I’m going to buy a modern polyphonic DCO based synth module with all the trimmings. Like all threads like this, it’s mostly about me thinking out loud, but I’m always up for things that I didn’t really think of. Here’s where I’m at now with polys...

• Sequential Prophet 6: My VCO poly.
  
• DSI Prophet 12
  
• Modulus Modal 002: Hybrid
  
• Novation Peak: Hybrid

Some background. I got rid of my Tempest and two Tetras during a pare down. My reasoning was that the 12 could cover them, but I find myself missing them. I can’t really get both due to space and input restrictions, but I’d like to get at least one more DCO based synth.

Here’s what I’m thinking...

Sequential REV2. this was my first thought to replace the Tetras.

DSI Tetra: I could just get a Tetra again, probably one would suffice for my needs. Nice and small is a bonus. I could pad out my UAD plugins a bit with the extra money.

DSI Tempest. I loved using one as a poly. My main issue is that it would be a little tricky to fit it in and there’s no software editor.

Elektron Analog Four: I used to have one of these as well, and I miss it. Really interesting quirky sound. Would be nice to get away from my Dave Smith heavy collection.

MFB Synth Pro. I’ve got no experience with it, but I do have a Dominion 1 that I like. My worry is that they seem to not care about MIDI synced LFOs, which I like. The one demo I can find make it sound like crap on a cracker. Wut?

What else? I like unique sounds that are quirky and not what a lot of people think of as “beautiful” sounding synths.

My vote is the A4 mk 2, tweaks to the synth architecture from the mk1 and flexible LFOs for FM synthesis

Synthex or you are a worthless loser.

JD-XA

Love watching demos of the rev2 and dreaming about it.

Shape mod of each osc seems interesting for nice sounds.

Not sure how much overlap there is with the prophet 12, but I think it looks like an amazing instrument.

Fixed that for you!

Ah, I’d forgotten about that one, but the issue for me is that I don’t have room for another keyboard. I should have mentioned that in my first post. (I fixed it)

my 5 cents:

You're pretty much sorted already with the DSI sound incl. one of their poly vco synths, so I wonder what you're trying to achieve by adding a DCO poly?

I'd rather expand that sound palette with something like a Hydrasynth or even a V-synth.

edit:
no room for another keyboard: V-synth Xt (rack) then

free your deep mind and take a poly-d, it is 1000% Poly and DCO free

Parva?

Roland MKS-70 with Vecoven PWM boards and firmware with extra LFOs, envelopes and mod routings.

...or that. PWM addition is probably not obligatory, but enhanced OS for sure!

Elektron is the answer and you know it.

I second this, as an owner of this stuff:
MKS-70 vecoven
MKS-80 rev5
JD-XA
A4 mk1

The 70 holds its own against the 80, almost.. at least mine does. The two together is insane.

JD-XA is very interesting, I gig with it. But a) knowing you prefer modules, b) knowing you have a shed load of VSTs, the others including MFB might be better.

Factor in $300ish for mpg8 to make mks-70 usable.

I'd be tempted to wait for the MFB to be sure, it's out in FA time. And I'd pass on the MKS-70 non vecoven personally.

A4 is better as monos or quirky poly, that happens to be DCO, imo.

PWM + cross mod can get nuts, especially factoring in it's bitimbral with unison modes to use the volume differences in an interesting way..

One thing I'm kinda sad about the Vecoven mode is that the Mono mode (MIDI channel per voice) is removed from it. Since this is useful for MPE, and I do have a Roli 49 and Osmose on the way, it doesn't really make me want to do the OS upgrade... Unless Vecoven managed to bring that mode back?

I was surprised not to see the Hydra listed among your potential choices (since it does come in a non-keyboard version) but if that's not on the table, then the Elektron sounded strongest to me, especially since you are already familiar with it = how quickly you'll be making good use of it.

Caveat: I'm not convinced these "what should I buy" threads are really useful; you wouldn't see carpenters asking which type of hammer to buy or whether or not to get a biscuit-joiner.

My method has been buy-whatever-I-think-I can-use, and cull later. Admittedly, this suffers the defect of running out of space (and money) -- but it's really the only to answer the which-one-should-I-keep question. And really, each of us is a unique case, so the usefulness of another person's opinion is necessarily limited. But of course you already realize that

Hydra is not DCO

I know you liked the sound of the Tetras. I do too. I would get the REV2. 16-voice if you can swing it.
It's so much more than what you think it will be. They really refined things about it. I love it.
There's something really special about this synth with 16 voices. You can really do beautiful, stacked sounds
that still have enough voices for long decays, etc. Seems like a no-brainer considering you like the sound already.

I never gelled with the Prophet-12. Just didn't like the digital oscillators after awhile.

These release notes say mono assign is back:
https://www.vecoven.com/superjx/superjx/release.html

There's an FB group it may be worth asking on?

(Or feel free to loan me an MPE controller to "test"!)

Didn't you dabble with a Rev2 before and decided against it?

im also looking to re-induct some DCO into my setup, many years have passed since i sold my jx10/mks70 and ajuno2.

im mostly looking to get as away from classic roland dco sound as possible (tho i still kinda like the mks50), so i narrowed it down to either: poly61 or matrix6r. both classic dco sounds. 61 sound i like the most, but its painfully limited. like the various Crumar BIT models with CEM or SSM filtering, but their build is crappy and future uncertain so ill pass on that.

i tried the vecoven pwm, and didnt like it at all. basic sound of jx range is nice, but this was a harsh metallic digitalish affair. dunno if things got better later. this was early on after vecoven was released.

as for your choices, next to P6 and P12 i'd definitely not get another DSI. regardless of all that is written about osc, filters etc and how all of them are stark different , yet there is an ongoing sonic theme thruout the DSI range, and i don't feel having three machines with that would prove as interesting as getting something completely different. further, like many, i find the filter on P8/Rev2 one of the lesser ones in the world of analog polyphony.

Analog Keys is the worst sounding analog that ever passed the doors of my studio. i gave it the boot not a month later.

MF Synth PRo is a vco design, but regardless of that, out of the machines you listed thats what id choose.


my 2c

Black Corporations Xerxes...

Xerxes certainly sounds the business. It's definitely on my "last synth" list. Plus, it's a rackmount synth. Problem solved.

The Xerxes would certainly be different to what you have. You know my feelings on the Rev2 so I won’t bore everyone here about it again, but suffice to say, if you want that cheeky fizzy filter then there’s no real substitute.

If you don’t need that, you have more options.

...yep, or desktop. Looks nice as a desktop too with the recessed cavity for the jacks. I like that design.

Synthex have no DCO.. they are controlled analogously

REV2. If not that, I'd say Summit but you already tried out that sound with Peak and it didn't blow you away.

Not entirely correct. It's a hybrid. Master oscillators and their pitch modulations are analog, which are upscaled and pitch intervals are then digitally divided down. It's not a traditional DCO for sure though.

Xerxes has the same sound as Synthex, in a rack format, plus a lot more.

my words
i have the bit from mario, same phenomenon, prius oscillators