They have defined the sound of the 80s, 90s, and are almost impossible to avoid today - synthesizers. Whether it's grand chords in 80s pop, wobbling basslines in dubstep, or heavy 808s in hip-hop, it can all be created with the right synthesizer. That's why today we'll take a closer look at what synthesizers are all about!

The History of the Synthesizer

In the middle of the 20th century, synthesizer-like instruments began to emerge - albeit in very primitive forms. The very first versions were built from vacuum cleaner hoses and used punch cards as data for what to play.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, various synthesizer manufacturers began to refine the technology in synthesizers. Especially brands like Moog and Buchla were responsible for developing some of the techniques and components still used today!

In the 1980s, synthesizers took a huge leap! The MIDI standard was introduced, and Yamaha publicly released their DX7, which is now considered the first commercially successful digital synthesizer. At the same time that MIDI and digital synthesizers gained popularity, the form and functions began to resemble what we know today. The possibilities of creating one's own presets and polyphony were becoming standard, while the size of a synthesizer had been considerably reduced, making them easy to move around or take on stage.

In the late 90s and early 00s, software companies began developing the first software synthesizers. These virtual instruments allowed even people who weren't in large studios to have access to plenty of different synthesizers and drum machines with a click of a mouse.

In 1999, Steinberg introduced the VST (Virtual Studio Technology) system, which allowed using a software synthesizer as a plug-in directly in one's DAW. This is still the VST system used in the majority of DAWs today to run software instruments.

Today, synthesizers come in all sizes, shapes, and with different uses. They are found in every studio, if not physically, then as software functions, and new updates and models are being developed faster than ever!

 

Analog Synthesizers

Synthesizer korg minilouge xd

Analog synthesizers are extremely complex instruments with many components that interact with each other to produce the desired sound.

Basically, when you press a key or send a MIDI signal into the synthesizer, it generates an electrical signal with a specific frequency. This frequency is measured in Hertz (Hz), as we also know it from audio frequencies.

In an analog synthesizer, this frequency is routed through various modules that affect the electrical signal, which ultimately comes out of the synthesizer's output as an audio signal that can be read by your DAW, allowing you to further process the sound.

Analog synthesizers are still a super popular choice today. They are known for their natural, warm sound, often associated with favorite synth-pop bands from the 80s and 90s. However, due to their complex construction and many components, they are also expensive. In fact, analog synths often maintain their prices, even though they have many years under their belt, and some even consider them collectibles.

Modular Synths

Some synthesizers come as an "all in one" solution, while others you can build and modify as you wish. In a so-called modular synthesizer, you purchase individual modules, or building blocks if you will, for the synthesizer and connect them via cables from one module to another. This way, you have 100% control over the order in which the signal passes through the various components, giving you full control over your sound.

 

Digital Synthesizers

Where analog synthesizers use the electrical signal to create sound, digital synthesizers work somewhat differently. Digital synthesizers do not use filters and electrical components to affect the sound. Instead, the sound is calculated by computer chips, so when you press a key, it's not an electrical signal being processed. Instead, it's a calculation and emulation of how an analog system would process the sound when you add different effects.

Digital synthesizers offer the opportunity to create sounds and other effects that wouldn't be possible on an analog system, but it comes with a "price." Like everything else created by a computer, it's very precise and doesn't have the same "warmth" and naturalness found in analog synths. However, today there are digital synths that come very close to creating "analog" sound. Additionally, digital synthesizers are often much cheaper than analog synths, making them a popular choice for many!

 

Virtual Synthesizers

Virtual synthesizer arturia

As we enter the year 2022, everything is increasingly available as software, and synthesizers are no exception. In fact, virtual synthesizers may be the most popular version of synthesizers today. As mentioned earlier, Steinberg made it possible through their VST system to use virtual instruments and effects as plugins directly in your DAW. This means that instead of having 30 different synths at home, you can now simply have them as software on your computer.

The way a virtual synthesizer works is very similar to a digital synth. The sound is created virtually and calculated by the computer. Virtual synthesizers have the same advantage of not being limited by electronic components, and today, one synthesizer may be enough to create all the sounds you need. However, like digital synthesizers, they lack a bit of the warmth and naturalness of analog synths, although significant advancements have been made in this area in recent years.

Where virtual synths have their great advantage is that everything is possible in software. You can easily download new sounds, update your instruments, and they are cheap. Since software instruments, for obvious reasons, don't have the costs of hardware parts of a synthesizer, they can often be sold quite cheaply. Even the most popular virtual synthesizers like reFX Nexus or Native Instruments Massive can be acquired for around 2,000 kr. in comparison to a digital synth, which can easily cost 2-3 times as much!

 

Keys or Not - Does It Make a Difference?

When you're looking at synthesizers, you may have noticed that they don't all come with keys. It's a bit different how various manufacturers approach this. Essentially, the keys are not part of the synthesizer itself. The sound processing has nothing to do with the keys. Often, manufacturers actually offer both versions, with and without keys.

MIDI

Now you're probably thinking: "But how do I play the synthesizer if there are no keys?" The answer to this is MIDI, MIDI keyboards, and controllers. MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface (thank god for the abbreviation) and is a standard that allows the digitalization of information about keystrokes on a keyboard. MIDI files contain information about pitch, velocity, sustain, pitch, pan, and much more.

MIDI makes it possible to play on a synthesizer or drum machine without it having keys itself. A MIDI track can almost be likened to the paper roll in an old piano from a western movie, playing by itself. When your DAW detects a MIDI note, it plays the corresponding pitch.

Various Types of Keys

If you want to get a synthesizer with keys, there are plenty of those available as well. However, just like with a regular keyboard or digital piano, the keys come in many different versions.

A synthesizer is not primarily intended as an instrument to be played. That is to say, they are often not an instrument you would play for many minutes at a time like you would with a piano, for example. Therefore, they often come with regular non-weighted keys. These are fine for playing chords or melodies, but if you're looking for a true piano/keyboard feel, you'll only get that in the more expensive models. In some models, the keys are even completely replaced with black and white buttons to replace the regular keys.

 

Understanding Different Concepts

When you first look at a synthesizer, it can seem quite overwhelming. There are lots of buttons, faders, knobs, and other things that all have different names. But fear not, below I have compiled a small collection of words and concepts for you!

Oscillator: Sine, Triangle, Saw, Square

One of the first things you'll encounter when designing a sound on your synthesizer is the concept of "Oscillator." The oscillator dictates how your synth generates sound. The ones you'll most often come across are Saw, Square, Sine, and Triangle. Each shape has its own characteristic sound, as they generate sound in different ways.

Synthesizer oscillator waves

Below is a list of some of the most commonly used filters and envelopes:

Attack: Attack refers to how long it takes for the sound to reach its full strength after the key is pressed.
Decay: Decay describes how long it takes for the sound to decay from its peak level to the sustain level.
Sustain: Sustain is the level or strength that the sound will hold if you hold the key down.
Release: Release is how long it takes for the sound to disappear after you release the key.
Cutoff: Cutoff is used, as the name suggests, to cut certain frequencies. Often, cutoff will cut the high frequencies, but some synthesizers have both hi-cut and low-cut.
Pitch: Pitch determines how dark or light the tone you play is. This can be used for effects such as pitch bends, which are quite popular!
Noise: Noise adds noise to your sound. The noise is often white noise, which many are familiar with, and is triggered along with the keys and follows the rhythm of the played melody.

 

I hope that with this article, you've gained a better understanding of the synthesizer and realized that it's an incredibly versatile instrument. There are endless possibilities for creating sounds, and experimenting with it is never boring. Whether you prefer software or hardware synthesizers, only your imagination sets the limits for what you can achieve!