BEST VINTAGE SYNTHS For Beginners and How They Sound!

[@geoffk777]

These are mostly good choices. Here is what I recommend: 1. Strongly consider rack units. This form factor is unfashionable now, but is super convenient, compact and easy to transport. It's especially good when you get a lot of gear, as you can have a dozen synths in a compact stack. Racks are often much cheaper than identical units with keyboards. Individal units; 1. Yamaha SY-77 (or TG-77 rack) This is better than a DX-7 and has some great sounds relatively cheaply. Uses both samples and FM, just like a new Montage. 2. Oberheim Matrix-6 (or Matrix 6r rack) This is a classic real Oberheim that sounds as good as an OB-X, but for a tiny fraction of the money. 3. Yamaha CS-15. A very versatile monosynth on sale alongside the CS-80. A great range of classic 70's analog sound. No presets or MIDI, though. The CS-10 is a cheaper version, mostly useful as a bass synth (but GREAT for that). 4. Korg TR Rack or Triton Rack. Roland JV-1080, JV-2080 or XV series. If you want the 80s/89s sound, all of these were studio mainstays back then and will deliver this sound very cheaply now. Just to put my money where my mouth is, I own basically all of these myself.

[@VultureCulture]

Great points! I have a couple more videos like these coming up where I highlight the SY series and the Matrix. I've pinned you comment as I wish I'd thought of some of your points before I published this video!

[@FortyThievesSF]

For real, ever since my room has filled up with no more space for big keyboards, I been getting into racks. I feel like they can be for more advanced people sometimes who are already familiar with MIDI, programmers, and also installing ICs as some racks need that to work better with modern programmers.

[@geoffk777]

@@FortyThievesSF Most racks are pretty much plug and play. Run a MIDI Out from your (probably cheap) controller keyboard into the MIDI In on the rack and you're good to go. Of course, racks can have technical issues like any old electronics, and you might run into one that has some quirks. But I have a whole lot of racks and have never had any serious compatibility issues.

[@FortyThievesSF]

@@geoffk777 my matrix 6R is certainly one that had some latency quirks. It needed the Tauntek upgrade IC to work better with programmers. But yes you could just plug and play if you wanted to.

[@geoffk777]

@@FortyThievesSF I have a Matrix 6r and haven't noticed any latency issues. But I'll definitely check out the chip that you recommended. As you said, it's certainly possible to just use it out of the box.

[@AEMachinas]

Totally agree the K3 is a hidden gem! Those filters! Super fun to program and that LFO you can dial in like an arpeggiator, really great portamento etc.

[@VultureCulture]

Just a classic 💎

[@VincentPresley]

The Polivoks really is one of the best vintage duophonic synths if you can get one that works and survives shipping. My first one arrived with all the magnets from the keyboard rattling around inside. After a few weeks one osc just drifted down to clicks and never came back. My 2nd one has been really solid. Worst keybed ever but most of them have midi installed these days

[@VultureCulture]

Yeah - you gotta be careful with buying any used synths but ESPECIALLY vintage and ESPECIALLY Soviet lol.

[@VincentPresley]

Vintage prices have been dropping like crazy and I love it. Actually it’s bad timing since I am in the process of buying a giant house and shouldn’t be buying any more gear but it’s soooo tempting. Everything on ebay and reverb has been sitting there for 6 months to a year and I’m just watching the prices go down. Still definitely worth buying vintage gear and I’m not trying to scare people away. I’m just thrilled to see the prices come down.

[@Ambientnauts]

Yeah it’s a tasty time right now

[@VincentPresley]

@@Ambientnauts I’ve been tempted to get an Elektronika EM25 again because there are a couple listed for a few hundred bucks that have been sitting there for several months. It’s not the best stringer but it has its weird Soviet charm.

[@VultureCulture]

Soviet synths are weird and I love that!

[@lovemadeinjapan]

Dropping? Minion saying WHAATTT? I only see them going up. I got my near mint M1/D50/DX7 all for 250€ around 2012. Now it is at least double the money.

[@VincentPresley]

@@lovemadeinjapan Yeah, everything went up since 2012 but after peaking around Covid, everything has been dropping for the last year or two. For a while the SH5/7 got up to $5000 or higher and now are down to $3000. I sold my Juno 60 for 3k and now they are 2k. Sonic VI is down to 3k or under which is really crazy. I could do this all day. I've bought and sold over 100 synths in the last few years so I keep on the current prices. I absolutely do not need any more gear but it's really hard to stop buying when prices are dropping the way they are. No, they're not down to 2012 prices but they are definitely down from a couple years ago.

[@lundsweden]

I love the sound of the Alpha Juno sounds, so damn warm. The interface is ok, I use an iPad app editor with mine (iPG800 in PG300 mode).

[@VultureCulture]

The Alpha sounds so great and warm like you said! I absolutely should try out using an iPad editor sometime

[@FortyThievesSF]

I have the Formanta Maestro and the seller sent me a cheat sheet of all the parameters in English. I made some little labels with a label maker. But you're right it is a different kind of fun and you feel like Zangief playing a Soviet synth.

[@VultureCulture]

It adds to the charm! Plus those synths actually sound really great!

[@fredrikh9299]

The early 00's are the best bang for buck. And never buy a synth without knobs (parametric programming). It's an instant killer of synth fun. And why settle for an old monophonic? Patch memory and polyphony is sooo much more valuable than "vintage feel" .

[@klstay]

Great to see a knob per function synth on there. I am one of those for whom that is as important as how it sounds. I do not care at all about patch storage, onboard effects, or really even a sequencer or arp onboard (though those two, especially the latter, are nice to haves) if it is a mono with at least close to knob per function. Not sure if it qualifies as vintage, but you can sometimes find used MEKs for around Polivoks price mentioned. (The encoders aged poorly sometimes on those models, so finding a pots model is always best)

[@VultureCulture]

MEK?

[@klstay]

@@VultureCulture sorry, Mono Evolver Keyboard.

[@jennoscura2381]

Thanks for making me buy another synth. I got a K1 because of you, as well as a Kawai R-50e. Now I just ordered an Alpha Juno. You might be more dangerous than Espen Kraft. LOL I do genuinely appreciate you exposing me to affordable vintage synths. I love 80s music so another 80s synth for my collection is a good thing. One of these days I want to get one of those synths from the USSR.

[@VultureCulture]

I'm glad to spread the message that vintage synths don't have to cost as much as a car! Thank you for watching my videos! 🙏

[@jennoscura2381]

@@VultureCulture The cheaper options are cool because you can find some hidden gems. The Roland D-5 has a chord mode where you can play chords with single key presses. It sends that out via MIDI. So I have both the D-5 and DX7 as master keyboards. I have them plugged into a MIDI merger that goes to the MIDI on my Arturia KeyStep Pro. The two midi outs on the KSP go to two 6 way MIDI THRU boxes and then out to my synths and drum machines.

[@cmaynes]

as always an outstanding segment! fully agree with your selections!

[@cmaynes]

V- you should really link your DW8000 Bladerunnner segment to this too!

[@VultureCulture]

Thank you! 🙏 And that's a great idea!

[@erichkohl9317]

I owned a DW-8000 for a few years, bought it used, and IMO its brass patch was unmatched by anything else in my collection.

[@VultureCulture]

Such an underated synth!!

[@erichkohl9317]

@@VultureCulture Careful... the word is getting out! 😉😉

[@Ambientnauts]

@@erichkohl9317 It has a dark character and doesn't sit pristine in most mixes. So that can be a real challenge. But hey it's that dude you met in the dark alley who turned out to be great person, and gave you free dispensary goods, truly expecting nothing back.

[@VultureCulture]

Haha

[@erichkohl9317]

@@Ambientnauts Yeah, I really felt like its hybrid nature was very apparent in the sound. Beefy, punchy, but also very shimmering/glassy.

[@sidetrackwalker]

Amazing list, thanks! I instantly added most of them to my wishlist. Gotta find a larger flat first where I can build more of a studio space for all that stuff, though; it's getting cramped as it is. :D

[@VultureCulture]

Never enough room for all of the synths!

[@sidetrackwalker]

@@VultureCulture Nor money!

[@turquoisecapricorn]

Nice video! I would like to add the Roland D-10 which is in fact a brother of the D-50. Great sounds you can get out of this! For a nice synth with buttons I would say the Korg MS-10. And as the MS-10 is semi-modular you can link a sequencer or synthesizer to it or use the filter of the MS-10 to filter drum machines, guitars etc...

[@VultureCulture]

Those are both fantastic choices as well! Damn! Wish I thought of the D-10! And you can get a MS-10 for like $700

[@lovemadeinjapan]

The D10 has to win the award for being most affordable built-like-a-tank synth. It is all metal, keybed is as good as on a D-50, and it is like 100€ only. Great bargain and also a great MIDI controller keyboard.

[@WarriorEsoteric]

I just purchased a K4, my very first vintage synth

[@VultureCulture]

Awesome! What do you think?

[@WarriorEsoteric]

@@VultureCulture it’s awesome, I really love it, you can definitely tell they were shooting for a D-50 type synth but of their own concoction, I love the sounds, and although it has good presets I actually want to try and program my own sounds but have no experience and unfortunately the K4 doesn’t really have any tutorials for it on KZbin, been reading the manual but honestly I have to actually see it for real to grasp it

[@VultureCulture]

@WarriorEsoteric eventually I will do a tutorial for it 🙏

[@WarriorEsoteric]

@@VultureCulture that would be great because I’m having trouble navigating the features currently

[@WarriorEsoteric]

@@VultureCulture that would be incredible, and the only genuine one on KZbin if you do

[@SlaserX]

INCREDIBLE video, I've been looking at getting a Kawai for a while, I may have to now. I still think the standards like a M1 or JV-x080 are required gear though

[@VultureCulture]

Thank you! 🙏 Both great synths, capable of a vast number of different sounds!

[@hanzvolt]

I certainly agree with the Polivoks. I love mine. Someone mentioned in the comments about the Roland JV1080 which is a great choice. If vintage is what you are looking for you may have to just swallow a reality pill and save up for some beast...Go big or go home right? If your a beginner perhaps learning how to synthesize on a modern synth is the way to go because the older synths with the nightmare menus and membranes can be hugely discouraging as a beginner. I am totally a knob per function guy and thats huge because some functions buried in menus can be forgotten about. The Polivoks was a great choice because of the $$. I found one in Brooklyn for 1k and you can find some vintage gems from Russia on Reverb for really cheap... checkout an Elecktronika EM-25, Estradin Solaris 314 and one I plan to get soon a nasty 1 Osc mono the RITM-2. I love Soviet synths but thats just me. 💪😉✌ PS: some other good choices are: Casio CZ101, Yamaha DX72D ( no membranes ), Yamaha CS10

[@VultureCulture]

All great choices too!

[@lovemadeinjapan]

Loved the DW8000 praise. What I also like about the DW is the looks, it looks as dark as it sounds, Knight RIder aesthetics in optima forma, even the keys are the most square you will ever encounter. I think the same filter is in the DSS-1 (8) /DSM (16 pieces!). Here in the EU the DW is usually cheaper than the Juno-@, and that is when it comes to built quality a rather plasticy synth with membrane switches. For me a great cheap starter one is the CZ101/CZ1000. Unfortunately you have to choose either crappy switches (CZ-1000) or tiny keys (CZ-101), but it sounds really thick and analog for being a digital synth, and it is way easier to program than a DX FM-synth.

[@JohnnyTakeAll]

Polivoks is one of my dream synths!! Good list

[@VultureCulture]

It really is an incredible synthesizer. Everyone should have one!

[@mitchelstephen7536]

Awwww... The Kawai k1 WAS the first digital synth I bought new when I was 17. No resonant filtering! Shit I sold it a year later. Dirt was out, 16 bit clean was in. I bought an Emax II, and I wish I sampled the nasty sounds off it.

[@VultureCulture]

Ugh the Emax II is one of those dream boards!

[@mitchelstephen7536]

@@VultureCulture Yeah, my dad bought me my first car and I bussed tables, then went to work in a piano and organ store at the mall for a whole year to buy that Emax II. Now that was cool.! No one else in San Diego had one.

[@VultureCulture]

That's awesome!

[@RayyMusik]

I don‘t agree with the K1, which I had for a while in the 90s beside the D-50. It was incredibly noisy, and the keybed was unplayable: the black keys required to be hit three times as hard as the white ones.

[@jennoscura2381]

I love the sound of my K1. But I agree on the key bed. It kinda sucks. So I just play it with my DX7 via MIDI. I LOVE the key bed on the DX7. It's a great master keyboard.

[@issiewizzie]

I had the k1 when it came out due to the fact that I couldn’t afford the D50, the M1 and the wavestation. It wouldn’t have been my go to if I had a choice.

[@VultureCulture]

I'm surprised! Mine doesn't seem to have that problem

[@VultureCulture]

Agreed

[@VultureCulture]

It really didn't compete on the same level back in the day. Nowadays though, there's something so nostalgic to me about its shortcomings lol

[@madness8556]

Can the Kawai K1 XY stick be programmed to transmit midi CC 16 and 17? If so then it would be a great controller for a Wavestation AD, SR or the digital plug in version of the same instrument. The Kawai K3 is, IMHO very similar to the Korg DW8000 DWGS synth. I started my synth programming days as a 15 year old using my school's Korg Poly 61 that was more or less a newer version of the Korg Poly 6 but I don't think it had the same filters and had digital oscillators. I would have also included the Ensoniq ESQ1 and SQ80 in this list as they're both phenomenal sounding, flexible hybrid synths with juicy sounding analog filters that are both very easy to use and program straight from their front panels. Keep up the great work.

[@VultureCulture]

I don't actually know but that's a great idea! The K3 and DW-8000 are very similar. Both stellar value. I did cover the SQ-80 in this video the week after this video went up: kzbin.info/www/bejne/npiTlWmOhad0iK8

[@lovemadeinjapan]

@@VultureCulture Except a K3 is 1K here, where a DW is 400-500. That makes the choice very easy.

[@geoffk777]

I'm sure that the PolyVoks sounds great, but it makes me a little nervous. My local synth shop doesn't stock any Russian componants, and the USSR wasn't renowned for their build quality. If this thing fails, can I get it fixed without shipping it back to Moscow? I'd feel a lot more secure with a Roland or Yamaha.

[@VultureCulture]

That's a fair point. I was talking to my synth tech and he used to get batches of Polivoks in and repair them and rake in the dough, so it's at least possible. He did say he had to learn to read the Russian schematics though lol

[@Ambientnauts]

Some folks use a Waldorf Pulse+ rack and add the Polivoks filter mod board. I personally don't know if it "gets you there." A friend has one but I haven't asked to hear it yet comrade.

[@PabloQuinterro]

Awesome video. Im getting into synths and looking to purchase my first. Stuck between the Deepmind 12, Hydrasynth, Rev 2 or Take 5. Anyone have recommendations? Type of music i make is Soul, funk, reggae, hip hop. Thanks!

[@Ambientnauts]

Take 5 for your genres, can achieve a very mellow vintage vibe and much more. Would pair it with the Electric Piano you already own and resonate with. If none then the Yamaha Reface CP is surprising for that. Just my two cents

[@VultureCulture]

I agree with @Ambientnauts the Take 5 is killer value right now for what you're looking to do.

[@PabloQuinterro]

@@Ambientnauts Thank you so much for your input and opinion :]

[@PabloQuinterro]

@@VultureCulture Sounds good. Thank you :]

[@Ambientnauts]

@@PabloQuinterro Cheers have fun

[@MofoNsh]

Kinda surprised you didn't mention the ESQ1 or SQ80. They're very affordable.

[@VultureCulture]

I did mention the SQ-80 in my other video, top 5 vintage synths going up in price: kzbin.info/www/bejne/npiTlWmOhad0iK8 No doubt the ESQ-1 is a killer value synth!

[@lovemadeinjapan]

ESQ-1 is doable in the EU, around 500€, but the 80 is over 1K here, and in some areas (worse looks, less rough sound) a step back, so I won't look for the 80. But if you are a sucker for VFD tubes, like I am, a single Ensoniq is a must have. The cheapest VFD Ensoniq here is the ESP-1, also very nice as it has the keybed of the 80 with polyphonic aftertouch, got one for 250€. Very nice early sampler!

[@simonmcg23]

How about the Korg X3? You can buy them cheap as chips at least in Australia. And you get an m1 on steroids as long as you can live without THAT piano sound

[@VultureCulture]

I hadn't considered that synth before, I'll have to check out some demos

[@alleykat6273]

cant believe i snagged a d-50 for $300 some years ago

[@VultureCulture]

That is fucking awesome!!

[@charleslee1879]

@Vulture Culture What's your take on the Korg Poly 800? I ask now that I already bought one 😂 Thanks for the video!

[@VultureCulture]

I actually did a video on it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bXnYoopueKZ2ocUsi=u1WifEwYXI5lJxRw

[@charleslee1879]

@@VultureCulture Thanks! I'll check it out.

[@DangerAmbrose]

What, no Yamaha DX7?

[@VultureCulture]

I had considered it - they sound great and have amazing build quality. $700 certainly qualifies. But I wanted to highlight some underdog synths, and the K3 and DW-8000 can cover a lot of those clangy FM tones everyone loves.

[@crisoliveira2644]

Holy cow! Sovietwave comes in heavy like the Red Army crushing the nazis!

[@robertlee1176]

You have a way of emptying my wallet 😂

[@torbenanschau6641]

Know what? Asked myself recently what the best but still affordable option for a vintage direct access poly synth with Velocity and Aftertouch is. And came to the conclusion, there is none. Aside from the Combo JX-3/10/8 with their PGs. Which actually is a shame. And there's even hardly a big one. Matrix12 come to ones mind but anything else? This is why I think a synth like the Deep Mind 12 will maintain its value for sure. There actually is no competition to that. (Prologue doesn't do it for me soundwise). Hence your opening statement about losing money when buying new synths, that's not a given. Look, for years I was trying and thinking to get a cheap Nord Stage at some point. Forget it. Even the oldest versions sell like new prices. And it's similar to a lot of recent gear. The Behringer stuff... you can buy it new for cheap. But the reseller prices don't drop by a lot. DM-12 will ask more than 500. Even the virtual analog stuff like from Access or Novation keep their prices at a certain point. The only synths which lose value are the workstations. Trinity, Triton, Kronos, Motif, Fantom, they usually go for a fraction of the original prices. So these are my secret weapons now. Got the Kronos for 1100. Motif XS usually go for 800, Fantom X or G the same. And what people often forget - they'll bring a lot of synth as well.

[@VultureCulture]

There's never going to be a vintage option that has all of the features of a modern synth like the DM12 for DM12 prices. Even if there was the price would inflate quickly, look at the Juno 106. The name of the game with vintage is the synth can sound great / have a great interface / have a reasonable price. You get two out of three lol. Certain synths like the Nord Stage and Virus have absolutely held their value, but I would say they're the exception to the rule. I'd argue the Kawai K3 is almost a direct interface analog hybrid poly with velocity / aftertouch that sounds amazing and is cheaper than a DM12 a lot of the time. Also, right now on Guitar Center you can get an Alpha Juno 2 for $600 and a Retroaktiv programmer for $550, which is less than 1.5 times the cost of a DM12, which is pretty good for vintage.

[@fredrikh9299]

Beginners: buy a Behringer clone. As a beginner you'll never notice the difference. Get NEW components for half the price of hyped circuitry that is about to fall apart. Make music, don't be a vintage kork sniffer!

[@lovemadeinjapan]

A model D for example, better than the original, as it is less of a wife with high maintanance, and has proper MIDI.

[@WarriorEsoteric]

I agree but most of the behringer models don’t have patch storing capabilities, and unless you want to sit there and recreate a sound from scratch every time that can be a bit inefficient

[@lovemadeinjapan]

@@WarriorEsoteric The original I assume has no patch storage either.

[@WarriorEsoteric]

@@lovemadeinjapan well I suppose you have a point there

[@fredrikh9299]

*No knobs = worthless.* Thats why parametric synths didn't increase in value and no new ones are made.

[@lovemadeinjapan]

Knobs break, you get stuck behind them and get scratchy after a while.

[@butcharmstrong9645]

I can't believe I just stumbled onto this video just when I needed it! I bought a used Kawaii K1m For $275 and was ecstatic to bring it home. I had it three weeks and the interior battery died! So now it's kind of defunct? I was wondering is there some way to have it reprogrammed or what? BTW I love this channel.

[@VultureCulture]

If you can find a synth tech it should be fairly trivial to replace the battery and then reload the factory patches via midi! Definitely worth looking into!

[@butcharmstrong9645]

@@VultureCulture I hate to bother you one more time but download them via MIDI from where? I have no idea

[@VultureCulture]

@butcharmstrong9645 not bothering me :) www.kawai.co.uk/support/downloadcenter/k1/

[@lovemadeinjapan]

@@VultureCulture It is probably easy as heck only demanding a philips screwdriver and a CR2032 cell. You can try programs like Sysex Librarian or Elektron C6 to dump the file over Midi.

[@4Fingr]

Access Virus A, B, C and Indigo

[@VultureCulture]

At some point I have to do a series on the Viruses

[@4Fingr]

@@VultureCulture Great. I love My Indigo II ❤