Essential Tools For Music Making
GEAR GUIDE
SEMI-MODULAR SYNTHS
Intellijel Cascadia
£2,025
Full Review: FM401
A bit of a master stroke. Cascadia merges different synthesis types wonderfully and houses them in a format that works extremely well.
Bastl Softpop SPII
£445
Full Review: FM393
Softpop is an instrument that offers vast tonal options and great sequencing, connectivity and portability. A huge leap over its predecessor.
Korg Volca Modular £190
Review: FM342
A West Coast synth in a compact package. It may be fiddly, but give in to its experimental ethos and it’s endless fun.
Moog Mavis £339
Review: FM387
Mavis can’t be faulted at this price. It covers a wide range of tones, is well built and brings new options to the classic Moog.
Moog DFAM £549
Review: FM333
A unique percussion synth, and the perfect partner to the Mother-32. The lack of MIDI is quite disappointing though.
Arturia MiniBrute 2S £575
Review: FM328
Takes on an expanded synth engine and semi-modular architecture. The sequencer-focused 2S is our favourite.
Moog Subharmonicon $699
Review: FM359
Mixes familiar Moog sounds with experimental sequencing and rhythms. An inspiring, well-built and well thought-out synth.
Moog Matriarch £1,979
Review: FM355
The Matriarch is very inspiring. It’s well built, has the classic Moog Modular sound and is complex yet still pleasingly intuitive. A future classic!