These days, you don’t have to spend a fortune to get your hands on a great-sounding synth, especially if you opt for a monophonic one! We check out the best mono synths under $500.
With the included software synths of most DAWs offering almost limitless voice counts and possibilities, monophonic hardware synths may seem outdated and obsolute at first glance. What’s the point of investing in an instrument that can only play one note at a time, anyway?
Yet, there are now more monophonic synths available than ever before. So there must be something about them that keeps people coming back. Some simply prefer the hands-on workflow of hardware. Some enjoy their straightforward layout and affordability. And for things like leads and basses, a monophonic synth can actually be preferable to a polyphonic one in terms of playability.
Each synth on this list has a slightly different approach that may favor a certain production workflow or style of music. Some synths also offer slightly more range than others as far as sound creation possibilities go. It’s up to you to choose a go-to tool for a single purpose (such as leads or basses) or a more versatile instrument for creative sound design.
Best Mono Synths Under $500Behringer Model D: A Minimoog Clone for under $300? Yes, Please!KORG monologue: Great for BeginnersArturia MicroFreak: One of the Most Versatile Synths Under $500Novation Bass Station II: A True Modern ClassicDreadbox Erebus and Hades Reissues: Awesome Analog Mono Synths Under $500
Behringer Model D: A Minimoog Clone for under $300? Yes, Please!
Behringer Model D · Source: Behringer
We could’ve filled this entire list with Behringer synths, as many of their clones of analog classics cost less than $500. The reason I’ve picked the Model D is simple: If someone had told me ten years ago that we’d one day be able to buy a real analog replica of the most famous synth of all time for under $500, I would’ve seriously questioned their sanity. You don’t have to be a Behringer fanboy to acknowledge that the company has indeed made analog synthesis more accessible than it’s ever been (for the record, you could buy about 25 “Boogs” for the price of Moog’s own 2022 reissue).
No, the Model D doesn’t sound exactly like a Minimoog. But it’s got the same building blocks that made the original one of the best-sounding and most versatile synths of all time. Three fat-sounding analog VCOs are fed through a screaming ladder filter, with the added bonus of a high-pass filter mode that the original didn’t have. Other new features include a dedicated LFO, MIDI control, poly chain, and a bunch of patch points for interfacing with modular gear. All in all, the Behringer Model D is clearly one of the best mono synths under $500.
The Behringer Model D is available at Thomann*.
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Behringer Model D
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$195.00 / £169.00 / 199.00€ at
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KORG monologue: Great for Beginners
KORG monologue · Source: KORG
KORG’s monologue has been on the market for quite some time, but it’s still among the best mono synths under $500. With an analog signal path consisting of two VCOs, a filter, a VCA, and one LFO and envelope each, it’s got a classic and straightforward architecture that makes it a great first synth. However, that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t pack a punch. The monologue not only offers the waveshaper and ring modulator from the big brother minilogue, but also boasts a newly developed drive circuit and 2-pole filter for more aggressive sounds.
In addition to a keyboard with 25 keys, the monologue offers a versatile 16-step sequencer with Motion Sequencing, meaning that you can record knob movements as well as notes. The sequencer also has a Slide function for classic 303-style bass lines. The monologue syncs to other gear via MIDI or a pair of analog sync in/out jacks.
The KORG monologue is available at Thomann*
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Korg Monologue Blue
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$266.00 / £239.00 / 270.00€ at
Korg Monologue BK
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$289.00 / £264.00 / 299.00€ at
Korg Monologue Silver
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$289.00 / £264.00 / 299.00€ at
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Arturia MicroFreak: One of the Most Versatile Synths Under $500
Arturia MicroFreak Thomann Edition · Source: Thomann
The Arturia MicroFreak is a delightfully quirky little synth that’s perfect if you like to get creative with sound design. The hybrid synth features a multi-engine oscillator with no less than 21 different modes ranging from virtual analog to wavetables, sample playback, and granular synthesis. Also included are several unusual oscillator models from Mutable Instruments and Noise Engineering, as well as a vocoder. A paraphonic mode lets you play up to four notes at the same time, albeit without full polyphony. With that, the MicroFreak can cover a truly impressive spectrum of sounds and offers almost limitless opportunities to get creative.
The hybrid architecture also includes a great-sounding analog state-variable filter with a SEM heritage. For modulation, there’s a loopable ADSR envelope, a versatile LFO, and a modulation matrix with five sources and seven destinations. The 64-step sequencer offers four lanes for parameter automation, turning it into a powerful modulation tool.
You can get various editions of the Arturia MicroFreak at Thomann*.
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Arturia MicroFreak
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$289.00 / £259.00 / 299.00€ at
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$322.00 / £291.00 / 329.00€ at
Arturia MicroFreak Thomann Ed. Mic Set
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$343.00 / £309.00 / 349.00€ at
Arturia MicroFreak Vocoder Edition
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$361.00 / £325.00 / 369.00€ at
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Novation Bass Station II: A True Modern Classic
Novation Bass Station II · Source: Novation
The Novation Bass Station II has been around for over a decade now, but it absolutely still deserves a spot on the list of the best mono synths under $500. Developed as the spiritual successor to the original Bass Station from the ‘90s, the Bass Station II expands on the original concept with a second oscillator, a sub oscillator, switchable filter types, dual LFOs and envelopes, and an on-board sequencer and arpeggiator. It may be called “Bass Station”, but it can do so much more than bass!
Over the years, the Novation Bass Station II received several major firmware updates that greatly expanded the synth’s capabilities. For example, AFX mode (developed in collaboration with Aphex Twin) lets you assign a different patch to every key, turning the synth into a drum machine. Novation also released several special editions of the synth, most recently the Bass Station II Swifty Edition.
The Novation Bass Station II is available at Thomann*.
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Novation Bass Station II
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$389.00 / £349.00 / 399.00€ at
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$439.00 / £398.00 / 449.00€ at
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The History Of Novation – Hitting Synthesis Peaks
Dreadbox Erebus and Hades Reissues: Awesome Analog Mono Synths Under $500
Dreadbox Erebus and Hades Reissues · Source: Dreadbox
I was delighted when Dreadbox brought back the Erebus and Hades at Superbooth 2022, first as DIY kits, then as fully assembled synths. Both are excellent-sounding and inspiring instruments with lots of analog personality, and they’re both among the best mono synths under $500.
Erebus is a semi-modular analog synth with dual oscillators. While it’s technically monophonic, there’s a paraphonic mode that lets you play two notes at the same time. The synth also features a 2-pole low-pass filter, a VCA with an AR envelope, an ADSR envelope, an LFO, and even a lo-fi delay effect. With 18 patch points, the Erebus provides plenty of opportunities for creative modulation and interfacing with modular systems.
Hades, the mythical lord of the underworld, is all about that bass. Featuring a single oscillator with two sub octaves, a special bass-boost circuit, and OTA distortion, Hades delivers earth- and speaker-shattering low frequencies. It’s also got a bunch of patch points.
The Dreadbox Erebus and Hades reissues are available at Thomann*.
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Dreadbox Erebus Reissue
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$369.00 / £333.00 / 379.00€ at
Dreadbox Hades Reissue
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$289.00 / £266.00 / 299.00€ at
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