GEAR GUIDESYNTHS TOTAL 32 NEW INSTRUMENTS IN REVIEW HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT ONE FOR YOU
FAVOURITE INSTRUMENTS OF THE SYNTHFLUENCERS
The channels of YouTubers like Cuckoo, Look Mum No Computer, Bobeats, Retrosound or Espen Kraft enjoy great popularity. For good reason, because the mixture of rousing musical performances, tutorials and wacky sound experiments has a high entertainment value. And it‘s not just since the Thomann‘s Synth Reactor event that it‘s often YouTubers, vloggers and „synthfluencers“ who are the first to try out new hardware instruments. Reason enough to ask some of the best-known YouTubers in this field about their favorite synthesizers.
Why did you buy another synthesizer? You already have 7! A saying that I‘m sure many of us have heard in a similar form. Sure, many of us know the „Gear Acquisition Syndrome“ (G.A.S.), the urge to buy more and more synthesizers. No wonder, because each model has its individual strengths and special features. Different forms of sound generation such as subtractive, FM, wavetable, additive or granular synthesis, sampling or physical modeling also differ enormously in terms of sound. And a setup of several (semi-)modular synthesizers is much more than the sum of its parts. A big advantage of hardware instruments over software is that they offer immediate and playful access. And that not only makes for an enormous fun factor, but often creates particularly inspiring and lively sounds.
Hurdles and problems
But a growing synth arsenal also brings with it some hurdles and problems: too little money, too little space, too much dust and too high electricity bills. But that‘s not all: the devices all want to be set up and powered and wired as ergonomically as possible. Synthesizers without a keyboard must be able to be played from a master keyboard or a device with a keyboard and controlled from a computer via MIDI. Of course, the audio from your sound generators all need to get into the computer somehow, too, and if you‘re using multiple synthesizers at once, preferably on individual audio tracks.
How do I solve the space problem?
Especially in home studios with limited space, clever ideas are needed to make the best possible use of the work surface. A proven solution are keyboard stands with several levels (e.g. from Jaspers, K&M or Millenium) or stands for laptops, desktop synthesizers, tablets or MIDI controllers. Laptop stands from manufacturers such as Millenium or Magma have proven themselves, for example. Stands for MIDI controllers, desktop synthesizers and laptops do not have to be expensive: The Sigfinn monitor stand from IKEA comfortably holds a laptop or desktop synth, while you can place an audio interface underneath, for example. Many MIDI controllers or desktop synths also fit great on the laptop holder Bräda.
MIDI wiring for synth addicts
Although many audio interfaces now also include MIDI interfaces, it quickly becomes complicated if you want to connect several synthesizers at the same time. The MIDI thru port on many synthesizers allows you to connect multiple devices in series. To avoid too much signal delay, you should not connect more than three devices in series. This can be remedied by MIDI interfaces such as B. ESI M8U eX with 16 ports or MOTU MIDI Express 128 with eight independent inputs and outputs.
Small synthesizers in particular only offer a USB MIDI connection instead of the classic MIDI trio in DIN format. The
