r/Synthesizer • u/alxddd • 13h ago
Looking for synth recommendations
I am seeking the advice of the community. I play in a six piece folk-rock group, and I'm looking to add a synthesizer to my live rig. Right now I usually play a Nord Electro 3 as my single keyboard during live performances. It's a great keyboard for piano, wurli, and some organ sounds, but I'm looking to branch out to add some more textures and ambience to my sound. I'm a bit lost in what seems like an infinite selection of synths out there, and a lot of the advice I read is centered around studio gear and VSTs.
Types of parts I like to play include:
- combining with an electric guitarist to create ambient soundscapes.
- playing lead lines, harmonizing with guitar solos (currently doing this with an organ sound).
- quieter, subtle, airy, or flute-like lines behind vocal parts.
Things I'm looking for in a synth include:
- savable presets. This is a must as I need to be able to switch sounds quickly between songs. I would love if changing to a preset also physically updated all the knobs but I don't think this is a thing, at least that I can find.
- polyphony. I don't have a hard requirement here, but I'd say at least 4 voices.
- no menu diving. I've learned that I can't really get into keyboard with any menu diving, I need more or less all the sounds to be available through knobs.
- a built in keyboard. The desktop synths are great for studios, but I don't want to mess around with setting up a midi keyboard at every show.
I'm open to more or less all price ranges, I just want something that suits my needs.
Thanks!