Synth

A synth is a digital or analog instrument that generates and shapes audio signals vis filters, envelops, and low-frequency oscillators (LFOs). Synths were first heard in music as early as 1964 and have been front-and-center with popular genres like new wave, classic rock, prog rock, and even R&B.

A synth works by sending voltage from an oscillator, which creates a pitch, through filters, which shape the sound of that pitch.

A synth pad (not to be confused with a MIDI controller pad) is a softer synthesizer sound that loosely mimics the sound of gentle strings in an orchestra. It takes the root note and fills out (or pads) the notes around it, giving it a sweet, soft sound. This is in contrast to a synth lead sound, which is a single note with no filler or pad around it.

A synthesizer isn’t a “real instrument” in the way a piano or guitar is, but they are used to create music like any other instrument. Unlike most other instruments, which produce sound via vibrations, synthesizers send controlled voltage through filters to produce sound.

A synthesizer sound can be tweaked to sound like almost anything, from horns to strings to pianos. A synthesizer would likely rely on sampling to best mimic the sound of an acoustic piano.

The sonic qualities that give a synth an ‘80s sound will vary based on who you ask. However, the slightly thin-sounding digital synth called the DX7 by Yamaha was the earliest commercially successful digital synth. It was released in the ‘80s and is largely responsible with shaping the synth sound of the decade.

The best synthesizer for beginners is affordable, well-made, and can grow alongside the player. Popular beginner synth options include the Korg Minilogue XD and the Korg Monologue.

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