The Best Hardware Synthesisers for Modern Music: New and Classic Synths for Modern Productions

If you’re a music artist or producer working on modern music production and genres such as pop, dance, hip-hop, and electronic music, and are drawn to hardware synthesiser instruments, we’ve got good news for you. Many choose to purely work with soft synths within their DAW for these genres, believing that physical synths are only worth using for those vintage ‘70s and ‘80s sounds.

But this isn’t the case — there are incredible new synthesisers being released all the time with contemporary, cutting-edge sounds. But you’d be making a huge mistake to only consider the new best synthesisers, because some of the classic hardware synthesisers absolutely belong in this conversation. The best synths of all time aren’t labelled as such because they only sounded good in the ‘70s and ‘80s, but because they are timeless instruments that continue to astound with their ability to create never-before-heard sounds.

So, with modern music in mind, we’ll explore the best synthesisers out there, including new instruments and some of the legendary names of synthesis. We’ll kick off with the most affordable bits of gear and work our way up from there. So let’s explore these amazing instruments so that soon you can say ‘father, forgive me, for I have synth’d.’

Korg Volca FM

• FM Synthesis: Compact digital FM synth, great for 80s and modern metallic sounds.

• Portable & Sequencer: Battery-powered, built-in sequencer for mobile creation.

If you’re going to boldly claim that there is a top synthesiser that can also cost you less than a software synth in your DAW, you’d better back it up. And it’s Korg’s Volca FM that is giving legitimacy for our claim. This diminutive box of joy will only cost you a little over £/$100 if you buy it brand new. As its title hints, this synth harnesses the power of FM synthesis, and its look and sounds harken back to the legendary DX7 from Yamaha. It can sound enormous if you put it through a great effects pedal, although the onboard reverb and chorus are really impressive.

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Arturia MicroFreak

• Hybrid Digital Oscillators: Combines diverse digital engines with an analogue filter for unique textures.

• Expressive Keybed: Flat, capacitive touch keybed with polyphonic aftertouch for dynamic play.

Arturia's MicroFreak is an astonishingly capable, affordable synth. While its flat touch keys are quirky at first, they quickly become part of its unique, joyful character. This digital-meets-analogue hybrid packs an outrageously good arpeggiator, complete with "spice" and "random" buttons for endless fun. Plus, Arturia's regular free updates mean new sounds and features are always arriving. All this for just over £/$300 – making it a fantastic entry point before considering its more advanced sibling, the MiniFreak.

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IK Multimedia Uno Synth Pro

• Powerful Hybrid Analogue: Three oscillators, dual filters (classic designs) for versatile sound.

• Extensive I/O: CV/Gate, MIDI, and USB connectivity for easy studio integration.

This here is a very good synth, you know. IK Multimedia deliver one of the best synthesisers, in the Uno Synth Pro, especially when it comes to affordability and portability. Despite its reasonable price point, it brings an array of features that other manufacturers expect you to pay up to triple as much for. It’s an analogue synth, but a very modern one at that and perfect for creating modern sounds. It has sonic potential in spades with its white noise generator, three VCOs, and three oscillators that put this little beast firmly in your control. And, critically, it sounds absolutely stunning. There’s an even more affordable desktop-sized version, if you don’t mind swapping to touch keys.

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Korg Minilogue XD

• Hybrid Analogue/Digital: Blends analogue oscillators with a customizable digital multi-engine.

• Hands-on & Effects: Intuitive interface, built-in sequencer, and high-quality digital effects.

A little south of £/$500, Korg’s Minilogue XD is an analogue polyphonic synth that delivers all the power we’ve come to expect from the iconic Japanese brand. And, again, this is a top analogue synthesiser that is phenomenal for modern genres and sounds. The sequencer is incredible, as is its multi-engine, which you can customise endlessly. Unlike some synths in this price category, the Minilogue XD is filled with fantastic presets, which is great when you simply need a great synth sound on the fly. Other new features for the XD edition of the Minilogue are dual-CV inputs so you can link the synth up to modular gear, and a damper pedal jack.

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Korg Wavestate MKII

• Advanced Wave Sequencing: Specialises in complex, evolving soundscapes and rhythmic patterns.

• Deep Digital Sound: Excels at intricate pads, arps, and constantly shifting textures.

Korg made waves in the ‘90s when the quickly expanding dance/electronic scene welcomed the introduction of digital wavetable synths. And Korg are causing a wavetable stir once again, as one of the pioneers in this realm of the top synthesisers. The Wavestate MKII has your back in the preset department with its 96 voices and expanded memory from the original. And its sequencing powers are mighty. If you dream of rhythmic patterns, evolving soundscapes, heavenly pads, epic arps, and many more textures, this might be the modern synthesiser you’re looking for.

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ASM Hydrasynth

• Deep Wavetable Synth: Advanced wave morphing synthesis with highly flexible modulation.

• Expressive Control: Polyphonic aftertouch or expressive touch strips/pads for nuanced performance.

Like the mythical serpentine monster it takes its name from, ASM’s Hydrasynth is a multi-faceted, epic beast with sounds worthy of a Greek mythology movie score. And this Hyrdra is piping up in the best synth conversation because it doesn't just identify as a digital synth, instead utilising ‘digital wave morphing’ technology. If that’s leaving you scratching your head, the vital point is that it sounds huge and Herculean. Some of its heroic features include five looping envelopes, onboard reverb and delay, five LFOs, eight polyphonic voices, and an amp module. A beast that will take you years to slay.

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Elektron Digitone II

• FM Synthesis & Sequencing: Digital FM synth combined with Elektron's powerful polyphonic MIDI sequencer.

• Unique Sound/Workflow: Great for sharp, percussive, and otherworldly digital sounds with robust sequencing capabilities.

Why buy a mere synthesiser when you can have a music production powerhouse in a box that could almost replace your DAW? Elektron might be best known for the company’s drum machines, and the Digitone looks akin to a drum machine, too. As a matter of fact, it is a drum machine. But it’s also one of the best synthesisers on the market. To ease your confusion, the simplest way to describe the Digitone II is that it’s a little FM synth box that does virtually anything you throw at it.

You can drop full beats and create full tracks — just overlay some vocals in your DAW afterwards if it’s a song you’re making. Its portable size means you can have it in the studio and take it to gigs, too. A very addictive little box of goodness.

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Roland System-8

• ACB Emulations: Utilises Roland's Analogue Circuit Behaviour (ACB) to authentically recreate classic synths.

• Modern Features: High polyphony, extensive hands-on controls, powerful effects, and modern performance features.

You can’t have a conversation about the top synthesisers without discussing Roland. And our first entry from the synthesis legends is the System 8, a mega-modern instrument that numerous users have said is one of the best live-performance synths you could ever hope for. It uses Roland’s ACB (Analogue Circuit Behaviour) technology to digitally recreate some of the most beloved sounds from the Roland playbook. These are downloadable as Plug-Outs from the official website, including sounds from the company’s most iconic synths such as the Juno-106 and the Jupiter-8. Onboard effects include delay, chorus (emulating the classic Juno chorus), flanging, reverb, distortion, bitcrusher and more.

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Roland Juno and Roland Juno-X

• Modern Juno Evolution: Contemporary digital hardware synth reimagining the iconic Juno sound with expanded features.

• Versatile Engines: Includes multiple sound engines, vast effects, and extensive controls for diverse modern genres.

As mentioned, this article isn’t just showcasing new synthesisers — because a number of history’s greatest synths are completely timeless in their ability to conjure up cutting-edge sounds that belong in almost any genre. Our first example is the original Junos from Roland, especially the Juno-60 and Juno-106. Go and see current artists such as Nils Frahm and Sigur Rós live, and you’ll be astounded by the sounds they bring out of the Juno. It’s also an instrument you’ll often find in professional recording studios, and these synths still sneak their way onto albums being released today all the time.

The disadvantage is that you’d have to dip into the second-hand market to get one of these vintage instruments, and the Juno-60 will cost you around three grand when you find one. There is another option, though, and that is the Roland Juno-X. If you don’t mind digital emulations of vintage analogue synths, then this newer synth will only cost you a third of the vintage price. The design is a loving nod to the original Junos, and it recreates their beloved chorus effects and wobbliness brilliantly.

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Sequential Prophet-5

• Iconic Poly Analogue: Quintessential polyphonic analogue synth, known for rich pads and classic leads.

• Timeless Sound: Legendary sound remains a staple in countless modern productions, despite vintage roots.

For those not in the know, the unremarkable-sounding name Dave Smith might not sound like it has an indelible place in music history. But Smith, who created many of the very best synthesisers, was the man behind the Prophet, which you can hear across Michael Jackson’s Thriller, in Madonna’s Like A Virgin, and in Radiohead’s Kid A, just to give a few examples. The fact its ranged from the ‘80s up to Radiohead should give you a strong idea of what a capable synth this still is today. Incredible leads, rich and warm pads, and many more beautiful polyphonic sounds, this is regarded as one of the best synths of all time for very good reason.

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Waldorf Quantum MK2

• Cutting-Edge Hybrid: Advanced digital engines (wavetable, granular, spectral) with analogue filters for ultimate sound design.

• Intuitive Touchscreen: Large touchscreen and extensive hands-on controls for complex, evolving sounds.

There are few synthesisers that combine the power of analogue and digital synthesis as brilliantly as Waldorf’s Quantum Mk2. Enter the quantum realm with one of the very best synthesisers for wavetable, granular, subtractive and resonator synthesis. If you’re a real synth nerd, the filters, modulators, oscillators, and LFOs will send you to dreamland. It’s a true modern synth with a touch-screen display, visually displaying your sound design. The epic onboard effects include EQ, reverb, drive, phaser, chorus, and more.

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WINNER: The Quantum MK2 combines multiple digital synthesis engines—wavetable, granular, spectral and more—with true analog filters and a large colour touchscreen, enabling unparalleled sound design possibilities. This hybrid architecture pushes the boundaries of hardware synthesis. - Headliner Awards

Moog Minimoog Model D

• Legendary Monosynth: Faithful reissue of the iconic monophonic analogue synth, revered for powerful bass and leads.

• Unparalleled Character: Delivers a timeless, fat, and organic analogue sound, a standard in all genres

We hope you’re prepared for a pretty big jump in price as we encounter one of the most acclaimed and famous synthesisers of all time. In fact, the Minimoog isn’t merely one of the best synthesisers ever, but a synth that has influenced almost every synth released thereafter. Everything that came before was modular, which was a big barrier to entry for many. The Minimoog, a keyboard synth, brought synths to the masses and was one of the very first portable synths that didn’t require a moving van for transport. And it’s another truly timeless instrument, still used across loads of modern music, and found in many recording studios. It costs, though. The Reissue Model D is approximately five grand, and if you can get your hands on a vintage model, be prepared to pay a fair bit more.

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Can analogue synths be used for modern music production and genres?

Perhaps you were expecting the modern focus of this article to just focus on newer, digital synthesisers and were surprised to see some analogue models popping up. This is because analogue is not synonymous with vintage. Both analogue and digital synths can be created to conjure up exciting new sounds, and one of the most inspiring approaches is to harness both — either by using a hardware analogue synth with some digital synth VSTs in your DAW, or by owning multiple synths of different kinds, if you have the space and budget!

The Roland Juno, Prophet, and Minimoog prove that synths don’t have to be brand new or digital to belong in modern genres and music production. We could have listed more of the classic hardware, but this list would end up with hundreds of synths — best to go and listen to them for yourself if the legendary names have your interest. Of course, the newer synths tend to be more budget-friendly, and they may appeal more to your individual taste. Just get out there and synth, and find your new hardware best friend.