In recent years, hardware synths have grown immensely in popularity as people look to make music outside of their DAW of choice. Hardware synths deliver a hands-on, tactile approach to synthesis, combined with easily tweakable parameters and, of course, great tones.
So, whether you're looking for your first beginner synth, or a sound designer looking to add something new to your arsenal, there's a budget synth out there to suit everyone, and today we'll break down our favourites.
Arturia MiniBrute 2 Noir Edition for 24520 UAH
A seriously competitive semi-modular monosynth
Brief Specs
- Synth engine: Analogue
- Polyphony: Paraphonic
- Keyboard: 32 RGB-backlit velocity-sensitive button grid
- Sequencer: 8-step
- Effects: Distortion (three types)
- MIDI I/O: In/Out/Thru
- Connectivity: Headphones. line out, audio input, analogue clock in and out, CV, gate and aux CV outputs, USB (MIDI only)
- Power: Power adapter
PROS
- The patchbay adds flexibility
- Plenty of analogue grit
- Decent control options
CONS
- Osc 2 pitch control is a little too close to the filter cutoff
MiniBrute 2 has evolved from the legendary monosynth that revolutionized the analog scene with its mixable waveforms, Steiner-Parker filter, and Brute Factor. Now with semi-modular architecture, you can splice its genome and expand its raw power into the world of Eurorack modular.
Born from the lineage of its predecessor, MiniBrute 2 is an adaptable, dynamic synth with semi-modular architecture and huge connectivity. This is synth evolution.
More info about Arturia MiniBrute 2 Noir Edition
IK Multimedia UNO Synth Pro for 25999 UAH
Shames more expensive synths with functions and features you’d expect to pay twice as much for
Brief Specs
- Synth engine: Analogue
- Polyphony: Paraphonic
- Keyboard: Full 37-note keyboard
- Sequencer: 64-step
- Effects: 12 effects in three slots
- MIDI I/O: Minijack In/Out
- Connectivity: 2 x 1/4” outs, 3.5mm headphone out and input, 2 x CV in and out, USB
- Power: PSU
PROS
- Some excellent stereo effects
- Very capable sequencer
- Full keyboard feels good
CONS
- Full version much more expensive than desktop
UNO Synth Pro gives you the power to create nearly any analog synth sound you can imagine. With its unique dual-filter, 3-oscillator paraphonic design, 256 presets, 64-step sequencer, studio-grade effects, expanded connections and much more, UNO Synth Pro breaks new ground for music makers.
More info about IK Multimedia UNO Synth Pro
Korg minilogue xd for 33440 UAH
A compact, powerful analogue synth that takes inspiration from the Prologue
Brief Specs
- Synth engine: Analogue and digital
- Polyphony: 4 voices
- Keyboard: 37 slim keys, velocity-sensitive
- Sequencer: 16-step
- Effects: Modulation, Delay, Reverb
- MIDI I/O: In/Out
- Connectivity: Headphones, stereo output, CV In, audio in, sync in, sync out, USB
- Power: AC adapter
PROS
- Great sequencer
- Multi-Engine from the Prologue
- Great effects
CONS
- Keys are slim rather than full-size
An evolved next-generation analog synthesizer with huge potential for sound design and performance. We wanted to deliver a next-generation analog synthesizer for a new generation of musicians new to analog synthesis. That dream was realized in the development of the minilogue, which instantly made the analog synthesizer approachable.
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