10 Best Keyboard Synthesizers – Find One with the Most Impressive Effects!

The Korg microKorg is a keyboard synth that delivers plenty of bang for the buck. The unit comes with 37 keys, and they feature velocity sensing, which is a useful addition. The four-voice synth engine is combined with an eight-band vocoder with a gooseneck mic.

You will find 128 preset settings in this synthesizer, and they are all editable. That means you will have the freedom to adjust everything to your preference. Users can choose between six integrated arpeggio patterns. The adjustable steps allow you to choose the notes’ resolution and length.

It is an entry-level synth, and its build quality could be better. The overall design isn’t impressive, but you will love what the product can do. From three delay modes and multiple effects available to external audio processing, its performance is admirable.

What stands out? The device compatibility is admirable since it supports Windows 98 and newer versions and Mac versions from 10.6.8.

What cons did we manage to find? The overall design could be better since the product doesn’t give away the impression of a premium unit.

The Akai Professional MPK Mini Play is an excellent choice for beginners looking not to overpay their first keyboard synthesizer. The piano-style product features 25 action keys sensitive to velocity. While they could be more responsive, you will get used to how hard to press them quickly.

The product features 128 sound presets, but they don’t seem to be editable. The good news is that you will also benefit from ten drum kits to spread the available sound choices. You can express the desired melody by controlling pitch and modulation with the four-direction joystick. The customization is also available with reverb, filter, chorus, and other effects. If you want to connect the synthesizer to a PC, you can use the premium software package that comes with the unit. The overall product’s portability is impressive, and the keyboard is surprisingly lightweight.

Why are we impressed? Thanks to its portable size, the synthesizer is easy to carry around and move from one location to another.

What negatives must you be aware of? The integrated speaker is of subpar quality and doesn’t have the strength expected from it.

If you are looking for the best keyboard synth in the market, the Moog Grandmother is a synthesizer worth your while. The unit is completely analog, which might make it a bit old-fashioned. But if you are a fan of those synths, you will love this unit.

The product is extremely durable and maintains consistent performance. Also, you can use the 32 velocity-sensitive keys or take advantage of 37 different presets. It is easy to connect instruments and headphones to the unit.

Beginners and veterans will love playing on this device. Next, it doesn’t require any patching but features two analog oscillators with adjustable waveforms. It can memorize three sequences with a maximum of 256 notes each. Overall, this is a premium analog synthesizer that will meet even the most demanding user expectations.

What are our favorite features? You can use the external audio input to connect the desired devices, such as drum machines, guitars, etc.

What could be better? The price tag of this unit is quite high, so some might would like to look for something else.

The first thing you notice about the Novation MiniNova is its distinctive blue color. While its appearance looks attractive, it is a shame there is no alternative if you don’t like the default color combination.

If you scratch the surface, you realize the device delivers consistent and impressive performance. Users can choose any of the 256 integrated sounds. It’s possible to adjust them with “animate” buttons or five knobs, and don’t hesitate to take advantage of the three oscillators.

You will find an input and output jack, and the operating system compatibility is impressive. The device can connect to Windows, Mac, and iOS, so feel free to use any that you see fit. You will find a useful tutorial that explains how everything works, and that includes how to use the vocoder to create memorable vocal sounds.

What makes it stand out? The product is polyphonic and uses up to 18 notes with multiple effects available for each sound.

Which disadvantages must you keep in mind? The product comes with a learning curve, and beginners should be ready to spend some time figuring out how it works.

The Arturia MiniBrute 2 might be the best mini synthesizer keyboard in the market. It is suitable for beginners, but it could be a bit tricky if you are not used to a 25-key synth.

As a miniature keyboard, it is only natural that the product is light and easy to carry around. You can carry the device in your hands or put it in a backpack where it won’t take too much room.

When it comes to performance, the MiniBrute 2 comes with a 48-point CV patch bay. That gives you plenty of freedom when creating the desired sounds. You can also use the two oscillators, arpeggiator, and sequencer that come with the device. You won’t have that much creative freedom because you can’t customize the presets, but at least it comes with USB and MIDI connectivity.

What do we love it for? Thanks to the 48-point CV patch bay, you can create a long list of different sounds without patching anything.

What were we disappointed with? The presets aren’t customizable, which limits your freedom when creating the desired sounds.

This monologue synth might be the best Korg synthesizer keyboard in the market, especially for beginners and fans of mini synths. It features 25 keys that are extremely responsive and capable of sensing velocity. The manufacturer changed the monophonic analog circuitry to ensure better performance.

Users can pick from 100 presets, and 20 of them are free to add your sounds. Don’t hesitate to use the 16-step sequencer that gives you the freedom to create the perfect sound. The Korg Monologue is among the rare synthesizers that support micro-tuning, which means you can create scales that suit your needs. The company added the Drive function for cutting leads and rich bass tones. Although you can connect headphones and speakers to improve it, the product already delivers decent sound quality.

What stands out? You can choose between five different colors, which ensures you will find a design that fits your preference.

What cons did we manage to find? The keys are slim, and that might be inconvenient for users that have large fingers and hands.

If you are looking for a Roland synthesizer keyboard, that means you want a product from a reliable brand. The JUNO-DS unit is a full-sized keyboard that is surprisingly lightweight for its size.

You will love the key responsiveness and other capabilities of this device. For starters, this is a 128-note polyphony synth that features an 8-track pattern sequencer. Although the sequencer is useful, it’s a shame it doesn’t support 16 tracks.

When it comes to presets, you can choose from over 1,200, including drum kits and performance presets. That means you have everything you might need for a gig. If necessary, you can download new waveforms for free and upload them using the expansion slot. The vocoder, arpeggiator, recording, and other options are also there, but you will need eight batteries to run the unit.

Why are we impressed? The product has more than 1,200 presets, including performance presets and 30 drum kits.

What negatives must you be aware of? The 8-track sequencer might not be sufficient for advanced user requirements.

Most keyboard synthesizer reviews will agree that the Arturia MicroFreak is a powerful mini synth packed with fantastic features. Its basic layout has 25 keys, and they come with significant touch sensitivity. It will take some time to get used to that, but the good news is that the tweaking knobs work like a charm.

The MicroFreak is a mixture between an analog and digital synthesizer. You can use hundreds of different presets, and the digital oscillator adds to the unit’s versatility. It features Superwave, Texturer, and other useful modes that can deliver sounds that fit your preference. The real-time option to create sequences is fantastic, and the low latency ensures you can play fast. If you want to add a 25-key synth to your collection, you can’t go wrong with this device.

Why is it special? The tweaking buttons are responsive, and you can naturally customize the tones to your needs.

What are the flaws? The touch sensitivity doesn’t seem to be consistent and can be unpredictable at times.

The Roland JD-XI might be the best keyboard synthesizer under $1000. Allow us to explain our decision – first, you have 37 keys. Although they are smaller than standard, they respond to the touch well, and you will get used to them quickly.

The synth features a crossover between analog and digital sound engines. You can take advantage of analog sounds or import presets of various instruments from the digital library. The four-track pattern sequencer combines drums, analog, and two digital synth parts. Use slicer, bit crusher, and other modes to alter the sound to fit your needs perfectly. Thanks to the gooseneck mic, you can use vocal effects like auto-pitch and vocoder. If you are looking for high-impact beats, you can use pro drum kits.

What are our favorite features? The digital library is full of sounds coming from various instruments, and the copies sound extremely realistic.

What could be better? The analog synthesis is a bit limiting, and it’s not the best choice for learning the details about synthesis. Also, the menu seems to be quite complicated at first.

The Roland GAIA SH-01 is a keyboard synth with 37 full-sized keys. That means you don’t have to bother with slim and mini keys that require additional preciseness. The keys are responsive, and we can say the same for the knobs and buttons on the front panel. You can adjust knobs to the smallest detail, which will ensure all sounds meet your expectation.

It is possible to layer five effects simultaneously, and that included delay, flanger, distortion, and many others. The 64-voice polyphony is impressive and has user memory to save presets. Users will find an arpeggiator, D-beam, and a phrase recorder, but the product misses a vocoder. You can use MIDI and USB connections to save patches to a USB memory stick, which is convenient. The synthesizer is both powerful and portable, which ensures you can easily move it around.

What makes it special? The full-sized keys are perfect for anyone who has previous experience with synthesizers.

What cons did we find? The product could use a vocoder since that would improve the options you have available.