Best Music Keyboards & Synth Pads

REVIEW: Casiotone CT-S1000V by CASIO

OK, Casio. We gotta talk about the Casiotone CT-S1000V. Like we said in our other review this month, you’ve been quietly killing it. But if we can be honest, and provide some...

REVIEW: Casio Casiotone CT-S1

I’ve got to say, Casio’s been quietly killing it lately. Like, a...

BOOK REVIEW: Synth Gems 1 – Exploring Vintage Synthesizers

The optimistically titled Synth Gems 1 (indicating a volume 2 is on...

REVIEW: Ltd. Edition Bowie Stylophone

As much as we love David Bowie, and Bowie collectables, you could...

ASM Hydrasynth Deluxe & Hydrasynth Explorer REVIEWS

We reviewed the original Hydrasynth from ASM when it debuted in “the...

Learn more about the best analog synths, digital synths, virtual analog synths and MIDI controllers under the sun from Performer’s staff of synth geeks. From vintage Moog and ARP synths to modern MIDI and synth products from Roland, Yamaha and Novation, the world of synthesizers (especially finding the best synthesizer for your budget) can be a tricky one to navigate. That’s why we’ve compiled reviews on the latest synths and synth news from the annual NAMM show, as well as in-depth buyer’s guides to help you choose the right synth for your needs.

The technology behind today’s synthesizers, both hardware and software-based, is rapidly changing. So let us help you learn more about not only the best synths in production, but also other types of keyboards, keyboard controllers, keyboard amps, digital stage pianos and today’s modern samplers.

Some of our most popular articles and synthesizer reviews include:

AKAI MPC Studio Controller REVIEW
By Benjamin Ricci on December 1, 2021
We recently reviewed the previous entry-point into the MPC ecosphere, the MPC One. Coming in well under $1000, it offered most of the functionality that...
4 Reasons Singer/Songwriters Should Consider an MPC. Yes, an MPC.
By Benjamin Ricci on October 6, 2021
When we recently reviewed the new MPC One from Akai, we instantly fell in love. Here’s a snippet, in case you missed it: “If you...
IK Multimedia UNO Synth Pro REVIEW
By Benjamin Ricci on October 1, 2021
A few years back, we hailed the UNO Synth as one of the best options for those dipping their toes in the synth waters. That...
AKAI PROFESSIONAL UNVEILS THE NEW MPC STUDIO
By Benjamin Ricci on September 21, 2021
Akai Professional is proud to announce its newest music production system, the MPC Studio. The new MPC Studio redefines tactile control with a hardware offering that...
BOOK REVIEW: PUSH TURN MOVE, Interface Design in Electronic Music
By Benjamin Ricci on September 8, 2021
If you read our recent review of Patch & Tweak (also published by BJOOKS), you’ll know that we’re absolutely in love with the new series...