Synthesizers

In today’s digital age, synthesizers are an inevitable part of modern music. They are the backbone of genres such as EDM, trance & house music. But, in reality, their scope reaches well beyond that and into all sorts of genres.

Basically, synthesizers are electronic sound processors. That means they can electronically modify sounds, emulate all kinds of instruments and even create those that sound out of this world. Rock bands use synths to create unique sounds and to complement certain instruments while recording albums. The synthesizer has revolutionized the music industry, and it comes in several versions. Having a better understanding of them will help you make the right choices while shopping for them. Read this article to know more about synthesizers and their uses.

Four different types of synthesizers

Synthesizers can be mainly split into two different types: analogue and digital. Analogue synths use old and sometimes obsolete technology to create sound effects. On the other hand, digital synths are more modern and offer plenty of features. However, there are people who prefer the organic quality of the analogue synths over the digital ones. But there are further variations that exist within synths depending on how they process the sound signals. Here is a list of four major types of sound synthesizers out there.

Additive synthesizers

In mainstream music, additive synths are more common than any other type of synths. Additive synths the centre of the sound waves as building blocks and stack other signals on top of each other to make the final sound. Sub Destroyer, which is a very basic type of additive synth, only processes one waveform at a time. For this reason, if all you want to do is to reinforce other instruments in your mix, Sub Destroyer is the go-to option. That being said, additive synths have their limitations compared to some of the other more advanced synths on this list. It can be difficult to dial in a particular tone in this type of synth.

Subtractive synthesizers

Subtractive synths are just as popular as additive synths in modern music and actually have a history that is a bit longer than additive synths. It is possible to break down subtractive synths into three key elements: oscillators, filters & amplifiers. The oscillators produce a tone, the filters process it, and then the output gain is determined by the amplifiers. For even further manipulation of the sound over the form of the tone, some subtractive synths add an additional ADSR segment to the end of the chain. Subtractive synths get their name from the way sounds are produced by the combination of oscillators and filters. Subtractive synths are particularly good at mimicking actual instruments.

FM synthesizers

FM (frequency modulation) synths have become famous for their less realistic techno-like sound quality in electronic music groups. With the exception of their oscillators, FM synths share a lot of similar characteristics with subtractive synths. In contrast to simple subtractive synths, the main oscillators of an FM synth have varying frequencies, amplitudes, or tones that make them sound unnatural and complex. So, if you are looking for a blatantly digital sound that could not be confused with any other real instrument, FM Synths are the best choice.

Sample-based synthesizers

In the world of electronic music, sample-based synths get a bad reputation for being “cop-outs”. But this title is mostly undeserved. All other techniques for emulating real instruments are difficult. But a sample-based synth offers musicians and engineers a starting point that is more nuanced and tonally precise than any other sound processing system can do. In hip hop and other similar genres, sample-based synths are pretty popular as pitch-shifted samples work well in these genres. The chances are that you’ve already seen how sample-based synths work if you’ve seen someone doing a medley/mashup on an MPC synth.