37 key synth - recommendations?

[BJG145]

I'm currently looking for a 37 key synth, something portable to carry around to open-mics and play some pads or a bit of lead. It has to be a self-contained synth; I'm not looking for MIDI controllers or sound modules.

The budget is around £350 on eBay, though there's some flexibility for the right thing. The Virus Indigo and the Moog Subsequent are out, but a Hydrasynth Explorer might not be beyond the realms of possibility.

It might be overkill, however, and the many posts on SOS complaining about mini keys have made me wary. (I've only had 61-key full-size synths in the past.)

I quite like the idea of the Alesis Micron, as I wanted an Ion when they came out...but I'm not sure how small the keys are on that. I'm also not sure whether I should worry so much about them.

Thoughts?

[Martin Walker]

Hi Ben,

I suspect you may find answers to your query on two recent existing threads, here:

37 note controller with after-touch?https://www.soundonsound.com/forum/view ... hp?t=95099

Keystep 37 repair
https://www.soundonsound.com/forum/view ... hp?t=95144

[The Elf]

I hate minikeys, but... A Hydrasynth Explorer takes some beating for a portable 'do-it-all' synth. Of course the more expensive Hydra KB awaits further up the food chain...

Korg R3 - saddled with appalling red display screens, but otherwise a great all-rounder polysynth. It's also quite editable, so long as you can see the details on those screens. This is the synth that the MicroKorg wants to be when it grows up.

Alesis Micron, a great-sounding synth, but a bit of a 'through the letterbox' device. If editing is of secondary importance this is a gem.

If the budget were higher I'd also recommend the Elektron Analog Keys, which most people seem to have overlooked. This is is easily one of the best synths I've ever owned. It's limited to four notes of polyphony, but it's a true analogue and has some deep synthesis capabilities. That said it is typically 'Elektron' and can have you scratching your head.

My lightweight 3-octave kit consists of an iRig Keys 2 Pro and my laptop. I can run the whole shebang from the laptop's battery, and access my entire arsenal of softsynths.

[BJG145]

Thanks for the suggestions so far. As I start to explore links and research further, the inevitable mission (and budget) creep starts to set in...

I think I've ruled out mini keys and letterboxes. I'm wondering about "slim" keys like the Minilogue...and the Gaia 2 just caught my attention...but for a lot more dollars, and more luggable than portable. Looks quite nice though.

The Argon8 from the Controller thread also looks cool. Time to check out some sound demos.

[Eddy Deegan]

The Arturia MiniFreak provides a lot of bang for the buck. 6 voice hybrid poly with digital oscillators and analogue filters. It can sound huge and has a number of interesting oscillator types.

Keybed is mini but surprisingly good. The keys are a decent width and well-sprung.

[BJG145]

Thanks Eddy and all. After discovering the Argon8 in the thread Martin linked, it seemed to fit the bill...it matched the budget...done. I've been curious about Modal so it'll be fun to try it out.

[pax-eterna]

and the Gaia 2 just caught my attention...but for a lot more dollars, and more luggable than portable. Looks quite nice though.

Is very very good! And you get the SH-101 as a bonus when you buy it. Only drawbacks are no aftertouch and the IAP instruments from Roland cloud, which would be so cool, are way WAY too expensive.

Keybed is very nice to play and all controls are well laid out and super easy to use!

[BillB]

Well, I’m so late to this party, it’s actually over, but…
More of a workstation than just a synth, but quite amazing is the Akai MPC Key 37, available in any colour you like as long as it’s red. About £450-500 S/H, so over-budget. But very capable, worth mentioning if anyone else follows this thread.

Argon - isn’t that additive only? So a specific set of tone colours? Don’t know much about it, look forward to hearing how you get on.

Micron keys are not mini, pretty regular as far as I can see.

[BJG145]

Well, I’m so late to this party, it’s actually over

I'm quite impulsive when it comes to music gear purchases. And as I say, I've been curious about Modal for a while, so that worked for me. (Seems to be wavetable based.)

If I'm not careful this thing could be the start of a new phase of synth addiction in compact form. The Akai MPC Key 37 looks like a nice piece of kit. Still curious about minibeasts like the Hydrasynth Explorer, Minilogue and Micron...which seems to have the same sound engine as the Akai Miniak.

The Argon8 was £362. When you can pick up a Hydrasynth for £365, or a Micron for £250...they suddenly look very tempting. It's more manageable to experimentally buy and sell in that range than with the full-size models.

[BillB]

Miniak and Micron do have identical sound engines, only the hardware differs. You can load the last Miniak Firmware into the Micron, which has the advantage of making the Table of Contents (TOC) available over MIDI, as detailed by PatchBase here
https://coffeeshopped.com/patch-base/he ... sis/micron

The only issue is that some of the function buttons swap locations, but I got around that by creating a graphic overlay for the Micron to provide the correct labelling. I have yet to do a serious PatchBase editing session on the Micron, but the possibility is there. Microns/Miniaks are currently good value VAs.

Some very tasty patches for sale here
https://patchbay.shop/

[BJG145]

...cut that out...the Argon8 hasn't even turned up yet...

[BillB]

...cut that out...the Argon8 hasn't even turned up yet...

No, no, that was for other people who might follow the thread, not you.

[BJG145]

...cut that out...the Argon8 hasn't even turned up yet...

No, no, that was for other people who might follow the thread, not you.

*sigh*

They sent an offer. I yielded to temptation.

That's enough 37 key synths. No more 37 key synths for a little while.

[N i g e l]

"we hope you are enjoying your latest purchase. People who bought that one also bought this one...."

[Arpangel]

...cut that out...the Argon8 hasn't even turned up yet...

I was very tempted by the sound of the Argon8, but stepped back after all that faff with the company etc.

[resistorman]

I had the Cobalt and found the keybed to be exceptionally nice to play. The sounds were good too, but I already had the Hydrasynth...

[BJG145]

Great - looking forward to this one. (Same keybed I think.)

[N i g e l]

Ive only heard the cobalt & argon on utube & reviews. They seem very similar mechanically and have a quality Fatar keyboard. They sound sumptuous, digital done proper, and theres a built in sequencer.

[BJG145]

They seem very similar mechanically

The whole range (Argon, Cobalt, Carbon) looks identical, just with different sound engines under the hood. Unusual approach.

[BJG145]

The Micron turned up today, and it's lovely.

I think I'll have a lot of fun with this new 37-key idea. It's nice having something so portable you can doodle with on your lap.

It had a very scratchy volume pot, where the sound would cut in and out. I was reassured to see that this has been discussed on SOS before...but in the end, all I had to do was spin it fast for a minute and it's fine now.

[BillB]

Erm, what Micron? Did I miss that turn? I thought you had just gone for the Argon and not a Micron/Miniak.

Anyway, I'm sure you'll love them both. It's a good sounding VA with amazing sonic capabilities, but to really get at them, you'll have to decide on a choice of editors, or stick with the presets. It's also a funky little groovebox, if you can figure it out. Lots of info/examples on YT.

37 keys is its own sweet spot, but maybe not for pianists!

That thread you linked to degenerated nicely, in the best traditions of the SOS Forum

[BJG145]

I thought you had just gone for the Argon

After you posted those Micron patches I decided I needed one of those too.

[DGL.]

It's not a bad synth, though the "letterbox" programming isn't the best and I wish it didn't use a 9V AC PSU, I brought a MINIAK when they were getting rid of them for about £220 as it was a deal I just couldn't pass up.

[Arpangel]

I gave my Micron to the Elf, for spares or repair, I miss it a lot, I made some amazing sounds for it, but it just went bananas in the end.
That Carbon looks interesting though.

[The Elf]

I gave my Micron to the Elf, for spares or repair...

Yes, it was beyond my ability to repair, so it went for spares. Such a shame, as I also have some affection for the Micron, albeit it needs a computer to edit, and it has an odd way of storing its presets.

I lost patience with mine, as I could achieve much the same, if not better, with other digital synths, such as my beloved MicroMonsta2 - and I didn't have to put up with that crazy patch storage system