Best Music Keyboards & Synth Pads

AKAI MPC Studio Controller REVIEW

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 MPC users craved, while stripping out some...

4 Reasons Singer/Songwriters Should Consider an MPC. Yes, an MPC.

When we recently reviewed the new MPC One from Akai, we instantly...

IK Multimedia UNO Synth Pro REVIEW

A few years back, we hailed the UNO Synth as one of...

AKAI PROFESSIONAL UNVEILS THE NEW MPC STUDIO

Akai Professional is proud to announce its newest music production system, the MPC...

BOOK REVIEW: PUSH TURN MOVE, Interface Design in Electronic Music

If you read our recent review of Patch & Tweak (also published...

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:

REVIEW: Ferrofish B4000+ Organ Module
By Benjamin Ricci on September 1, 2021
When it comes to getting a true Hammond organ sound, nowadays your only real options are either software-based plug-ins, or big clonewheel keyboards that emulate...
Akai MPC One Retro Edition REVIEW
By Benjamin Ricci on August 25, 2021
In the world of standalone samplers and drum machines, Akai has certainly made their mark on the industry with over 30+ years of MPC innovation....
BOOK REVIEW: Patch & Tweak with Moog
By Benjamin Ricci on March 23, 2021
When we received Patch & Tweak in the mail, all work in the office stopped for about an hour – the true sign of any...
Introducing Novation Circuit Tracks
By Benjamin Ricci on February 9, 2021
New groovebox encourages music makers to ‘create instinctively; perform immediately’. The latest in Novation’s Circuit family of grooveboxes has arrived! Circuit Tracks is an extraordinary...
Yamaha YC61 Stage Keyboard REVIEW
By Benjamin Ricci on January 13, 2021
The new Yamaha YC61 is quite the beast – a 61-key clonewheel-style organ and piano combo that takes cues from some existing Yamaha instruments (like...