![]() This purely analog device has no preset capability and no USB connectivity, relying entirely on a MIDI DIN input or CV input for external control. It has one oscillator with square and sawtooth wave choices, LFO and envelope modulators, an onboard sequencer, a bank of 3.5mm jacks for internal or external connectivity (Eurorack protocol), and it has the incredible Moog ladder filter that has been emulated in many other devices. Compared to modern-day synths, this is a relatively simple semi-modular monophonic instrument. It led me to dive deep into other desktop synths and eventually into modular gear. What can you say that hasn’t already been said about Moog gear? This particular piece was my gateway drug. What follows is a look at some of the best devices I’ve come across in recent years with a focus on the under $1k price range. With space and financial restrictions less of an issue, you are free to indulge your ever-expanding synth arsenal. Not only are these devices smaller, but they are less expensive than comparable instruments with onboard keys. Several semi-modular pieces allow you to change internal routing or interact with Eurorack modules while remaining independent instruments with their own power supply. With the resurgence of analog, now into its second decade, there have been many analog and hybrid devices introduced that can be driven via MIDI DIN or USB connectivity. A good controller will typically have more keys and a variety of MIDI knobs and sliders that can be used to drive several devices simultaneously with some simple MIDI channel routing. ![]() You can have several devices at your disposal without cluttering your space with redundant keyboards. One major benefit of these boxes is their small footprint. While these can be used to drive software synths and automate parameters in the box, they can also control desktop synths, which are basically synthesizers without the keyboard. The 106 built on the innovations introduced with its predecessors, offering easy programmability, digitally controlled oscillators, expanded patch memory, a lush stereo chorus effect, and more.It’s safe to say that every working producer has one or more MIDI controllers in their studio. Following the JUNO-6 and JUNO-60, it was the third and most advanced model in the JUNO series, and the first to incorporate the new MIDI standard. The JUNO-106, released in 1984, was a standard-setting analog polyphonic synthesizer. Indistinguishable from the sound of the original, the JX-3P Software Synthesizer brings Roland’s famous ’80s analog vibe to your modern workflow. This landmark instrument ushered in an era of easy programmability and was the first Roland synth to feature MIDI. ![]() The JX-3P Software Synthesizer is a detailed, component-level replication of the six-voice JX-3P released in 1983. With the JUNO-60 Software Synthesizer, you get the full authentic experience of this legendary keyboard in a modern software instrument. It introduced stable tuning via digitally controlled oscillators and dished out warm, punchy synth sounds by the bucketload. The Roland JUNO-60, released in 1982, helped define the sound of the ‘80s and is highly prized for its vintage vibe and unmistakable character. This meticulous plug-in reproduction is accurate down to the circuit level, while also enhancing the original spec with modern features. Its lush strings, complex leads, and other signature tones have appeared on classic tracks and seminal albums for over 40 years. Released in 1981, the JUPITER-8 is one of the most celebrated and sought-after polysynths of all time. ![]() Introduced in 1978, the JUPITER-4 kicked off the storied legacy of Roland analog polysynths and sounds exactly like you’d expect-warm, fat, and evocative of synth pop, new wave, and other emerging styles of the era. The JUPITER-4 Software Synthesizer is an authentic recreation of the first synthesizer to carry the iconic JUPITER name. ![]()
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