Playing any musical instrument allows you not only to get the maximum pleasure yourself and to please others, but also to relax well, to get away from everyday worries. As many professional musicians say, one of the simplest instruments is the piano - learning to play it is not too difficult, and not only the performer, but also the listeners will enjoy. Unfortunately, far from every apartment you can install a similar tool, since it needs a lot of free space.
In this regard, the synthesizer will be much more convenient and comfortable in terms of operation. It does not require much free space, in addition, with its help you can simulate the sounds of other musical instruments - drum kit, guitar and so on. In addition, such a technique will be very useful in professional performances. On sale today you can find a fairly large assortment of these tools - they can differ from each other in sound reproduction technology, the number of keys and a number of auxiliary functions.
Because of this, choosing the most suitable model may not be too easy - therefore, we decided to make this task as easy as possible for you. We hope that after studying this article you will be able to get yourself the best model. However, before proceeding to consider the operational characteristics of the devices included in our today's review of the best synthesizers in 2019, we decided to give the main points that should be paid attention to when buying a product. This is perhaps the place to start.
Summary of the rating:
What characteristics are important when choosing a synthesizer?
When buying equipment such as a synthesizer, or an electronic piano, you should immediately determine for what purpose it is planned to purchase it. It can act as a replacement for the piano for a child studying in a music school, or it can be a professional instrument that will be used in the process of performances or for studio recordings.
For synthesizers designed for primary training, the sound range includes about 4-5 octaves, and the force of pressure on the keys will not affect the sound intensity at all. Such equipment is great for getting to know the basics of music and playing simple tunes. If there is a need to immediately put the child’s hand right and accustom him to better performance, then the acquisition of such an instrument should be abandoned.
Today, there are models on sale that in all their characteristics are in no way inferior to the traditional piano, but they will cost quite expensive. They do not need a lot of free space and at the same time are able to extract a large number of a wide variety of sounds. Be sure to pay attention to the technology of sound synthesis.
Analog synthesizers pass sound waves through a series of specific filters: some of them will amplify certain frequencies, while others will cut off all unnecessary.There is also an additive sound synthesis, when the generator causes the appearance of waves that connect with each other to form one, which will be filled with harmonics. This allows you to get the so-called synthetic sounds.
Another method for extracting sounds is called FM synthesis or frequency modulation technology. Here, by means of frequency modulation, one complex wave is created from a set of simple waves. This technique was widely distributed around the 80s of the last century. Largely due to this technology, it is possible to obtain "bell-shaped" sounds.
The simplest and, as a result, the most common method for extracting sounds is wave technology. Fragments of real sounds are laid in the synthesizer’s memory, which, by combining them, produce a note of a certain tone, making it almost impossible to distinguish it from the sound made by a classical instrument. Due to this, today such synthesizers are the most widespread and acceptable in terms of cost.
When compiling our today's ranking of the best synthesizers of the year, we took into account all these points, so we have it in three parts: models for children, products for beginner performers and professional equipment. Choosing devices for our review, we relied on user and professional reviews, took into account the price-quality ratio, so the most expensive models were simply not included in the rating. Well, now is the time to move on to a direct analysis of the operational characteristics of specific models.
Children's models
3. CASIO SA-47
Allows the child to make the first steps in the music world simpler. The design has 32 keys of small sizes, they are well suited for children's fingers, however, in terms of sound quality, this synthesizer is pretty good. In its sound range there are 100 tones, immediately 50 very different musical styles, an 8-note polyphony is provided. In addition, the instrument has 5 buttons responsible for percussion, a reed organ and piano mode with a switching function is provided. Due to its compact dimensions, this synthesizer is perfect for young musicians.
The mass of the device is small, the keys have a soft stroke, which allows the baby to play on it for a long time, and fingers will not feel tired. The main thing is to put the synthesizer on a flat surface before turning it on, it will not slip due to the presence of rubberized legs. The design is made in retro style. The case is made of high-quality silver plastic with a matte finish, on which dust, fingerprints and other types of pollution will not be visible. There are also reliable and powerful enough speakers that provide good quality of the sounds made. It should be noted that the synthesizer is equipped with a liquid crystal display, on which you can read all the information necessary for the user. The device has a training mode of operation: it includes 10 tunes that the baby is invited to repeat. If necessary, you can connect headphones.
Benefits:
- Superior sound quality
- Insignificant overall dimensions;
- An informative liquid crystal display is provided;
- High-quality assembly;
- Mass is quite suitable for a small child;
- Powered by batteries or rechargeable batteries, can be powered from the mains.
Disadvantages:
- Some users think that the speakers sound quiet.
2. Shantou Gepai HS5416A
For a children's model, this design has a fairly large set of features: in the memory of this synthesizer, there are immediately 12 demo melodies of a training type. The tonality settings are over two hundred, the exact same number of rhythm settings, and 7 types of drums at once. It is possible to change the volume, tempo. If desired, the child can write the melody he invented in the equipment’s memory, and then play it back.Like all other children's synthesizers, there is a very convenient learning function, a number of sound effects are provided. A microphone is included with the device. The synthesizer can work from six finger batteries or from a power cord (the latter comes with it).
Of course, it is impossible to compare such a toy with a professional musical instrument, but there is a wide range of keys here - 54 pieces, like a classic piano. They are located quite compactly, so the child will not have to strain his arms too much to reach the desired key or take the required chord. A liquid crystal display is not provided here, however, all the functions are already clear - the buttons are signed. The device has an integrated speaker system, consisting of two speakers that form the sound in stereo format. If necessary, headphones can be connected to the synthesizer. As users note in their reviews, this model is well suited for both children and adults who are just beginning to become interested in music and playing various instruments.
Benefits:
- Many different operating modes;
- 54 keys;
- An opportunity to work both from a network, and from batteries;
- Reliability and durability.
Disadvantages:
- On the surface it can slip.
1. CASIO SA-78
This is a fairly high-quality synthesizer, despite the fact that it was originally created specifically for children. First of all, manufacturers took good care of child safety. The speakers are protected so that the child cannot reach them in any way. The case is made of high-quality matte plastic. The buttons are all made of soft rubber with sensitive pressure. The keys are made of glossy plastic, a little easily soiled, but this is not critical. There are 44 of them.
The synthesizer works either from batteries or from a special adapter 9.5 V 1 A, which is connected to a special connector located next to the headphone jack. If necessary, you can connect external speakers, which can significantly improve the sound quality of the device. The mass of the device is small - along with six batteries it hardly reaches one and a half kilograms. The housing has very convenient recesses for carrying it. Even a three-year-old child can easily transfer it from place to place, without straining. At the same time, the device has five additional buttons that are responsible for the mode of percussion instruments, there are tempo and volume controls. In the central part of the device, a monochronous liquid crystal display is provided. It displays a metronome, indicating rhythm, musical instrument and other useful information. In addition, there is a large yellow button that switches the modes of the piano and organ. If the synthesizer is on for five minutes without use, it automatically turns off.
Benefits:
- Small overall dimensions and weight of the device;
- Quite acceptable sound quality;
- It works both on mains and on batteries;
- Can be used by adults.
Disadvantages:
- Not found.
Synthesizers for Beginner Musicians
4. Medeli M17
This device is an improved version of the M15 model, this synthesizer was released for wide sale only a couple of years ago, but due to its excellent price-quality ratio, it could instantly gain popularity among ordinary users. The developers of this model made an additional emphasis on making the sound as perfect as possible. Here, all tones are heard realistically and distinctly. This was achieved largely due to the installation of a more modern tone generator and improvement of the effects professor. Thanks to these changes, this instrument will be suitable not only for training or use at home, but also for speaking in small halls. The polyphony is 64-note, which allows you to get high-quality sound of each of the built-in tones.In addition to them, the synthesizer has immediately one hundred styles of accompaniment of an automatic kind.
Some changes in comparison with the older model have undergone and keys. They are quite responsive in terms of pressing, which provides greater brightness and expressiveness of the melody. The built-in mixer allows you to not only adjust the individual sound of the timbre of each instrument, but also save the entered data into the synthesizer's memory. According to users, such a model is a small music laboratory, which allows you to perform various experiments with rhythms, effects and achieve completely different sounds of the same composition. For beginners, the developers have provided 110 educational melodies. The front panel has a liquid crystal display that facilitates the operation of the device.
Benefits:
- The keys are full-sized;
- Acceptable overall dimensions;
- High-quality sound;
- Good acoustics;
- Light weight;
- Reliable assembly.
Disadvantages:
- Some keys after a certain time may begin to squeak;
- The sound range is only 5 octaves - many users say that it is better if there were 7 of them.
3. CASIO CTK-7200
Manufacturers managed to place a huge number of features and a huge set of functions in this model. As people say, who happened to use such a device, it combines both the synthesizer itself and a practically full-fledged arranger and a workstation. The shape and overall dimensions of the keys here are no different from the keys of the piano, which allows people who had a chance to graduate from music school to use these tools. They will not experience discomfort due to the small keys, which many synthesizers often sin. There are also a lot of various useful features, so making music will be quick and easy enough.
The synthesizer has over three hundred musical presets that perfectly connect the voice and rhythm, regardless of the chosen style of music. The sound quality is also on top - each selected instrument will sound like an acoustic one, and its parameters can be slightly changed depending on your needs. One of the most interesting features is Audio Recorder: thanks to it, recording is made from any external source, and the file will be saved on an external USB drive. The synthesizer has two audio inputs at once, it is possible to superimpose one of the many available effects on the input of the instrument.
Benefits:
- Reasonable cost;
- It is possible to record almost professional phonograms;
- You can record music and voice at the same time.
Disadvantages:
- Some keys begin to creak after a certain time - the recording quality is not affected, but the musician may cause some discomfort.
2. CASIO CTK-6200
This is one of the most compact semi-professional models of this manufacturer, which quickly managed to gain popularity among users. The set of functions and useful qualities of this device is quite wide, so many people wonder why such a large number of features are provided for such a low price. The overall dimensions are small, although the keyboard here is full-sized - includes 61 keys of a dynamic type. If necessary, you can choose the most suitable level of sensitivity, which allows you to use a variety of musical styles. If the user has some experience using such equipment, the sensitivity mode can be completely turned off, which allows the synthesizer to be used as a midi controller.
Internal capabilities are very rich: the range of possibilities has been expanded almost to a professional level, largely due to the presence of seven hundred built-in tones at once. There is an editor that allows you to create your own musical voices by superimposing layers.A single polyphony includes 48 notes. In addition, the synthesizer has hundreds of predefined effects, the same number of custom, customizable, there are ten types of reverb. The synthesizer's memory is vast - it is designed for 5 compositions, each of which can contain up to 17 melodies, which in total amounts to over 12 thousand notes. There are slots for SD or SDHC memory cards, the volume of which can reach 32 GB. Another very interesting feature is the "Music Presets", which are a built-in library, where there are about 300 different compositions.
Benefits:
- High quality workmanship;
- A wide range of tools;
- The convenience of use;
- Good value for money, and the quality is even significantly higher than the cost.
Disadvantages:
- Some developmental issues may occur.
1. Yamaha PSR-R200
Ideal for people who are just starting to discover the world of music and at the same time are at odds with foreign languages. A music stand is supplied with the synthesizer and a power adapter allows you to power the device from a central power supply network. The design is equipped with the 61st unweighted keyboard with full keys, it is also equipped with 32-voice polyphony. The model has a Yamaha Education Suite training system, which has support for the Russian language. In general, all the menus here are Russified, even the keys have signatures in Russian. The synthesizer is made of reliable matte plastic, its elements are tightly fitted to each other, even with strong pressure, extraneous creaks are not heard and there are no backlashes. At the head of the dashboard, you can find two fairly large speakers, each with a diameter of 12 cm and a power of 2.5 watts. The mass of the device is small - about 4.5 kg.
The quantity and quality of tones is quite acceptable for such a semi-professional model - the sound of a stereo grand piano is provided, there are also 128 other instruments, a separate group includes 5 sets of drum sounds and a large number of various sound effects. There are 102 built-in tunes here, and you can learn them with both your right and left hands, or both. There are standard functions that make this process easier - transpose, metronome, and adjust the tempo of the melody. The design has a stereo jack that can be used to connect headphones, speakers or an audio system. In addition, the design has Midi connectors, making it easy to work with other digital equipment.
Benefits:
- Russified interface, Russian signatures on buttons;
- A wide range of tones and accompaniment;
- Convenient training programs in Russian;
- Reasonable cost.
Disadvantages:
- Decent overall dimensions.
Professional synthesizers
3. Roland FA-06
It has a plastic case, due to which this device does not weigh too much for professional equipment - only 5.7 kg. For a tool with 61 keys, overall dimensions are also small - 100x30x10 cm. All connectors for connecting additional devices, including the power cable, are located on the rear panel. The product is equipped with anti-slip rubber feet. The connector for the power supply is additionally reinforced with a rubberized ring, thanks to which the plug is fixed as tightly as possible. Nearby is a special jumper that allows you to fix the cable and protect it from accidental jerking. There is a linear output for applying a stereo connection with the ability to balance channels.
The keys have a short stroke, quickly returning to their original position. Playing them is a real pleasure, although it will take some time to adapt. The synthesizer interface is quite simple, so you can start working with it without studying the instructions. All main functions have separate buttons and controls. The synthesizer loads after turning on very quickly - about 10 seconds is enough.In the center is a large, full-color liquid crystal display. Although it is quite informative, it will not show unnecessary data. All sounds are sorted into sections.
Benefits:
- High speed;
- Large color display;
- Ability to connect a stereo system;
- The convenience of use.
Disadvantages:
- Short stroke of keys - you have to get used to it.
2. KORG Pa600
The synthesizer is a fairly powerful professional-style arranging station, which is very popular among professional musicians. It has an automatic accompaniment function. The keyboard here is unweighted, has 61 keys, and they are sensitive to both speed and pressure. The model is equipped with a powerful polyphonic polyphony of 128 voices. There are even more sounds - over 950, accompaniment styles are also enough for professional use - more than 360. The drum kit includes 64 variations. In the central part of the product is a fairly large touch-type liquid crystal display, the diagonal of which is 7 inches with a resolution of 800x480 pixels. This allows you to quickly adjust any user settings, make changes to them and save them, and so on.
The equipment memory is designed for 1200 user styles, 96 MB of RAM here. You can use all the features of this equipment directly during the performance - this is exactly what the touch screen will be useful for. The sound quality is very high, so the instrument is suitable even for performances in the halls of philharmonic halls or conservatories.
Benefits:
- The set includes a control pedal;
- A touch screen is provided;
- The synthesizer is equipped with a transpose function;
- It has a built-in speaker system of average power level;
- Convenient to use.
Disadvantages:
- High price.
1. YAMAHA PSR-S975
The best synthesizer of the year - this title in our review, this musical equipment was able to achieve largely thanks to a huge set of operational characteristics, each of which will be very useful for a professional musician. There are a couple of assignable controllers, two sockets for connecting pedals, which allows you to provide complete control over the voices, styles during the game, and also use the necessary effects. The synthesizer has innovative features Half bar fill-in and Mono legato - this also allows you to increase the performance capabilities. If necessary, you can recall the settings of the live sound controllers from the device’s memory in real time.
The sound quality is very high - the company's developers approached recording of samples and creating various effects as responsibly as possible, which brings the performance of even familiar melodies to a whole new level. This will help to meet even the most daring expectations of the audience. In audio styles you can find ensemble percussion of the highest quality. All drums were recorded with the help of the best musicians in the most popular studios. The synthesizer has quite realistic effects like Real Distortion or Real Reverb, which help to achieve the authentic sound of any melody - no synthesizer is able to provide anything like that.
Benefits:
- The widest functionality;
- It is very convenient to select various functions and apply effects;
- Excellent sound regardless of the acoustics of the room;
- Attractive appearance;
- The picture from the display can, if necessary, be transferred to a computer monitor or TV;
- It is possible to install additional packages of sounds, styles and so on.
Disadvantages:
- When downloading audio files with a Russian-language name, ignores them, you have to rename it to the Latin alphabet.
In conclusion, a useful video
So our review of the best synthesizers is nearing completion. We tried to tell you as much as possible about all the characteristics of the models included in our rating. If you still have any questions, or if you have experience with one of these devices, and you decide to share it both with us and with other readers, then welcome to comments. We are very interested to know your opinion, and we will answer all questions as quickly as we can.
(1 ratings, average: 5,00 out of 5)
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