What is the greatest mono synth off all time?

[sctt_stone]

Excluding the Mini Moog. What is the greatest mono synth of all time.
All around.

[Popbott]

Electronic Music Studios (EMS) VCS3



I still want one!

[cosmos]

Originally Posted by Popbott

Electronic Music Studios (EMS) VCS3


I still want one!

+1 for that VCS3..

but the THE no.1 monosynth of all time is of course the Moog Minimoog..... cant ignore that... but you know that already...

[überschall]

ThreeOhThree

[sctt_stone]

Hmmm. I am guessing that they cost a pretty penny.

[alexp]

For me its the Korg MS20. It has the look, the feel, and the sound of just nuttiness... Plus it has some amazing things such as the ENV follower, that makes life really awesome



alexP

[chrisso]

There is no greatest of all time.
There are great synths for certain sounds, other great synths for other sounds.
I think the best overall sounding (combined with flexibility) synth is without doubt the Mini-Moog (which is probably why you had to exclude it from the debate?).
Definitely not the VCS3 IMO, as it has some very particular features, and a very particular sound.
Not so great at synth bass or lead.
Excellent for weirdness and audio processing.

[Derp]

Lots of really good monosynths out there, especially if you count modulars as monosynths. ;-) Off the top of my head though, I'm gonna have to go with Pro One. The bass on this thing is powerful enough to loosen bowels.

[mobius.media]

For quality and versatility of sound over convenience or nostalgia, I think a a modern modular wins.

[Dave Peck]

While the VSC-3 and MS20 are very nice, maybe something more elaborate and versatile - like an Arp 2600, a Yamaha CS30, an EML 101, a Maplin 5600....

Among the newer gear, maybe a Macbeth M5....

[RobJB06]

303

[The Dark Matters]

Arp Odyssey White Face MARK 1 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

tHIS sYNTH HAS THE LOT!!!!!!

[crufty]

7
7
7

[nofi]

no minimoog?

OK, well in that case, I nominate THIS little known synthesiser.....

[dannygold]

Originally Posted by überschall

ThreeOhThree

Really? I dunno about that. Not very versatile. An SH101 can do the same thing, more or less and a lot more.

[cosmic.synth]

mopho?

j/k

:-)

How about Sequential Circuits Pro-One, Oberheim SEM, Korg Mono/Poly, Roland SH-2 or Moog Source (close enough to a Minimoog)?

[sctt_stone]

Originally Posted by nofi

no minimoog?

OK, well in that case, I nominate THIS little known synthesiser.....

[nofi]

Originally Posted by sctt_stone

whee!! my very first photoshop (well.. GIMP, actually) post.

[Acid Hazard]

Why does everyone think the MM is the greatest mono all the time? I'm sorry, but i think the Moog name is just tossed around w/o much thought. Not to mention over rated. Out of all the synths i've owned, i'd say the Pro-One. But once i get my modular filled out a bit more it'll be that =o]

The Crumar Spirit is another contender. I've never played one, but judging by the sounds i've heard and the options it has, it's pretty unique and sounds wonderful!

[nofi]

I sold my pro-one with no regrets when I bought a minimoog... guess it's hard to explain without sounding like a ******.. but here goes anyway: The pro one is a fun synth for sure - but when you play an actual minimoog with your own hands and hear it with your own ears, it's an experience.


I understand someone else might have a different opinion, but this is mine.

I don't see a modular being the best monosynth ever, either... might be a massively flexible and awesome sounding studio tool, but calling it a monosynth is a bit of a stretch.

PS, you really need to make a separate line in your sig for the modular modules, I think.

[dIRTY 1200]

Oberheim OB-1

[amenbrother]

Monomachine ofcourse.

[bleepbleep]

no no no - its the red sound darkstar of course

[oldgearguy]

For versatility and for great sound, I'd have to nominate either the Crumar Spirit or the Synton Syrinx. IMHO the Spirit sounds better than the Syrinx if you just listen to the oscillators, but the Syrinx has those parallel filters and some good routing choices.

Either mono would provide years of new and interesting sounds and would still be able to generate solid basslines or leads as well as cool effecty sounds.

I have owned all the monosynths listed in this thread so far (as well as other like the Steiner-Parker Synthacon that certainly deserves an honorable mention), but when it came down to reducing what I owned, the only monosynths to survive are the MiniMoog and the SH-101. I still don't know why I have the SH-101, but every time I power it on to sell it I end up convincing myself to keep it. Not particularly versatile, but it does what it does very well.

[John_Seward]

I was thinking of buying a Mini Moog, but ended up with a Pro-One instead.
Even if the Mini Moog was in the same price range I'd still go for the Pro-One.

[lain2097]

Same boat a few months back, got a Roland SH-2 instead. Totally discreet (1978), 2 VCOs plus sub, sounds awesome and best of all was a third less.

I can't deny its warm filter or heritage but it's still a bit much for a mono.

The 303 is cool because of its sequencer, odd filter (3-pole) and most of all glide and accent. Poop-y sounding bass though.

Also for consideration an Arp Odyssey. Even mk.3 Thx DJH.

Originally Posted by John_Seward

I was thinking of buying a Mini Moog, but ended up with a Pro-One instead.
Even if the Mini Moog was in the same price range I'd still go for the Pro-One.

[peglegjoe857]

Synton Syrinx! two LFO's, FM, PWM, osc-sync, 2 ADSR envelopes, ring modulation. That's about as many mod routings as the odyssey! Those ZANEY formant type filters. Sick! I wish I could hear one in person.

The Buchla Music Easel. Buchla is MAD! I wish I could hear one in person.

[jsrockit]

Originally Posted by amenbrother

Monomachine ofcourse.

+1 ...best synth ever!

[Eigenwert]

Originally Posted by sctt_stone

Excluding the Mini Moog. What is the greatest mono synth of all time.
All around.

Excluding Minimoog? Altair-231

[RobJB06]

The 101 does not have accent.. mc202 can get close, but the 303 still sounds much better. Dont get me wrong i love the SH101 and 202.. but they aint no 303.
I love the OSCar too.. a real filthy dirt box ***** of a synth

Originally Posted by dannygold

Really? I dunno about that. Not very versatile. An SH101 can do the same thing, more or less and a lot more.