12 best synthesizers

A more experienced musician is likely to stick to the keys - yes, they are unweighted and are deprived of any feedback on the pressing force, but for an inexperienced musician this will not be an obstacle, rather, on the contrary, it will help to work out the technique without struggling with finger fatigue. Pianists will not like the built-in samples of their favorite instrument - indeed, they stand out unprofitably against the rest of the overly artificial, and even rattling with a strong blow (a fun implementation of a “live” game) sound. What is most interesting - the piano sounds pretty decent!

What really liked it was the ability to connect to USB as an “almost” MIDI keyboard: after recording a lost part in the memory of the synthesizer, you can use it already in working with high-quality VST, writing complex compositions in sequencers. At least, lovers of all kinds of electronic genres, deprived of their “warm-light” keyboard, will definitely not interfere with loading their favorite PoiZone into FL Studio.

Well, add for completeness the slot for SD-cards, on which you can store MIDI-files of accompaniment, microphone jack in case you want to sing along to your own game. Yes, the synthesizer came out not ideal in terms of sounding or sensations from the game, but just as an educational tool, it really worked out. And, in the end, it was in that capacity that we considered him.

Fans of experiments will appreciate the size of the standard library - and this is not less than 600 tones of various tools, complemented by high-quality effects. Of these, we especially note Virtual Hall - it was never so easy to feel yourself in front of a grand piano on the stage of La Scala with closed eyes (this phrase can be suggested by Casio for a commercial, hehe). It is easy to fill up the library of sounds with your own samples through the aux-input in just three steps: select the sampling mode, bank number (601 and higher) and start the signal from the player or computer.

Of the additional "goodies" there is a USB connector for connecting to a PC (updating banks, editing MIDI accompaniments), a connector for the sustain pedal. The training mode due to the decent size of the display is quite convenient, besides there are almost 2 hundred variants of melodies in it - there is something to work out with the technique.

In general, the Casio tool came out great for its price.Of the minuses here we note frankly boring acoustics - the sound she has is flat, forcing her to mentally sing along with "The plastic world of victory and…." It is necessary to connect the synthesizer to an external amplifier or to good headphones.

A typical inexpensive synthesizer for beginners - just a basic set of controls (for example, real-time controllers are definitely not enough), but with a large display and dynamic key illumination. Even a complete “teapot” will be able to deal with it, which can hardly distinguish the icons on the musical staff. The keys are very light, so this synthesizer will fit perfectly for children, but a more “heavy” instrument will suit an adult, especially if you have a sight on a “live” keyboard instrument.

The game features are also only basic. Difficult compositions for the synthesizer are already impossible, few simultaneously processed keystrokes - but it’s okay, the “target audience” is not able to play with all ten fingers. But the lack of USB spoils the impression more: you can neither transfer audio to a computer, nor connect a synthesizer as a MIDI device.

But instead, Casio offers a simple game of chords (in Casio Chord mode, pressing one key generates a full major chord, two for a minor chord), a convenient learning mode for any hand of your choice or two at once, good “dance music” modes. Built-in 120 timbres (without the possibility of adding your own samples), 100 compositions, 70 types of auto-accompaniment.

Acoustics unpretentious - two dvuhvattnyh dynamics. In good headphones, the synthesizer sounds more interesting, but, of course, in terms of sound quality, it is still weaker than more advanced models for beginners.

If you need exactly an inexpensive instrument without high requirements for sound, then there is an option to save money by not turning to well-known brands. The Chinese synthesizer will offer 320 built-in timbres, and not the worst tutorial, and the ability to connect to a PC via a USB connector — the synthesizer can also work as a MIDI keyboard.

What will have to pay for it? To begin with - frankly weak acoustics, and we are talking not only about the speakers, but about the sound path as a whole. The cutoff of the upper octaves is felt, a resonance is noticeable at the bottom of the MF range. The keyboard is a traditional 61-keyed, unweighted, touch sensitive, but overly light, not giving adequate feedback.

On the other hand, think about the price. Medelli makes it possible to start inexpensively mastering both the keyboard instrument and the work with DAW on a computer - and high-quality VST, in combination with a decent sound card, will allow you to get a sound much better than the “built-in” one. Hence, the time of "growth" can be stretched.

The functionality here is expectedly limited - there are no connectors for the pedals (but there is USB), and there are only 200 built-in timbres. In the best Chinese traditions, the manufacturer tries to attract attention with “component” acoustics - tweeters and even bass reflex holes (!) Are seen near both speakers. Honestly, it’s hard to say that the sound is spoiling more - the acoustics or the synthesizer itself, but after the “Yamaha” it really doesn’t impress, a good amplifier and acoustics somewhat correct the situation.

The training mode is usual for inexpensive synthesizers, based on built-in tunes with prompts on the display. It is quite well read, so that the “learning” here is suitable for use, and not added for a tick.

Keyboard ... Well, let's say, traditional unweighted. After more expensive instruments, it is frankly unpleasant with its plasticity, but here it is worth remembering again about the price of the synthesizer. He fully justifies it - the same Yamaha is almost twice as expensive.

It is enough to play a little on it to begin to pursue a sense of déjà vu.Indeed, Korg sound banks in electronic music are like Marshall JCM800 for guitarists: they can be heard from a huge number of bands. Because of its small size, the “kid” is deprived of built-in acoustics, but it can boast of having two MIDI ports (input and output) and analogue sound controllers that are so cute electronics lovers - pitch and modulation under the left hand, right-on top are the usual cutoff, resonance controls and so Further.

The “bonus” to the list of functions is the built-in vocoder. It is very easy to edit the “stuffing” of the synthesizer - just connect it to a PC with the microKORG Sound Editor installed.

In general, if you know what oscillators are, and why mix the saw with a sine wave, this synthesizer will be the best choice. We will not advise the newcomer exactly: from one setting with two selectors and five "twists" on the table in the style of "devil's leg breaks" he will have a shock.

At the sight of this keyboard hybrid with an old telephone PBX, someone would weigh the jaw in shock, and personally the author of these lines played a record in the memory of the old Latvian Zodiac group. Presets? Sound banks? But take a bite! The sound of this instrument is created literally by hand - with analog “twisters” in the amount of 36 (!) Pieces and by switching a set of generators and filters with cords (add as many sockets to the “twisters”).

A person accustomed to the “remnants” of modern digital synthesizers will freeze and go into reboot at the stage of mastering the synthesizer. But a fan of electronic music “exposure” for more than 25 years will have a foolish smile in the process of tuning, and the effort to creep up to the ears. Yes, this is really an analog synthesizer, not its digital imitation, and you can’t confuse the character of its sound - its scheme is based on the legendary Korg MS-20 already in 1978.The fact that it was supplemented with a digital signal processor that allows you to connect a synthesizer to a PC (and even, God forbid, an iPad) and play MIDI from an external source, looks close to blasphemy.

Alas, this tool is still specific, many fans of modern electronics will scare away the very idea of ​​adjusting the sound by switching plugs on the panel according to the block diagram. So for a glaring (and excellent) non-universality, we still lower his rating score.

The synthesizer (as well as other analog) "on the fan", but what! At one time, it was with a compact “analogue”, as opposed to overall devices with switching by a bundle of wires, few of whom then a well-known English company surprised the world. Of course, in the two thousandth, the company focused mainly on controllers and audio interfaces - but the more interesting is its “return to roots”, marked by Best Value Award from Audiofanzine, Editor’s Choice Award from Electronic Musician, third place in the Music Radar ranking and many other awards.

Just two octaves on the keyboard? But 24 regulators, 11 selectors and 13 buttons are at your disposal. Same “analog” - here the sound is created as in the alchemist’s laboratory. And, of course, there is an “iron” MIDI input and output, supplemented by MIDI implementation via USB (and with a USB connection, you can also take power from the computer).

There are a lot of possibilities for the synthesizer, although the impression is spoiled by the implementation of regulators (control is not the most convenient compared to other models of this type). Bass Station II can produce both aggressive sound for modern music styles, and the nostalgic sound of the eighties. Just twist the knobs - unless, of course, you understand all these LFOs, DCOs and their ilk. And all this is relatively inexpensive. So, if you have already played enough with the emulation of analog synthesizers in various VST and decided to "touch" it with your hands, Bass Station II can be a good choice.

Excellent 49-key keyboard with the ability to connect the pedals. Keys with decent feedback and “after touch” are tactilely pleasant and do not make noise on their own. And the D-BEAM controller at all allows you to feel like a player on a thereminx - it uses an infrared sensor that reacts to hand movements above itself.

Another control is traditional for Roland - it is a joystick that simultaneously allows you to change the modulation and pitch. This makes it possible to create the craziest sounds for which the traditional separate controls will be overly uncomfortable.

An important plus of the keyboard is its mobility: it is light and not very large, without suffering from a lack of durability. It’s a pity that for the sake of compactness, she lost the pads - on the MIDI-keyboard, they, no matter how cool, are very useful.