Synthesizers

Arturia have broken away from their soft-synth roots with the MiniBrute, a 100 percent analogue monosynth. We put it to the test in our world-exclusive review.

Self-contained keyboard synths have an immediacy that is seldom matched by synth modules or software instruments. There's a great variety of them available at the moment, but how do you know which one is right for you? Here’s a selection of the models we've looked at over the last couple of years, with links to the SOS reviews, to help you decide.

XILS Lab continue to trawl the depths of obscure synth history, this time with an emulation of that rarest of beasts, the Elka Synthex.

The latest addition to Arturia’s Analog Experience series takes their hybrid software/hardware synth concept even further.

Yamaha’s MOX range offers unusually tight integration with your DAW. Is this the way forward for synthesizer workstations?

Roland have put elements of their two very different approaches to guitar synthesis in a single box. Could this be the best guitar synth ever?

Paul Fremantle gets his hands on this self-contained synth, based on the Atari Punk Console.

The Jupiter 8 looms large in synthesizer history, and any synth bearing the name has a lot to live up to. Is the Jupiter 80 destined for the same legendary status? Find out in our world‑exclusive review...

Korg’s analogue renaissance continues with the Monotribe groovebox. If last year’s Monotron knocked your socks off, this should leave you completely trouserless...

This is a synth like no other, eschewing conventional controls, nomenclature and even an ordinary on/off switch. Is it destined to become a cult classic?

There’s no more revered name in the history of synthesis than Moog, and the Voyager XL aims to cement their reputation for top‑flight instruments. Is this the Rolls Royce of the synthesizer world?

Korg really know what they're doing when it comes to workstations, and their new one has been eagerly anticipated. Meet the Kronos in our world exclusive review...

Spectrasonics bring yet more goodies to the Omnisphere party, aiming to make their highly acclaimed synth even better.

The original was a diamond in the rough — so is PolyKB II a highly polished gem?

M-Audio's debut synth may have a pristine white exterior, but it hides a sample-based synthesis engine capable of getting down and dirty...

PPG's Wave series were sadly beyond the budget of most of us, but, through the miracle of software, the powers of these innovative synths may now be within our grasp...

Arturia have taken their Origin concept further with the addition of a keyboard and new modules. So is it now the only synthesizer you'll ever need?

Kurzweil's new workstation maintains the company's reputation for solid reliability, and does so at a lower cost than you might expect...

Moog's Little Phatty has shed some pounds (in both senses of the word), but does this new, lightweight synth have what it takes to be a contender?

The Ultranova may be a return to Novation's roots, but it's still a very forward-looking synthesizer...

Arturia's Analog Experience range pairs tweakable preset soft synths with dedicated controller keyboards. We put the first two to the test...