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8.29In 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.
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.
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 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 (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.
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.
By now, you might have already understood the fact that synthesizers are pretty complex instruments. This very quality of them also makes it hard to figure out the right kind of them that fits your requirements and also is affordable. But you have to be careful because getting the wrong one can be an expensive mistake. However, it can be easier if you know what factors to consider in them. Here are a few tips to keep in your mind while shopping for them.
These are some of the essential factors which you can go through before shopping online. You can find different kinds of synthesizers easily using our Dubai search engine . It will also let you compare the prices and features of different products and pick the best one among them. So, don’t forget to check out all the other amazing products from the musical instruments category.
All the earliest synthesizers were analogue because synths were in existence long before digital computers were. Analogue synths rely on special circuits that combine simple electronic components, like transistors, resistors and capacitors, to generate and change the sound. Instead of digital signals that are divided into individual bytes, sound from an analogue synth will be continuously fluctuating electrical voltages. These voltages typically come from a Voltage-Controlled Oscillator or Noise Generator. There will be additional analogue circuits, such as Voltage-Controllable Filters and Voltage-Controllable Amplifiers, that allow you to alter the nature of the tone and its loudness.
These days, hybrid synthesizers are more popular than both analogue and digital synths. Although they sound very modern, the first hybrid synths were made in the ’70s and 80s. The word “hybrid” refers to the use of both analogue and digital components in the instrument. Hybrid synths provide the benefits of both analogue and digital systems. In a hybrid synth, some parts of it will be digital, and others will be analogue. The arrangement of these components will vary with models. One way to arrange them is to have a series of digital oscillators and then an analogue filter that processes this signal. This setup will provide clean, reliable oscillator output.
These days, synthesizers are essential to composing music. However, because of all the different features that some of them offer, they can be really expensive. So, you should try to find a model that offers all the necessary features that you need and also fall within your budget. Fortunately, there are more than enough places where you can find them in the UAE. However, Shops.ae is probably the best place to shop for them, as it gives you easy access to thousands of different models for extremely affordable prices. You can also choose from various brands, such as Korg, Roland, Yamaha, Behringer, Arturia, and Waldorf.
