What is a cheap analog synth?

[kylejun06]

I really want to get a nice piece of analog gear. I think it would add a distinct sound to my studio. Right now, I have all digital gear, but I want to work with something analog. Anyone have any suggestions, and where I could get them? Thanks!

[otto]

Depends on what cheap means to you but these tend to be cheap:

Roland Alpha Juno
Roland JX-3P, JX-8P
Korg Poly-800
Oberheim Matrix 1000
Novation Bass Station
Sequential Max, 6-track, etc.

Ebay, craigslist

[Suburban Bather]

Have a look at MFB stuff. I have not tried any myself, but I would If I was just starting out and short on money.
http://www.analoguehaven.com/mfb/

[Neonlights84]

They are all cheap (compared to guitars, which can reach obscene prices).

[Tyler2000]

MG-1 is my vote for best cheap synth, but it depends on what you call cheap. If you want a Juno 106, you might consider looking for the HS-60 which, at least when I bought mine, goes for a good bit less than the regular 106. Poly-800.

[nathanscribe]

Thinking about the kind of sounds you want might help determine what you go for. You might like a mono (cs-5, sh101, etc), with portamento and CV/Gate for future expansion (note the little CS-01, though cool, has no interfacing) - you might like a poly with little in the way of interfacing but a good sound (Rolannd Juno 6, Korg poly6), or you might want a MIDI analogue poly such as the juno 106 or poly800. You might want vintage (and might have to search for a while for the right thing at a decent price, but you'll retain the sale price if you decide it's not for you - though if it breaks, depending what it is, there might be high repair costs) or new (which limits your choices if you're on a budget, but gets you a warranty and support). It's still possible to get fair deals, even bargains, on 2nd hand gear.

[gunark]

If you have (or can afford) a midi knob box, like the Berhinger BCR or a midi keyboard with slider/knobs (like your Roland PCR) then I wholeheartedly recommend the Roland Alpha Juno series. Fully controllable by midi sysex and a great sound, very lush. AJ2 are approx £150 and the awesome AJ1 (just less keys but sonically the same) is usually under £100.

Otherwise I second JX-3P or even keep an eye out of cheap MC202 machines (they are about) or low end Yamaha CS.

Good luck!

[xpander]

find them on craigslist.

[diezdiazgiant]

craigslist or just scour the ebay listings for electronic instruments

[paugui]

The Cheetah MS6 is a good an quite cheap analog synth.
It has 2 DCO's per voice and is a really small unit, just 1 unit rack.
It seems to be quite similar with the Oberheim Matrix 1000 but without the extensive modulation matrix.
However it can be fully programmed from the front panel, with no need to use a computer to do so.
I love mine and think they sound pretty good.

The other analog synth I have is the Korg Poly 800 II, but I think if you don't need an analog synth with keyboard included the Cheetah is much more worth to have as it sounds better and has more polyphony, if you use two oscillators on each sound of the Poly 800, and since most Poly 800 use two oscillators, it end up being just a 4 voice synth at most of the time.

Hope this helps

[reset]

Is it an analog synth that doesn't cost a lot of money?

[Automatic Gainsay]

Paia Fatman

[kylejun06]

Paia Fatman

this paia fatman looks pretty cool,
but i have no building experience

[zoomtheline]

Waldorf Pulse's can be picked up really cheap! picked mine up for £30 I think

This was my first analogue synth and I found it really odd but beautifull, amazing at quirky basses and once you get used to the matrix its a breeze to program.

Is the Future retro revolution fully analogue? they sound real good too.

[crystalmsc]

for the features, I always thought that the Pulse and MKS-30/50/70 are cheap.