Best General Synthesizers for Sound Design 2026
Perfect general synthesizers for sound-design - easy to play and learn on
Last updated: January 14, 2026 • Next update: January 21, 2026
#1
⭐
4.8/5
(56 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Behringer DeepMind 6X
by
Behringer
Rock
Film Score
Electronic
Key Feature:
• Often includes preset banks
✓ PROS
- • Often includes preset banks
- • Versatile for multiple music styles
✗ CONS
- • Can be overwhelming with too many options
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
Behringer DeepMind 6X6-Voice Analogue SynthesizerClassic polyphonic synthesizer with six real analogue voices for an...
⭐
4.8/5
(56 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 614900
$747
#2
⭐
4.8/5
(23 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
UDO Audio Super 6 ST49 Blue
by
UDO Audio
Electronic
Film Score
Ambient
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✓ PROS
- • Suitable for both studio and live use
- • Often includes preset banks
✗ CONS
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
- • May not excel at specific synthesis methods
UDO Audio Super 6 ST49 Blue12-Voice Polyphonic Analogue Hybrid SynthesizerSemi-weighted 49-key keyboard with velocity...
⭐
4.8/5
(23 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 611767
$3,266
#3
⭐
5.0/5
(2 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Future Retro Vectra
by
Future Retro
Ambient
Film Score
Electronic
Key Feature:
• Often includes preset banks
✓ PROS
- • Good all-around synthesis capability
- • Versatile for multiple music styles
✗ CONS
- • May lack specialization in any one area
- • May not excel at specific synthesis methods
Future Retro VectraSynthesiser with vector synthesis and sequencer29-Key keyboard4 Oscillators with over 500 virtual...
⭐
5.0/5
(2 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 599946
$2,189
#4
⭐
4.6/5
(52 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
SOMA Lyra-8 Rust Edition
by
SOMA
Sound Design
Electronic
Pop
Key Feature:
• Suitable for both studio and live use
✓ PROS
- • Often includes preset banks
- • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✗ CONS
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
- • Can be overwhelming with too many options
SOMA Lyra-8 Rust EditionAnalogue Drone SynthesizerSpecial edition with oxidised metal housingEight voices /...
⭐
4.6/5
(52 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 618417
$835
#5
⭐
4.8/5
(19 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Roland Juno-D6
by
Roland
Film Score
Sound Design
Electronic
Key Feature:
• Suitable for both studio and live use
✓ PROS
- • Good all-around synthesis capability
- • Versatile for multiple music styles
✗ CONS
- • Jack of all trades, master of none
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
Roland Juno-D6Synthesizer61 Velocity-sensitive keys128 Voice polyphony8 PartsZEN-Core sound engine with more than 3800...
⭐
4.8/5
(19 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 600079
$1,044
#6
⭐
5.0/5
(5 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Mellotron M4000D Mini Black
by
Mellotron
Rock
Electronic
Ambient
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✓ PROS
- • Versatile for multiple music styles
- • Often includes preset banks
✗ CONS
- • May lack specialization in any one area
- • May not excel at specific synthesis methods
Mellotron M4000D Mini BlackMellotronVelocity sensitive semi-weighted Fatar keyboardLC-Display100 Mellotron and...
⭐
5.0/5
(5 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 604255
$2,419
#7
⭐
4.6/5
(16 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Korg miniKORG 700Sm
by
Korg
Electronic
Rock
Film Score
Key Feature:
• Good all-around synthesis capability
✓ PROS
- • Often includes preset banks
- • Good all-around synthesis capability
✗ CONS
- • Can be overwhelming with too many options
- • Jack of all trades, master of none
Korg miniKORG 700SmMonophonic Analogue SynthesizerReproduction of the first Korg series synthesiser from 197337...
⭐
4.6/5
(16 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 609201
$1,473
#8
⭐
4.9/5
(46 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Sequential Prophet 10 Special Edition
by
Sequential
Ambient
Sound Design
Film Score
Key Feature:
• Versatile for multiple music styles
✓ PROS
- • Suitable for both studio and live use
- • Versatile for multiple music styles
✗ CONS
- • Jack of all trades, master of none
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
Sequential Prophet 10 Special Edition10-Voice Polyphonic Analogue SynthesizerLimited special version in lacewood...
⭐
4.9/5
(46 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 601188
$5,489
#9
⭐
4.9/5
(43 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Arturia AstroLab 88
by
Arturia
Ambient
Rock
Film Score
Key Feature:
• Often includes preset banks
✓ PROS
- • Suitable for both studio and live use
- • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✗ CONS
- • Can be overwhelming with too many options
- • Jack of all trades, master of none
Arturia AstroLab 88Stage KeyboardFatar keyboard (TP-40) with hammer action and 88 weightedvelocity-sensitive keys with...
⭐
4.9/5
(43 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 616582
$2,639
#10
⭐
4.9/5
(44 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
SOMA Lyra-4 White
by
SOMA
Pop
Sound Design
Rock
Key Feature:
• Often includes preset banks
✓ PROS
- • Often includes preset banks
- • Suitable for both studio and live use
✗ CONS
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
- • May not excel at specific synthesis methods
SOMA Lyra-4 WhiteAnalogue Drone SynthesizerFour voices / oscillatorsEach voice is freely tunable in a wide...
⭐
4.9/5
(44 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 607405
$439
#11
⭐
5.0/5
(32 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Roland Juno-D8
by
Roland
Electronic
Film Score
Pop
Key Feature:
• Versatile for multiple music styles
✓ PROS
- • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
- • Versatile for multiple music styles
✗ CONS
- • May lack specialization in any one area
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
Roland Juno-D8SynthesizerWeighted 88-key keyboard with Ivory Feel (PHA-4 standard)128 Voice polyphony8 PartsZEN-Core...
⭐
5.0/5
(32 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 600081
$1,429
#12
⭐
4.5/5
(2 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Arturia MiniFreak Vocoder
by
Arturia
Sound Design
Pop
Electronic
Key Feature:
• Often includes preset banks
✓ PROS
- • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
- • Suitable for both studio and live use
✗ CONS
- • May lack specialization in any one area
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
Arturia MiniFreak VocoderAlgorithmic SynthesizerLimited special edition37 velocity-sensitive slim keys with...
⭐
4.5/5
(2 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 619121
$659
#13
⭐
4.8/5
(52 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Moog Geddy Lee Minimoog Model D
by
Moog
Film Score
Sound Design
Rock
Key Feature:
• Often includes preset banks
✓ PROS
- • Often includes preset banks
- • Suitable for both studio and live use
✗ CONS
- • Can be overwhelming with too many options
- • Jack of all trades, master of none
Moog Geddy Lee Minimoog Model DAnalogue SynthesizerLimited Geddy Lee (Rush) signature model in special finishModified...
⭐
4.8/5
(52 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 612740
$6,159
#14
⭐
5.0/5
(21 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Roland Juno-D7
by
Roland
Rock
Ambient
Electronic
Key Feature:
• Good all-around synthesis capability
✓ PROS
- • Often includes preset banks
- • Wide variety of synthesizer sounds
✗ CONS
- • Sound quality may vary across different types
- • Can be overwhelming with too many options
Roland Juno-D7Synthesizer76 Velocity-sensitive keys128 Voice polyphony8 PartsZEN-Core sound engine with more than 3800...
⭐
5.0/5
(21 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 600080
$1,143
#15
⭐
4.5/5
(46 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Sonicware ELZ_1 play Black
by
Sonicware
Pop
Rock
Sound Design
Key Feature:
• Often includes preset banks
✓ PROS
- • Good all-around synthesis capability
- • Versatile for multiple music styles
✗ CONS
- • Jack of all trades, master of none
- • May not excel at specific synthesis methods
Sonicware ELZ_1 play BlackCompact Synthesiser with LooperLimited Edition17 Synth enginesincluding low-bitgranular and...
⭐
4.5/5
(46 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 604370
$802
How to Choose the Best General Synthesizers
Budget Planning
- • Under $200: Entry-level
- • $200-$500: Intermediate
- • $500-$1000: Advanced
- • $1000+: Professional
Quality Check
- • Sound clarity & tone
- • Build materials & finish
- • Hardware durability
- • Overall craftsmanship
Key Features
- • Your musical style
- • Skill level match
- • Intended use case
- • Brand reputation
Frequently Asked Questions
Key factors include build quality, sound characteristics, playability, brand reputation, warranty coverage, and value for money. Consider your musical style, skill level, and intended use to find the best match.
Budget depends on your needs and experience level. Beginners can find quality options for $200-500, intermediate players should consider $500-1500 range, while professionals often invest $1500+ for premium features.
Higher-priced general synthesizers typically offer better materials, craftsmanship, and performance. They're worth it if you're serious about music, perform regularly, or need professional-grade features.
Top brands combine quality, innovation, and reliability. We evaluate brands based on build quality, sound performance, durability, and customer satisfaction to recommend the best options for different budgets.
Both have advantages. Online offers better prices and selection, while stores allow hands-on testing. We recommend researching online first, then testing in stores if possible. Many online retailers offer excellent return policies.
