Which Reissued Roland Modular Synth Was Reviewed in the May 2019 Issue of Sound on Sound Magazine?
The xi best semi-modular synths 2022: our guide to the finest Eurorack modular-friendly analogue and digital hardware
Semi-modular synthesizers are nothing new – the likes of Moog, Arp, Buchla and more than were producing patchable analogue instruments throughout the '70s and '80s.
But with the recent rise in popularity of Eurorack modular synthesis, and the ongoing tendency for affordable analogue instruments, CV-equipped, re-routable synthesizers are very much back in mode.
The good news is, you no longer need to remortgage your business firm to go into the semi-modular game. Every bit you'll meet from our round-upwards, there are plenty of great hardware synths available for all price points; from budget desktop modules to expansive keyboards and sequencer-equipped beasts!
Whether y'all want counterpart authenticity, something unique and esoteric, or a modern cutting-border synth, there'south options out there to cover all bases, with loads of scope to expand things by patching in external gear or Eurorack modules. So what's the best semi-modular out in that location right now? Read on to find out...
The best semi-modular synths yous tin can buy right now
Equally a consummate parcel, there's a lot to similar about the Microvolt. Its patchbay might lack the all-encompassing patching options of, say, the MiniBrute 2 or even Behringer Neutron, only it feels like it'southward been carefully designed to offer exactly the tools needed to get the most out of its interesting synth engine. As with the Brand Noise 0-Coast, the combination of traditional subtractive and 'Due west Coast' synthesis tools makes the Microvolt genuinely exciting to experiment with. The deceptively deep modulation sources and MIDI to CV tools add to this too. Pittsburgh Modular describes the Microvolt every bit "a love letter to the analogue monosynth" and that feels adequately apt. Sonically it touches on a little of the modulated weirdness of the Arp Odyssey, the creative textures of Buchla's Music Easel and fifty-fifty the punchy bass sounds of the SH-101, all while maintaining a character of its own.
Read full review: Pittsburgh Modular Microvolt 3900
Moog's latest semi-modular comes equipped with a 32-note Fatar keyboard, sequencer and arp, making it more functioning-focussed than its siblings in the Mother line. It has a chichi multi-coloured retro design that suits its accurate vintage audio. The old-school approach is rounded off nicely with the inclusion of a jump reverb module – a rare inclusion in modern synths. Grandmother is a versatile performer, capable of a vast range of sounds even earlier patching a cablevision. Is it worth the request price? Absolutely, if for no other reason than providing users with a taste of those old Moog modular circuits without having to take out a second mortgage.
Read full review: Moog Grandmother
The Korg MS-20 was originally launched in 1978 (discontinued in 1983) and is certainly one of the most iconic monosynths of all times. Initially regarded as a poor man's ARP 2600 because of its similar semi-modular blueprint, it shortly became a cult archetype inside electronic music circles, largely due to its versatile dual filters which enable the like shooting fish in a barrel creation of twisted sounds, killer FX, drum hits and staple leads and basses. Korg'south 2013 re-outcome is 2 thirds the size of the original, but beyond that information technology does an amazing task of recreating the sound and feel of the MS-20 – at a fraction of the toll the originals become for second-hand.
Read full review: Korg MS-20
The original MiniBrute was a adequately straightforward monosynth with a few unique touches and some CV command, but version 2 is fully semi-modular, boasting a beefed-up synth engine and a comprehensive mini-jack patchbay. The MiniBrute also now comes in two varieties: the standard keyboard version, now equipped with a Keystep-style sequencer, and the 2S, which swaps the keys for a pad-based step sequencer similar to the BeatStep. While both feature a sequencer and arp with outputs that tin can be patched and routed to external gear, the 2S goes deeper on this front with lots of great CV and modulation control that makes it the perfect base for a larger modular rig. If expanding your semi-modular into full Eurorack territory is your goal, try pairing a MiniBrute two with Arturia'southward compatible RackBrute case for a sleek, portable setup.
Read full review: Arturia MiniBrute two
Read total review: Arturia MiniBrute 2S
Behringer'southward synth concern might be best known for their controversy-courting 'tributes', but the High german brand likewise accept a couple of excellent original instruments under their chugalug. Following in the steps of last year'due south Deepmind, Neutron is an analogue semi-modular that packs in a lot of flexibility for its very affordable price point. The Neutron has a few flaws and there are some frustrating design issues but information technology does sound good, and in terms of bang-for-your-buck, it's quite a steal. While it does a very skillful job at creating more sensible sounds, it also excels at the weird and wonderful. Behringer might merely have a winner on its hands.
Read full review: Behringer Neutron
With just a unmarried oscillator and fairly bones modulation sources, Moog'due south Mother-32 might look a little under-powered compared to its semi-modular rivals, simply a handy patch bay and first-class sounding components give it more punch than you might expect. If null else, it offers the cheapest way to get that classic 'Moog audio' – and the sound in lets your road signals through its gorgeous-sounding ladder filter. It's power to play nicely with other semi-modular and Eurorack gear makes it highly expandable too. Potentially, this is a groovy gateway into the earth of modular synthesis for those looking to dip their toes in the water for the first time. So be warned - buying i may lead you to purchasing another two, and and so shelling out on a total Eurorack rig. Information technology'southward a glace slope…
Read full review: Moog Mother-32
Similar its sibling the Mother-32, DFAM (or Drummer From Some other Female parent) is a semi-modular hardware instrument that combines classic analogue synth elements with a built-in sequencer and Eurorack-friendly patchbay. However, where the Mother-32 is a archetype monosynth blueprint, DFAM is more esoteric, designed to specialise in electronic percussion, atonal textures and punchy synth sounds. It'due south great at what it does – creating really unique percussive sounds, punchy synth bass hits and interesting FX. With no MIDI input though, DFAM is more like an annex to the Mother-32 ecosystem – or a partner for an existing Eurorack system – than a standalone studio instrument.
Read full review: Moog DFAM
N Carolina-based outfit Make Noise is known for making portable systems that travel extremely well yet notwithstanding provide great creative depth. Enter the 0-Coast, or 'No Coast' as it is pronounced.Designed to emulate the sensibilities of both the Moog and Buchla/Serge worlds, this compact slice of kit is about the size of a tablet computer, still still packs in a tremendous amount of sonic creation and manipulation options for a very tidy price. Make Dissonance never seems to fail on building circuitry that delivers both personality and depth. The subtleties of dialling in overtones and and so fattening them upwards with the Multiply excursion bring a great amount of variation to the table. 0-Coast is perchance a picayune more complex to become your head around than some in this round-upwardly, simply information technology'southward worth the investment of time.
Read full review: Make Noise 0-Declension
Fusebox is a iii-oscillator monosynth which uses entirely analogue circuitry for all its sounds generation, modulation and internal command functions. The but blueprint attribute that acknowledges the digital age is the inclusion of a MIDI interface that generates a range of CV and gate signals from the external globe. It as well features several onboard generators, including the Patternator, which is an interesting combination of CV and gate sequencing sources. The Fusebox is a great-sounding synth in its ain right, but add in this design generation, along with the arpeggiator, MIDI command and patching and it takes on a character and manner very much of its ain. Well worth a wait!
Read more than: Counterpart Solutions Fusebox
Athens-based brand Dreadbox have been steadily expanding their offering of hardware synths in the past few years, and garnering attention with impressive analogue instruments like the – now discontinued – Hades bass synth and their Abyss poly. NYX is one of several semi-modular desktop synths in their range, which expands on its punchy, rich synth engine with a pocket-size but effective patchbay. The real highlight here, however, is the included reverb, which comes courtesy of pedal brand Crazy Tube Circuits and adds a touch of gorgeous space and character. NYX might not have the extensive patching options of other synths in this round-up, but for its compact size it has a decent amount of flexibility and an impressive concentrated audio.
Read more: Dreadbox NYX
At its core, this is a keyboardless, rack-mountable version of Roland's System-one 'Plug-out' synth – a unique digital instrument with a synth engine that can exist loaded with digital emulations of a variety of Roland classics. Here, nonetheless, nosotros besides get an assortment of Eurorack-way patch points, which are a very unusual and highly attracting inclusion for a digital polysynth. The patching capability works very well, albeit with the limitation that sound-generation in this style is monophonic. The new synth models available via the Plug-Out system really extend the sonic telescopic, though there are some compromises here in terms of control consignment for the front panel. This is a good-sounding synth with plenty of flexibility, though it's questionable who this is really aimed at. Ultimately though, we commend Roland for taking a new approach to the counterpart vs digital debate.
Read full review: Roland System 1m
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