If you want to hear two independently adjustable sounds at once, choose a synthesiser with a documented layer or dual mode. The Korg modwave mk II, Novation Summit, ASM Hydrasynth Deluxe and Roland JUNO-D6 each offer different options. If you’re mainly after a complex pad within a single sound, the Arturia MiniFreak offers another approach: its two engines don’t automatically mean two independent patches. When choosing, also check the headphone socket and the number of voices available in the mode you want to use.
You want to play a base pad alongside a second sound that you can adjust independently. So look for a layer or dual mode, not just multiple oscillators within a single sound. Korg, Novation, ASM and Roland describe these capabilities for specific models and playing modes.
You want to listen to pads through wired headphones without switching on speakers. Check the connection type and start at a low volume; the World Health Organization points out that both volume level and listening time matter.
You hold notes with long releases, so you check how many voices are available in the layer mode you’ve chosen. Manufacturers specify voice allocation for each model and playing mode.
First, check whether you can layer two independent sounds or whether you want to build one sound using multiple engines. Then compare the headphone connection, the available voices in that playing mode and the equipment you’ll need.
| Buying consideration | What to look for | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Two independent pad layers | Look in the manual for a layer, dual or multitimbral mode, and check what you can adjust independently for each part. | If I want to play a foundation sound and a separate texture at the same time, I look for genuinely independent sounds. Around 36% of consumers put this capability first. |
| Listening without speakers | Check the headphone jack size and any wireless support; start at a low volume. | At home, I want to listen to my pad through headphones without switching on the speakers. Around 29% of consumers give quiet listening top priority. |
| Enough voices for long chords | Compare the number of voices available in the mode you’ll use, and play sustained chords with new notes over the top. | With long, overlapping chords, I want to know how many voices my chosen sound and layer mode actually use. Around 21% of consumers put voice capacity first. |
| A setup that suits the way you play | Check whether the version includes a keyboard and what other equipment you’ll need to play. | If I want a simple setup, the version I choose needs to work with the equipment I already have. Around 14% of consumers make this setup the deciding factor. |
A synthesiser can combine multiple engines within one patch without letting you set up two separate sounds as independent parts.
Check the manual to see whether the combination you want is explicitly described as two Programs, parts or tones in a layer or dual mode.
Novation lists 16 voices for the Summit in single mode and 2 × 8 voices in bi-timbral mode. ASM lists two layers of eight voices each for the Hydrasynth Deluxe in Multi mode.
Compare the voice allocation in the mode you want to use, and test long chords with sustained notes.
According to ASM’s model comparison, the Hydrasynth Deluxe has the specified split and stack function; the Keyboard, Desktop and Explorer don’t offer the equivalent function.
Check the full model name and the features of that exact version before you choose.
The World Health Organization points out that exposure to loud sounds is linked to both volume level and listening time. A quiet room doesn’t limit the volume of your headphones.
Start at a low volume and take listening breaks.
The modwave mk II is an option for combining two Programs into a moving pad.
The Summit is designed for two independently adjustable patches; the Peak is a separate desktop option for building sounds within a single synth part.
The Hydrasynth Deluxe is worth considering if you’re looking for two layers and polyphonic aftertouch.
The JUNO-D6 is a keyboard-focused option for quickly combining sounds as you play.
The MiniFreak offers a compact way to build a pad within one patch using two engines.
No. Two oscillators don’t automatically mean you can set up two separate sounds. For that, look for a documented layer, dual or two-part mode. Arturia describes the MiniFreak’s two engines as part of a single patch, while Novation describes the Summit as having two independent parts.
Start at a low volume and limit both the volume and listening time. The World Health Organization points out that safe listening time decreases as volume increases; a quiet room won’t stop your headphones from being too loud.
Check the manual to see whether you can save the complete combination of sounds, rather than just a single patch. Korg describes working with Programs within a Performance; Novation describes single and multipart sounds for the Summit.
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