Devin Belanger’s Forever Synths: Five Keepers That Refuse to Die

Devin Belanger kicks things off with a confession: after years of swimming in the VST sea, he’s now deep in the hardware trenches. He’s tried a mountain of synths, but only a handful have earned the title of ‘forever’—the kind you’d have to pry from his cold, dead hands. For Devin, it’s not about feature lists or the latest firmware update. It’s about character, inspiration, and that spark you can’t fake.

Forget VSTs—those get leapfrogged every few years. Devin’s forever synths are the ones that keep delivering, no matter what shiny plugin comes along. The list is a mix of the obvious and the unexpected, and if you think it’s just about specs, you’re missing the point. This is about machines that make you want to write tracks, not just tweak menus. The countdown begins with a classic, but stick around—there are some real curveballs ahead.

The Sequential Prophet 10 wasn’t love at first sight for Devin. He’d already owned the Prophet 6 and couldn’t see the point in a mono-output, no-effects beast with a premium price tag. But five minutes in, and he was hooked—this thing just feels right. It’s the kind of synth that turns a quick test drive into a lifelong obsession.

What sets the Prophet 10 apart isn’t just its sound (though those oscillators are pure gold), but the way it puts inspiration under your fingertips. The layout, the knobs, the sheer tactile joy—it’s the archetype for every polysynth that followed. Devin calls it home, and he’s not letting go. If you want to know what a real classic feels like, this is it. And honestly, you’ll have to watch the video to get the full flavour of that Prophet magic.

Next up, the Gamechanger Motor Synth—a synth so weird it makes everything else look like a toaster. Devin doesn’t use it every day, but when he does, nothing else comes close. Forget emulations—this is one of the last frontiers of hardware, with a sound that’s part tonewheel organ, part dystopian fever dream.

Eight brushless motors, optical discs, and a vibe that’s equal parts industrial and experimental—this synth is a street weapon for the brave. If you’re into heavy, gnarly sound design, this is your ticket. Devin rates it as irreplaceable, and if you can score one on sale, do it. But don’t expect it to play nice in a pop mix—this beast is for those who want to break things sonically.

The Erica Synths Perkons is Devin’s wildcard—he’s not a drum machine guy, but this one stole his heart. It’s not about versatility; it’s about character, punch, and happy accidents. The Perkons is a sledgehammer in a world of butter knives, smashing its way into Devin’s tracks, albums, and ad work.

Sure, it’s overkill if you want gentle, pretty beats. But for massive, larger-than-life drums, nothing else comes close. Devin loves jamming on it, recording wild fills, and chopping them into loops. The Perkons is a happy accident machine, and that’s why it’s on the forever list. If you want polite, look elsewhere—this is for the chaos crew.