There is a wide range of synthesizers in music stores today. Most of them are outwardly similar, like two drops of water. It is difficult to choose the right one for a novice musician. This rating will help in resolving the issue. I spent a lot of time to choose the best and most relevant synthesizers for different categories of people - children, beginners and professionals. Composing the TOP-12 synthesizers, I relied on the opinions of experts and professional musicians.
Best Synthesizers for Beginners
Synthesizers for beginners are inexpensive devices with a mandatory learning mode, often with modest functionality, although more expensive models can even compete with a professional instrument.
CASIO CTK-1500
Opens the rating of an inexpensive synthesizer of a famous Japanese brand with everything you need to learn:
- keyboard of 61 full-size passive keys with the ability to split;
- polyphony - 32 voices;
- 120 built-in tones;
- 70 styles of accompaniment;
- metronome;
- training mode;
- fine tuning;
- headphone output;
- display;
- built-in acoustics;
- works with 6 AA batteries up to 6 hours.
Such characteristics make it possible to reproduce complex compositions with high quality for beginner musicians. The price of the instrument is only 7990 rubles.
Pros:
- price;
- dimensions;
- music stand included;
- dance music mode;
- work from the mains and from batteries;
- the possibility of fine tuning.
Minuses:
- the power supply is not always included. Check with the seller for a complete set;
- headphone output combined with linear;
- lack of digital effects;
- no input for a sustain pedal.
A great gift for a budding teenage musician. Simple operation, a minimum of unnecessary options for a beginner + compactness, battery operation and headphone output are factors that allow you to train your playing skills anywhere and anytime.
Medeli M17
More advanced tool compared to the previous rating model - CASIO CTK-1500. It can be used as a second "step" for beginners. Active keyboard, more onboard voices - 390 with the ability to receive other voices from compatible devices with a MIDI connector. Has 100 accompaniment styles. Allows you to play a melody and record it with subsequent editing, mix tracks, for example, using computer technology - a USB B connector is provided. It has built-in sound effects - reverb, chorus, transposition, vibration. The built-in acoustics are much more powerful than the CASIO CTK-1500 - 20 W, they sound on a par with a professional instrument. Price - 12,990 rubles.
Pros:
- dimensions;
- there is an input for a sustain pedal;
- MIDI input, USB output;
- there is a headphone output;
- informative display;
- keyboard sensitivity;
- high quality sound;
- built-in acoustics quality;
- a large number of timbres, accompaniment styles, training melodies;
- sound effects;
- the ability to record 1 full song with its editing (overlaying parts, changing the volume, timbre, key, adding sound effects, etc.).
Minuses:
- not in all cases a power supply is included. Check with the seller for a complete set;
- there is no music stand included;
- works only from the network;
- small viewing angle of the display;
- volatile memory.The settings have to be set after each shutdown;
- instruction in English;
- the transpose and shutdown buttons do not always work the first time - you need to hold it for a few seconds.
This is a semi-professional model: you can train your skills in playing and editing music tracks, even if only to a limited extent. Suitable for people with initial skills in working with a synthesizer, who want to develop their creative abilities further.
Yamaha PSR-E360
A 61-key digital synthesizer for aspiring musicians with nine step-by-step lessons (Yamaha Education Suite). The modes are available for two-handed performance and each one individually. Touch-sensitive keyboard - the harder you press the keys, the louder the sound produced, and vice versa, a soft touch of the keys is accompanied by a quiet sound. 122 preset songs help you master your playing skills. The front panel of this model is finished in a wood-like texture and comes in two elegant colors: dark walnut and maple. There is a jack for a sustain pedal, a stereo headphone jack and an Aux input for connecting an external audio signal source. The average price is 17,900 rubles.
Pros:
- 400 high-quality voices, 130 auto accompaniment styles;
- 122 songs, Song Book with scores (downloadable online);
- recording function;
- AUX IN input for connecting an external audio source;
- Master EQ / Ultra Wide Stereo functions;
- duet mode;
- compact and portable design;
- the ability to operate on batteries (6 x AA);
- original design.
Minuses:
- some users complain about slippery keys and low volume.
YAMAHA PSR-E463
Compared to the previous participants in the rating, it has an active semi-weighted keyboard. You can adjust the volume, place sound accents during the game. Polyphony - 48 voices, 758 built-in tones, the ability to adjust the tempo of the accompaniment. New sound effects - arpeggiator, pitch controller. The acoustics of the instrument are not very powerful (12 W), but consists of two speakers, providing decent stereo sound. Price - 26,990 rubles.
Pros:
- materials and build quality;
- there is a headphone output, USB;
- sustain pedal input;
- work from batteries and from the network;
- backlit display;
- functional (many styles, timbres, sound effects, easy taking of samples "live").
Minuses:
- no MIDI connector;
- the reduced possibilities of the training mode - a tool not for those who plan to learn to play from scratch;
- the keyboard is harsh, the keys are pressed noisily;
- saves audio files in WAV format;
- weak acoustics;
- translation of instructions.
A model with advanced functionality that provides development opportunities. A persistent person living in music can learn to play it from scratch. Designed for beginners with the makings of talent, the prospect of a musical future. For home use and entertainment, I recommend the YAMAHA PSR-E463, and for younger beginners - the CASIO CTK-1500 or the following tools for children - the savings are justified.
The best synthesizers for kids
These differ from synthesizers for beginners in size, key size, noticeably cut functionality. The principle of operation remains, therefore, it is impossible to unambiguously call a children's synthesizer a toy: rather, it is an instrument adapted for children. Later you can transfer the child from it to a synthesizer "for beginners" - he will not feel the difference, he will immediately begin to comprehend additional functions.
DENN DEK61mini
61 unweighted keys with active mechanics train hand motility and sound sense. Polyphony - 4 voices, 24 timbres, 10 styles of accompaniment - worthy performance for a child's instrument. There is a training mode, a recording option. For those who like to accompany music with singing, a microphone output is provided. Price - 1620 rubles.
Pros:
- price;
- compactness, weight;
- power supply from mains and batteries;
- functionality;
- built-in acoustics for 6 W;
- training mode;
- the ability to record;
- connectors for a microphone and headphones.
Minuses:
- sound quality;
- tight keys;
- volume settings go astray when turned off;
- headphone output combined with linear.
Not a bad thing for entertaining and developing a child's imagination, hearing, fine motor skills, a sense of style in music. Suitable for children aged 3 to 10 years. Plus, you can add vocal lessons here, but you need to buy a microphone.
CASIO SA-78
The best model in the ranking of synthesizers for children. Equipped with 44 unweighted, passive keys. With less powerful acoustics (only 1.6 W), the DENN DEK61mini sounds better. The possibilities are expanded - 100 voices, 50 accompaniment styles. Dealing with it is easier due to the built-in display showing all active settings. Price - 5890 rubles.
Pros:
- design;
- compactness, weight;
- materials and build quality;
- functional;
- display;
- good sound;
- headphone jack;
- power supply from mains and batteries;
- training mode.
Minuses:
- no power adapter included;
- recording is impossible;
- there is no microphone jack.
A good tool for introducing a child to music lessons: many timbres and styles of accompaniment will help him learn the basics of music. It costs so much money, when compared with DENN DEK61mini, or not, I can’t say for sure. Sure, it sounds better, offers more choice of accompaniment, but do all kids need it? If your finances are really tight, then the DENN DEK61mini capabilities will be enough to start. Later, in the question of the need to purchase an "advanced" level tool, you can focus on the child's needs.
The best synthesizers for professionals
All tools in this category are intended for professionals and have many additional functions. There are also differences - functional, price. Which one is better to choose?
KORG Pa600
The price of this synthesizer is 70 thousand rubles, and in terms of functionality and quality it is comparable to the YAMAHA PSR-S975, which is estimated 2 times higher. Has a huge potential for creating musical compositions - 950 built-in timbres + the ability to add 384 user ones. 360 styles of accompaniment + 1200 user can add. Lots of sound effects. Possibility to connect a pedal. Advanced PC capabilities, software, recommendations on the disc are included. Two USB A inputs, USB B output.
Pros:
- price;
- complete set (music stand, disc with useful information and software - included);
- convenient touch screen;
- powerful built-in acoustics;
- good sound;
- functional;
- the ability to add custom styles and timbres;
- 2 connectors for a microphone;
- USB input / output;
- there is an input for a sustain pedal.
Minuses:
- no mixer;
- does not support sampling.
An ideal synthesizer in terms of price-quality ratio. Suitable for both amateur and professional use.
Roland FA-06
Lightweight compared to competitors, but very functional device. It weighs only 5.7 kg, has a built-in mixer, supports adding samples, and has the necessary connectors for this. Supports SD memory cards to which recorded songs can be saved. It has a variety of sound effects including octave shift, arpeggiator, pitch and modulation controls, vocoder - combining voice sound with instrument sound. Differs in the principle of work. Has weighted active keys (you can make sound accents in music). For sound transmission, two line outputs are provided at once - the possibilities of connecting acoustics, including through an amplifier, are endless. Price - 83,450 rubles.
Pros:
- compactness, light weight;
- touch display, clear, convenient control;
- control from a smartphone;
- a large selection of accompaniment, timbres, sound effects + the ability to add your own;
- convenient sequencer;
- there is a mixer;
- fast sampling;
- MIDI input;
- USB output;
- 2 line outputs;
- it is possible to connect a sustain pedal.
Minuses:
- traces remain on the glossy surface;
- key travel is harsh.
The best model for touring activities, recommended for those who often move from place to place: lightweight (twice lighter than competitors), modest in size, but not inferior even to the YAMAHA PSR-S975 in functionality.
YAMAHA PSR-S975
Experts call this model the best professional synthesizer.All new developments are put into the tool. 128-note polyphony, more than one and a half thousand timbres, half a thousand styles of accompaniment, you can load your own from a flash drive, computer or by recording an instrument. The model is equipped with a mixer, an equalizer, a noise reduction system, a compressor, a vocoder, and makes it possible to use all known sound effects. The presence of all the necessary connectors allows the synthesizer to actively interact with a computer, microphone, guitar. In the absence of external acoustics, this is an instrument with decent built-in sound quality. 2 x 15 W speakers provide good clear sound with plenty of headroom. Price - 139,900 rubles.
Pros:
- functional;
- convenient control;
- 7-inch touchscreen display;
- large database of voices and styles with the ability to add custom ones;
- audio processing options;
- built-in acoustics with high sound quality.
Minus:
- high price.
Really the best synthesizer. Confused by the price - almost 140 thousand rubles. Perhaps, it is affordable and worth buying for established artists, but for amateurs I would recommend Roland FA-06 or KORG Pa600 - both models deserve attention.
Best MIDI Keyboards
A midi keyboard is an indispensable tool in recording studios, where you can process musical parts using computer software, expanding the possibilities several times. Requires a powerful computer and a sound card with a 24-bit DAC. Less popular than synthesizers. Let's consider 3 popular models.
AKAI MPK Mini MKII
The leader in the rating of MIDI keyboards on the E-catalog website with modest dimensions (318 × 45 × 181 mm) and weight (750 g). In theory, it can be carried in a bag, in practice it turns out to be useless: without a computer with a good sound card, the performance of the instrument is close to zero. The result of the desire to create a small-sized instrument was a keyboard with only 24 small-sized keys, convenient for children and people with small hands. The manufacturer tried to save the situation with 8 pads and 8 encoders. There are pitch and modulation controllers, octave shift, arpeggiator, the ability to control playback functions (pause, stop rewind, etc.). Price - 10,500 rubles.
Pros:
- dimensions, weight;
- ease of use;
- programming of functions of buttons and encoders;
- functional;
- free software.
Minuses:
- hard small keys;
- there are 24 - 24 notes and 2 octaves in total (the problem was partially solved due to the octave shift).
Suitable for beginners who are mastering mixing tracks programmatically.
Roland A-49
Appreciated by professionals for the comfortable mechanics of the keys, and their performance deserves attention: full-size, rounded on the sides. The instrument has 49 (active weighted). The MIDI-out connector is a nice bonus if the musician plans to connect to equipment with a MIDI-In input. From the functionality that distinguishes this model from the AKAI MPK Mini MKII, I would like to note transposition, an optical control system that simulates a pedal. Price - 11,300 rubles.
Pros:
- design;
- the quality of the keys, their mechanics;
- simple control;
- combined joystick;
- infrared control sensor;
- powered by USB.
Minuses:
- drivers often need to be installed manually;
- problems with finding software fall on the shoulders of the user.
Better build quality than AKAI MPK Mini MKII, more convenient when you need to combine the functionality of a synthesizer and a Midi keyboard due to 49 full-size keys. Unlike its competitor, it has difficulties with connecting to a PC; the bundle does not include software, except for drivers that must be installed manually. For a professional who has been making sound recordings for years, this is not a problem, but for a novice user it is better to take the AKAI MPK Mini MKII or the M-Audio Keystation 61 MK3.
M-Audio Keystation 61 MK3
New from the American manufacturer. It has 61 active semi-weighted keys, buttons that can be used to control playback functions and a fader that is responsible for adjusting the volume. There is control of pitch, modulation, octave shift. Like the Roland A-49, it has a MIDI-out connector. Price - 12,920 rubles.
Pros:
- Beautiful design;
- good materials, build quality;
- full-size keys with good mechanics;
- convenient control;
- Software as a gift.
Minus:
- the STOP, PLAY, REC buttons, navigation joystick are recognized by the computer as a second Midi device. You need to configure with the assignment of functions using software. Otherwise, they don't work.
Ideal midi keyboard in terms of price-quality ratio. A nice bonus to your purchase is the Ableton Lite program and several VLS plugins, which will be enough to get started.
