Top 5 synths under 500€
The best budget-friendly synthesizers ranked!
If you are looking for your first synthesizer or you are just searching for a new budget piece of gear to add to your setup, there are tons of options to choose from. The truth is that cheap synths are usually very limited and you’ll quickly get bored of them and they will end up collecting dust… Usually, we recommend saving up money and getting a synthesizer that will serve all your needs and will be at your studio forever. On the other hand, there are some relatively cheap synths that you get a ton of value for what you’re paying for and can go head to head with their more expensive competitors.
So, here we ranked our top 5 synthesizers that will cost you under 500€ that we think is worth buying even if you have an unlimited budget!
5. Behringer Model D
When you hear budget-friendly you always think of Behringer. Despite all the criticism, Behringer has given access to the world of synthesizers to thousands of people with their super-cheap products. One of their first releases was the Model D. A recreation of the legendary Minimoog that everyone agrees that it sounds amazing and beefed up even though it costs around 300€. And it’s fully analog!
The Model D can provide excellent bass and lead sounds, just like the original Moog, with minimum effort. Even Behringer’s haters will admit that it would be very difficult to understand the differences between the Minimoog so it is a no-brainer to recommend it.
4. Korg Volca FM2
Korg’s Volca line was a revolutionary move back when it started. Almost every producer has or had at least one Volca module (I’ve had 3 so far) since they are dirt cheap and do one thing relatively well. Hands down, the best Volca is the FM. There’s a reason that Korg recently released a second iteration called FM2 adding a few very useful features to the original one. Its biggest new feature is the 6-voice polyphony which is totally crazy if you consider its price. The Volca FM2 is inspired by the most famous FM synth, the Yamaha DX7, having a lot of the same sounds as the classic 80s synth.
FM synthesis is a very complex type of synthesis and that’s why very few synthesizers take advantage of it. It is pretty daunting to try and program an FM synth so buying a very cheap one (that sounds great) is a very safe move. FM sounds come in handy, so getting the Volca FM2 is an obvious choice if you are on a budget and also afraid of the complexity of FM engines. We would always recommend having the Volca FM somewhere around the studio for some extra inspiration and unique sounds.
3. Dreadbox Typhon
Dreadbox is one of the most exciting companies of the past decade. They keep pushing the boundaries and create unique and original products that don’t try to be something from the past. One of their latest synths is the Typhon. It is an analog monophonic synthesizer with 2 VCOs, a great filter, and lots of DSP effects by the company Sinevibes. The thing with Dreadbox is that their products just sound great. You can immediately tell the difference once you start messing with a Dreadbox synth and Typhon is another example of this. Plus it is also tiny, USB powered, and has a ton of modulation options under the hood.
It is amazing how many features are packed in such a small form factor. It has 3 Modulators, 2 ADSR envelopes, a 32-step sequencer, effects, and more. For the price, we could not find something that sounds more premium than this.
2. Korg Minilogue
The Minilogue is already a future classic. It was the first cheap synth from a major company that offered 4-voice polyphony on an analog synthesizer and it has sold thousands of units. The XD version has even more features but it’s a bit more expensive so we could not add it to our list. Korg’s Minilogue is a solid polyphonic analog synth. It sounds ok, it is versatile, and for a first poly-synth, it is the absolute best option. The best thing about it is that it is a hands-on device. There is almost no feature hidden in menus and you can program everything using the knobs on it which is a great thing for new musicians that want to understand how a synthesizer works.
If you could stretch your budget, we would recommend the Minilogue XD, but also the original Minilogue is a great option for any beginner.
1. Arturia Microfreak
And lastly, our winner for the best budget synth is….. The Arturia Microfreak! This one is a very special synthesizer for absolutely everyone. We honestly cannot imagine anyone who would not take advantage of the Microfreak even if they have a ton of gear. It is an inspiring machine capable of a vast variety of sounds urging you to use it for sound design. In it, you will find 17 oscillator types for every taste. It can do your regular digital and analog-type sounds, FM, Karplus Strong, and more! It even has a built Vocoder! Its Filter section is analog and with its modulation matrix (which is so easy to use) you can modulate almost everything to your liking. It has an arpeggiator, a sequencer, and a touch-sensitive keybed with aftertouch to add that little extra to your playing.
On the Microfreak, there is not a single thing that is not well-thought and innovative. It has so many little features that glue together perfectly to help you create sounds instantly while having tons of fun with it. As mentioned above, it is a synthesizer that we would recommend to everyone even if they have a room full of flagship synths just for the fun of playing with it and its versatility. And when you look at its price, it is an instant purchase. Actually no, you should get two of them.
