12 Best Synths for Beginners (2026)

Are you a beginner and looking to buy a synthesizer, but don’t know which one to choose?

Maybe this is even the very first synth you are going to buy?

Well, you’ve come to the right place: whether you want to play pads for ambient music or wild basslines on techno beats, you’re going to find what you’re looking for in this article.

Indeed, to guide you in your choices (because it’s true that the number of synths available on the market has exploded in recent years, choosing a synthesizer as a beginner can quickly become difficult), I have compiled in this article a selection of the best synths suitable for beginners and under €600.

An example of a beginner-friendly synthesizer — Based on a CC-BY 2.0 photo David J

So, synthesizers with a very good price/quality ratio.

⚠️ Be warned though: if you are starting in this hobby and looking to buy your first synth, keep in mind that you might open Pandora’s box and buy compulsively for years! ^^

After this necessary warning, let’s go for my recommendations in terms of synths (which are ranked by price and not by “quality”).

And don’t forget to check out my comparison table at the end of the article!😉

Note: to illustrate the sound of each synthesizer, I have included at the bottom of each recommendation a demo video that seemed nice to me.

1. Korg Monotron Delay

Brand: Korg
Sound synthesis: analog
Polyphony: monophonic
Keyboard: ribbon (not very precise)
Arpeggiator: no
Sequencer: no

This first suggestion might surprise you, but don’t judge by appearances: while the Korg Monotron Delay looks a bit like a toy (and it runs on batteries), it is nonetheless a usable synthesizer with some nice effects.

Indeed, the Monotron Delay includes a single oscillator with a low-pass filter and an LFO with two waveforms (triangular or square).

To play the notes, there is no MIDI connectivity: you have to play on the ribbon controller, which is limited to 4 octaves.

In addition to this (and I think this is really the best aspect of this mini-synth), there is a mono echo effect with a warm and saturated sound. Nice, for example, for ambient or dub — especially since you can send any sound into your Monotron Delay via a jack connection located at the back of the device to enjoy this delay.

A nice tool, either for complete beginners in synths — or as a budget-friendly Christmas gift.

► See the current price of the Korg Monotron Delay on: Thomann Woodbrass Amazon

2. Korg Volca Keys

Brand: Korg
Sound synthesis: analog
Polyphony: paraphonic (3 notes)
Keyboard: 27 keys (non-velocity sensitive)
Arpeggiator: no
Sequencer: yes

The Korg Volca Keys is part of a series of synthesizers all named “Volca”, whose affordable price and compact format make them ideal tools for beginners (but they can also be used by professionals, of course).

This time, and like all the following synthesizers on this list, there is first a MIDI input to send notes to the synthesizer from a MIDI keyboard or from a software sequencer.

But you can of course play your notes directly on the small keyboard or use the built-in sequencer to play loops that you can record on the fly, for example.

The Volca Keys is a 3-voice paraphonic synthesizer and has several harmony modes (unison, octave…) as well as a delay effect, allowing you to do quite a bit.

There is also a filter with a controllable envelope and an LFO that allows you to modulate the pitch or the cutoff frequency of the filter.

Essentially, the Volca Keys is designed primarily for playing leads or melodies, but with a bit of practice, you can also create effective pad sounds or bass lines.

► See the current price of the Korg Volca Keys at: Thomann Woodbrass Amazon

3. Korg NTS-1

Brand: Korg
Sound synthesis: digital
Polyphony: monophonic
Keyboard: ribbon (not very precise)
Arpeggiator: yes
Sequencer: no

Perhaps the underdog of this list.

Simply because the Korg NTS-1 is a synthesizer… in kit form!

Indeed, it’s up to you to assemble it! But don’t worry, no soldering is needed and nothing very complicated: it’s quite quick and you can’t make a mistake if you follow the guide included in the box.

And the good news is that once assembled, you have at your disposal a very nice little digital synthesizer that is perfect for beginners.

Indeed, the NTS-1 includes a single oscillator that can play somewhat classic waveforms (triangle, square, saw…) but also and especially custom waveforms that you can download from the Korg website or even design yourself.

In addition, it has a fairly basic envelope controller, a multimode filter with resonance, an arpeggiator, and above all a digital effects module with really high-quality algorithms.

Furthermore, even though there is no standard MIDI connectivity, you can easily send MIDI notes to the synth via USB or, using an adapter, via the mini-jack connection present at the back of the synth.

Without a doubt, a fun synth, and much more powerful than it might seem at first glance.

► See the current price of the Korg NTS-1 on: Thomann Woodbrass Amazon

4. Behringer TD-3

Brand: Behringer
Sound synthesis: analog
Polyphony: monophonic
Keyboard: 13 keys (not velocity-sensitive)
Arpeggiator: no
Sequencer: yes

I’m not necessarily a big fan of Behringer, but some of their synthesizers are really interesting.

In this case, we have the TD-3, a clone of the famous TB-303 from Roland whose prices are now completely outrageous on the second-hand market (3000€ at a minimum).

Sure, the sound of the TD-3 is not quite the same, but it is close enough for you to create effective “acid” bass lines, whether you are looking for a round sound or a more aggressive one.

And if you ever want to get even closer to the original, Maffez’s website (in English) offers some easy modifications to make if you know how to use a soldering iron (I specifically added the rubber mod to mine).

In Behringer’s TD-3, you find all the features of the original Roland synthesizer, including the various cutoff, resonance, envelope, and delay settings that are so pleasant to manipulate when playing live.

But also the two waveforms (square or saw), a nice distortion, and of course the essential sequencer which, although a bit complicated to handle at first, is a key element of this synthesizer’s sound.

Overall, while the TD-3 is not really a versatile synth, it is still a useful tool to have as long as you are looking to create basslines with techno / acid / trance sounds.

► See the current price of the Behringer TD-3 on: Thomann Woodbrass Amazon

5. Korg Volca Bass

Brand: Korg
Sound synthesis: analog
Polyphony: polyphonic (3 voices)
Keyboard: 16 keys (not velocity-sensitive)
Arpeggiator: yes
Sequencer: yes

Let’s talk about bass lines, shall we?

And again with a synth from Korg (no, I’m not sponsored at all, but I find they make synthesizers with a very good quality/price ratio).

The Volca Bass, therefore, follows the same format as the Volca Keys we mentioned earlier — which is in fact the same for all synthesizers in the Volca series. Note that the tempo of all Volcas can be synchronized by connecting the devices via a small jack cable.

And as its name suggests, it is a model resolutely oriented towards bass sounds, inspired by Roland’s TB-303 even though it has a very different character.

The Volca Bass includes 3 oscillators, a 12 db/oct resonant filter, and an LFO for modulations.

A sequencer is also included in the machine, so you can program your bass lines (with the possibility of adding glide effects to achieve acid-type sounds).

Positive point: you can trigger multiple sequences assigned to different oscillators in parallel, to create more complex melodies.

► See the current price of the Korg Volca Bass at: Thomann Woodbrass Amazon

6. Behringer Model D

Brand: Behringer
Sound synthesis: analog
Polyphony: monophonic
Keyboard: no
Arpeggiator: no
Sequencer: no

The Behringer Model D is also a low-cost clone of a famous synthesizer, the Minimoog D (whose vintage models are priced around €10,000 at the time of writing).

While it doesn’t quite have the roundness of the original, the Model D delivers very convincing sounds — whether you want to create Blade Runner-type ambient, action movie sequences from the 90s, or more modern techno tracks with a slightly vintage character.

Moreover, it is a synthesizer suitable for beginners due to its relatively limited number of controls.

The Behringer Model D includes 3 VCOs (oscillators) with 6 possible waveforms, a white or pink noise generator, a Moog-type filter, ADS envelopes for the filter and the amplifier (VCA), and an LFO.

In addition, there are various jack connections that will allow you to connect your synthesizer to other modular or semi-modular synths.

All this at a very reasonable price, especially since the Model D offers a number of more advanced features than what the vintage Moog synthesizer offered.

► See the current price of the Behringer Model D at: Thomann Woodbrass Amazon

7. Arturia Microfreak

Brand: Arturia
Sound synthesis: digital
Polyphony: monophonic or paraphonic (4 voices)
Keyboard: 25 keys (velocity-sensitive + aftertouch)
Arpeggiator: yes

A very particular synthesizer, the Microfreak, without a doubt.

It includes no less than 16 types of Virtual Analog and Wavetable waveforms, some of which were designed in partnership with Noise Engineering and Mutable Instruments.

In addition, it features a 12 dB/octave analog filter that can function as a low-pass, high-pass, or band-pass filter, an ADSR envelope, and an LFO — with a whole modulation matrix system (very rare on synthesizers in this price range).

The built-in keyboard of the Microfreak is quite special: instead of having a real key keyboard, you have a sort of printed circuit board on which you can press to trigger notes, with the bonus of a polyphonic aftertouch option. Really nice, although it can be a bit confusing at first.

In use, the Microfreak seems to be quite a versatile tool, capable of producing both calm ambient sounds and aggressive techno.

► See the current price of the Arturia Microfreak on: Thomann Woodbrass Amazon

8. Dreadbox Typhon

Brand: Dreadbox
Sound synthesis: analog
Polyphony: monophonic
Keyboard: no
Arpeggiator: no
Sequencer: yes

The Greek brand Dreadbox does a lot of very interesting things, but its sometimes experimental approach to sound means it is not necessarily the most well-known among beginners.

On the Typhon, you will find two analog oscillators and a very nice 24 dB/oct resonant filter, which maintains the density of the lows when you increase the resonance.

The two oscillators can be adjusted to reproduce different waveforms: triangle, square, saw… with a somewhat unique FM mode.

To modulate all this, there is an LFO and three configurable envelopes.

As a result, the synthesizer is quite easy to handle for beginners, as there are only a few settings and you can really get to the essentials.

Due to the manufacturer’s minimalist approach, however, there is a lack of certain features that could have been interesting, such as synchronization between oscillators.

In terms of sound, you can certainly hear Dreadbox’s somewhat unique and aggressive signature, but that’s great: we have a synthesizer with real character, and it’s easy to get good sounds — as you will hear in the video below.

► See the current price of the Dreadbox Typhon on: Thomann Woodbrass Amazon

9. Korg Minilogue

Brand: Korg
Sound synthesis: analog
Polyphony: polyphonic (4 voices)
Keyboard: 37 keys (velocity-sensitive)
Arpeggiator: no
Sequencer: yes

I promise, this is the last Korg synthesizer on this list! 🙂

Be careful not to confuse it with the Korg Monologue, which is mono.

Indeed, the Minilogue is a polyphonic synthesizer with 2 oscillators and 4 voices, featuring a 37-key keyboard.

The 8 built-in play modes (polyphonic, unison, duo, chord…) allow you to adjust the behavior of the different voices for more varied sounds. This brings true versatility to this instrument.

A filter is of course integrated, but it should be noted that it tends to cut the bass significantly when the resonance is increased. This is not necessarily a problem, but it may show some limitations if you want to use it for bass lines.

By the way, it’s actually the Monologue we were just talking about that I would recommend if you simply want to make basslines. The Minilogue can also create bass lines but is mainly suited for leads and pads.

Note that the Minilogue includes a 16-step sequencer, with melodies that can of course be recorded in real time — as well as 200 memory locations containing 100 editable factory presets.

However, there are no built-in effects on the synth, which results in a somewhat dry sound when played alone, without a pedal or added effects in your DAW.

► See the current price of the Korg Minilogue on: Thomann Woodbrass Amazon

10. Novation Bass Station II

Brand: Novation
Sound synthesis: analog
Polyphony: monophonic
Keyboard: 25 keys (velocity-sensitive + aftertouch)
Arpeggiator: yes
Sequencer: yes

Don’t be fooled by the relatively small size of the synth: the Bass Station II from Novation delivers a big sound reminiscent of the 90s (but not only), with a 25-key aftertouch keyboard.

The synth is primarily oriented, as its name suggests, towards creating bass lines, but you can also create some nice leads using the 2 oscillators (with PWM) and the built-in sub-oscillator.

Interesting point, the Bass Station II includes a filter that acts a bit like a “two-in-one”: you can indeed choose between the “Classic” filter and the “Acid” filter for two different sounds, with the option to switch between high-pass, low-pass, or band-pass filters each time.

In addition, there is a complete ADSR envelope, two LFOs allowing you to build different modulations, and a pretty configurable arpeggiator/sequencer.

The sound is relatively aggressive, a bit acid, but you can still achieve round and warm sounds if you wish.

Finally, note the presence of a nice distortion button to saturate your signal, but there are no other effects integrated into the synth.

► See the current price of the Novation Bass Station II at: Thomann Woodbrass Amazon

11. Moog Minitaur

Brand: Moog
Sound synthesis: analog
Polyphony: monophonic
Keyboard: no
Arpeggiator: no
Sequencer: no

To conclude this series of the best synthesizers for beginners, I present to you two synths from Moog that may be a bit pricier than other models, but whose sound quality is impeccable.

The Minitaur, first of all, is a synth that I love for creating bass lines — but it has more than one trick up its sleeve: you can also create melodies with it (though it cannot play notes above C5, which is a bit of a shame), and I have even seen some people use it for ambient music.

The Moog Minitaur includes two oscillators, each of which can be set to saw or square mode. A Moog “ladder” filter naturally equips the beast, along with two configurable envelopes (one for the filter and one for the VCA output).

Despite its small size, the synth offers many settings, some of which are accessible via hidden manipulations (well, indicated in the manual anyway!).

For example, although you will find the LFO control knobs on the front, you will need to press the Glide button and then manipulate the “LFO Rate” knob to adjust the LFO waveform (sine, ramp, random…).

Nice point: the Minitaur can be controlled from your DAW via USB, thanks to a dedicated application.

A very good synth for beginners, especially since the sound is immediately satisfying!

► See the current price of the Moog Minitaur at: Thomann Woodbrass Amazon

12. Moog Mother 32

Brand: Moog
Sound synthesis: analog
Polyphony: monophonic
Keyboard: 13 keys (non-velocity sensitive)
Arpeggiator: no
Sequencer: yes

The interesting companion to the Minitaur we just talked about.

With the same compact format that fits easily on a desk, the Mother 32 stands out for its high build quality and a sound that, I find, is typically what you expect from an analog synth when you buy one.

However, it does require a bit of time to get used to. For simple sounds, no problem — but there is still a learning curve to master the modulation patch bay on the right. What is convenient, though, is that it can be connected to other semi-modular or modular synths.

Furthermore, while the Mother 32 has only one oscillator, you have plenty of modulation and sound control options available: pulse width, noise, LFO… and of course the famous Moog filter, which can operate in high-pass or low-pass mode.

Also note the presence of a 32-step sequencer (with 64 sequence saves available).

► See the current price of the Moog Mother 32 at: Thomann Woodbrass Amazon

Comparison table of the best synthesizers for beginners

To help you in your choice, I have gathered all the recommended synthesizer models mentioned above in the table below.

Tip: you can scroll the table horizontally using the scrollbar (on PC) or by dragging it left and right (on smartphone).

In conclusion

With all the models present on this page, you should be able to find your happiness if you are looking for a synthesizer for beginners or, even more so, an affordable synthesizer.

That said, don’t forget that just because this article was primarily designed for beginners, it doesn’t mean that these synths are exclusively for beginners: you can completely create professional productions with the models presented in this article.

► Don’t forget to also check out my selection of the best analog synths, which may give you some additional ideas (you should also recognize a few models…).