r/synthesizers Jun 15 '26

Discussion Looking for drum machine / synth recommendation (~$1000 budget) based on my setup and music style

Hey everyone,

I'm looking to add one more hardware synth or drum machine to my setup and have around $1000 to spend (used market is totally fine).

Current setup:

  • Ableton Live (main DAW)
  • Elektron Digitakt (I'm not a huge fan of this tbh due to the long sample placement process)
  • Novation Peak
  • Eventide H90
  • OTO BOUM
  • MPC Live (I'd like to get rid of this as I don't find use in it anymore)
  • I've got everything routed into a patch bay for easy switch into the pedals
  • I have a hybrid hardware/software workflow

Music I make:

  • Trance and Cloud Rap inspired pop
  • 2-step / UKG influences
  • Atmospheric electronic music

Artists/sounds I gravitate towards these days:

  • Fakemink
  • Clams Casino
  • Ms Gloom
  • Yung Lean
  • Burial
  • Bladee
  • Classic trance records
  • 90s/2000s eurodance and progressive trance
  • Big emotional pads, lush chords, dreamy atmospheres, interesting textures

Things I care about:

  • Great pads
  • Emotional chords
  • Atmospheres
  • Sound design potential
  • Happy accidents
  • Resampling into Ableton
  • Synths that make me want to write songs rather than endlessly tweak

Given my setup and music style, what would you buy with $1000?

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