Best Synths for Ambient Music (2024) – Capable Synthesizers

Author: Dedrich Schafer | Updated: | This post may contain affiliate links.

Ambient music requires a variety of preset sounds, effects, and automation. To achieve these, it's important to choose the best possible synth designed for creating ambient tones.

These synthesizers provide you with a plethora of options for creating textural layers and adjusting their properties in real-time. In this post, I'll highlight the best instruments available for producing ambient styles of music.

6 Best Ambient Music Synths

1. Waldorf Blofeld

If you are going to name one of your products after a Bond villain, you better be sure that it is a serious piece of equipment. The Waldorf Blofeld is nothing short of a serious synthesizer.

The Blofeld is a very sleek and impressive-looking piece of gear. I was actually a bit concerned about how minimalist the design is.

There are only seven knobs and even fewer buttons on the Blofeld. Under normal circumstances, this would mean that a synth has very limited functionality.

But Waldorf has done something quite interesting and, I think, even genius. Instead of loading the interface down with every dial, button, and slider imaginable, they have kept it simple.

On the surface, you will only find the settings and effects you are most likely to use on a regular basis. Oscillators, Filters, Modulation, Arpeggiator, are all right in front of you and easily activated with the press of a button.

All the other effects and deeper adjustments can be found using the small screen at the top left of the Blofeld. Everything is spread and neatly arranged over different menus that are easily navigated using the knobs.

The list of effects is very extensive. The Blofeld features over a thousand different sounds that can be edited and mixed together as you see fit.

All these effects also sound fantastic. The analog modeling of the Blofeld is absolutely incredible. The Blofeld never even came close to sounding digital in all the time I spent with it. If it weren’t for its small size, I would probably have forgotten that I was using a digital synth.

MY only issue with the Blofeld is that it doesn’t have a built-in keyboard. So, live composing and recording is not an option here.

You can easily connect a keyboard or second synth to the Blofeld. And it does almost feel like it was meant to be used with other synths.

But other than that, the Blofeld is a fantastic synth. A definite recommendation.

PROS

  • Sleek and easy to use design
  • Analog modeling sounds perfect
  • Small enough to fit on most desktops

CONS

  • No built-in keyboard

2. Dave Smith Instruments OB-6

What happens when two of the best synth designers in the industry get together to work on a new project? You get something truly incredible like the Dave Smith Instruments OB-6.

My first thought when I saw the OB-6 was that it has a very vintage look. If you told me that this synth was made in the ‘70s, I would have believed you.

Its series of knobs and buttons, along with the classic black metal and wood panels are what gives the OB-6 its old-school look. But the LED displays and lights give away its true nature as a modern analog synth.

The OB-6 does look a bit intimidating at first with all its knobs and lights. But everything has been grouped and labeled very nicely. Every effect and setting is easy to find, with the red LEDs clearly showing what effects are active.

Along with the 49 semi-weighted keys, the OB-6 is easy to use for live composing and production. You won’t be stuck scrolling through menus to look for the effects you want.

The buttons are a bit of a disappointment and bring down the overall quality of the OB-6 a bit. They feel very cheap, which might just be because of the fact that they are plastic. I have used many plastic buttons that don’t feel cheap, so, this shouldn’t really be an excuse.

But having easy access to effects and settings doesn’t mean much if they don’t also sound good. The OB-6 sounds fantastic.

The OB-6 is a fully analog synth, meaning it has a very natural sound. The OB-6’s sound is actually quite comparable to the older Prophet 6.

The biggest difference, at least to my ears, is that the OB-6 has a much fatter and fuller sound. The sound also feels a bit more dynamic and colorful.

The excellent sound quality, combined with all the different and varied effects, make the OB-6 a dream for any producer or musician. It can do everything from loud and heavy drum and bass to more minimalistic ambient music.

PROS

  • Cool retro look and feel
  • Layout makes it quick and easy to use
  • Semi-weighted keys feel nice and solid

CONS

  • Plastic buttons feel very cheap compared to the rest of the synth

3. Moog One

If you ask any artist or producer who makes the best synths, most of them are probably going to say, Moog. And just taking a quick look at the long list of artists, producers, and composers that use or have used a Moog at some point, it is no wonder why people regard it so highly.

Right from the get-go, everything about the Moog One is fantastic. Moog has given the One an excellent blend of vintage-looking wood paneling with all the trimmings of a modern synth.

The layout of the effects and settings is fairly practical and straightforward. Everything is grouped and labeled quite nicely, although I wish the labels were a bit larger. They are a bit too small to make them as easily readable as the Dave Smith Instruments OB-6 for example.

But practically every effect, setting, and parameter are right there in front of you. Everything can either be changed or adjusted with the simple press of a button or turning of a knob.

Having everything in front of you, though, does mean that the Moog One is quite the big piece of gear. The Moog One isn’t going to be able to just chill on your desk between uses.

It is going to need either its own desk or a stand. The Moog One is also far from lightweight, coming in at a whopping 45 lbs.

But what about the sound? Honestly, the Moog One, and just Moogs in general, have to be heard to be believed. Words can’t really describe how these synths sound.

The Moog One has a very rich, vibrant, lively, and any number of other adjectives you can think of, sound. The best way I could probably describe it is to think of films from the ‘70s and ‘80s with a synth score.

Blade Runner, The Thing, Tron, all had their scores or part of their scores done on Moogs. Or for more modern reference, The Social Network, Tron: Legacy, Blade Runner 2049.

And this brings us to the Moog One’s price. It is an expensive synth, prohibitively expensive. Its price is going to keep it out of reach for most people, but if you can afford one, you will have perhaps the best synth ever made.

PROS

  • Perhaps the best sounding synth ever
  • Fantastic look and high-quality feel and build
  • Every effect and setting is quickly and easily accessible

CONS

  • Too big and heavy to easily move around
  • Price keeps it out of reach for most people

4. Dave Smith Instruments Prophet Rev2-08

The second Dave Smith Instruments synth on this list, the Rev2-08 is quite different from the OB-6. The Rev2-08 is also the upgrade to the Prophet 08, which has been a staple of Dave Smith Instruments, and synths in general, for a few decades now.

Those differences are visible right from the start. The Rev2 has a similar design to any other modern synth.

The Rev2 also doesn’t appear to have as many buttons and knobs as the OB-6. But the Rev2’s layout is much better than the OB-6’s. Everything is grouped more clearly on the Rev2 and stands out better against its black panel.

Just because it has fewer buttons and dials, doesn’t mean it is less capable. There are still plenty of parameters that can be adjusted. The Rev2 also has an LED screen to scrolls through settings that aren’t readily available. It is quite small, but the text is big and bright enough that it isn’t too hard to read.

The Rev2 features a 61-key keyboard, giving it an extended range compared to the OB-6’s 49 keys. The keys feel great to play and have both aftertouch and velocity for more nuanced playing.

It also isn’t lacking when it comes to sound. The sound is rich and full, although not quite as fat as the OB-6.

One of the coolest features is the ability to split and layer the keyboard. This is because the digital effects are organized per synth engine.

Effectively, this allows you to have two independent synth engines running at the same time. This opens up quite a lot of possibilities for combining different sounds without needing a second synth.

The Rev2 is ideal for both studio work and live performance. It isn’t too heavy for its size and can be set up fairly quickly. Its versatility also makes it great as both a lead synth or for just layering in synth sounds.

PROS

  • A very significant upgrade to the Prophet 08
  • Modulation is very easy to set up
  • 61 keys provide extended range

CONS

  • Some of the cooler effects are hidden in the Misc menu

5. ASM Hydrasynth

ASM is the new kid on the block when it comes to designing synths. That doesn’t mean they don’t know how to make them as they have been building synths for many years. The Hydrasynth is just the first one designed by ASM from the ground up.

Their many years of experience certainly show in the Hydrasynth. It is quite a unique and impressive piece of equipment.

It is a very modern-looking synth with almost every button and knob lighting up. But there is also a dash of retro ‘80s to it. The company’s logo, especially, has a very ‘80s look to it.

But this digital synth is far from old-school. ASM has packed almost every sound imaginable into the Hydrasynth.

On top of that, they have also added practically every setting and parameter you can think of. The sheer number of changes you can make to the many different Oscillators, Arpeggiators, Effects, etc. Is just incredible.

I think the fact that the Hydrasynth features 219 different waveforms should give you just some idea of how versatile this synth is. All of this can be mixed, matched, and then saved to one of 640 program locations. You can truly design sounds until your heart's content and never have to get rid of anything. 

But that does bring me to maybe my only complaint. The depth of what the Hydrasynth is capable of runs very deep.

This means that it has quite a steep learning curve if you want to know how every part of it works. And being so deep also means that there is a risk that half of what it has to offer will never be used.

But for those who enjoy spending hours exploring different soundscapes, few synths are going to beat the Hydrasynth. And I look forward to seeing what ASM has to offer in the future.

PROS

  • A fantastic first entry from a new company
  • Fantastic value for money
  • Does more than you could ever need

CONS

  • Its depth might make it a bit intimidating

6. Korg Minilogue

Korg is one of those names that is instantly recognizable and well-respected. Their instruments are high-quality while still being very affordable. The Minilogue is a great example of Korg’s quality and affordability.

The Minilogue has a very sleek, compact, and modern design. The silver design is clean, with the black knobs and text popping quite nicely for easy readability.

I also like that Korg has gone with switches instead of buttons on the Minilogue. They provide a bit more tactile and visual feedback than buttons to show what settings and modes you have selected.

Don’t let its small size deceive you either. The Minilogue is a fully analog synth. So, the sound quality is great and surprising coming from such a small design.

It also isn’t lacking in features. With two Oscillators, a 4-voice Arpeggiator, 16-step Polyphonic Sequencers, and many other features, the Minilogue is more than capable.

One of my favorite features of the Minilogue is its ability to shape the waveforms. It has three standard waveform shapes (sawtooth, triangle, square). But if you want to shape the sawtooth, for example, that is easily done with the Pitch and Shape knobs.

The waveform is then displayed on the small OLED screen. This helps you visualize the shape of your waveform, and is just kind of cool to watch it dance around while you’re playing.

The Minilogue is certainly a great piece of equipment. But I can think of two types of people who are likely to get the most out of it.

Professional producers and DJs looking for a synth to help expand their sound or just looking for something different. Especially if they are looking for something a bit more lightweight and compact that they can throw in a backpack and take with them.

The second group that will benefit greatly from the Minilogue: beginners. I think the Minilogue sits in that sweet spot of being affordable while also being feature-rich.

The Minilogue is fairly easy to learn while having plenty of room for growth. A perfect beginner synth.

PROS

  • Great for both beginners and professionals
  • Powerful and versatile sound
  • Well-built, sturdy, and compact

CONS

  • Keys are a bit narrow
  • 37 keys might be too few

Ambient Synth Features

When choosing the ideal synthesizer for creating ambient music, there are some main qualities that you should look out for. These are:

  • Number of voices
  • Onboard effects
  • Sequencers

The number of voices that the synthesizer houses will effectively decide the sonic range it can produce. Synths that have 16 voices offer an endless number of possibilities, which those that offer 8 or 4 are generally more simple to operate.

Onboard effects are one of the main things to look out for. Ambient synth lines require reverbs, delays, and modulations, so choosing a synth that offers an extensive amount of processing options will ensure that you have all of the necessary possibilities at your fingertips.

Sequencers allow you to create rhythms, usually in real-time and apply them to the synth sound. This is a great tool for creating motion within a synth line, which is a very important aspect of ambient music.

Buying a Synth for Ambient

While you could use any synth to create great ambient sounds, there are some things to consider to get the best possible ambient synth.

Digital vs Analog

Synths come in two types: analog and digital. Each type comes with its own pros and cons.

Analog synths generally have a deep, warm and rich sound. They are quite easy to use and their settings are easy to adjust. Analog synths are also not limited when it comes to bit range and depth.

Some of the downsides of analog synths, though, are their price and size. They are considerably more expensive, and since they need to use larger circuitry, they need to be larger.

Digital synths on the other hand can be more compact and cheaper. Because they are modeling sounds, they can also usually have a lot more than an analog synth.

The downside of going digital is that the sound isn’t going to be quite as rich and warm as analog. Digital synths can also be much more difficult to repair, and certain types of damage can cause the entire synth to die.

At a glance, it might seem like analog synths are the better choice, especially if you are making ambient music. But the truth is that digital synths have come a long way in terms of sound quality.

And unless you are doing big-budget film scores, you probably don’t need an analog synth worth thousands of dollars. But analog synths are also more affordable than ever, making filmquality sound more attainable for the average person than ever before. 

Summary

The synthesizer that you require for creating ambient music will depend on the complexity of the sounds you aim to produce. The selection I've just presented includes options to suit everyone, so hopefully, you've identified the ideal choice for you!

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About Dedrich Schafer

Dedrich is a guitar player, songwriter and sound engineer with extensive music production and studio experience. He mostly listens to classic rock and punk bands, but sometimes also likes listening to rap and acoustic songs.

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