Affordable monosynth for strong lead and solo sounds

[RedLeo]

Same keys as the MS-20 mini, right? Played one of them and found the keys usable but really not too comfortable or 'proper' feeling. I guess a midi board would be the answer to that but that's getting more expensive and at this point I could just do the same with a Minibrute.

Seems like a great synth though

I've don't know whether it's the same as the MS-20, somebody else can probably answer that one. Normally I'd take the same position as you if i didn't like the keyboard, but the Odyssey is one of those rare cases where it might well be worth the trade-off. Put it this way, when they first came out, i immediately crossed it off my wishlist, the keys were a dealbreaker for sure. Having heard and found out much more about them, not only is it back, but it's the monosynth I'm actually going to get.

The Minibrute's a great choice for a first synth, though, if you can live with the two octave keyboard. Should give you all the raw power you need.

[NoDirection]

Since - andyysplash - got the excelent Nord Electro 5 - why dont use that as a midi keyboard for your new synth - then you can choose among the new synths with bad "mini keys", and the new "bare modules" If you don't need to play both Electro 5 and the synth at the same time - If that is a requirement - this is no good solution.

[maxpiano]

Since - andyysplash - got the excelent Nord Electro 5 - why dont use that as a midi keyboard for your new synth - then you can choose among the new synths with bad "mini keys", and the new "bare modules" If you don't need to play both Electro 5 and the synth at the same time - If that is a requirement - this is no good solution.

Playing an analog synth withouth a Pitch Bend and ModWheel? Nooooooo

[analogika]

Cons are - not full-sized keys. They're not mini-keys as many people wrongly describe them, they're 85% of full size - which is about the same as a harpsichord, so perfectly playable although not ideal.

Same keys as the MS-20 mini, right? Played one of them and found the keys usable but really not too comfortable or 'proper' feeling. I guess a midi board would be the answer to that but that's getting more expensive and at this point I could just do the same with a Minibrute.

Seems like a great synth though

I'm not sure they're the same keys - the verdict on the MS-20 mini keys seems to be that they kind of suck, while almost everybody I've talked to about the Odyssey - pro and amateur - finds the Arp reissue's keyboard surprisingly good.

[Spider]

For a budget solution, the Microbrute may be even better than the Mini.
Tiny (and I mean TINY!) but huge sound possibilities, and the sequencer and patch matrix are unbelievably fun!
(and the MiniBrute don't have those)

Keep in mind, however, that neither of the Brutes has programmable memories. You can't save any sound, 100% live knob twisting!

Have you considered the Bass Station II?
In my opinion is the best synth in a budget price range, it has awesome features, full size keys with aftertouch, and you can easily find it used to spend even less.

[andyysplash]

Have you considered the Bass Station II?
In my opinion is the best synth in a budget price range, it has awesome features, full size keys with aftertouch, and you can easily find it used to spend even less.

Bass Station may be an option - the patch memory and choice of two filters is nice and it can sound really good, though the two octave keyboard is a shame. I don't know why synth manufacturers are so infatuated with 25-keys when a 32 or 37 offers much more playability AND more room to lay out controls (eg knob-per-function rather than doubling them up).

Looks like it's between the BSII and the Mopho (though it's slightly more expensive and not far off the starting price for a Little Phatty). I'll have to go try them out properly to get an idea of what feels right.

[AinTziLLo]

The Bass Station II has 25 keys because it's made for "bass". You can use the BS II for nice lead / solo sounds but for bass sounds it's great...

The best choice is to try yourself what is you looking for.

[andyysplash]

For self-contained units the BSII or Mopho seem to be the answer for close to £300. Up to £500 would bring in the Little Phatty (or Slim depending on how the LP's keybed feels - some have said it's terrible).

An alternative did strike me - pair an analogue module with a 49-key MIDI controller. Now I know this module isn't strictly analogue and the MIDI board has more features than I'll realistically need, but something like the Waldorf Rocket (under £140) and a Novation Launchkey MK2 49-key (£135) seems like it would work. Maybe this is a better way to go about it as it means the module can be replaced but I'll be using the exact same controller and won't have to get used to a different-feeling keyboard. Thoughts and improvements welcome.

[Mr_-G-]

What about the Ultranova? OK, they are not monophonic, but that is not a disadvantage.

[Spider]

Bass Station may be an option - the patch memory and choice of two filters is nice and it can sound really good, though the two octave keyboard is a shame. I don't know why synth manufacturers are so infatuated with 25-keys when a 32 or 37 offers much more playability AND more room to lay out controls (eg knob-per-function rather than doubling them up).

Well, production cost is the main reason for sure. Hardware is expensive, and the keybed in particular is the biggest and most expensive component of any keyboard. Any company surely prefers to keep things as small as possible, to keep production costs down and margins up.

And for sure customers like cheap and small keyboards: they fit in a backpack or laptop bag, weigh next to nothing, don't take up precious space in the studio and, most of all... allow us to buy multiple boards for the fraction of the price of a workstation!
It's the cheapest way to quench GAS!
Jokes apart, it's clear that there's some truth in that, just look at the recent flood of minisynths from all brands.

I also don't find 2 octaves THAT limiting in a mono synth. Two octaves is about the natural extension of a human voice, that's the reference for any solo sound. So it's the most pleasant-sounding range you are likely to use in a solo.

Moreover, you will be using only one hand on the keyboard, and by definition you won't be doing chords or accompaniment, so you will have your left hand free all of the time. 99% of synths have the octave shift button and the pitch bend wheel, that allow you to extend your playing range in real time with your free hand.

All in all, in a mono synth I really don't miss more real estate, for me it's not worth the extra money, weight and size.