This is our review for the best synthesizers for live performance.

When it comes to choosing the best synthesizers for live performance usage, there are several factors that may be taken into consideration. Not only that it should sound great, I think it has to be portable, reasonably priced, easy to program, and it has an on board preset storing function available too. 

I’m a music producer who has worked with a numbers synthesizer for my music creation as well as live performance over the years. 

I found that Novation Mono Station and Korg Minilogue XD are the best overall for live performance. 

Every synth is different. So I’ve included the best brands for every category of synth for live performances. 

Let’s get started.

Our Best Synthesizers for Live performance

Image	Product	Feature	Price
TOP Pick	Novation Mono Station	Best Overall for Liveset. One of the most underrated synthesiser on the market.	Check Price
Trending	Korg Volca Series	Best Budget Synth. Most recommended for beginners.	Check Price
Trending	Elektron Digitone	Best FM Synth for Live Performance.Very Programmable and versatile.	Check Price
Trending	Korg Minilogue XD	Best for both liveset and music productions usage. Plenty of built in & user defined preset.	Check Price
Trending	Make Noise 0-Coast	Best Semi-modular for Live Performance.Most portable and experimental synth on the list.	Check Price
Trending	Teenage Engineering OP-1	Best Portable Compact Synthesizer. Super powerful features and creative workflow.	Check Price

6 Best Synthesizers for Live Performance

All Synthesizers included on this list meet the requirements for portability, ease to program, good sound quality and budget friendly. Knowing what your need is in buying a synthesizer could help you better narrow down which are truly the best synthesizers for live performance for you.

1. Novation Mono Station

Pros

• Compact Functionality
• Very easy to program
• Cool lighting
• Very handy

Cons

• It take times to get the hang of its workflow

The Novation Mono Station is one of the most versatile synthesizers in the market today. The integration of a pad-based sequencer and an analogue synth engine are something you would rarely find anywhere else for a hardware synth. That’s what makes it such a unique synthesizer too.

It’s both a sound source and control center. It’s a paraphonic synthesizer that means it could play 2 notes at the same time. I find it very practical when it comes to live performance, which allows me to program my basslines and play the leads simultaneously.

Standard functions you would need for a synth like oscillator LFO, filter, envelope, modulation, midi in/out, etc the Mono Station has got you covered too. 

Although It’s a very decent synthesizer, the timbre of this synth is still inferior to that in the rest of its competitors like Korg or Moog. The real strength of the Mono Station is really its interface, it is definitely stuffed with features that make pattern building a pleasure, It allows you to transfer ideas fast with its intuitive layout. 

2. Korg Volca Series

Pros

• Handy size
• Ease to use
• Affordable
• Battery powered available

Cons

• They don’t come with an adapter
• Very small touch play keyboard and knobs

The Korg Volca Series has a variety of great synthesizers to choose from. It’s great for touring musicians. If you just need a specific type of synthesizer in small size that could be easily fitted into your backpack and integrated into your liveset workflow. The Volca Series are something you should take a closer look at. 

There are a variety of synthesizers in this product line, from a standard analogue synth like volca key to semi modular synth like Korg volca modular, Korg has pretty much got you covered with all your needs. It’s nice to have the variety, 

Although the volcas are one of the most beginner friendly synthesizers in the market right now, they are not just for the beginner.

Wide range of musicians do really awesome stuff with volca, but they are especially great for beginners. Because they already have the built in sequencer, memory slot, everything you need to start jamming, great to learn on. 

3. Elektron Digitone

Pros

• Very programmable
• Multi functions on each buttons
• Great built quality
• Very versatile

Cons

• FM synth algorithm is complicated
• The learning curve is relatively steep

The Elektron Digitone is a 8 voices polyphony FM synthesizer with a lot of FM power. It has been widely used by many electronic live musicians over the years. 

Anyone who has prior experience working with an FM synthesizer will know that the algorithm of an FM synth is sophisticated. It’s tricky to understand but also very versatile. 

They are really not very beginner friendly especially when you first get into the synth world.

However, Elektron has made the Digitone more beginner friendly compared to a standard FM synth from other brands. Its musicality and its usability really set it apart from other FM synths where it’s often hard to program sound.

In addition to this, there are also 4 external tracks that you can use to control external gear. Almost every button and knob on this device is multi-function. So it’s a bit of a trade-off that’s always there making it harder to learn what everything does, it could take some time to really get familiar with the Elektron workflow. 

4. Korg Minilogue XD

Pros:

• Compact features
• Plenty of built in & user defined preset
• Very versatile

Cons:

• lack of a sustain output

This is the second Korg synthesizer in the list, Korg has many great and affordable synth products. The Minilogue XD came out a few years after the OG Minilogue, you probably think that XD is an upgraded version of the Minilogue, at least that’s what I initially thought it was, the answer is yes and no. 

Although they share many similar features, there are still quite some significant differences that separate them apart. Both Minilogue XD and original Mini both come with 2 oscillators but the XD added a digital multi engine and third oscillator along with a new step sequencer.

There are 200 built in presets and another 300 slots for users to store their own defined presets, which is also what makes it one of the best synthesizers for live performance.

If you like the features on the Korg Minilogue XD but hoping it could be smaller for you to bright around with, might as well Checkout the Minilogue XD Module too. Which is exactly what the XD has to offer but without the built-in keyboard on it. There is still an on board step sequencer that could be turned into a keyboard-like layout for you to play around with, or you could hook it up with an external controller if you would like to. 

5. Make Noise 0-Coast

Pros:

• Very portable
• Unique features
• Very experimental

Cons:

• Not for novices
• No built-in filter 

Make Noise 0-Coast is a very weird synth, but weird in a good way, very handy and fun to play around with.

It’s a semi modular synth that means you can use the inputs and outputs to wrap your signal as you like. If you are not too familiar with modular yet, it also has an option of playing it without patched anything. 

The major thing that stands out about the 0-Coast is its lack of filter. If you have any experience working with a synth you know that it is one of the main sound sculpting tools for a synthesizer, but you could still patch it to an external filter. 

This compelling synth here is an incredibly deep synthesizer. It can get pretty aggressive and experimental, not for anyone but great for some people. If that’s what you are into, definitely worth checking out.

6.Teenage Engineering OP-1

Pros

• Super tiny 
• Long lasting battery live
• Powerful features
• Creative workflow

Cons

• Built in speaker is tinny 
• No velocity sensitive keys
• Expensive

The OP-1 is a small synth but packed with tons of powerful features. Also it’s probably the most expensive gear on this list too, but why?

Most people probably wouldn’t take it seriously at the first glance due to the toy-like appearance of it. But don’t be fooled by that! Once you learn more about this device, you will be surprised at how versatile it actually is.

The built quality is great. A whole bunch of synthesizer engines, several sampler, great on board effects, a ton of creative sequencer mode, 4 track recorders, helicopter game, record external or internal audio, impressive battery life, you could also hook it up with your computer to use it as an midi controller, and did I mention that it has got a radio too?! Yes, you could sample it if you want!

Although it is a truly amazing device, I think it’s not for everyone. Definitely not your first instrument you should invest in, if you are just getting into music production. If you’ve been producing music for a while, and you have at least the basics of a setup. The OP-1 could definitely augment your creativity, and to be one of your desert island pieces. 

What’s Next?

So it all adds up to this, there are tons of synthesizers from different brands out there, what makes a synthesizer great for your live performances, it has very much to do with what you are looking for in your liveset usage. 

The general rule of thumb is that to know what your need for a synthesizer really is, know your gears before you buy it, trust me you’ll be glad that you did. So take the next step and check out the synth in this list. I hope you found something you need from this best synthesizers for live performance article and have fun with your next synthesizer! More articles like this will be updated too, be sure to subscribe to our Youtube Channel or newsletter too. See you at the next one.