Vintage Synth Explorer

Native Instruments MASSIVE
A powerful yet intuitive and easy to use software synthesizer. We've got the scoop on this essential product from Native Instruments. Read the full review...

Native Instruments ABSYNTH 5
The software synthesizer made legendary for its organic textural soundscapes has finally been updated here at the VSE to showcase all its amazing new features! Read the full review...

Korg Radias
A wildly flexible and powerful virtual analog synth module from Korg, the Radias packs a lot of great sounds and sonic potential into a rack-mount module. From classic MS-series analog to state of the art digital sounds with tons of effects, powerful filters, on-board arpeggiators, sequencers, motion recorders and a 16-band vocoder, the Radias has what you need! Read the full review...

FutureRetro XS
A true analog monophonic synthesizer in a sweet rack-mount and/or desktop module. Lots of knobs, lots of patch-points, lots of fun! FutureRetro’s XS can be used to make a variety of analog synth sounds including bass lines, leads, drones, percussion, and sound effects all from a compact, hands-on and intuitive interface that looks and sounds great! Read the full review...

Native Instruments FM8
The successor to the award winning FM7, Native Instrument’s FM8 continues where its massive predecessor had stopped. It has an all new user interface and color scheme which looks nothing like the DX7-inspired interface the FM7 has. FM may not be for everyone, but this isn’t a DX synth with a complex user interface, and even novice users will discover that the basics of FM8 are not too hard to understand. Read the full review...

Chimera Synthesis bC16
A mighty little modular at an unbeatable price! Yes, it’s a real analog synth with real patch points, oscillators, filter, LFO and ADSR and it’s small enough to sit in the palm of your hand! While there’s plenty of fun to be had with it, the bC16 is a great and versatile device that you can learn a lot from without costing yourself an arm and a leg. Read the full review...

Access Virus TI
Arguably the pinnacle of DSP-based digital synthesis at the moment. It could easily be written off as a Virus C with added supersaw, but the many improvements suggest revolution, not evolution! Want to know how the TI stacks up against previous generations of the Virus? Read the full review...

Synth Finder • Updated for 2010!
The Synth Finder feature has been overhauled for the new year! Now it’s even easier to find the synthesizers of your desires! We have added new options to choose from, we have re-classified all the synths featured here for better matches and best of all, the Synth Finder’s selection criteria are now completely optional so you can choose as little or as many options as you like for a more personalized list of results.

Find the synth that is right for you!