Ten of the Best Keyboard Synthesizers in 2023
by The Press Desk
Arturia MicroFreak
Arturia kicks off our list with the MicroFreak, a compact synth with a unique feature set highlighted by an exquisite oscillator section designed by none other than the 'Eurorack extraordinaires' at Mutable Instruments, and a lovely PCB keyboard without any moving parts. This freaky little contraption can output up to four voices and it also comes with an interesting cycling envelope alongside a regular ADSR, a multimode analog filter, flexible modulation matrix and a highly programmable sequencer/arpeggiator section. As stated above its OLED display, the MicroFreak truly brings a very much welcome "grain de folie'' to the synth game.
Ashun Sound Machines Hydrasynth Deluxe
With Glen Darcey, a veteran of the synthesizer industry as its CEO, the rather new company ASM (Ashun Sound Machines) released the Hydrasynth Deluxe, a 16-voice, 73-key, digital wave morphing synthesizer with polyphonic aftertouch. The synth has two sound engines each with three oscillators, dual wave mutators and 2 filters that can be configured in series or parallel. Hydrasynth Deluxe also offers 5 LFOs, arpeggiator and CV/GATE interfaces for connecting to modular synthesizers. The ASM includes an accessory shelf in the box in order to extend the depth of the top panel surface, its offset control center gives users space to put other equipment above it such as a mixer, a laptop or a drum machine. The company also offers three models with smaller footprints: the ‘Keyboard’ with 49 keys, ‘Desktop’ with 24 polyphonic pressure touch pads and ‘Explorer’ with 37 keys.
Behringer Poly D
The highly-controversial synthesizers coming from Behringer have sparked more than a few heated debates in this community and there are absolutely no signs that either the rampant output of synths or the insane arguments are going to go away any time soon! After an ambitious start with the Deepmind 12 Behringer presented their take on the classic Model D which instantly captivated our audience by combining the revered vintage sound with modern amenities not present on the original - such as a four-voice polyphonic mode - and all presented with Behringer’s famously low price tag.
Korg Wavestate
In early 1990s Korg introduced the world to wave sequencing synthesis by releasing its legendary Korg Wavestation. Now with Korg Wavestate the company’s legacy synthesis is re-imagined to Wave Sequencing 2.0. The compact form-factor synth offers 37 full-size keys, 64 stereo voices, 4 layers with Vector control, 14 simultaneous effects and a variety of modelled filters including famous ones such as the MS-20 and the Polysix filters. Also inherited from Korg’s famous synths is the ABCD joystick that together with the Vector Envelope can mix the individual voices of the four different layers or modulate any other chosen parameters.
Moog Minimoog Model D 2022
The original Minimoog Model was released in 1970 and was the first portable synthesizer, its success transcended time as the synth was always a sought after piece of gear, being cloned by other companies as well as re-issued by Moog in 2016. The Minimoog Model D 2022 features the identical sound engine as well as retains the exact component placement and through-hole circuitry design of the original synthesizer plus a series of updated features. MIDI implementation was already on the 2016 edition but some important tweaks were done such as making the mod wheel respond to and send MIDI and MIDI I/O channels being able to be set independently. The new Model D has also included a dedicated analog LFO with triangle and square waveshapes, a premium Fatar keybed with velocity and pressure available via top panel CV jacks with onboard trimpots, a modified mixes which allows Minimoog to overdrive and scream with the turn of a knob and much more!
Novation Summit
Novation Summit is the company’s flagship two-part 16-voice, 61-key polyphonic synthesizer. For some time now Novation’s Summit has proven itself as one of the best keyboard synthesizers in the market since its release. The synth is equipped with FPGA-based Oxford Oscillators that offer subtractive, FM and wavetable synthesis running through a true analogue stereo signal path with overdrive, filter and distortion sections to be later added in the signal chain to the synthesizer’s digital effects, a creative and effective way of harnessing the power of these two realms. Novation Summit also features a Wavetable Editor software with drawing tools and a Live Edit mode.
Oberheim Electronics OB-X8
After more than 40 years of hiatus the legend himself Tom Oberheim got back to analogue synthesizer manufacturing with the OB-X8, a natural born classic meant to be a combination of the company’s legendary OB-X, OB-Xa and OB-8 keyboard synthesizers. Among OB-X8 modern enhancements are new SEM filter modes adding high-pass, band-pass and notch functions to the classic OB-X filter; a Vintage knob allowing users to emulate the behaviour of vintage instruments, velocity sensitivity, channel aftertouch, variable triangle wave cross-modulation, over 600 user-programmable preset locations, programmable per-program pan, variable oscillator and noise levels, USB connectivity and a sound editing software. The synth also features unique designed expression levers and, of course, the classic Oberheim sound!
Roland Jupiter-X
Another instant classic since its release is the Jupiter-X from Roland, continuing the tradition of the Jupiter range born in the early 1970’s and widely accepted as the company’s pinnacle of synthesizer quality and innovation. Jupiter-X is a 61-note keyboard that allows users to tap into Roland’s wide variety of historical sounds from classic gear such as the Jupiter-8, Juno-106, SH-101 as well as digital machines like the VX-5080 128-Voice Synth Module, TR-808/909 and pianos from the RD range by making use of the company’s proprietary ZEN-Core modelling technology, so if you are a big fan of Roland’s sound palette, the Jupiter-X may be just what you’ve been looking for.
Sequential Prophet-5
Manufactured for the first time in 1977, the Sequential Prophet-5 was arguably the synthesizer that established Dave Smith in the Synth Designer’s hall of fame. As an embodiment of all three revisions of the original unit (Rev1, Rev2 and Rev3), the new Prophet-5 brings genuine Curtis analog VCOs and filters as well as new generation 2040 filters - now 2140 - still designed by Dave Rossum. A ‘Rev’ switch allows users to choose between filter designs and adjust its envelope’s response and shape in order to match previous Prophet-5 versions. The Synth also features USB, MIDI, an optional Voice Expansion Card that enables Prophet-5 to double its polyphony to ten voices, CV I/Os and a Vintage knob to dial in any Prophet-5 version mojo!
Waldorf Quantum MK2
Who better than the masters at Waldorf to close our list (well, the company name does start with 'W') - but despite their alphabetical position we can’t think of a better synth than the Quantum MK2 for the curtain call anyway! The Waldorf Quantum MK2 is an 8-voice multitimbral synth with plenty to offer, boasting a premium Fatar-made keybed with six octaves, three oscillators offering five synthesis algorithms each, stereo analog filters, six LFOs in poly and global mode, five-slot master effects rack, polyphonic aftertouch, a huge range of arpeggiator parameters and a programmable step sequencer with parameter automation. This is a synth that should be examined very seriously if one wants excellent sound quality, programming depth and versatility. A terrific all-rounder.
And that where we set the cutoff! We're certainly in a price-to-performance ratio golden age for synths, with plenty of offerings for all tastes and budgets.
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