First Synth for **kids**?

guitargeek62

So my 5yo is pretty music-focussed, which I love (obv), and is asking for a synthesiser. He locks in on them when listening to tracks, and has a great ear already for melodies and beats. He hasn't had any music lessons at all, and I don't plan on starting any anytime soon, but would like to get him a simple-ish synth of sorts to play around with - ideally one with a sequencer and arpeggiator still.  I don't know a lot about them myself, but a quick google suggests something like:

• Korg Volca Keys
• Korg Volca FM 2 (seems more complex, but...?)
• Behringer TD-3 (no speaker)
• Behringer Crave (not convinced that it's accessible enough...?)
• Stylophone Gen-X1 - probably too simple?

Battery-power would be ideal, but not essential - whereas inbuilt speaker(s) and a headphone jack are essential!  Ideally up to £150, I don't mind spending more if it's still accessible and something that I might then dabble with in the longer term (e.g. the Behringer Poly D looks fun!) - secondhand is fine too

Kittyfrisk

Soft synths running on a tablet/iPad?

guitargeek62

Ah I forgot to say - he's already using soft synths on my iPad, but I think he'd appreciate the physical access to the knobs & sliders etc too  -  we both love the Moog Model D one!

octatonic

guitargeek62 said:

So my 5yo is pretty music-focussed, which I love (obv), and is asking for a synthesiser. He locks in on them when listening to tracks, and has a great ear already for melodies and beats. He hasn't had any music lessons at all, and I don't plan on starting any anytime soon, but would like to get him a simple-ish synth of sorts to play around with - ideally one with a sequencer and arpeggiator still.  I don't know a lot about them myself, but a quick google suggests something like:

• Korg Volca Keys
• Korg Volca FM 2 (seems more complex, but...?)
• Behringer TD-3 
• Behringer Crave (not convinced that it's accessible enough...?)
• Stylophone Gen-X1 - probably too simple?

Battery-power would be ideal, but not essential - whereas inbuilt speaker(s) and a headphone jack are essential!  Ideally up to £150, I don't mind spending more if it's still accessible and something that I might then dabble with in the longer term (e.g. the Behringer Poly D looks fun!) - secondhand is fine too

Start with the TD3.
It is based on a classic, has a nice sound, good filter, classic sequencer.

Or a used MS1.

octatonic

Another option is the Moog Mavis.

DesVegas

that's rad your 5yo is wanting to make music, as long as your synth has a filter sweep he'll be happy i'm sure

monquixote

Reface CS is brilliant and very hands on, my kids really love it.


I'm considering selling mine if you are interested?

monquixote

monquixote

BTW if you don't go the Reface route my kids really enjoyed the Circuit Tracks. (Circuit MK1 has a speaker)

You could also try something like a Pocket Operator although get a case as it will get broken otherwise. 

The Volcas are very long in the tooth now and the Roland Minis are much better (no speaker though) The T-8 and S-1 are both great.

Stratavarious

Yamaha CS would be my choice… sliders changes the noises.  Tactile.

But the Korg Volcas are nice size. Not tried the mini Rolands.

guitargeek62

DesVegas said:

that's rad your 5yo is wanting to make music, as long as your synth has a filter sweep he'll be happy i'm sure

Yup, I’m genuinely thrilled - even if it just ends up being about making noise at this point! He does love to come and ‘help’ me play guitar too, which means playing with all the dials on my pedals and having fun hearing what they all do really


Thanks for the suggestions all, I’ll get googling - it’s his bday next month so I’ll sort something out by then

stonevibe

The Novation Circuit works well, my kids loved that when they were little

Yorkie

Don't get a Volca for a kid, they're fiddly and probably very limited compared to what they can do on a tablet/iPad app. 
I love mine, but every time I stop using them for longer than a week, it's practically back to Volca 101. My daughter hates them, uses Garageband instead. 

stickyfiddle

That Yamaha CS1 looks ace. So does the Behringer MS1. 

It's also my birthday in a few weeks - am I by any chance your kid..?  

Kittyfrisk

stickyfiddle said:

That Yamaha CS1 looks ace. So does the Behringer MS1. 

It's also my birthday in a few weeks - am I by any chance your kid..?  

Never too late to get adopted. Happy birthday soon (I'd invent a few extra 'official' one's too) 

LionAquaLooper

I'm not here to offer advice because I know eff all about synths, but wanted to say WOW to your son. 5 yrs old and already asking about synths. That's amazing. Hope it goes well! 

Funkfingers

octatonic said:

Start with the TD3 … Or a used MS1.

MS1 for keys and arpeggiator. TD-3-MO if you must go -303.

I suspect that the SH-101/MC-202/TB-303 style Step Time sequence data entry might prove frustrating for a youngster - even a keen one.

Of the Roland Boutique boxes, I reckon that the JU-06A is the most useful. Simple to understand. Sounds that will always sit in a mix. 

prowla

guitargeek62 said:

Ah I forgot to say - he's already using soft synths on my iPad, but I think he'd appreciate the physical access to the knobs & sliders etc too  -  we both love the Moog Model D one!

The Behringer Model D is a great synth unit.

The left to right layout of the controls describes the signal flow and is great for learning how things work.

You can draw charts of where to put the controls to get great sounds as a starting point or somewhere to go back to if lost.

They do a model with integral keyboard or a separate MIDI module if you want to go down the separates route.

Decorativeed

Another vote for the Yamaha Reface CS. It's lots of fun, very user friendly, has great sounds, some usable FX and built in speakers. It looks a bit like a toy, and has small keys, so perfect for younger players. 

monquixote

Donner have the B1 at the insane price of £75 at the moment.

It's an easy to use 303 clone.

Sassafras