Last Updated on August 6, 2024 by IDS Team
We’ve done plenty of synth lists by topic, price, and whether they are hardware or software, but if we had to break down the most underrated synths, the answer becomes a little bit more challenging. We’ve done plenty of comparisons of popular synths with their nearest competitors, but by their nature, underrated synths are often not the most obvious choices – so how to pick them? This article will go into two underrated hardware synths and our favorite out of all underrated synth vsts, so read on to see what you might be missing.Â
Most Creative Underrated Hardware Synths: Bassline DB-01
The Bassline DB-01 is a perfect example of the kind of thing that Latvian-based company Erica Synths does well. It’s creative, a bit outside the box, thoughtful, and fills a niche that you didn’t know needed filling.
The company specializes in nuanced and flexible synths that give you a host of creative opportunities at affordable prices and offer something a bit different from many other companies on the market. If tried and tested companies like Korg and Moog are the steadfast bread and butter of the synth world, Erica Synths is the maverick, and the Bassline DB-01 is no different. But what makes it so underrated and why might it be worth checking out?
What’s Good About It?
Erica Synths machines tend to be specialists as opposed to generalists, focussing on filling one off-the-beaten-track niche and doing it in a way that exceeds your wildest dreams. Their products are generally fun and off-piste, such as their decision to release a build-it-yourself modular synth on their site. True to type, the DB-01 is a gritty and aggressive synth that is dedicated to creating raw and powerful sounds without necessarily as much gloss as other machines on the market. As a desktop model specifically, we think it is one of the most underrated hardware synths that is easily portable.
Aside from that, the Bassline also has:
- Detune, arpeggiator, sequence transposing, pattern randomization
- 64 step sequencer
- Amplitude, cutoff, and pitch envelopes
- Analog sound engine and acidbox filter design
- Midi in and thru features
Anything Bad About It?
There isn’t much bad about it overall, although some could say that it could do with a few more options and features, as well as increased storage. If we had to pick something, the only thing is that the things that make it stand out – its specialism and its focus on warped, different, and interesting sounds – mean that there are potentially fewer opportunities to branch out with it than you might have with more generalist machines such as some of those from a similarly creative company, Arturia.
Therefore, if you are on a budget and only planning on getting one or two synths, this might not be the one for you if you want the option for more dulcet tones as well. It is also slightly more expensive than some of the others on this list.
Who Is It Best For?
As mentioned above, this may not be the best or most ideal synth for those who only have a limited budget. However, if you are looking to specialize or you want an interesting synth to add to a full band setup, it’s well worth considering. We also think it’s underrated due to its focus on the grittier sounds that many synths gloss over or just give a tokenistic mention to in trying to offer a wider range. Where others go broad, the DB-01 goes deep.
It’s also a great synth if you are less familiar with synthesis and want something that is easy to understand and intuitive to learn. Its lack of options also is an asset here as you won’t find yourself wading through endless presets so if you are a beginner, casual, or hobbyist producer or you only have a small space, this desktop machine is a definite dark horse that is well worth considering.
Get it here for 460 EUR.
Soma Synths Lyra 8: Unusual ‘Organismic Synthesizer’
Soma Synths is not necessarily a household name, but we’ve included the Lyra 8 due to its combining synthesis – specifically FM synthesis – with something a bit unusual – the makeup and functionality of an old electric organ. But what does this look like and how is it possible for the Lyra 8 to be a lovechild of two diametrically opposite musical progenitors?
What’s Good About It?
Soma Laboratory takes for itself the tagline ‘Romantic Engineering’ and it’s not hard to see how and why this fits. The idea of taking some of the functionality of an electric organ and converting it into synth format is a relatively obvious move given how both instruments can bulk out a track nicely and create an atmospheric backdrop and sonic layers across many genres. However, where the Lyra 8 succeeds is that it goes much further and keeps the FM synthesis capabilities of the machine that underlays its organ-like functions. It doesn’t try to mimic an organ with a synth but takes the best of both worlds and combines them in a machine that works.
Apart from this the Lyra 8 has:
- 8 generators/VCOs (known as voices)
- Voices divided into 4 pairs for smooth intuitive use
- Electric organ mode OR FM synthesis mode
- Hyper LFO, MOD Delay, and distortion
- Drive, volume, and mix
- Vibrato feature
- Available in black or ivory white
Anything Bad About It?
It’s hard to really say there is anything bad about the Lyra 8 when it is the only synth in its niche doing what it does. The two main things that might make it less appealing are the slightly higher than average price – at over 500 EUR it’s not exactly budget, although for what it is, there are many more expensive synths. Additionally, it may just not be your cup of tea – but in terms of creating an ‘organismic synthesizer’ – aka a synth that mimics the nonlinearity of an organ and captures some of the atmospheres of this in a smart and intuitive desktop machine – we think that Soma Laboratory has done pretty well indeed.
Who Is It Best For?
There’s no obvious niche for the Soma Synths Lyra 8 simply because it is so unique. However, we would say it is one of the most underrated synths for changing up your sound regardless of your genre. It doesn’t cover the most bases, so it’s not a great option if you are limited to only one synth to meet all your production needs. However, if you want a creative addition we simply can’t pass it by.
You can get it here on the Soma Synths website for 520 EUR if you buy it direct from the Russian production division or 580 EUR if you want to go through the main European distributor.Â
VCV Rack – One Of The Most Underrated Synths Overall?
For our last pick of our most underrated synths rundown, we get to VCV rack – a novel concept that provides something highly accessible and invaluable to musicians worldwide. VCV rack is an open-source software eurorack modular synthesizer with a vibrant community that is easy to understand and get involved with. We’ve looked at the Surge XT before – an open-source hybrid synthesizer that operates along similar principles. However, VCV rack takes this concept and applies it to modular synthesis. This stands out as modular has a reputation for being. However, they make it not only accessible but easy to get addicted to.
What’s Good About It?
It’s too much to list all the good things about this synth here – but overall, it’s the underlying concept that makes it so worthwhile. What’s not to like about an open-source modular software synth that is easily downloadable and best of all, free? With modular synthesis often needlessly complicated and expensive, this is a much-needed niche. But what features does it have, exactly?
- Rack 2 comes in free and pro versions, with free being offered only as a standalone whereas the VST option to host it in your daw is available with pro for around 150 USD. For a low price, we think this is actually quite good, especially considering the other things you get with the software such as:
- Community support
- Available for Windows, Mac, and Linux,
- Ability to integrate with both hardware and other software
- Learn, compose, record, and perform functions allow you to go beyond simple usage and get hands on modular Eurorack experience without breaking the bank
- Provides an astonishing array of features all in one place – 30 built-in modules, a VCV library of over 2000 extra modules, and almost 200 modules from official Eurorack manufacturers.
Anything Bad About It?
- The only bad thing we think there is about it is the fact that you can’t get the VST versions to host in your DAW for free. Outside of that, we think it’s one of the best amongst underrated synth vsts and truly deserved a spot here.
One Of The Most Underrated Synths Overall?
Unlike the other two synths on this list which we think are more specialist (but no less worth knowing about) we would recommend this to almost any musician looking to expand their synth usage in an easy and affordable way. Seriously, there is no reason why this shouldn’t have been done even earlier and we think it’s an invaluable project that is quickly making one of the most byzantine parts of synthesis much more accessible.
You can find both the free and paid (149 USD) versions hereÂ
Final Thoughts
As opposed to a classic comparison article or best of, we’ve instead chosen to highlight three unsung heroes of the synth world. With these, our aim is to raise awareness for producers who want something a little different or hope to shake up their sound design and need some inspiration. They are also good for those who already have lots of competence with synthesis and want something outside the box that may challenge them to think about their music in new ways. Or, in the case of the VCV rack – they are crowd-fueled projects that hope to democratize the world of synthesis.
Either way, these three machines aren’t always the most obvious contenders for the latest addition to your setup – but once you’ve heard of them, they all fill a niche that you didn’t know you might need and which does something new, innovative, and hard to replicate.
If you liked this, you can look at more of our articles on hardware synths here in our hardware section here, including mpe. In fact, we also have great reviews of tabletop synths, as well as a closer look at one of the most unique offerings from Erica Synths, the creators of the Bassline DB-01.
