Back to Blog
Pocket operator6/13/2023 The most recent model in the series, the PO-32 Tonic, goes a step further with the concept, allowing you to transfer sounds from the Microtonic drum VST wirelessly through the built-in microphone. The size makes them a little fiddly, but they’re very simple to use.Įach Pocket Operator has its own distinct personality conveyed through the LCD screen for example, the 8-bit-inspired PO-20 has its own arcade cabinet. The crunchy, digital sounds they create are simplistic compared to some of the other synths on this list, but they boast high-end features such as sequencer, parameter locks (to save variation on each step) and pattern chaining. Teenage Engineering’s Pocket Operators might look like the bastard child of a calculator and a Nintendo Game & Watch device, but there’s enough power in each of the seven models to go up against Korg’s Volca series. Don’t let the virtual analog put you off – these are some of the best synths Roland has made in years. If you’re using the TR-09 drum machine, it’ll even split the audio into four separate channels. There’s also a USB port that serves two functions: it’s both a power supply and USB audio interface, which means you can plug the synth directly into your laptop with no additional interface required. With the exception of the SE-02, some compromises are made: the units use a digital recreation of analog circuits, they don’t come with a keyboard as standard (that’ll set you back another $99) and the Jupiter-8 emulation only has four voices instead of eight, but for the most part, they sound just like the real things.Įach module isn’t quite as compact as a Volca, but the Boutiques have many of the same functions, including battery power, a 16-step sequencer and a built-in speaker for impromptu jamming. The range covers three vintage polysynths (Jupiter-8, Juno-106 and JX-3P) a classic drum machine (TR-909) the legendary TB-303, a vocoder synth and all new analog synth, the SE-02. The Boutique series gives you classic Roland synths at an affordable price, in a compact form factor that won’t take up too much space in your studio. They’re dirt cheap too: it’s possible to get a drum machine, bass synth and a model to make chords for well under $500. If you enjoy the sound of analog grit (or FM sheen), the Volca range is one of the most charming ways to get into hardware production, and if you’ve already got a collection of vintage gear, you’ll probably find a place for at least one of these units in your studio. What started out with just three models (Beats, Bass and Keys) has since expanded to include the FM (which is pretty much a tiny Yamaha DX7), Kick (a powerful kick drum generator) and Sample (a tiny MPC).Įach has a 16-step sequencer, so it’s possible to write patterns without the need for additional equipment, and it’s easy to sync each model together with the included cable. For good reason too: the Volca range has made a full analog setup affordable on most budgets – something that would have been unthinkable even just a few years ago. Korg didn’t invent the pocket synth with the Volca, but few instruments have captured the imagination quite like the Japanese giant’s affordable series. Below are 12 of the best, all coming in at under $500. Not all of them are guaranteed to fit in your pocket, but you’ll at least be able to throw them into a backpack. However, the market for these devices is exceptionally crowded, and it’s not always clear what each is capable of. The technology is becoming so inexpensive and the lines increasingly blurred nowadays that a great deal of these synth occupy several categories at once. Off-the-shelf, plug-and-play synths sit comfortably alongside open-source units that you can reprogram or DIY kits you can modify yourself. Today, the synth market is more open and innovative than ever. However, the demand for hardware has picked up in recent years, spurred on by a surge in availability of analog gear from boutique companies and small, affordable synths from legacy manufacturers like Roland and Korg. Scott Wilson picks the best pocket-sized, affordable and hackable synths synths on the market for experienced studio heads and beginners alike.Īs computers gradually replaced hardware synths towards the end of the last century, it seemed as if outboard gear was a dying relic of another era. Hardware synths are smaller, cheaper and more flexible than ever.
0 Comments
Read More
Leave a Reply. |