One of the emerging trends in the analog synthesizer world is to give you separate effects on each part in multi mode. This added versatility helps you create a full-sounding arrangement on one box, and makes up somewhat for the limited palette of waveforms. The Supernova has independent effects, and the Q has them for parts 1 through 4. The Polymorph has two independent effects processors for each of its four parts, plus distortion and EQ for each part.The JP-8080 has independent effects for each part (but only two parts total).
At the other extreme, the Nord Lead 2 has no effects at all, save an on/off distortion button in the filter section.
Oscillator sync and some form of cross-modulation or FM (in which oscillator 2 modulates oscillator 1 directly) are pretty much the norm. The JP-8080 goes further, though. It has a "feedback" wave that can introduce some odd overtones and a unique "supersaw" wave that can be detuned from itself for spread-out string pads. The Virus has 62 digital-sounding single-cycle waveforms, with which it can do some of the same types of timbres as the PPG and the Waldorf Microwave (though without the wavetable sweeps). The Polymorph also has a palette of digital waveforms, but they don't go as far in the direction of bell-like overtones as the Virus does.
Another increasingly common feature: an audio input. This allows you to process any sound through the analog filter and possibly the effects as well, while chopping up the sound by gating the filter from MIDI or the synth's own sequencer. Of the instruments we looked at this month, only the Z1, the AN1x, and the Nord Lead, which are the oldest of the bunch, lack audio inputs.
The JP-8080's audio input has some features you won't find anywhere else. Instead of straight vocoding, you can choose a vocal morphing mode in which the vocal input modulates the parameters of your choice. Envelopes can be triggered by external audio for gating and drum reinforcement effects.
If you're looking for the ultimate in special synthesis tools, the Nord Modular is the instrument for you. Both the price and the learning curve are steep, but a given patch can have as many oscillators, filters, envelopes, or LFOs as you might need. We didn't include the Modular in this month's chart because its features are so far-reaching they don't really lend themselves to a chart layout.
When shopping for an analog synth, be sure to ask whether the LFO(s) can sync to MIDI clock, or to the internal sequencer/arpeggiator. __With LFO sync, you can program sweeps that will keep time with the note pattern.
