High-End Polysynths

We head into the world of synthesizer megafauna to round‑up some of the best polysynths on the market today.

The resurgence of large, peformance‑oriented synths shows no signs of slowing down, and along with the reissues and modernised classics from the usual suspects, there are plenty of newer companies throwing their hat in the ring, too. Whether you’re after a meticulous recreation of early greats or an imaginative new approach — or perhaps something that does a bit of both — there’s almost certainly a current product that will deliver the goods. So, lets take a look at some of the biggest and best keyboard‑equipped polysynths that are on the market today.

Arturia PolyBrute 12

Arturia PolyBrute 12

The latest iteration of Arturia’s flagship polysynth doubles the voice count of its predecessor from six to 12, and promises to deliver a level of playing expression that rivals acoustic instruments. The PolyBrute 12’s signal path begins with a pair of the company’s analogue Brute oscillators and a sub‑oscillator, which are followed by a dual analogue filter section that houses a continuously variable 12dB/oct Steiner filter and a Moog‑inspired 24dB/oct ladder; the filters can be arranged in series or parallel, and a master cutoff control makes it possible to control both simultaneously. VCF, VCA and mod envelopes are joined by three LFOs, and a stereo effects sections offers an array of built‑in reverbs, delays, choruses, flangers, phasers and more.

Like the original PolyBrute, the instrument’s mod matrix is presented on a grid of top‑panel buttons, which also double up as an interface for the onboard sequencer. As for expressive control, a ribbon placed above the 61‑note keybed offers touch control over any mod matrix destination, while a Morphée controller below the pitch and mod wheels combines an X/Y pad with a spring‑loaded bed that offers Z‑axis control, allowing for simultaneous control of up to three mod destinations. The instrument’s standout feature, though, is the FullTouch keybed. The patented design takes the concept of polyphonic aftertouch a step further, offering expression control throughout the entire movement range of every key, allowing a level of control that Arturia say is unmatched by any other synth. Regular channel and polyphonic aftertouch modes are still present.

Those working in the studio benefit from PolyBrute Connect, a Mac/PC app and plug‑in that replicates the instrument’s entire top panel and offers remote control and patch management.

$4999

£3429 including VAT.

www.arturia.com

www.soundonsound.com/reviews/arturia-polybrute-12

www.arturia.com/products/hardware-synths/polybrute-12/overview

ASM Hydrasynth Deluxe / Leviasynth

ASM Hydrasynth Deluxe

The ASM Hydrasynth Deluxe essentially places two Hydrasynth’s into a single instrument, and pairs the dual engines with a 73‑note polyphonic aftertouch keybed. It can be configured either as a single 16‑voice instrument or run in split or layered modes, and each part features independent stereo outputs. Each engine is equipped with three oscillators, dual Wave Mutants (which allow the oscillators to be processed with FM, wave stacking, PWM and all manner of other trickery) and a pair of filters that can be arranged in series or parallel; each oscillator offers a choice of 219 single‑cycle waveforms, and two of the three offer wave‑morphing. Modulation is comprehensive to say the least, with no fewer than five LFOs and five DAHDSR envelopes joined by a 32‑slot mod matrix that offers 35 sources and 191 destinations, while a collection of onboard effects include everything from pitch‑shifting and distortion to delays and reverbs.

The more recently released Leviasynth picks up where the Hydrasynth leaves off, packing in eight oscillators, 13 envelopes, five LFOs, 18 digital filter modes, a four‑pole analogue filter and an onboard three‑track sequencer. In addition to their Polytouch keybeds, both the Hydrasynth Deluxe and Leviasynth feature a ribbon controller and a set of powerful macro controls.

Hydrasynth Deluxe $1999, Leviasynth $2499.

Hydrasynth Deluxe £1701, Leviasynth £2799. Prices include VAT.

www.ashunsoundmachines.com

www.ashunsoundmachines.com/hydrasynth-deluxe

www.ashunsoundmachines.com/leviasynth-key

Clavia Nord Wave 2

Clavia Nord Wave 2

Along with their acclaimed stage pianos and organs, Clavia Nord also offer some all‑out synths in their line‑up. The current flagship is the Wave 2, a four‑part multitimbral instrument that combines virtual analogue, wavetable and FM synthesis with sampling and boasts 48‑voice polyphony. A Layer Control section on the top panel offers quick access to each of the synth’s four parts, and includes a dedicated set of faders for setting the balance between layers; it’s also possible to arrange them across the keyboard using up to three split points. Each layer benefits from its own EQ and effects processing, and it’s possible to group layers together so that they can share the likes of envelopes, filters, effects and the onboard arpeggiator.

The Wave 2’s filter is a multi‑mode affair that offers low‑, band‑ and high‑pass modes along with a Moog‑style ladder, and modulation is taken care of by an LFO that offers triangle, square, sample & hold, sawtooth and inverted sawtooth waveforms. As for effects, the instrument includes a selection of delays and reverbs with dedicated top‑panel sections, along with a multi‑effects section that offers tremolo, pan, ring modulation, chorus, ensemble and vibe processors.

$2999

£2199 including VAT.

www.nordkeyboards.com

www.soundonsound.com/reviews/clavia-nord-wave-2

www.nordkeyboards.com/products/nord-wave-2/

Expressive E Osmose 61

Expressive E Osmose 61

As well as functioning as a powerful MPE controller, the Expressive E Osmose is also a fully-fledged standalone polysynth, and now comes in a larger 61‑key size.

Powered by Haken Audio’s EaganMatrix engine, the instrument offers up to 24‑voice polyphony and is capable of creating a whole host of modern and vintage sounds. The engine features five oscillators/waveshapers along with noise sources, five multi‑mode filters, a pair of filter banks that provide physical modelling, granular and additive synthesis capabilities, and a collection of effects that include delays, reverbs and modulation. The instrument itself features a set of six macro controls that govern key parameters for each preset, while in‑depth tweaking and patch design can be carried out using a Mac/PC editor application.

The standout feature of the Osmose is of course its famous keybed, which despite looking like your average piano‑style action, features a side‑to‑side rocking motion on every key that generates additional control data. The system allows the instrument to offer the sort of expressive control that can be obtained from the likes of the ROLI Seaboard, but without the learning curve that comes with moving away from a traditional keyboard.

$1999

£1899 including...