Name some underrated/hated synths that you like

[shaft9000]

Hardware sequencers in general have really fallen off.

only in the MIDI realm, which leaves a h**l of a lot to be desired anyway so that's no big loss at all

au contraire, there are more analog sequencers around now than ever...at least 100 different ones can be bought new today, no joke. there is no wider variety of analog circuits in synths than there are in analog sequencers. and things they can do are so beyond the scope of MIDI it's not even funny (sequencer as a custom-waveshape VCO? no problem - just clock it at audio-rate and set each stage/step where you like to create the waveshape - viola, you've instantly transformed your sequencer into a variable-waveshaping VCO)
filters and VCOs are a distant 2nd & 3rd compared to the variability in viable analog sequencer designs; there are thousands, really. just ask any synth designer that truly knows their analog stuff.

[AnalogKid]

There's nothing quite like this "Vintage Russian Analog Synthesizer"

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/msg/4117474731.html

[ninja6485]

Hardware sequencers in general have really fallen off.

only in the MIDI realm, which leaves a h**l of a lot to be desired anyway so that's no big loss at all

au contraire, there are more analog sequencers around now than ever...at least 100 different ones can be bought new today, no joke. there is no wider variety of analog circuits in synths than there are in analog sequencers. and things they can do are so beyond the scope of MIDI it's not even funny (sequencer as a custom-waveshape VCO?problem - just clock it at audio-rate and set each stage/step where you like to create the waveshape - viola, you've instantly transformed your sequencer into a variable-waveshaping VCO)
filters and VCOs are a distant 2nd & 3rd compared to the variability in viable analog sequencer designs; there are thousands, really. just ask any synth designer that truly knows their analog stuff.

yea, I meant dedicated midi sequencers. I thought about the fact that someone might point out analog sequencers, but was too lazy to amend my post. Thanks for validating the fact that they're underrated/underdogs btw! The problems that arise from software frustrate me and kill my creativity, while the problems that arise from using hardware just force me to make more focused songs and use my ears more than my eyes. After using cubase and ableton for years, I bought the qx to solve some syncing issues for doing live improv stuff, and never looked back.

[commodorejohn]

I'll put in a good word for Yamaha's two-operator FM synths. They get a lot of c**p on account of being found pretty much solely in cheapo early Portatone toy keyboards (where you couldn't really edit the sounds) and PC sound cards (where a shockingly small number of game musicians had any idea how to use them,) but they really are quite capable in the right hands, and like the TX81Z/DX11/V50, they bring multiple operator waveforms to the table - but a different set. Just a shame they were so under-utilized on the PC, but I have a lot of good memories of the games that did use them well (anything with music by Dan Froelich, for starters.)

[Bitexion]

I could make some pretty awesome lead sounds with just 2-op FM on the Nord Wave when I tried that out. Helped by effects, naturally, but.

[blavatsky]

A little more than my $500 rule, but the Roland MV8800 is an incredibly underrated sampler/sequencer. Very expensive when they came out and hard to knock the MPC from its similar spot, but if you dig into them a little and setup some original patches they are fantastic.

[shaft9000]

arp solus

get all the bread and butter (mk3)odyssey leads and bass for half the price
the catch is that it's not a full-on proper synth (no noise or sample&hold, just one EG) but it does have a ringmod that shreds something fierce...this synth will tear you a new arsehole

it's more what i'd hoped the little phatty would be: a fire-breathing lead+bass with superb CV integration with other gear. it's so easy to use with a modular, too, in that it sums the CV for keyboard+pitchbend+portamento+vibrato all out the same jack. you get gate AND trigger outs, and the LFO can be clock for the gate out as well.

it's a perfect little two-osc budget synth that's rock-solid tuning ~yet gloriously psychedelic swirling oscillators(sort of like a JP-8 that's pissed off at you)~ ...and it's easy to fix

[Jabberwalky]

I always liked the case the Solus was built into

[antilles]

Yeah, it's strange, you hear more praise about the Axxe than the Solus. I've never played any of them, but the Solus sure seems more interesting with it's two oscillators.

[nuketifromorbit]

Even though I almost sold mine recently, I find the waldorf rocket to be a fun and unique little synth. I'm glad I wisely decided to keep it.

[Alphacode]

The Korg Poly61!

Yep +1 for the Poly61 !

[Jabberwalky]

I had an Axxe, but found it incredibly boring. The sound was nice, but it just got old very quickly.