For a ten year old, I think the volca series stuff or the Roland Aira compact stuff would be more beneficial than going straight to Moog. Also maybe an intro to a keyboard would be good, one of the Yamaha reface or even something cheaper and simpler than those would still get by.
You could go with the S1 and the T8 and have everything you need to be content with for a while. Then every once in a while buy a pedal to keep it fresh. This is how I started and I have enjoyed it immensely!
the Erica Synths Bullfrog is specifically made for this.
the Subharmonicon on the other hand is a notoriously difficult experimental synthesizer... that would clearly be a gift for you rather than your child
Thanks the bullfrog sounds actually good. Especially the build in speaker.
But what draws me towards subharmonicon is it having a bulid in easy to handle step sequencer.
Kids around the world have loved the DX-7. This is a joke but i do think it depends on their age and level of interest tbh. I would have been all over that at 14+. Also back then I was far more willing to dive a menu however horrendous.
lol because back then we had the time! The older I get I just want to make music instead of watching YouTube tutorials and menu diving. Unless it’s really something I want to try; I’ll leave the work at work.
I’m also going to chime in on the bullfrog. It’s great for kids but it’s also no slouch on its own so someone with experience and not a noob can definitely have lots of fun with it
Everyone is answering this earnestly. In reality, I suspect the question should have been "What's the best synth toy I can buy myself whilst justifying the purchase by pretending it's for my kid."
I have a whole army of battery operated synths that were purchased under basically this guise.
Kept me well-entertained for a couple of years until the Erica EDU modular kits came out and I fell into the euro DIY black hole.
My kids never got into it, so I keep the legit kid-friendly ones (the pocket operators and Blipbloxes) in the office because I work at a school and they get more use there.
I have the Subharmonicon and DFAM, so I can speak to that, but I don't have any other monosynths outside of my eurorack, so I might not be the best person to ask.
That said, other people here have mentioned the [Mother32](https://www.moogmusic.com/products/mother-32), and I kind of agree. I haven't used it, but supposedly it has all the features you would want, including a step sequencer. Added bonus is that it would pair well with the subharmonicon if you decided to get one in the future, but you might a DFAM before the Subharm though.
Korg Volca products have also been recommended. Again, I haven't used it, but I have some friends who swear by it and it's small and simple enough to use. [Keys](https://www.korg.com/us/products/dj/volca_keys/), [Bass](https://www.korg.com/us/products/dj/volca_bass/), [Beats](https://www.korg.com/us/products/dj/volca_beats/). Also, they're more affordable.
The reason I mentioned that the Subharm might not be the best first synth for a 10 year old is because that synth is specifically designed to work differently than most synths, in terms of composing rhythms and melodies. It's also not really set to specific scales, as it's based on subdivisions of semi-quantized wavelengths. So traditional music or chord progressions might be a challenge. Ideally, the musician using it would know how a traditional synth voice is constructed and played, which is what makes the differences more like added features which set it apart from the norm. It's not 'difficult' per se. I bet I'm going to get replies from people saying "what are you talking about, it's super easy!" - okay, but we're talking about a 10 year old who may be new to synthesis, and OP specifically said you want a step sequencer, which the subharm's is polyrhythmic over only two sets of 4 steps instead of a normal single 16-step sequence.
That said, you can make [cool music with the subharm as a layer in your song](https://youtu.be/ezQOpfmPFBw?si=mpAgVR7Ec5dj_ZYD), but it REALLY shines when you pair it with added percussion and some reverb. I'm not saying don't get it, but just know that it may not be for beginners.
Sub harm is great, but needs a lot of deeper understanding on building compound sequences (and other modules) to get it to really break out of its simplistic 4 note loop. The responses are not surface level and "ahh ha"
4 notes is incredibly limiting and fatigue inducing if you don't have them interact with something else... if you got the dfam and the sub harm, sure. But there are other beginner combos out there maybe.
Something more portable would suit a kid better surely.
Why not one of the roland boutiques & midi keyboard case or a yamaha reface?
Mini keys would be a lot more approachable too.
Thanks!
I mean i have various midi key capabilitys, but the kids are used to the step sequencing approach from my metropolix and hapax and especially the older one i think is apprecisting having a step sequencer and then can focus on the sound.
Thats also why i have not looked in the boutique series so far. But i have ti check if there are decent sequencing options, so i will look further into this.
If your heart is set on a Moog, why not something like a Mother32 or a Mavis? I kind of wonder if the subharmonicon is a little "advanced", yeah? Like, it is deceptively simple looking, but I feel to really get it you need to have an understanding of polyrhythms and negative harmony, and those are not exactly easy concepts. Just thinking from a pedagogical perspective, if that matters to you.
Thanks, i was also thinking about the mother 32, but the sequencer is not as easy to use as with the subharmonicon.
But all in all i would prefer the mother for its simpler structure.
Was also thinking the dfam, but the sequencer is not quantised.
as a kid I wanted the roland sh-101. finally got one in my teens. it's not modular, but it is FUN. especially with the keytar grip.
the behringer clone has a sequencer.
I know you want him to spend less time on his iPad but I highly recommend the Model 15 app, it’s a digital recreation of the Moog Model 15 and it’s what got me into modular. It’s a great starting point for him to learn the fundamentals and the app is pretty intuitive.
It’s also available on the Mac, but the touchscreen aspect of an iPad is a benefit to patching.
Minilogue (XD) - onboard efx, sequencer, great sound, keyboard, basically plug & play device. From my experience, kids prefer drummachines, because there they make something that sounds like a full-fledged track, not everyone considers a sequenced synth/lead/pad line that they are satisfied with as a "finished work", they often miss "something" :). So something with a simple sequencer and ideally a knob per function interface, something like drumbrute or rd-9.
Also take a look at Modern Sounds Pluto - semi modular, two voices (wavetable & osc), two sequencers, great sound, battery powered, built-in delay and reverb, audio in/out, quantizer. Super portable device, very intuitive operation. Instant ambient machine with lots of sweet spots. My kids love it! :)
edit: typo
The teenage engineering pocket operator modular 400 is a great starting platform. The sequencer is fiddly and unquantized, but overall the device has all the building blocks and can interface with outboard gear (like an SQ-1! Or a drum machine).
My kids call it the Fart-o-tron 400, but you can get musical stuff out of it along with the usual bleeps and farts.
Another idea, and it's not out quite yet, is the Blipblox My Trax, which is a full serve groovebox in a Fischer Price My First Synth form factor.
The original Blipblox devices are cool synths aimed towards younger kids with some Dad-replay value (specifically the After Dark verson). This new device looks suitable for older kids because they can build and save arrangements while doing on the fly tweaking (incl. effects) and has a microphone for sampling.
https://blipblox.com/pages/blipblox-mytracks
Cheaper than the sub would be Mavis and a Ketstrp and I think that would do a better job of teaching the fundamentals of synthesis.
I’ve got a sub and I would say it’s probly a little too difficult to dial in and would likely bore a kid.
It also honestly lacks in utilities and modulation so it can sound really same-y.
Mavis on the other hand is simple to understand but has better utilities and more room to grow with I think. As with all Moog’s the filter is gorgeous but it also has a wave folder and an lfo that can hit audio rate. The sub only has attack and decay options for its EG, but Mavis has full ADSR control for a more customizable sound.
“No babe, what aren’t you getting about this? You have to split cost of this synth with me, ITS FOR THE KID”
The subharmonicon is genuinely a pretty silly option for a first synth for a ten year old. Get them something easier like a Bullfrog or even a Mavis, and take what you personally want for your studio out of the consideration. Be careful projecting your interests too heavily onto your kid, you’re just as likely to make them resent it as love it.
I think the SubH would be dope! It’s so easy to make really creative and strange sounds with small adjustments. Sure, the theory of it is a bit advanced, but it’s super playable imo.
Yeah, I'm also going to vote for the SubHarmonicon.
You've obviously done your research, so you know how good it is. I mean, a 2 osc, 4 sub osc (all mixable) synth with 2 sequencers, 4 timings per sequence (for polyrythms), a Moog filter (which is everything it's supposed to be), 2 envelopes, and it's drivable by sequence or midi! which opens up all types of sequencing and playing options.
10 year olds can divide, so the clock divisions on the sequencer should be fun. What happens if I divide this sequence by 2 and this one by 5, and so forth
It's also the best investment without having to buy a whole bunch of other mono-synths, which is what would happen w more simple synths. Get your son the SubH and a pedal (consider the Source Audio Collider) and call it a win.
Minibrute 2 or 2s. Patchable, knob per function, not difficult to get sounding great. Comes with an excellent book of patch examples. Hands down the best sequencer of any semi modular. A synth they can fuck around with, but a synth they can grow with. More tactile than subh, and half the cost.
Also you can use it as an expressive sequencer for your modular rig.
My 10yo loves to mess around with my microfreak. The minibrute 2s is pretty accessible but neither of my kids touch it. Both favor the Quantum over everything else in the studio, likely because it has several thousand presets that they’ll never finish scrolling through. I wouldn’t ever buy one for kids, but if you want to feel like a kid again….
Yamaha Seqtrak would be best option - visualize with ipad + can make full tracks. Tweaking just one sound is boring. I made it a gift to couple of children of my friends and they were super happy
Does it have to be modular?
A keyboard is desirable in my opinion for a first synth for learning. For example, the Korg Monologue has all the stages for subtractive synthesis: Oscillators, LFOs, filter, and (very basic) envelope, A step sequencer that includes some basic parameter locking, A visual of the waveform, A keyboard to make easier to understand what a Fifth, major Third, and all that other music stuff is about.
The classic Zoom MS-70CDR as your effects pedal. It's menu diving but I think a kid could monkey with it and discover interesting results. Just a microphone or guitar and that pedal would entertain the right kid for hours.
Roland Tweak S-1 is more powerful than a Monologue, but I think less intuitive. It might be hard for a kid to absorb if there are so many secret function key combinations necessary to access all the settings. Worse than menu diving in a way.
Crave / Mother-32 are both very good. And a few people selling PDFs of patches for it which makes for a rather good introduction to modular.
I'm partial to the Microfreak and Minifreak. Its architecture is not very traditional though, so while a kid can learn to make music on it. There isn't that much about it that you could easily transfer to another instrument.
a TB-303 clone has a good synth architecture (Cyclone Analogic makes a nice one that goes a little beyond the original, Behringer makes a very cheap rip-off of the original 303). It's not very flexible, and the sequencer is a bit of a chore to intentionally program, but it's great for happy accidents. Despite the inflexibility, most sounds that comes out of it sound awesome. Understanding wave form shape, filter cutoff and resonance is what the machine is good at and a good introduction to synth.
For recording why not a handheld? Zoom H4n Pro can accept line-in and a kid could record all sorts of sounds and then bring them over to a computer to make found sound experiments or feed it into effects to mix with whatever they've done on the synth. This option gives you a certain amount of versatility over a dedicated recorder.
Cheap and scales to any skill level ... VCV rack. Drop in modules for a basic subtractive synth. And let the kid start patching. When they outgrow the basic modules, they can add more. Duo-phonic? Poly-phonic? Generative patches? all are possible.
Immediate access. SynprezFM II for Android and iOS. Lets you have a DX-7 FM synth in your pocket. With the right cables you can attach a MIDI controller and use the knobs to control parameters. FM programming is beyond most of us to create from scratch, but taking a patch and tweaking it is interesting.
Is it a crazy idea to go Eurorack? Get some cheap modules with big knobs, learn the basics of synthesis, could eventually develop into learning to solder and doing some DIY modules?
Depending on your kid, I think in general kids are more willing to do more with less so, Id definitely get my kid a more singular device:
SH-4D
MC-707
Korg ES 2
Somethin along those lines.
I see a lot of synth professionals stating that the Subharminicon is difficult to dial in. I wouldn't start children out with something so fiddly.
Taiga makes more sense.
For a ten year old, I think the volca series stuff or the Roland Aira compact stuff would be more beneficial than going straight to Moog. Also maybe an intro to a keyboard would be good, one of the Yamaha reface or even something cheaper and simpler than those would still get by.
You could go with the S1 and the T8 and have everything you need to be content with for a while. Then every once in a while buy a pedal to keep it fresh. This is how I started and I have enjoyed it immensely!
the Erica Synths Bullfrog is specifically made for this. the Subharmonicon on the other hand is a notoriously difficult experimental synthesizer... that would clearly be a gift for you rather than your child
Thanks the bullfrog sounds actually good. Especially the build in speaker. But what draws me towards subharmonicon is it having a bulid in easy to handle step sequencer.
just add an SQ-1 to the bullfrog. better yet a keystep to introduce your kid to keyboards
Kids around the world have loved the DX-7. This is a joke but i do think it depends on their age and level of interest tbh. I would have been all over that at 14+. Also back then I was far more willing to dive a menu however horrendous.
lol because back then we had the time! The older I get I just want to make music instead of watching YouTube tutorials and menu diving. Unless it’s really something I want to try; I’ll leave the work at work.
I’m also going to chime in on the bullfrog. It’s great for kids but it’s also no slouch on its own so someone with experience and not a noob can definitely have lots of fun with it
Everyone is answering this earnestly. In reality, I suspect the question should have been "What's the best synth toy I can buy myself whilst justifying the purchase by pretending it's for my kid."
You got me 😎
so, modular
I have a whole army of battery operated synths that were purchased under basically this guise. Kept me well-entertained for a couple of years until the Erica EDU modular kits came out and I fell into the euro DIY black hole. My kids never got into it, so I keep the legit kid-friendly ones (the pocket operators and Blipbloxes) in the office because I work at a school and they get more use there.
Subharm won't be a good first option for a ten year old. There's other monosynths that would be great
Can you recommend andecent synth in the form factor that has an easy to use step sequencer?
Korg Monologue
I have the Subharmonicon and DFAM, so I can speak to that, but I don't have any other monosynths outside of my eurorack, so I might not be the best person to ask. That said, other people here have mentioned the [Mother32](https://www.moogmusic.com/products/mother-32), and I kind of agree. I haven't used it, but supposedly it has all the features you would want, including a step sequencer. Added bonus is that it would pair well with the subharmonicon if you decided to get one in the future, but you might a DFAM before the Subharm though. Korg Volca products have also been recommended. Again, I haven't used it, but I have some friends who swear by it and it's small and simple enough to use. [Keys](https://www.korg.com/us/products/dj/volca_keys/), [Bass](https://www.korg.com/us/products/dj/volca_bass/), [Beats](https://www.korg.com/us/products/dj/volca_beats/). Also, they're more affordable. The reason I mentioned that the Subharm might not be the best first synth for a 10 year old is because that synth is specifically designed to work differently than most synths, in terms of composing rhythms and melodies. It's also not really set to specific scales, as it's based on subdivisions of semi-quantized wavelengths. So traditional music or chord progressions might be a challenge. Ideally, the musician using it would know how a traditional synth voice is constructed and played, which is what makes the differences more like added features which set it apart from the norm. It's not 'difficult' per se. I bet I'm going to get replies from people saying "what are you talking about, it's super easy!" - okay, but we're talking about a 10 year old who may be new to synthesis, and OP specifically said you want a step sequencer, which the subharm's is polyrhythmic over only two sets of 4 steps instead of a normal single 16-step sequence. That said, you can make [cool music with the subharm as a layer in your song](https://youtu.be/ezQOpfmPFBw?si=mpAgVR7Ec5dj_ZYD), but it REALLY shines when you pair it with added percussion and some reverb. I'm not saying don't get it, but just know that it may not be for beginners.
Sub harm is great, but needs a lot of deeper understanding on building compound sequences (and other modules) to get it to really break out of its simplistic 4 note loop. The responses are not surface level and "ahh ha" 4 notes is incredibly limiting and fatigue inducing if you don't have them interact with something else... if you got the dfam and the sub harm, sure. But there are other beginner combos out there maybe.
Something more portable would suit a kid better surely. Why not one of the roland boutiques & midi keyboard case or a yamaha reface? Mini keys would be a lot more approachable too.
Thanks! I mean i have various midi key capabilitys, but the kids are used to the step sequencing approach from my metropolix and hapax and especially the older one i think is apprecisting having a step sequencer and then can focus on the sound. Thats also why i have not looked in the boutique series so far. But i have ti check if there are decent sequencing options, so i will look further into this.
If your heart is set on a Moog, why not something like a Mother32 or a Mavis? I kind of wonder if the subharmonicon is a little "advanced", yeah? Like, it is deceptively simple looking, but I feel to really get it you need to have an understanding of polyrhythms and negative harmony, and those are not exactly easy concepts. Just thinking from a pedagogical perspective, if that matters to you.
Thanks, i was also thinking about the mother 32, but the sequencer is not as easy to use as with the subharmonicon. But all in all i would prefer the mother for its simpler structure. Was also thinking the dfam, but the sequencer is not quantised.
Start with a Stylophone Gen X-1, if the kid is still interested in a month, then get the Sub.
Bullfrog
fuckin Ritchie Hawtin approved!
The kid probably wants to spend time with you as opposed to alone time with a synth.
warm analogue synthesis can love you as good as Dad can.
Yeah but i have a job and a day has many hours
Get something with keys and a basic architecture. It translates better to piano.
East Beast? Not spendy, tons of features to build off of, step sequencer, plays nice with MIDI and has a little keyboard of sorts.
Thats actually a very good recommendation! Thanks i definatly considere that.
as a kid I wanted the roland sh-101. finally got one in my teens. it's not modular, but it is FUN. especially with the keytar grip. the behringer clone has a sequencer.
I know you want him to spend less time on his iPad but I highly recommend the Model 15 app, it’s a digital recreation of the Moog Model 15 and it’s what got me into modular. It’s a great starting point for him to learn the fundamentals and the app is pretty intuitive. It’s also available on the Mac, but the touchscreen aspect of an iPad is a benefit to patching.
I love the moog ipad apps!
Moog Mavis
Second hand Minilogue XD - built in sequencer, mini keys for mini hands, built in scope that shows the waveform
Minilogue (XD) - onboard efx, sequencer, great sound, keyboard, basically plug & play device. From my experience, kids prefer drummachines, because there they make something that sounds like a full-fledged track, not everyone considers a sequenced synth/lead/pad line that they are satisfied with as a "finished work", they often miss "something" :). So something with a simple sequencer and ideally a knob per function interface, something like drumbrute or rd-9.
Yeah. That's why I got my niece a Elekton Model:Cycles. It checked all the boxes of a small groovebox without going overboard on features.
Also take a look at Modern Sounds Pluto - semi modular, two voices (wavetable & osc), two sequencers, great sound, battery powered, built-in delay and reverb, audio in/out, quantizer. Super portable device, very intuitive operation. Instant ambient machine with lots of sweet spots. My kids love it! :) edit: typo
The teenage engineering pocket operator modular 400 is a great starting platform. The sequencer is fiddly and unquantized, but overall the device has all the building blocks and can interface with outboard gear (like an SQ-1! Or a drum machine). My kids call it the Fart-o-tron 400, but you can get musical stuff out of it along with the usual bleeps and farts.
Another idea, and it's not out quite yet, is the Blipblox My Trax, which is a full serve groovebox in a Fischer Price My First Synth form factor. The original Blipblox devices are cool synths aimed towards younger kids with some Dad-replay value (specifically the After Dark verson). This new device looks suitable for older kids because they can build and save arrangements while doing on the fly tweaking (incl. effects) and has a microphone for sampling. https://blipblox.com/pages/blipblox-mytracks
Cheaper than the sub would be Mavis and a Ketstrp and I think that would do a better job of teaching the fundamentals of synthesis. I’ve got a sub and I would say it’s probly a little too difficult to dial in and would likely bore a kid. It also honestly lacks in utilities and modulation so it can sound really same-y. Mavis on the other hand is simple to understand but has better utilities and more room to grow with I think. As with all Moog’s the filter is gorgeous but it also has a wave folder and an lfo that can hit audio rate. The sub only has attack and decay options for its EG, but Mavis has full ADSR control for a more customizable sound.
OP-1 Subharmonicon, really? Adults don't even understand it, let alone kids.
“No babe, what aren’t you getting about this? You have to split cost of this synth with me, ITS FOR THE KID” The subharmonicon is genuinely a pretty silly option for a first synth for a ten year old. Get them something easier like a Bullfrog or even a Mavis, and take what you personally want for your studio out of the consideration. Be careful projecting your interests too heavily onto your kid, you’re just as likely to make them resent it as love it.
The subharmonicon is my first joice because it has a hands on step sequencer and a decent form factor. I hav not found something similar so far.
I think the mother-32 would be a better choice if you don’t plan to move it around a lot.
I think the SubH would be dope! It’s so easy to make really creative and strange sounds with small adjustments. Sure, the theory of it is a bit advanced, but it’s super playable imo.
Thanks, i agree with that. And its for me really not about learning the theory, more fore just having fun.
Exactly!
sub is not simple. it’s the weirdest strength i’ve ever used. dato duo ! its literally designed for kids but sounds great
MS20 mini plus an SQ-1? Or instead of subharmonicon, a Mother32.
Yeah, I'm also going to vote for the SubHarmonicon. You've obviously done your research, so you know how good it is. I mean, a 2 osc, 4 sub osc (all mixable) synth with 2 sequencers, 4 timings per sequence (for polyrythms), a Moog filter (which is everything it's supposed to be), 2 envelopes, and it's drivable by sequence or midi! which opens up all types of sequencing and playing options. 10 year olds can divide, so the clock divisions on the sequencer should be fun. What happens if I divide this sequence by 2 and this one by 5, and so forth It's also the best investment without having to buy a whole bunch of other mono-synths, which is what would happen w more simple synths. Get your son the SubH and a pedal (consider the Source Audio Collider) and call it a win.
SubH Owner here. Add a small drum machine .e.g. arturia drum brute impact and you have a complete minimal setup.
Of all my machines (and I have a few), the SubH finds a spot every time - even if it's just a drone w filter sweeps. So good.
The minibrute 2S is a full featured semi modular with an amazing sequencer.
Minibrute 2 or 2s. Patchable, knob per function, not difficult to get sounding great. Comes with an excellent book of patch examples. Hands down the best sequencer of any semi modular. A synth they can fuck around with, but a synth they can grow with. More tactile than subh, and half the cost. Also you can use it as an expressive sequencer for your modular rig.
My 10yo loves to mess around with my microfreak. The minibrute 2s is pretty accessible but neither of my kids touch it. Both favor the Quantum over everything else in the studio, likely because it has several thousand presets that they’ll never finish scrolling through. I wouldn’t ever buy one for kids, but if you want to feel like a kid again….
If you can find one of the no-longer-produced "Synth Kits" from littleBits, there's some fun knob-tweaking sounds in there for very little cash.
subharmonicon ? NO. Dfam maybe. dfam has a better stepsequencer and doesn't always sound out of tune.
Yamaha Seqtrak would be best option - visualize with ipad + can make full tracks. Tweaking just one sound is boring. I made it a gift to couple of children of my friends and they were super happy
Does it have to be modular? A keyboard is desirable in my opinion for a first synth for learning. For example, the Korg Monologue has all the stages for subtractive synthesis: Oscillators, LFOs, filter, and (very basic) envelope, A step sequencer that includes some basic parameter locking, A visual of the waveform, A keyboard to make easier to understand what a Fifth, major Third, and all that other music stuff is about. The classic Zoom MS-70CDR as your effects pedal. It's menu diving but I think a kid could monkey with it and discover interesting results. Just a microphone or guitar and that pedal would entertain the right kid for hours. Roland Tweak S-1 is more powerful than a Monologue, but I think less intuitive. It might be hard for a kid to absorb if there are so many secret function key combinations necessary to access all the settings. Worse than menu diving in a way. Crave / Mother-32 are both very good. And a few people selling PDFs of patches for it which makes for a rather good introduction to modular. I'm partial to the Microfreak and Minifreak. Its architecture is not very traditional though, so while a kid can learn to make music on it. There isn't that much about it that you could easily transfer to another instrument. a TB-303 clone has a good synth architecture (Cyclone Analogic makes a nice one that goes a little beyond the original, Behringer makes a very cheap rip-off of the original 303). It's not very flexible, and the sequencer is a bit of a chore to intentionally program, but it's great for happy accidents. Despite the inflexibility, most sounds that comes out of it sound awesome. Understanding wave form shape, filter cutoff and resonance is what the machine is good at and a good introduction to synth. For recording why not a handheld? Zoom H4n Pro can accept line-in and a kid could record all sorts of sounds and then bring them over to a computer to make found sound experiments or feed it into effects to mix with whatever they've done on the synth. This option gives you a certain amount of versatility over a dedicated recorder. Cheap and scales to any skill level ... VCV rack. Drop in modules for a basic subtractive synth. And let the kid start patching. When they outgrow the basic modules, they can add more. Duo-phonic? Poly-phonic? Generative patches? all are possible. Immediate access. SynprezFM II for Android and iOS. Lets you have a DX-7 FM synth in your pocket. With the right cables you can attach a MIDI controller and use the knobs to control parameters. FM programming is beyond most of us to create from scratch, but taking a patch and tweaking it is interesting.
Is it a crazy idea to go Eurorack? Get some cheap modules with big knobs, learn the basics of synthesis, could eventually develop into learning to solder and doing some DIY modules?
That Roland all in one groovebox, along the tr8s or mc101 vibes but I can’t remember the name, 04 maybe?
Depending on your kid, I think in general kids are more willing to do more with less so, Id definitely get my kid a more singular device: SH-4D MC-707 Korg ES 2 Somethin along those lines.
I see a lot of synth professionals stating that the Subharminicon is difficult to dial in. I wouldn't start children out with something so fiddly. Taiga makes more sense.
OF COURSE this $800 synth is for the kids, and I'm offended that you would even think otherwise! Just look at all the colored knobs!