Welcome to a carefully crafted list of small portable synthesizer for your pocket.

Synthesizer have a magical attraction to the heart of a music producer but they can often be very pricy and bulky. That doesn’t really go well with the minimal lifestyle of many bedroom producers. Therefore a new category of synthesizer emerged: The pocket synthesizer. Affordable, small yet still a big sound. What more can you wish for.

This list displays a variety of portable synthesizer of different kinds. Ask yourself, “what are you looking for?”. Do you priorities iconic retro sounds? Do you want to have a great variety of effects? Are you craving for a pure analog auditive experience? Keep those questions in mind while you browse the list.

The Stylophone Retro Pocket Synth is a miniature version of the stylus operated synthesizer of 1967 which was used by icons like David Bowie, Kraftwerk and Erasure. The stylophone comes with three different retro organ sound plus a switch for optional vibrato. It is played with a metal pen reaching roughly 1,5 octaves in total.

The Stylophone Gen X-1 is the extended version of the Stylophone Retro pocket synthesizer. In this version you have control over the envelope, LFO, delay and filters allowing for more variety to the iconic synth sound. In addition to the metal keyboard played with a pen the Gen X-1 offers a slider to create seamless slides or sound effects.

The Korg Monotron is a simple yet epic little analog synthesizer for your pocket. Choose between a saw or square wave as a source and mess up the sound with an inbuilt LFO, VCF or delay effect. It’s astounding what a massive sound comes out of this tiny device. The Korg Monotron is definitely a must have if you are a pocket synthesizer lover!

The Korg VOLCAKEYS is a three note true analogue portable synthesizer for the pocket. The voicing function makes it easy to specify how the three oscillators will be combined. Simply turn the knob to choose one of six combinations: Poly, Unison, Octave, Fifth, Unison Ring, or Poly Ring. The motion sequence function enables you to record knob movements over time. The three-voice polyphonic analog synthesizer comes with a structure of 3VCO, 1VCF, 1VCA, 1LFO, and 1EG and the 27 notes with and inbuilt 16 step sequencer puts your sound to work. A great choice!

If you are looking for a all-rounder with a modern sound the IK Multimedia UNO Synth
 portable monophonic analog synthesizer is your best pick! It comes with 100 presets for the lazy. For the rest of us it offers a classic setup with 2 VCOs and noise generator, multimode filters, amps, 2 envelopes and LFO and an effect section with delay, dive, scoop, vibrato, wah and tremolo. Additionally you can play with an arpeggiator and a step sequencer to round things up.

littleBits Electronics Synth Kit is an analog modular synthesizer made up of 12 BitsTM modules that snap together with magnets to create circuits. It’s perfect way to playfully learn the basics of building synthesizer while creating some interesting sounds. littleBits is easily connectable to speakers, interfaces and computers wich allows for a seamless integration into your music production studio.

Teenage Engineering Series is a monster when it comes to portable synthesizers for your pocket. The first thing that comes to mind when playing with one of the modules is, “what a sound for such a small device”. Besides a funny little display image each module comes with a unique make-up of functions like sampling, step sequencing, effects, microphones or drum machines. Connecting multiple TE0 opens up a world of possible sounds and live or studio applications.

The Moog Werkstatt-Ø1 is a serious one oscillator analog synthesizer that is still small enough to be considered portable. The product comes as a synthesizer kit which means that you have to build it it yourself before you can use it. The included effects are VCF in, VCO on, LFO CV in
VCF Audio in, 2x KB CV out, 2x Trig out, 2x Gate out, 2x EG out, 2x LFO out, 2x VCF out, 2x VCO out. What more could you dream of considering the size and price of the Werkstatt-Ø1. If you are serious about synthesizer and want to own your first true analog synth, the Werkstatt-Ø1 is your choice!

The Gakken SX-150 MARK II Analog Synthesizer is a small portable analog synthesizer with a big sound. Choose between a saw or square wave oscillator and destroy the sound with LFO, VCF, pitch envelope and a built in filter. The ribbon control strip enables a seamless pitch portamento but makes it difficult to play actual melodies.

The Critter & Guitari: Organelle is a quite portable music computer with huge range of application. The design is kept minimal and stylish with a small display, six control knobs, a switch and a two octaves keyboard but inside sleeps a giant of sound creation and manipulation. The organelle can be used as a sampler, synthesizer, drum machine, effect rack or sequencer. A MIDI Port allows for additional use of MIDI controllers as seen in the video. On top of that you can create patches in pure data to be used with the Organelle for limitless possibilities. What a beast!

Let’s finish this list with a fun little toy synthesizer – the Maywa Denki Otamatone Techno. It’s a simple culty snyth instrument that is very popular in asia. The Techno Touch doesn’t offer too many functions but in contrast to the original version this newer model is now connectable to a smartphone to allow for a greater variety of sounds.