Korg Volca

Korg Volca FM. I had the Yamaha Reface DX and the volca is just better all around (besides polyphony. and I'm a terrible player so it's okay)

I dont like the korg OpSix other people mentioned. ADSR envelopes are very limited and essentially rule out its use for e-piano. The reface DX isnt wort it either (i have one), nor is the korg volca.

I've bought korg volca fm and PO-12 Rythm. However I'm not satisfied with this setup. Volca is really cool, but the PO drums aren't the sound I'm looking for - they are kind of harsh and cold.

Korg Volca FM, or maybe even Volcas in general. The Volca FM was my second synth, if you count the PO-12 as the first one, and the sequencer was a complete disappointment compared to the PO sequencer. I know Volcas are cool and definitely have their use cases, they can be killer machines when sequenced externally, but no way I'm touching the Volca sequencer ever again.

Korg Volca FM: So much potential, but I wound up hating it and sold it. Way too anemic in features when it didn't have to be.

* Korg Volca Keys - Almost toy-like but it actually sounds quite nice. * Arturia Microfreak - Digital with some odd oscillators that would open up some sound design options for you.

It's a monosynth, but well-made and has an unusually broad sound palette. It does have a very clear representation of the individual components of the signal path, which I think would be very helpful. Another interesting option is the Korg Volca Modular, which also gives a clear idea - modeling the less common 'East Coast' synthesis approach - of how each component feeds into the next in the signal chain.

Korg NTS 1, a Korg Volca, a Zoom MS CDR70 pedal, a Moog Werkstatt(Moog is going to be discontinuing these so likely very overpriced afterwards, this is the one Id spring for personally as they are 150 new). If he has any current synthesizers, look at the model and make and see if there are any 3rd party accessories like cases,wood attachments, desk savers/covers.

Yea I second all of these, the pocket operators may look like toys but teenage engineering makes some pretty powerful products. Honestly if I had a girlfriend and she got me one of those I’d be amped. I also second the Korg Volca, samples, etc

That's not to say you can't do a lot with a synthesizer that employs only one form of synthesis because you can -- you could make entire albums with just a Novation Summit or just a Waldorf Iridium -- but you will encounter limits with these instruments as well. And as far as the really inexpensive instruments go, such the Korg Volca Keys or the Behringer Crave, in my personal experience I've found you'd be better off with software (even free software) in *most* cases instead, but your milage may vary.