Desktop Synthesizers
Desktop synthesizers are compact, pre-patched units that ship without control surfaces such as keyboards, pads, or touch plates. This typically makes them cheaper, more portable, and easier to integrate into a large setup. Connection options commonly include MIDI and USB, but many units also include CV (control voltage) for linking to modular gear.
Unlike the modular synths pioneered by Bob Moog and Don Buchla in the early 1960s, the modules inside desktop synthesizers come pre-patched and ready to make sound. These internal components can be analogue, digital, or a combination of the two, and may include a sequencer. Layouts range from 'one knob per function' to 'menu-driven' digital control layers with an LCD screen.
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Need Help Choosing Your Next Synth?
Subtractive, FM, wavetable, granular - there's a lot of ground to cover. Our guide to synthesis types breaks down every major category: what each type does, what it's best at, and which synth to reach for if you want to try it. It's a good place to start if you're picking your first synth or adding a new colour to your setup.