A synthesizer is a musical instrument that can modify and create sounds from electronic signals. Although most synths look like keyboards, they don’t have to look like that to perform well.
Best synth under 200 should give you a lot of oscillators and filters to create all types of sounds. Nowadays, synth sounds are found in different popular songs meaning they make songs sound pretty exceptional. We’ll be reviewing 5 best synths under $200 and delivering some buying guides for your reference.
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What Can You Get From A $200 Synth?
All synths can give out electronic sounds and can mimic musical instruments. Nowadays, many companies sell different types of synths, but they are of different qualities, if you are looking for the best synths under 200 dollars, Below is what you can get from a two hundred dollar synth.
Small Size and Portability
The best thing that you get from a two hundred dollar synth is the light size. When it comes to size, the price does not matter. There are great portable synths that are cheap and very light. That makes them easy to carry around with you just in case you feel like your inspiration is not at the house. A small sized synth has 49 keys which means if you have a small space, it will be great for you.
Easy to use Controls and Interface
Synths have a variety of interfaces and controls, but they all function similarly because they all follow a signal path. A 200 dollar synth will have easy-to-use layouts of buttons, knobs, and even sliders. They ensure that even people new to it can easily use the synth without looking at the given manuals.
Polyphony
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a polyphonic synth; there are many synths under 200 that will give you polyphony. Polyphony is essential because it means you will be able to play more than one voice at a time, which is very important to every artist.
Excellent Memory and MIDI
With 200 dollars, you should be able to get a synth that can connect to the computer, connecting to a computer is vital for any musician because you can control and manage everything at one touch. The computer memory will help you record anything on your synth. Therefore, you do not need an expensive synth to get a synth with MIDI, and memory as a cheap synth can also provide you with all that.
If you are a beginner when it comes to synth issues, you don’t want to waste your money on expensive synths. Synths under 200 dollars will be an excellent start for you as they are easy to use and very pocket friendly. You can get very high-quality synths at a low price, which means if you are on a very tight budget, you can even get one that costs a hundred dollars, and it will still work correctly.
3-analog oscillators for huge and thick bass lines
Low pass filter for classic screams and squelches
Out and in sync for multiple instruments syncs
Eight memory patches in a 16-step sequencer
Built-in speaker
Optional battery use
Watch out for
No filter cutoff/resonance automation
With the Korg VOLCABASS analog synth, you get instant editing via a user-intuitive interface to slice, cut, and mix your loops that will create substantial build-ups to transform your dance track fully. This analog synth has three oscillators that are analog to help you generate vast and thick bass lines with a low pass filter.
The filter has resonance to tune in classic screams and squelches. Out and in sync allow multiple instruments to sync at the same time. The cutoff knob filter help open the filter to make the sound expansive and brighter. For a milder, round tone, just close the filter.
Compatible with classic synth and three-voice FM synth
Onboard chorus sound effect
Easy sound editing
Cheaply priced
Watch out for
Comes with a single velocity for all notes
The Volca series has produced many classic technologies by combining past sounds with modern dance music. The VOLCA FM is a three-voice digital synth that gives you compatibility and reproduces a perfect FM sound engine. Its unique interface ensures that you can produce FM sounds even if you are new to it.
The 16-step sequencer has functions like pattern chain and warps active steps to ensure you create great patterned rhythms. With the 32 algorithms and six operators, you get compatibility and can even load files in the Yamaha DX7 format. The available edit-knobs help sound editing to be easily accessible and easy to comprehend.
Portable and lightweight, you can go anywhere with it.
Watch out for
No step sequencer
Non-intuitive Front panel layout
With the modal electronics brand, you can be assured of distinctive and innovative synths. The modal craft is a portable monophonic wavetable synth.
It has an 8-note onboard keyboard with selectable scales; you can also control it with MIDI external devices like a USB or 5-pin DIN. With eight oscillators, signal processors, and 40 waveforms, you can produce a sweet outsized sound.
To power it, you have two options, which include batteries or by a USB. With those options, you are free to go with it anywhere that you feel will inspire you to produce great sounds.
If you are new to synths, then this is the one for you. It is effortless to use, cheap, and also portable.
2-pole multimode filter with the band, low and high pass filtering
Dual oscillator monophonic synth with an analog audio path
Advanced sound design and preset mgmt. with editor app
Two independent VCOs with three waveforms
100 presets with 80 rewritable
USB or battery operated
Watch out for
No Speakers
With two decades of experience in hardware and software, IK has all the expertise to make great synths. The Multimedia Monophonic synth is an excellent instrument with excellent analog sound. It has point-on programmability and innovative features at a low price.
With a noise generator and two independent oscillators, you are assured of great music. It offers you a triangle, square waves, saw, and continuous wave shape variables with a PWM, dual-stage overdrive, and multimode 2-pole filter.
With all this tone shaping, you are meant to understand the layout easily. The synth comes a hundred grab and goes presets, and most of them are fully rewritable, which means they are ready to play the moment you plug it in.
Stable and constant sound through self-tuning function
Loop sequencer for recording phases while you play
Battery-powered operation with compact size
Three note analog synth
Built-in speaker
Pocket-friendly price
Watch out for
The keys are not full-sized
Korg Volca keys is a great analog synth that delivers a compelling sound using a compact body. The filter section uses the legendry’s miniKORG700S circuitry to produce great music with a simple design of delayed effect and a sequencer. It gives you rich sounds that are simple yet very creative.
With the Volca keys, you have endless possibilities; you can play chords with the three oscillators to produce solid lead lines or use ring modulation. Ring modulation can create great metallic sounds, and with the Volca keys analog loop synth, you can deliver great sounds that you can only get with an analog synth.
If you have been with us from the top, you have all the required information to choose a great synth that will cater to all your musical sound’s needs.
As you can see, you don’t have to spend so much money to get a good synth, from our reviews, there are many synths under $200 that work the same as every other synth. You just have to figure out the type of synth that bests suits you and start making great music.
