’re most likely to want to tweak.
Novation +44 (0)1494 462246
American Music & Sound +1 800 431 2609
Akai Miniak £379$499
Akai Miniak
Another vocoder-equipped synth, Akai’s Miniak combines virtual-analogue synthesis with a built-in drum machine and a host of effects. It’s not the easiest synth to program, but the sounds you can coax out of it are top-notch, despite its low cost.
Numark Alesis +44 (0)1252 896000
Akai +1 401 658 4032
Moog Voyager XL£4079$4995
Moog Voyager XL
Arguably the Rolls Royce of synthesizers, the Voyager XL is both highly desirable and very expensive. This visually striking synth offers a vast range of modulation possibilities, courtesy of its integrated patch panel.
Source Distribution +44 (0)20 8962 5080
Moog Music +1 828 251 0090
Roland Jupiter 80£2499$3499
Roland Jupiter 80
Though its name is similar to that of Roland’s classic analogue Jupiter 8, the Jupiter 80 is a different beast entirely. It’s digital and boasts a powerful analogue modelling section, but also offers high-quality acoustic instrument sounds and incorporates audio recording and playback. Some unusual performance features make it well suited to live use.
Roland UK +44 (0)1792 702701
Roland US +1 323 890 3740
Clavia Nord Stage 2 £2999-£3399$3599 - $4199
Clavia Nord Stage 2
Available in 73-, 76- and 88-key versions, the Clavia Nord Stage 2 is something of an all-rounder, combining a synth engine with realistic organ, piano, harpsichord and clavinet sounds. Allowing you to load and play your own samples, and with a comprehensive set of controls for real-time sonic manipulation, it’s not cheap, but it covers a lot of bases.
Sound Technology +44 (0)1462 480000
American Music & Sound +1 800 431 2609
M-Audio Venom £469$499
M-Audio Venom
The Venom is an analogue modelling digital synth that offers tight integration with computers via its USB port, allowing you to tweak the synth from a PC or Mac. The Venom’s forté is modern, abrasive sounds, rather than the smoother tones associated with analogue synthesizers.
M‑Audio +44 (0)1753 653322
Avid +1 650 731 6300
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Fri 24 May 2013
Sound On Sound : Est. 1985