Mini synthesizers are small in size and big on sound. Theyre great for those who are looking for a smaller synthesizer that still offers plenty of features and great sound quality. With so many mini synthesizers on the market today, it can be difficult to decide which one is best for your needs. With this guide, well look at some of the best mini synthesizers available, along with the features that make them unique and the kind of sound they can produce. Whether youre just getting started in music production or are a seasoned pro, theres sure to be a mini synthesizer out there thats perfect for you.
Best Mini Synthesizers
| Rank | Product Name | Score |
|---|---|---|
|
1
 |
Stylophone Retro
|
9. 7
|
|
2
 |
Korg Volca Keys
|
9. 5
|
|
3
 |
Korg Delay Monotron
|
9. 1
|
|
4
 |
Arturia MiniBrute
|
8. 8
|
|
5
 |
Novation Mini-Nova
|
8. 6
|
|
6
 |
Teenage Engineering PO-32
|
8. 2
|
|
7
 |
Moog Sub Phatty
|
8. 0
|
|
8
 |
Novation Bass Station II
|
7 .7
|
|
9
 |
Yamaha Reface DX
|
7. 4
|
|
10
 |
Korg Minilogue
|
7. 2
|
1. Stylophone Retro
I recently purchased the Stylophone Retro and I’m absolutely loving it! It has a unique sound and the controls are very user-friendly. It’s fairly lightweight and easy to transport, so I can take it with me wherever I go. The retro design gives it a cool, vintage vibe and the built-in speaker is surprisingly loud and clear. I’m having a lot of fun creating all kinds of music with this little synthesizer. Highly recommended!
- Authentic recreation of the classic 1970s Stylophone 350S
- Built-in speaker and 3.5mm audio output for external amplification
- Manual volume control
- Integral ribbon controller and tempo control
- Works with headphones or external amplifiers
- Playable with included stylus or any other suitable instrument
- Mains (AC) or battery-powered
2. Korg Volca Keys
The Korg Volca Keys is a great synthesizer for those new to the synthesizer world. It is simple to use and has a great range of sounds. The design is quite basic and the knobs are quite close together, but it has a lot of features packed into it for the price. The sound is warm and inviting, and the effects are great. The filters and sequencer are quite powerful and can be used to create some unique sounds. Overall, the Korg Volca Keys is an excellent choice for those starting out in the world of synthesizers.
- Polyphonic Analogue Synthesizer
- Three note true analogue synthesis
- Voltage-Controlled Oscillator (VCO) with cross modulation
- Voltage-Controlled Filter (VCF) with low-pass resonance
- Voltage-Controlled Amplifier (VCA)
- Envelope Generators (EG)
- LFO with delay and pitch modulation
- 16-step sequencer with motion sequencing capabilities
- External audio input for connecting to other devices
- MIDI I/O for connecting to other MIDI devices
- Built-in speaker for playing without connecting to an amplifier
3. Korg Delay Monotron
I recently purchased the Korg Delay Monotron and it has been an absolute game changer in my music production. The delay effect of the Monotron is so versatile and can be used in all sorts of ways. The ease of use and portability make it a great choice for any musician. I’m able to quickly and easily add creative effects to my music without having to buy a bulky and expensive delay unit. The sound is crisp and clear, and the controls are intuitive and provide a lot of flexibility. I highly recommend the Korg Delay Monotron for anyone looking for a great delay pedal.
- Portable analog delay
- Easy-to-use controls
- Compact design
- One-knob control of delay time
- Sine oscillator for creating sound effects
- Delay time of up to 300ms
- High-quality analog circuit
4. Arturia MiniBrute
I recently had the pleasure of trying out the Arturia MiniBrute, and I must say it is one of the best monophonic synthesizers I have ever used. The sound engine of the MiniBrute is capable of producing a wide range of tones, from warm, mellow analog sounds to raucous and aggressive leads. The workstation also features a comprehensive set of controls for shaping and sculpting sound, as well as a great sequencer for creating dynamic, evolving soundscapes. The build quality of the MiniBrute is also impressive, with a solid-feeling chassis and a high-quality keyboard with aftertouch. Overall, I can highly recommend the Arturia MiniBrute for anyone looking for a powerful and versatile monophonic synthesizer.
- Analog synthesis engine with Steiner-Parker filter and 2 envelopes.
- Real-time control with large, expressive 25-note keyboard.
- Integrated arpeggiator, sequencer, and step-sequencer.
- One of the most powerful and flexible monophonic analog synthesizers.
- Wide range of controls, including a selection of potentiometers and switches.
- High quality, low noise and distortion audio output.
- MIDI, USB and CV/Gate connectivity.
5. Novation Mini-Nova
The Novation Mini-Nova is an exceptional synthesizer that can deliver powerful sound and endless creative potential. It has a great selection of presets and effects, and the sound quality is top-notch. The keyboard is highly expressive and versatile, allowing for a wide range of dynamics and sonic possibilities. The built-in vocoder is an added bonus, and I was pleasantly surprised by its sound quality. The Mini-Nova excels in its flexibility and portability, making it a great choice for both studio and live performances. Overall, I highly recommend the Mini-Nova for anyone looking for an affordable and reliable way to create and manipulate electronic music.
- 37-key synth engine with parameter controls
- 256 onboard sounds
- 17 voice polyphony
- Onboard effects, including distortion, chorus, and flanger
- Dedicated knobs for controlling filter, envelope and modulation settings
- USB/MIDI connectivity for use with computers and other instruments
- Easy-to-use software editor
- Compact design for easy transport
6. Teenage Engineering PO-32
I recently bought the Teenage Engineering PO-32 and I’m absolutely loving it! It’s a great tool for creating music and sound design. The built-in drum machine functions are great for creating drum tracks. And the synthesizer functions are perfect for crafting unique synth sounds. The built-in effects are really cool too. The interface is extremely user-friendly and the sound quality is quite good. Overall, I’m really happy with my purchase. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone interested in making music or sound design.
- Pocket-sized drum machine and sequencer for creating beats and melodies
- Powered by Teenage Engineerings proprietary Tonic software with sample library and sound synthesis capabilities
- Step Sequencer with 16 tracks, 16 patterns, and parameter locks
- Real-time motion recording for capturing audio quality improvisations
- Built-in microphone for sampling and manipulating audio
- Compatible with other Pocket Operator units and other devices via USB or MIDI
7. Moog Sub Phatty
The Moog Sub Phatty is an excellent choice for a synth. It has a great sound, a nice range of tones, and plenty of control. The sliders and knobs allow you to shape the sound in a variety of ways. It’s a great choice for experimenting and creating unique sounds. The polyphony is great, and it can easily be used as a lead synth or for layering and fattening up other sounds. The built-in effects are great and add a lot of depth to the sounds. Overall, the Moog Sub Phatty is a great choice for anyone looking for an expressive, powerful synth. Highly recommended!
- 25 semi-weighted keys
- Pitch bend and modulation wheels
- 2 Variable waveshape oscillators
- 2 Variable waveshape sub-oscillators
- Noise Generator
- Multidrive circuit
- Dedicated filter and amplifier envelopes
- Filter with selectable 2- and 4-pole operation
- 64-step sequencer and arpeggiator
- External audio input
- MIDI and USB connectivity
- Comprehensive CV I/O
8. Novation Bass Station II
The Novation Bass Station II is an incredible sounding, versatile and feature-packed synth. It has a great sound engine, a wide range of sound manipulation options and a classic design. The Bass Station II has two oscillators, two filters, three envelopes and a mod matrix, allowing you to create complex sounds and textures. The sound quality is excellent and the effects can be used to further shape the sounds. The patch memory is also quite large, allowing you to store up to 256 patches. Additionally, the Novation Bass Station II comes with a powerful software editor, allowing you to edit and control your patches from your computer. Overall, the Novation Bass Station II is an incredibly powerful and versatile synthesizer and a great choice for any producer.
- 25-key monophonic analog synthesizer
- 2 oscillators, 1 sub-oscillator and 1 noise generator
- 2 analog filters (Acid and Classic) and 1 digital filter
- Fully programmable step sequencer with up to 64 steps
- CV and MIDI connections for connection to other devices
- Stereo output with adjustable panning
- MIDI and USB connections
- Built-in distortion and reverb effects
9. Yamaha Reface DX
I recently purchased the Yamaha Reface DX and I am really happy with it! It is an incredibly versatile and powerful synthesizer. It has a very classic FM synth sound that is perfect for creating various soundscapes. The controls are very intuitive and easy to use. The built-in effects and editing capabilities make it very easy to create complex sounds. The quality of the sound is excellent and you can really get a great sound out of it. I especially like the portability of it; it is great for taking to gigs or jam sessions. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a great FM synthesizer.
- 37-key mini keyboard
- 4-operator FM synthesis engine
- 128-note polyphony
- 8-voice multitimbral sound engine
- Built-in effects including delay, chorus/flanger, reverb and distortion
- 128 presets and 32 user-programmable sounds
- Auxiliary audio inputs
- MIDI and USB connectivity
- Built-in 2-band EQ
10. Korg Minilogue
The Korg Minilogue is an analog synthesizer that can take your music to the next level. It features two oscillators, two envelope generators, two low-frequency oscillators, and a built-in 16-step sequencer. With its range of controls, you can easily manipulate sounds, adjust modulation, and create complex sequences. The Korg Minilogue is incredibly intuitive and easy to use, so you can dive right in and start creating without too much hassle. The sound quality is excellent and the design is sleek and modern. Overall, the Korg Minilogue is an excellent choice for anyone looking to explore the world of analog synthesis. Highly recommended!
- Four-voice polyphonic analog synthesizer
- Digital multi-engine with three oscillator types including VPM
- Two voltage-controlled low-pass filters with switchable 2-pole/4-pole design
- Voice Modes for flexible performance and layering capabilities
- Onboard 16-step sequencer with Flux mode for motion recording
- Innovative delay effect with modulation capability
- Built-in arpeggiator and flexible Voice Mode for sophisticated phrase creation
- MIDI, USB, and Sync In/Out for connecting with other devices
- High-visibility OLED display for easy sound programming
- Premium analogue VCA, VCF and wave shaping circuits, plus dedicated envelope generators
