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What's the easiest to use hardware synth (that sounds awesome)?
-s.webp?v=1783318437 "Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer")
-s.webp?v=1783436227 "Roland SH-101")
-s.webp?v=1783436217 "Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer")
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If you're OK going used, there are a lot of VAs out there that sound great and are available within a $1000 budget. I have owned an Access Virus and Nord Lead since the early 2000s and they're both fantastic and easy to learn. The Nord is deceptive - it looks pretty simple as everything is laid out on the panel, no menus, 2 oscillators, no effects - but after 20 years I'm still finding I drag unexpected things out of it pretty regularly. The Virus gets some flak for menu diving, and there's a little of that, but only because it's a deeper synth than say the Nord. You'll find either in module form for around $800, leaves you plenty of room for a keyboard controller! A key differentiator here as well is both these synths are multitimbral, and I don't believe any of the other suggestions are (or even any of my other recommendations). For the Nord - if you decide to go that way, make sure you either get a fully-upgraded Nord Lead 1 or better yet hold out for a Lead 2X. The OG Nord only shipped with four voices, and fully expanded you get 12. The 2x I believe is a 20-voice synth. Given that you can use four parts simultaneously, you'll obviously run out of voices fast on the 4-voice units and I doubt the 12 voice expansions are available 20 years on from when it was new! Similar with the Virus - the A is 12 voice, B I believe 16 voice, and C 20-voice. B and C also have built-in effects so those are the ones to have of the "classic" Virii. You probably know a lot of that already since you owned a Nord and Virus in the past, but good info for others asking the same question.
For brand-new synths under $1k, I think you're hard pressed to do better than the Deepmind-12. Real analog poly at a price point that's about half or less of a "name" analog polysynth. If you can stretch your budget a little, the Roland System 8 is incredible. It might seem a little overwhelming at first given that it can run multiple models (including the Junos and Jupiters), but if you stick to the System-8 native sound engine and start with just the basic oscillator controls and envelopes it's pretty easy to get to grips with. Maybe not as easy as the Nord, but close.
Once you get over $2k, every choice is good sonically so it will come down to ease of use. I haven't used any of the Dave Smith polys in person (I do own a Pro-3 monosynth) but I'd bank on the Prophet 5 , Prophet 6, and OB-6 being pretty good in that respect. I wouldn't count out the Virus TI2 either - like the System 8 if you start with just what's on the panel it'll be pretty straightforward to figure out the basics.
Good luck!
PS - Hate to rain on the parades of people suggesting ARP/ARP clones - I would NOT consider those synths easy to learn!
Hey man, there are things you can't get out of most other synths in those boxes! But easy, they are not lol.
Oh jeez, I was reading fast and my brain only grok'ed "2600"! Yeah an Odyssey isn't that complicated.
Roland Juno 106 or the boutique model.
