While a great synthesizer is one of the most exciting and creatively inspiring instruments you could ever own, goodness knows a lot of them are not commuter or transport-friendly. Does owning a synth mean you are doomed to back pain, looking silly on public transport, and requesting the largest possible Ubers? No! Because some of the best synthesizers out there just so happen to come in lovely, portable sizes, while still being packed with great features and incredible sounds. Let’s dive into this Headliner guide to the best portable synths out there — your osteopath will thank you.
Teenage Engineering Pocket Operators
You couldn’t dream of writing the best portable synths guide without starting with these little wonders — vastly more than merely being portable, these Gameboy-sized synths fit in your pocket. And if you are also seeking budget-friendly options, these are the most affordable ones you will find. They look more like toys than musical instruments, but they deserve respect. The K.O!, one of the most popular Teenage Engineering models, is a sampler, drum machine and synth packed into a handheld square. The Arcade Operator is wonderful if you do, in fact, want it to sound like a Gameboy with chiptune sounds. The nine varieties cover drum machines and more.
Korg Volca Series
If you’re going to make the bold claim that one of the best portable synths can be cheaper than a VST synth in your DAW, you’d best be prepared to back it up. And that series of synths we’re calling to mind is the Korg Volca series. These little boxes of loveliness will only cost you just around £/$130, or even less if you explore the second-hand market. Some are drum machines, so synth there are two to be recommended: First up, the Volca FM. Harnessing FM synthesis, its sounds and stylings are a nod to the legendary DX7 from Yamaha. It sounds far bigger than its tiny frame if you put it through a great effects pedal, although the onboard reverb and chorus certainly deserve a shout.
Next up is one of the best introductions to the wacky world of modular that you could ever hope for. A full modular setup is neither portable nor cheap to put it mildly, but this little joy is affordable and you can take it anywhere. Unlike the FM, it’s a completely analogue synth. You can’t ask for a better tagline than “Creating new sounds that don’t exist in the outside world is an unending dream which has continued since the birth of electronic musical instruments” from Korg. Indeed, this mini, portable synth has the power to create electronic sounds never heard before once you spend some time tinkering.
All of this said the whole Volca series is definitely worth checking out, with other synths including the Volca Bass, Volca Keys, and Volca Nubass.
Yamaha Reface series
Not only have Yamaha delivered some of the best portable synths out there, but they are history-makers in the world of synthesizers in general. In terms of synths you can chuck in a bag, it’s Yamaha’s Reface series that are essential viewing, in particular two models. We begin with the CS, an affectionate nod to the Yamaha CS-80, a decidedly unwieldy and not portable synth, known for being heard in Stevie Wonder albums and Vangelis’ Blade Runner soundtrack. Using digital ‘analogue physical modelling’ to recreate those nostalgic sounds, it sounds excellent in its own right. The looping feature is brilliant to have, as well as onboard effects that are top-notch.
While you can’t really go wrong with the Reface range, the other name you should really consider is the Reface DX. This time, inspiration is taken from the Yamaha DX7, which is only the instrument that brought in the digital synth revolution after decades of analogue dominance — in 1986, you could hear it in 40% of number-one US singles. A firm complaint was how difficult it was to use, but the recreations seen in the Reface DX, besides being a more portable synth, are vastly easier to use. It also has a brilliant looping feature so you can layer up a full track of electronic goodness.
IK Multimedia Uno Synth Pro
Another one of the best portable synths that you need to know is the Uno Synth Pro, from IK Multimedia. It comes in two sizes — the larger certainly fits the bill as a travel-friendly synth, and the Uno Synth Pro Desktop is teeny and can go with you almost everywhere (just not activities like swimming). Just be aware the Desktop edition has touch keys instead of ‘proper’ keyboard keys. While looking every bit like an exciting, contemporary synth, it is nonetheless a brilliant entry point into the world of fully analogue synthesizers. It boasts lots of the features the classic synths do, including a white noise generator, three analogue VCOs and three oscillators.
Arturia MicroBrute
Perhaps you thought anything described as a brute would sound horrible and unpleasant. And, while Arturia’s MicroBrute certainly can sound brutal if you want it to, this portable synth is an absolute stunner and such a joy to create sounds with. Lightweight and fully analogue, it’s also semi-modular, and hours will disappear as you tinker with square, triangle and saw waves individually or simultaneously. It earns its name thanks to the ‘Brute factor control’, if you want to push your synth sounds into the land of pure grit, growl, and overdrive. This is the portable synth for those who aren’t bothered about presets and love making their own sounds.
Arturia MicroFreak
Keeping it Arturia but a little more freaky this time, the French synth-wizards have produced one of the most popular affordable and portable synths with the MicroFreak. Its signature flat touch keys are a great and characteristic feature once you get used to them. It’s a largely digital synth, except the bonus of analogue filters means you get to toy with both worlds. The Freak’s arpeggiator is fantastic for such a small, lightweight, and portable synth. You can also get spicy with the ‘spice’ and ‘random’ to make the arpeggiating spontaneous and fun. Arturia offers free updates, so there are periodical presets and features to watch out for. At just a smidgen above £/$300, it’s not hard to see why the MicroFreak has become such a loved contemporary synth.
Korg microKORG
If you thought owning a Korg synthesizer with more keys and features than a Volca meant being heavily weighed down and making travel much more inconvenient, it’s time to change that. Because the microKORG ensures they remain in the best portable synth conversation. It’s a budget-friendly synth that recreates many instantly recognisable leads, pads and bass sounds from the last several decades. It’s been knocking around the synth landscape since 2002 and harnesses digital virtual analogue technology. With 37 keys, some great onboard effects including delay and chorus, and there’s the option to buy it with an added vocoder. While the included, extensive range of presets is fantastic, the world of waveforms is available to you if you’re excited to craft your own sounds.
Moog Mother-32
If picturing a Moog has you sweating at the notion of lumbering around with a giant, wooden-panelled synthesizer, allow us to introduce you to Mother. As the market for semi-modular synths has really opened up in recent years, there have been lots of innovative and affordable options — some of which are the best portable synths. The Moog Mother 32 fits that bill, especially coming from a pioneer in modular synthesis since the 1960s. It’s a monophonic synth boasting a classic Moog VCO and VCF, as well as its integrated step sequencer. This lovely feature adds an extra layer of creativity and control and is why the Mother-32 is such a fantastic choice for those seeking a compact, high-quality synth.
Elektron Digitone
Are you searching for the best portable synth that also happens to do just about everything? Meet Elektron’s Digitone. Elektron is known best for drum machines, and the Digitone certainly looks like one. In fact, it is a drum machine. But it’s also a very powerful FM synthesizer — this little powerhouse enables you to create entire tracks with beats, basslines, and tons of excellent synth sounds. A synth being able to do so much, so well, while being small enough to go with you to the studio or to your next gig, is quite a thing. Have a joyful time with its four tracks and eight-voice polyphony, four-operator FM synthesis, Song Mode for creating songs on the fly, and the famed Elektron step sequencer.
Analogue or digital?
Does it really matter? Is there a huge difference? It is something to give a bit of thought to before you put money down for whichever you decide is the best portable synth above.
If you’re struggling with this one, there are lots of comparison videos out there for you to compare and see which you prefer. If you were hoping for an objective answer, sadly there isn’t one. Some prefer the grit and warmth of analogue, while some perceive digital to sound cleaner and more modern. There is always the argument that the original synthesizers were analogue, and many digital ones are either emulations of those synths or taking huge inspiration from them — however, there are many digital synths that are very original in their own right. Do your listening homework, as the choice can only be yours here.
So great synths really can be portable enough to go anywhere with you — case closed. All that remains is for you to choose the one that will accompany you on your musical travels, you troubadour, you!
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