I am looking for a synth to teach synthesis on for all ages. Students need to very clearly see and understand the signal path. It also has to sound cool. A basic sequencer would be nice. I’m thinking under £600.
I get them interested on the Korg Little Bits synth but then I need to help them progress.
What would you recommend.
Hi, welcome to the community!
This one is made for that purpose exactly.
edit: No sequencer though…
re-edit: optional sequencer with voice card 
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Roland SH-01a
Really nice to understand the basics of synthesis, and sounds ace.
The sequencer is not the best one, but you might have some $ left to couple it with a DT OG…
Which could let you cover sampling, quite an important and fun aspect, maybe show the parallel with synthesis (the sample acting as an oscillator).
And illustrate how cool and relatively simple MIDI is.
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Moog Grandmother. Very clear signal path, plus semi-modular for doing some cool demonstrations and routing experiments. Used you can probably get one cheap enough.
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A Korg SQ-1 would add another £100 to the cost of the Bullfrog, and is arguably better for educational purposes than a built-in sequencer.
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I find the Roland Junos easy to understand and have most of the basic subtractive synth features. So a JU-06 os JU-06A could be good.
I was going to say Grandmother or Boutique series… but besides those, maybe Minitaur or Erebus? Both would need a sequencer though.
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moog grandmother would be amazing for sure!
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Hydrasynth. You clearly see the signal path on the device itself.
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Looks like the slot on the top is for a small sequencer
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Indeed you’re right…forgot about the voice cards
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Korg Minilogue XD
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I agree with a Korg SQ1, a knobby step sequencer is perfect for a beginner, everything is just under the hands.
For the synth, I think a Moog Mavis seems a very good idea. It’s very simple but it can become more complex with the patchbay.
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i very easily learned about analog synthesis using the korg monologue and can’t recommend it enough for educational purposes
I think despite my feelings about the company, a behringer ms-1 is probably the ideal cost and form factor for learning basic hands-on synthesis.
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How old is the range of “All Ages”?
Syntorial is a good programm to actually teach synthesis, and could be installed on multiple computers.
8yrs upward.
Considering this, the Moog Behringer Model 15 might be a good cheaper alternative to the Grandmother, as it’s the same thing only smaller. And with a patch matrix instead of nice clear patch points across the UI.
(edited to correct my dumb mistake)