| Synthesizers are arguably the most versatile and | | | | Roland Juno-106 sells for around $360 used and |
| expressive musical instruments ever created. | | | | this legendary synth has been used by such |
| Used either as an accompaniment to other | | | | bands as Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, |
| acoustic or electronic instruments or to create | | | | Autechre, Covenant, Celldweller, The Prodigy, |
| entire pieces of music on their own, synthesizers | | | | Astral Projection and the Chemical Brothers. |
| have come to play an important role and even | | | | 2. Korg microKorg |
| dominate a number of styles of modern music. | | | | A much more modern synthesizer is the Korg |
| As a musician looking to incorporate sounds | | | | microKorg, which was released in 2002. It has |
| generated by a hardware synthesizer into your | | | | only a 37 key keyboard but the sounds on this |
| own music, there are a number of factors that | | | | little synth speak for themselves. It features the |
| will undoubtedly influence your decision on which | | | | same synthesis engine as the Korg MS2000, with |
| model synthesizer to purchase. Perhaps most | | | | both synthesizers relying on a virtual analog |
| important is the sound you hope to achieve with | | | | architecture - that is, virtual emulation of analog |
| the synthesizer, which to a great extent will | | | | synthesis. The microKorg is available used for |
| depend on the style of music you wish to make. | | | | prices around just $280. This small but powerful |
| Another unfortunate factor in the decision-making | | | | keyboard has been used by Duran Duran, |
| process of many musicians is the cost of a | | | | KMFDM, VNV Nation, The Prodigy and Pet Shop |
| hardware synthesizer. Many of the best-sounding | | | | Boys. |
| synths can easily cost thousands of dollars, | | | | 3. Kurzweil K2000 |
| though luckily, there are a number of quality | | | | Another completely different kind of synthesizer |
| hardware synthesizers available for those of us | | | | is the Kurzweil K2000, which was unleashed in |
| on a budget. Below are the top three hardware | | | | 1991. The K2000 is capable of complex sounds |
| synthesizers widely available for a used price of | | | | and even has a built-in sequencer and sampler for |
| under $400. | | | | creating entire pieces of music with just a single |
| 1. Roland Juno-106 | | | | piece of music equipment. This synth is still widely |
| The Roland Juno-106 has been around since 1984 | | | | used today and has been found in the studios of |
| but its sounds are anything but dated. It is a true | | | | such bands as Pink Floyd, Depeche Mode, Duran |
| analog synthesizer, which many would consider to | | | | Duran, Nitzer Ebb, Front Line Assembly, KMFDM, |
| be its best feature. Near the end of the 1980s, | | | | Nine Inch Nails, Massive Attack, Skinny Puppy and |
| synthesizer manufacturers began a trend towards | | | | Wumpscut. The K2000 can be found for around |
| digital synthesis causing many older analogs to | | | | $340. |
| become valuable collector's items. Today, the | | | | |