5 Best Synths Under $500 | Chicago Synth Exchange

[@RCAVDH]

The best synth is the one you use.

[@hypedenier]

true or anything that matches that workflow style

[@kuhlpowder364]

That’s aura

[@liljohn730]

Yo! I met you yesterday when I parted with my MPC One. Def. Be back to chop it up with you again. I'm a baby in this synth landscape, so I'm glad I met you. Great vid! 1up!

[@8-BitHeart79]

As someone who's been buying synths for a long time... save just a few hundred more and get yourself something much more worth while. I've had almost every synth on that table and sold them all. I would say get a deepmind 6 from behringer yes, even as a first synth because it's going to teach you A LOT more about basic synthesis and with a beautiful screen that gives you all the info you need to know. And it simply sounds AMAZING! I'm sure there will be a lot who disagree and that's fine, I'm just speaking from my own experiences since the late 90's...

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

The Microfreak has a built in Vocoder too by the way.

[@VA1ENTINX]

Man that ju06 is such a beautiful sound. Definitely getting it.

[@chicagosynthexchange]

It's great!! We've got a couple in stock now - www.chicagomusicexchange.com/products/roland-ju-06a-synthesizer-836305

[@StuntcatTV]

Got the Microfreak on the weekend, that thing is awesome. Will take me some time to work myself into it, but no regrets.

[@philosyche]

i own the SE-02 and it is an incredible synth.

[@theW01F]

The SE-02 sounds just amazing

[@FloppyBottle]

moog mavis is seriously underrated. i got it as my millionteenth synth, but it works so great as someone's first foray into semi modular. only wish it came with a proper moog manual.

[@rolandechosmith5526]

But is it better than a model d? Better buy a model d or not? Please tell me

[@SteveAstronaut]

@@rolandechosmith5526 An issue with the Mavis that isn't mentioned here is that it has no MIDI. You can only trigger sounds via CV or via the inbuilt pads which are not that great. So it depends what sort of a set-up you intend to use it with.

[@IhorVnukov]

Amazing video. Happy to see it in my recommendations!

[@chicagosynthexchange]

Thank you!! Welcome aboard

[@MidnightVoid]

I have the microfreak and the ju06a, both are awesome

[@cosmowerkstapes]

gr8 synths! we have 3 microkorgs in the studio. fantastic. we use them with the rare trancemogrifier and crystal matrix modules.🤩

[@glassmuxxic]

Very surprised the model D isn't here given bang for buck - but some really good recommendations here.

[@NatLifeSounds]

It can't even save patches, Se-02 can and it sounds the same like minimum

[@rolandechosmith5526]

Behringer doesnt exist in his universe.

[@iamyourfuture808]

Roland JD-XI

[@destroy_television]

To add to this, if you're fine going with a used piece of gear, you can find the ASM Hydrasynth Explorer on Reverb for under 500. I bought one a few months ago new and I'm consistently blown away by the power of this thing. How much you get for the price is absolutely absurd. Not to mention polyphonic aftertouch in a $500 synth. 🤯 I was put off by the fact that it was a China synth until I played with it.

[@DangerAmbrose]

You can find a used Korg Minilogue for under 500.

[@chicagosynthexchange]

For sure! Another great option.

[@chicagosynthexchange]

THANKS FOR WATCHING!! SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE CHICAGO SYNTH EXCHANGE!! NEW VIDEO EVERY WEEK!!

[@NorthTexasEagle1989]

Bangers!

[@blackchalksounds5278]

Behringer neutron. Semi modular

[@scottiemark4596]

You can get a korg minilogue XD for not much more than £500... I just bought one and it's sweet, would make a good beginner synth for sure.

[@jrodohio]

Didn't gel with the xd. Their firmware update was impossible,

[@rolandechosmith5526]

Its not under 500 dollars

[@goodwilj]

I own thousands of dollars worth of some of the best software synths on the planet from UVI, Arturia, and Cherry Audio. I also have a MicroKorg which I used originally. It's a lot of fun.

[@70erJahreJunge]

I'm new to synth and want to get one to add a new flavor to my standard band context (Guitar, Bass, drums) music. After watching several videos I'm still confused. The synth seems to be always connected to a second or even third device (masterkeyboard?). Does it more than just triggering the tone? Would be great to have a review with only the synths.

[@MrzodiacBE]

Or the bass station. Awesome synth for less then 500

[@9877joseph]

Thanks for the list!

[@chicagosynthexchange]

Thanks for watching!!

[@u4yk]

Spend an extra $100, and you can have a JD-Xi. It's a complete workstation in a small form factor for under $600 MSRP. Again, that's the new price -- they're currently going for around $350 used. Then, there's the Novation Circuit children which go for less than $400. And, you can't forget about the newer Electribes that are also under $400. Oh, then there's the Reface series which goes for about $450. Lots of options at that price point.

[@HatredPrime]

No Behringer? They owned under 500$ market.

[@chicagosynthexchange]

They make some good options too!

[@RoyChartier]

He said "TOP" 5 ;) Seriously though, the Behringer Cat would be on my top 5

[@DatGoodSince]

@@RoyChartier I'm guessing the Neutron and the Book fell off?

[@jordanbenson2980]

Behringer in the last few years have been incredible

[@snailcorepistolwhippits9488]

I really like the MS-1.

[@doktorwer]

I would advise against the JU-06A, it does not play well with other synths on its own for when you decide to expand.

[@MrOuija-rr8kq]

Wow I didn’t realize you guys had a KZbin channel

[@SteveAstronaut]

Just bear in mind that the Mavis has no MIDI, no sequencer and no real keyboard. If you are planning on connecting it to something that can trigger it via CV then it's great but if you don't have that already then it's something you need to budget for.

[@ReverberationAudioOFF]

I do mostly atmospheric music and i’m looking to buy a new synth. Do you have any recommendations?

[@chicagosynthexchange]

Hi! Depending on your budget and connectivity needs there are some great options for more atmospheric sounds. Jeff Jenson is our Keyboard & Synthesizer Sales Specialist, he'll be able to help you out! You can always call the store and ask for Jeff - 773.525.7773 or reach out to Jeff directly via email - [e-mail] Thank you!

[@symbiat0]

Uno Synth Pro desktop ?

[@chicagosynthexchange]

Another great option! That one is awesome. Thanks for watching and subscribe for more!!

[@sothic23]

Thanks for this very informative video, dude! All those machines starting to feel like tempting acquisitions... Ok, maybe not the Korg so much. 😁 Kudos for your great presentation! 👍

[@rolandechosmith5526]

He pretends Behringer doesnt exist.

[@pesto12601]

VST's for the win.. can get all of these and more for a fraction of the price.

[@tblv9300]

the golden age continues

[@rolandechosmith5526]

Wait until behringer releases new synths again....

[@MikeUIibarri]

Show what it is he's pointing at. ?

[@sector328]

The micromosta 2 for 300 bucks is hard to beat. It's not eaay to get tho

[@pixelatedmushroom]

the video needs the topic divider thingies in the scroll timeline

[@GoodAfternoonDave]

Odd how you had the 20yr old microkorg but no mention of more recent synths like the behringer model D and neutron both an excellent value and more culturally relevant atm

[@rolandechosmith5526]

Any behringer synth under 500 can blow the microkorg away to bits not even a garbageman wants to have....

[@MaleInMarchMusic]

Yamah reface cs

[@chicagosynthexchange]

That's a good choice too!

[@pauljeavons8878]

Sorry this is a highly biased anti Behringer promotion.

[@VA1ENTINX]

🧡

[@Portekberm]

Novation?

[@ushnicyuvnikof2748]

SE-02 sounded the best.

[@Geert890]

MicroFreak has a vocoder too

[@matthiaswilhelm9813]

Seit dem Korg Poly800 mit Midi! Sind viele Jahre vergangen. Genau 37...👏👏👏⏳🐒😂👏👏👏Eigentlich alter Wein in neuem Gewand.E Music kostet trotzdem! Es gibt kleine Vorstöße mit Synthesizern welche viele Syntheseverfahren nun bieten...Eierlegende Woll Milch Sau🐒😂😂😂🐮💖🙀🍬🍬🍬➡️😯🇩🇪

[@onemaxlight]

SO, the best sound to show the potential of the KORG was that killed FROG??? really there was nothing else to show to people? vocoder? no?

[@santiagomedranotorres]

Isnt it cool that his name is literally ROLAND 😂

[@aseomg]

Another retailer talking synths? Where's the Subscribe button, lol

[@PeaceDub]

Sorry but the Bass Station 2 is the best and not even listed

[@ChromosomeSyndicate]

Sorry but there are so many more and better options .

[@snoooozer]

first

[@pitfighter871]

I'm gonna weigh in here and say there is only one synth and it's the Deepmind 12 They are revolutionizing the snobby ass world of purists and elitism and giving the same power to the people who could do way more with it than they ever could Other than that the microKORG is a close second. But due to it's cult status it's been given a goofy price for it's cheap shit. I put the whole Crystal Castles 8bit Witchhouse genre on that Synth and that's a great storyline for how to use gimmick synths to create whole new lanes of killer music without caring about commerical credibility.