Synth Modules
There are quite some synthesizers in my studio without keyboards. Some of them are module version of synthesizers that also exist with a keyboard. There were made for a specific reason and that is to save space in the studio. Most modules are made in the 19 inch format, just like industrial PC's. The nice thing about this is that you can mount them in 10 inch racks because of that it still looks organized if you put a lot of them together. There are also some modules that were made in this way so that you can put them just right in front of you or next to you on the studio desk. Like the Arturia Origin in the picture on the left. In this way you can easily reach all the knobs on it. The spot I put these modules in where also decided by the position and angle of their displays. On some synthesizers you need a clear view on the display.
All modules have some way to play on them remotely. Most of them have Midi for this purpose, but some of them also have USB. Those are the more modern ones that sometimes even come with an editor that you can install on the PC to remotely edit sounds on it as well. I have put all modules as close to me as I could. Modules that I use a lot are on the top shelve cabinets in my main desk. And the ones I use less often are in the bottom cabinets. But they are all hooked up and ready to play.
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ome of these modules are actually very good synthesizers. And they are not any less than synthesizer with keyboards on them. For example the Roland JD-990 sounds even better than its Keyboard version the JD-880. There are also some synthesizers that even only some as a module like the very great Walforf Microwave I. Some of my favorite modules are the Moog Voyager RME, Waldorf Microwave I, Anywhere Instruments Semtex XL, Cwejman S1 MK2, Roland System 100-m and the Novation SuperNova II that you can see in the picture on the right above.
If you want to see the rest, just click on the 'list' link in the menu on the left.