![]() Semi-modular synthesis was employed on classic instruments like the Korg MS-20 and ARP 2600. With the explosion in popularity of Eurorack modular synths in recent years, there’s also been a resurgence in semi-modular synths. It’s also worth noting that some synths are available in multiple formats, such as the MiniBrute 2, which is also available as a module with built-in step sequencer, the MiniBrute 2S. However you want to make music, there’s a synth to suit you here. Perhaps you prefer to sequence your synths via a DAW or a hardware sequencer. Maybe you’re short on studio space, or maybe you’ve already got a good MIDI keyboard which you want to use as a master controller. The keyboard might seem the obvious choice, but synths with keyboards are inherently bigger than those without. ![]() Once you’ve decided you want a particular set of features or a specific sound, you need to think about the format itself: keyboard, or desktop module. With that said, most polyphonic synths can be set to a monophonic mode, so their versatility tends to give the best of both worlds. There’s no right or wrong answer here, it all just depends on your specific needs and what kind of sound you’re trying to play. ![]() The Moog Matriarch on our list is about as high-end as paraphonic synths get. The sound is a bit different – not quite as precise and versatile as true polphony – but it’s a good compromise. Paraphonic synths can play more than one note at once, but they only have one filter. Sitting in between, you’ve got paraphony, which is a bit of a halfway house between the two. You’ll often hear synths described as four-voice, six-voice, eight-voice and so on, with the higher number of voices giving you more freedom for complex chord voicings and sometimes even split patches, where one hand can play chords and the other can play basslines or lead parts with a different sound (the Arturia PolyBrute is a good example of this). The other main option is polyphony, meaning that the synth can play multiple notes simultaneously, each with its own synth circuit. We’ve rounded up our pick of the best monophonic synths in a separate feature, which you can read in full here. Some of the most iconic synths of all time are proudly monophonic, from the Minimoog to the Roland TB-303. Secondly, lots of elements of music – such as basslines – typically sound best when played monophonically. Firstly, a lot of acoustic instruments are usually only played one note at a time (think wind and brass instruments, or stringed instruments played with a bow). That might sound extremely limiting, but in practice it’s not for a couple of reasons. The most basic analogue synths are monophonic, meaning they can only play one note at a time. The single biggest factor which defines an analogue synth’s feature set is the number of voices it has – that is, how many different notes it can play at once. What to look for How many voices: monophonic, paraphonic or polyphonic? How many voices: monophonic, paraphonic or polyphonic?.The number of synthesisers in this class has risen exponentially over the past few years, and in this list we have listed what we consider to be the best models in this area, looking at models from titans like Arturia and Moog, and units from boutique manufacturers like Vermona and Erica Synths. ![]() While we already have categories looking specifically at the ten best mono synths and mini synths, there are those that will be looking for something a little more high end for their production needs, or even with polyphony, enabling the creation of lush pads and complex chord sequences. We list ten of the best contemporary high-end analogue synthesisers currently on the market.
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