STUDIO SYNTHS SOUND AND FEATURES 31 NEW DEVICES IN TEST

There is no doubt that we‘re living in golden times for synth fans: the market for hardware synthesizers continues to grow steadily, and with it the courage to explore interesting new concepts. Because although software synthesizers are becoming more and more powerful and are now on a very high quality level in terms of sound, there is no better way to experience the sound power and variety of a synthesizer than with intuitively designed hardware under your fingers. Whether you‘re looking to purchase your first hardware tone generator or add a specialist to your existing arsenal: In both cases, it‘s a matter of finding the right model for your needs and sonic preferences. And that‘s not so easy, because the offer is immense.

Gigantic sonic possibilities

While a few years ago monophonic analog synthesizers (like currently Analogue Solutions Leipzig V3 and the Dreadbox Typhon) were trendy, there are now more and more duophonic or paraphonic playable models like Sequential Pro 3, Moog Subsequent and the Novation AFX Station or even polyphonic flagships like Moog Matriarch, Behringer Polyeight and Mono/Poly as well as Arturia PolyBrute. Sound researchers will get their money‘s worth with semi-modular or modular sound powerhouses like Behringer System 100 and 2600, Moog Matriarch or the Erica Black System. No less exciting are the ingenious hybrid synthesizers that combine the best of analog and digital technology. Current examples are UDO Audio Super 6 and Arturia MicroFreak Vocoder. The new developments in the digital sound generator segment are also very innovative: Here, virtual analog synthesizers such as Modal Electronics Cobalt8 and Waldorf Kyra meet devices that offer modern variants of FM synthesis, such as Korg opsix, Elektron Digitone Keys and Twisted Electron‘s MegaFM. Waldorf Iridium,