Cheapest synth with movable filters

[Desecrated]

This is going to sound so newbie that I'm already ashamed before writing it. But I just can't find the right english words for it so I'll just try and describe it.

I want a synth where I can do filter sweeps, maybe some cutoff or resonance knob that you can manipulate while playing. It doesn't have to be analogue just as long as you can turn a button while playing.

O and preferable really really cheap.

[Psy_Free]

I want a synth where I can do filter sweeps, maybe some cutoff or resonance knob that you can manipulate while playing. It doesn't have to be analogue just as long as you can turn a button while playing

Well that narrows it down to about 95% of all synths ever made

Maybe Alesis Micron, Novation K-Station (2nd hand), Korg Microkorg or something along those lines would be best for starters.

Alternatively, pick any of the synths from the VSE Synth page and search auction sites to find the cheapest.

[Pro5]

JX-3P is probably one of the 'cheapest' - you hit button 'B' and button '1' and you have cut-off sweepable via the edit slider. HOWEVER if you mean full hands on (and don't want to fork out for a programmer), then as above 95% of synths in the £200+ range of Analog or VA (and even some digital) can do filter sweeps with a control (or midi).

I think you should think more about the tone and the architecture you'd like and then find one with the controls you want.

If I had to throw out a rec just for the sake of it, I'd say Polysix or SH-101 but neither are particularly cheap these days but they DO have a great tone and are great for 'sweeping' (res and cut off)... err but then so are 95%... (etc) and for a cheapie - AN1x? JP-8000?

[meatballfulton]

As a newbie, the Alesis Micron or Microkorg are your best bets simply because they are cheap and easily obtained...not sure where you live but in the USA any Guitar Center stocks these and used ones are all over the place on Craigslist, eBay etc.

Micron $319 new with free ship in USA

[madtheory]

Korg Monotron

[meatballfulton]

Actually, I didn't even think of the Monotron. Good call madtheory!

It certainly is as cheap as you can get and if you just need noises (as opposed to actual musical notes) it should work.



only $60 everywhere in the USA

[Desecrated]

Sorry that I forgot to mention it, I'm from sweden so we have a limited amounts of synths.

I've been looking at both the microkorg and the jx-3p actually. they go for about 300-450 dollars over here which is not bad, they are both good synths. But I have to say the monotron might be exactly what I'm looking for

Alesis and novastation is hard as h**l to find up here, but we do have a nice selection of used rolands.

[realtrance]

Actually if you're looking for cheap and you already have an iPad, the Korg iMS-20 softsynth is rather good, and hundreds of dollars cheaper than any hardware device you'd find. But that's only if you already have an iPad.

[Hair]

Another thought is the cheap tabletop groovebox class of synth. Korg EA-1, Yamaha AN-200, Roland SH-32 etc - hook up any keyboard with a MIDI out to their MIDI in and you can use them like a traditional keyboard synth. Built-in sequencers are always fun too, though.

Korg EA-1 is easy to use and sounds awesome, but if you care about chords, it's limited to one or two notes at a time (though you can cheat chords by playing with the second oscillator's pitch.) The interface is a little limited too, but they're still a lot of fun and plentiful on eBay.

Roland SH-32 looks fun to use, but I've heard that it's sliders "step" between values, so might not be the best for filter sweeps. Lots of polyphony (simultaneous notes) for chords though.

Yamaha AN-200 might be slightly more tricky to use than both of the above, but it has more polyphony than the EA-1 and won't have the stepping of the SH-32.

[Zamise]

QY-100 can sweep res&cut with a button Or one of these:



Novation X-Station 25

[mama.]

microkorg is really bad at it. yes theres a filter cutoff knob but there are really obvious steps in the sweep, and then the ion/micron is better but keep in mind the knobs are infinite