Unusual hardware synth recommendation...

[Djberwick]

As much as I would love that setup with Maths and Rings once I add a midi expander to hook up to my daw it's around £700... I think I'll either go for a Neutron or see if there's a nice modular rack ready to go second hand

[t-sun]

I'd definitely say that if you want modular specifically, the Neutron shouldn't disappoint and can be a start to building a setup if you decide to go the eurorack route. The Behringer desktop monosynths and the MS-1 keyboard, plus the Korg Volca range are the only things in your price range that come to mind, and the Neutron is the best of those options given what you've mentioned so far.

The Alesis Micron is one that's love/hate, lot of people swear by it but many didn't like the menus so you may want something more hands on. It's also long out of production, but there were a lot of them so they're in your price range used.

I have an Arturia Microbrute, for the price it's a great start as a semi-modular monosynth. Also out of production, but in your price range second-hand. Possibly a better option than the MS-1.

[Arpangel]

Just get the Neutron, it’s a one box solution, maybe investigate modular later, you can always incorporate the Neutron into that, also, secondhand is the only way to go with modular, and it’s so simple to make your own cases.

PS.

I just checked out the Neutron, it’s basically a two oscillator mono synth, in the traditional sense, with a patch bay, personally, I’d go for something a bit more West Coast, dual oscillators like the Make Noise DPO (just an example) are far more versatile, when it comes to far out sounds, I know we can use our imaginations, but if we’re talking about versatility especially for the more abstract sounds, and bang for buck I'd go for the O Coast instead, the Neutron is a safe alternative, cosy, familiar, but that’s not what we want, is it?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA7UdNzBlbU

[Djberwick]

Yeah, the Neutron does look very good value for money and quite flexible but like you say not pretty middle of the road for what I want. It's a bit more than I would have like but maybe the O-Coast might be better....

Defo looking at modular in the future but I think I'd like to get the taste via one of those semi-modulars for now.

[The Elf]

Neutron is a fine little synth, but don't go flying away on this 'unique' idea - synths run to basic underlying principles, no matter what they are. Beyond that they are all 'unique' in one sense or another.

If you can run to it a Behringer 2600 would get you into the modular-ish world without having to enter the modular-ish-ish world.

[Djberwick]

Ah, too much choice!
Behringer 2600 looks awesome - will check it out, but probably beyond my (realistic) budget...

[Arpangel]

Given the OP's budget, and uses, I think maybe we have to look at things like the O Coast, there’s a trend today, and I’m all for it, for small, cheap-ish very capable synths, that can do many things, as good as the Behringer stuff is, it doesn’t have so many twists in the tale like the O Coast, the real strong point of stuff like this is that you can go very far out without using external bits and pieces, just the one, very small box. There are other competing devices, but if you get along with the O Coast, it’s a hard act to follow, on size, price, and versatility.
I’m already recording just using my Microgranny, CDR70, handy recorder, if I added an O Coast, it would be a self contained small, very powerful recording, and gigging rig, that fits in a computer bag.

[The Elf]

Ah, too much choice!
Behringer 2600 looks awesome - will check it out, but probably beyond my (realistic) budget...

...but well worth saving up for. It's as open-ended as you're going to get for the money.

[Djberwick]

This also came up in my search for unusual sounds: Moog Theremini!

Bit off topic but is certainly different (albeit a bit limited). Sounds like it can do more than just the 1950s sci-fi sound...

[The Elf]

This also came up in my search for unusual sounds: Moog Theremini!

Bit off topic but is certainly different (albeit a bit limited). Sounds like it can do more than just the 1950s sci-fi sound...

Everyone loves 'em, nobody uses 'em...

[Djberwick]

You are probably right - sounds good but I think is basically a fancy midi controller limited to 31 non-editable patches

[Ben Asaro]

I guess it depends on what you're looking for.

At that price point it cuts most of my recommendations out. Can you afford to wait and/or double that budget?

At <300, the only two things that stick out to me are the Moog Werkstat and a used Arturia MiniBrute 1.

If you're serious about getting into modular, it will be a very deep, very expensive dive.

[Djberwick]

I could at a pinch go up to £500 - for that it seems that the main contenders would be Make Noise O-Coast and the Behringer 2600?...

[Ben Asaro]

I will not recommend Behringer for personal reasons: I think Uli and his company are mercenary and unethical.

The 0-coast is fantastic and you can create a 0-series ecosystem based off of it.

A used Mother-32 or perhaps Subharmonicon should be on your audition list, depending on how experimental you want to get.

In the head-to-head semi modular shootout, the contenders will be the M32, 0-Coast, and SubH, in my opinion. I can't speak to the Neutron.

I personally think that the SubH gives the most bang for the buck: 2-6 oscillators, dedicated audio outputs for each, MIDI and analogue sync, fantastic sound, and an architecture that invites exploration. You can use it as a simple 2-voice synth or something far more experimental.

[Djberwick]

Just checked out the SubH and that's defo out of my budget unfortunately. However, I found this demo of the Mother-32:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NF3lhhiknfY

Assuming this is just the synth doing this (excluding the reverb) I am absolutely blown-away. I haven't heard the O-Coast doing anything like this in the demos - maybe it can though.

[Ben Asaro]

They are very different synths with different aesthetics and architecture. My original goal when I got my M32 was to get three of them. I fell down the modular rabbit hole instead (I have approximately a 10-voice eurorack system) and ended up with a SubH at the tail end.

If I were to start all over again, I would probably stick with my original plan!

[Eddy Deegan]

Just checked out the SubH and that's defo out of my budget unfortunately. However, I found this demo of the Mother-32:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NF3lhhiknfY

I've not seen that one before - it's an excellent demo! It's not quite a self-generating patch though; it's a repeating 32-note sequence played with random timing changes.

The Mother-32 is a surprisingly capable synth but it's sometimes not the easiest box of tricks to use, in part due to the various combinations of button presses required to effectively use the sequencer.

It has a single oscillator but there are patch outputs for sawtooth and pulse from that oscillator that can be accessed simultaneously, plus you can sort-of get the filter to track pitch as well.

It's definitely a synth that rewards persistence and time spent learning how to use it, it can sound fantastic and it plays very well with other semi-modular and euro-rack kit also.

I love mine, and have it in a 3-tier rack with a SubHarmonicon and a DFAM alongside it.

The Sound On Sound review of the Mother-32 is here:
https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/moog-mother-32

[Ben Asaro]

Ha, Eddy took the words right out of my mouth!

I was going to say: if you want sounds that are uniquely your own, you're looking in the right direction. But it's at the cost of time and effort, and quite a bit of both (you can check out my synth challenges for more detailed look at the singing highs and crushing lows of this pursuit).

The only other thing I will add is that if you are looking for absolute rock solid tuning, stay far away from modular and semi modular!

[Djberwick]

No worries, I've spent a lot of time with the Wavestate and enjoy deep crafting sounds/sequences. Not worried about tuning either, adds to the charm!

Seems like you pay a premium for the "Moog" name, but they always come with quality.

[Arpangel]

I will not recommend Behringer for personal reasons: I think Uli and his company are mercenary and unethical.

The 0-coast is fantastic and you can create a 0-series ecosystem based off of it.

A used Mother-32 or perhaps Subharmonicon should be on your audition list, depending on how experimental you want to get.

In the head-to-head semi modular shootout, the contenders will be the M32, 0-Coast, and SubH, in my opinion. I can't speak to the Neutron.

I personally think that the SubH gives the most bang for the buck: 2-6 oscillators, dedicated audio outputs for each, MIDI and analogue sync, fantastic sound, and an architecture that invites exploration. You can use it as a simple 2-voice synth or something far more experimental.

Ben is right about the O Coast, it’s pick of the bunch for me, simply, because it doesn’t really have a sound, it can be very conventional, or very, very way out, the Behringer 2600 is a lovely synth, I thought about it, but it’s still an analogue mono synth, basically, with a very stereotypical sound, that’s hard to get away from, I’ve got the Arturia 2600, and it’s fantastic, it does all the things for me that the original 2600 doesn’t, but it’s nothing like the Behringer, it’s very hard to get away from "that sound" which is very good, but not if you don’t want it all the time!
Some of my favourite sounds ever I’ve made on the Arturia 2600, but I’d never be able to get them on the original, or the Berry.
If soft synths were an option, well, the world is your oyster, and if you’ve got an iOS device, Animoog, what more can I say, how much is that? $30?

[Djberwick]

The soft synth approach would definitely be a lot lot cheaper but my DAW is already stacked up with VSTs for the orchestral instruments, plus really keen to get into the analogue area by merging the two.

Thanks for everyone's suggestions and demystifying this for me!

[Ben Asaro]

Fortunately, there are lots of us here who are using hybrid systems and sync'ing hardware synths, software synths, and DAWs!

[Djberwick]

My current thinking is that I'll get a Mother 32 first then at a later date get an 0-Coast. From what I've heard no doubt both are top notch but I think coming from my lack of experience the Moog might be better to start off with. I haven't really heard many demos online for the 0-Coast that I like, whereas there's plenty for the Mother...but sounds like it has a lot of scope (maybe more than the M32) to create a wider palette of sounds....

[Ben Asaro]

You literally cannot go wrong starting with a Mother-32, that was the synth that launched 10,000 modular addicts.

Just make sure that you are running the latest firmware on it, it greatly improves the performative aspects of the synth!

[Eddy Deegan]

On a related note, the Mother-32 is capable of self-generating patches in the real sense. Here's one and this is the patch sheet for it:

[Djberwick]

Sold

[Ben Asaro]

Do let us know how you get on with it!

[Arpangel]

The main thing here is that you heard something you liked from the M32, and it had potential for you, that’s all that needs to be said.
YouTube can be a real let down with demos though, most are awful, I wouldn’t judge the O Coast by those, like any synth, you need to try it.
Hope you enjoy the 32, Moog never disappoint, I’ve a Grandmother and Matriarch, couldn’t be without them, I don’t think there’s been a time in my life when I haven’t had a Moog around somewhere.

[Djberwick]

I'm sure I will, cheers. There is just something about the Moog brand that is very desirable to me

[Arpangel]

There is just something about the Moog brand that is very desirable to me

It’s the sound.