Sweetwater's Best Analog Synths Over $2,000 in 2023
by The Press Desk
Analogue Solutions AS100 Colossus Classic
Based on the legendary EMS Synthi 100 from the 1970s, the Analogue Solutions Colossus Classic stands up for its name bringing astonishing 12 high pitch ranged analogue VCOs that can also be used as LFOs providing a potential total of 14 LFOs, 2 huge pin matrix panels with swiss-made broadcast quality signal routers, modified Oberheim SEM based filter panel circuitry; fully-fledged sequencer panel with 64 step/ 2x32 step analog CV/Gate sequencer, 10 input stereo mixer and 2x joystick controllers. This feature list could go on and on so if you’re looking for a monster high-quality synthesizer with the looks straight out of a science fiction movie, Colossus might just as well be your dream synth.
Buchla Easel Command
Synthesizer pioneer company Buchla made an updated desktop version of its highly praised 208 module for the Buchla 200e system. The wooden finish desktop synthesizer brings standard MIDI input (USB B/DIN), has all the features of the latest revision of the 208 - now labeled as ‘208C’ - and some modern tweaks enhancing the standalone version’s workflow as an independent unit such as dedicated mod oscillator and complex oscillator outputs. The hardware keeps an all-analogue signal path as well as its famous real spring reverb while making room for future updates such as a preset manager as cited by the company in one of their videos.
Sequential Trigon-6 Keyboard
Coming from a highly respected breed of synthesizers, the Trigon-6 is Sequential’s take on adding a Ladder filter to the company’s classic synth sounds in the form of a polyphonic instrument coming from the lineage of the legendary Prophet-6 and OB-6. While keeping the same sound richness associated with the vintage ladder filters, Trigon-6 also brings modern new features to it such as the new 2 and 4 pole mode design with dedicated drive and feedback controls so users are able to shape feedback aspects to their will. Another cool addition to the Trigon-6 is the presence of a third discrete analog oscillator adding much more motion to your sound.
Studio Electronics Omega 8
The Omega 8 is an eight-voice, discrete circuit, multi-timbral, stereo, multi filtered, arpeggiating, DSP free, 4U rack-mountable analog synthesizer. The rack synth is equipped with two oscillators with three waveforms each alongside one filter per voice with physical inputs and outputs for each one and a filter slot system that lets users change the voice character by adding optional cards emulating sounds from renowned companies such as Yamaha, Roland and ARP if you like to expand the Omega 8’s included Oberheim and Moog style filters. The unit also offers an arpeggiator, envelopes and modulation sections as well as extensive MIDI capabilities.
Moog One 16
Stated by the company as “the ultimate Moog synthesizer” the 61-note keyboard Moog One 16 has 16-voice configurations with 3 analog VCOs, 2 independent analog filters, dual source analog noise generator, analog mixer with internal audio input, 4 LFOs and 3 envelopes per voice! The hardware’s newly developed triangle core analog VCOs has extensive tweakability as its selectable waveform mix can be user defined, the dual source noise generator allows you to shape and mix different noise colors while its flexible analog mixer provides volume controls as well as filter routing selections for each oscillator, noise generator, ring modulator and external audio input.
Oberheim Electronics OB-X8
After 35 years without releasing a new project, the legendary synth designer Tom Oberheim together with late Sequential LLC founder Dave Smith have gifted us with the launch of the Oberheim OB-X8. The OB-X8 is an eight-voice polyphonic analog synthesizer that brings back key features of the company’s renowned OB-X, OB-Xa and OB-8 1980s synthesizers, also giving the ability to combine its different voice architectures in order to produce new sounds and texture possibilities. All the original presets that gave the OB range its mythical status can be found in the OB-X8 as well as modern takes such as over 600 user-programmable preset locations, variable voice stacking from 1-8 voices, channel aftertouch and much more.
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