A Complete Guide to Synthesizers

Synthesizers, often affectionately known as "synths," are electronic musical instruments that generate audio signals through various forms of synthesis. Unlike acoustic instruments that produce sound through physical vibrations, synthesizers create and manipulate sound electronically, offering an unparalleled palette of sonic textures, from realistic instrument emulations to otherworldly soundscapes. 

This comprehensive guide, developed by Joondalup Music Centre in Perth, will navigate the fascinating world of synthesizers, providing insights into their construction materials, exploring prominent brands and models across different musician levels, dissecting the nuances of sound quality, offering practical maintenance advice, and detailing costs for beginners, intermediate players, and seasoned professionals. We will also delve into six essential key features and answer five frequently asked questions in our FAQ section.

Construction Materials

The physical construction of a synthesizer is a blend of electronics, mechanics, and industrial design, all contributing to its functionality, durability, and user experience.

• Chassis and Casing: Synthesizer enclosures are typically made from a variety of materials.
  • Metal (Steel, Aluminium): Higher-end and professional-grade synthesizers often utilise robust metal chassis, particularly steel or aluminium. These materials offer excellent durability, shielding from electromagnetic interference, and a premium feel. Extruded aluminium is common for side panels and some faceplates.
  • Plastic (ABS, Polycarbonate): More affordable and portable synthesizers frequently employ injection-moulded plastic casings, such as ABS or polycarbonate. While lighter and less expensive, the quality of the plastic can vary, impacting perceived durability and road-worthiness. High-quality plastics can still be very robust.
  • Wood: Some synthesizers, particularly those aiming for a vintage aesthetic or premium feel, incorporate wooden end cheeks or full wooden enclosures. These are often made from solid hardwoods like walnut, oak, or mahogany, adding to the instrument's visual appeal and sometimes contributing subtly to acoustic resonance, especially with internal speakers.
• Circuit Boards (PCBs): The internal "brains" of a synthesizer are printed circuit boards (PCBs) populated with a dense array of electronic components. These boards are typically made from fibreglass-reinforced epoxy laminate. The quality of component soldering and board layout is crucial for noise reduction and long-term reliability.
• Keys and Keybeds:
  • Plastic (ABS): The vast majority of synthesizer keys are made from durable ABS plastic.
  • Metal Weights: For a more realistic piano-like feel, keybeds may incorporate metal weights to provide a "hammer action" or "graded hammer action."
  • Felt and Rubber Contacts: Underneath the keys, felt strips reduce noise, and rubber contact strips contain conductive pads that trigger notes when pressed.
• Knobs, Faders, and Buttons:
  • Plastic: Most knobs and fader caps are plastic, with varying degrees of tactile quality.
  • Metal: Premium synthesizers may feature metal-shafted potentiometers and metal-capped knobs for enhanced durability and a more professional feel.
  • Rubber/Silicone: Buttons are often made of durable rubber or silicone for comfortable tactile feedback.
• Display Screens: Modern synthesizers often feature LCD or OLED screens, protected by a clear plastic or glass cover, providing visual feedback on parameters and settings.

Popular Brands & Models

The synthesizer market is incredibly diverse, with numerous brands catering to a wide range of musical styles, budgets, and technical preferences.

Beginner Level:

• Korg MicroKorg: Ultra-portable, battery-powered mini-synths offering hands-on control and specific synthesis types at a very affordable price. Ideal for learning basic synthesis concepts.
• Arturia: Hybrid digital/analogue synthesizers known for their unique oscillator types, expressive keybeds, and deep modulation possibilities, providing excellent value for exploration.
• Behringer "Clones" (e.g., Model D, Crave): Affordable re-creations or interpretations of classic analogue synthesizers, offering authentic vintage sounds at a fraction of the original cost. Great for those wanting a specific vintage sound without the high price tag.
• Roland Boutique Series: Compact, digital recreations of classic Roland synths (e.g., JX-08, JU-06A) offering portability and iconic sounds.

Intermediate Level:

• Korg Mini Monophonic: Korg’s MS-20 monophonic synthesizer, first introduced in 1978, is still a coveted instrument to this day, thanks to its thick, robust sound, its powerful, iconic analog filter, and its versatile patching options.
  Over 300,000 people have enjoyed the distinct MS-20 sounds from the original, from Korg’s MS-20 plug-in synth, and the iMS-20 iPad app.
• Novation Bass Station II: A powerful monophonic/duophonic analogue synthesizer with a deep sound engine, perfect for basslines, leads, and percussive sounds.
• Sequential Take 5: A more compact and affordable polyphonic analogue synthesizer from Sequential (Dave Smith Instruments), delivering a rich, warm sound characteristic of the brand.
• Roland JUNO-X: A modern take on the classic Juno series, combining analogue modelling with digital synthesis and effects, offering versatility for stage and studio.
• Elektron Digitone / Digitakt: Grooveboxes that combine FM synthesis (Digitone) or sampling (Digitakt) with powerful sequencers, offering unique sound design and rhythmic capabilities.

Professional Level:

• Moog One / Moog Matriarch / Subsequent 37: Moog remains a benchmark for analogue synthesis. The Moog One is a flagship polyphonic synth with unparalleled richness and depth, while the Matriarch and Subsequent 37 offer classic Moog sound and hands-on modularity/performance control.
• Sequential Prophet-5 / Prophet-10 / Prophet Rev2: Modern iterations of legendary polyphonic analogue synthesizers, known for their warm, expansive pads, powerful bass, and expressive leads. The Prophet series is an industry standard.
• Oberheim OB-X8 / TEO-5: New synthesizers resurrecting the iconic Oberheim sound – big, brassy, and harmonically rich analogue polyphony, highly sought after for cinematic and classic rock sounds.
• Arturia PolyBrute: A highly expressive 12-voice analogue polyphonic synthesizer with a unique morphing oscillator and extensive modulation matrix, offering immense sound design potential.
• UDO Audio Super 6 / Super Gemini: Hybrid (analogue filters, digital oscillators) polyphonic synthesizers known for their lush, expansive soundscapes, stereo effects, and unique binaural capabilities.
• Nord Lead Series (e.g., Lead A1, Stage 4): Nord synthesizers are virtual analogue and digital instruments celebrated for their intuitive interfaces, superb performance features, and high-quality effects, widely used in live performance.
• Modular Systems (Eurorack): For ultimate customisation and sound exploration, professional musicians and sound designers often build modular systems from various manufacturers (e.g., Mutable Instruments, Make Noise, Doepfer), offering endless sonic possibilities.

Sound Quality

The "sound quality" of a synthesizer is subjective and depends on its architecture, components, and the user's intent. Key factors include:

• Synthesis Engine:
  • Analogue: Often characterised by warmth, subtle imperfections, and organic timbre. True analogue synthesizers use continuous electronic circuits to generate sound.
  • Digital: Offers precision, wider polyphony, and often greater versatility (e.g., FM, wavetable, granular synthesis). Can be clean and pristine or emulate analogue warmth.
  • Hybrid: Combines elements of both, e.g., digital oscillators with analogue filters, aiming for the best of both worlds.
• Oscillator Purity and Stability: The quality of the raw sound waves generated by the oscillators. Analogue oscillators can have subtle drift, contributing to their "character," while digital oscillators are typically perfectly stable.
• Filter Character: The filter is crucial for shaping timbre. Different filter designs (e.g., Moog ladder filter, Roland's IR3109) have distinct sonic footprints, ranging from smooth and creamy to aggressive and biting.
• Envelopes and LFOs: The speed, precision, and range of these modulation sources directly impact how dynamic and expressive a sound can be. Snappy envelopes are essential for percussive sounds, while slow LFOs create evolving textures.
• Effects Section: Onboard effects (reverb, delay, chorus, distortion) can significantly enhance the sound quality and add depth, space, or grit. The quality of these effects processors varies.
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio: How much unwanted electronic noise (hiss, hum) is present in the audio output. Higher-quality components and careful circuit design lead to a cleaner signal.
• Audio Converters: For digital and hybrid synths, the quality of the Digital-to-Analogue Converters (DACs) can influence the final sound's clarity and fidelity.

Maintenance

Synthesizers are generally robust electronic devices, but proper care is essential to ensure their longevity and reliable performance.

• Dust Prevention: Dust is the enemy of electronics. Use a dust cover (fabric or polycarbonate Decksaver) when the synth is not in use. Regularly clean the surface and between knobs/keys with a soft brush or compressed air.
• Environmental Control: Avoid extreme temperatures and humidity fluctuations. Store and operate synthesizers in a stable, temperate environment. Direct sunlight can damage components and finishes.
• Cleanliness: Keep liquids away from the instrument. Clean the casing with a soft, slightly damp cloth (water only) or a specialist electronic cleaner. For keybeds, a lightly dampened cloth is usually sufficient. Avoid abrasive cleaners.
• Knobs and Faders: If knobs or faders become scratchy or noisy, it often indicates dust ingress or wear on the potentiometer. Consult a technician; avoid spraying contact cleaner directly into sensitive electronics unless specifically designed for it and advised by the manufacturer.
• Firmware Updates: Many modern digital and hybrid synthesizers receive firmware updates that add new features, fix bugs, or improve performance. Regularly check the manufacturer's website for updates and follow instructions carefully.
• Cable Management: Use good quality cables and avoid excessive strain on input/output jacks. Coil cables neatly to prevent tangles and damage.
• Professional Servicing: For analogue synthesizers, especially vintage models, periodic calibration by a specialist technician may be necessary to maintain optimal tuning and sound characteristics. For any major issues, professional repair is recommended.

Costs

The cost of synthesizers spans a vast spectrum, from affordable entry-level options to extremely high-end professional instruments.

Beginner Level:

• $100 - $500: This category includes compact desktop modules (e.g., Korg Micro Korg), budget-friendly analogue clones (Behringer), and entry-level digital or hybrid mini-synths (e.g., Arturia MicroFreak, Korg Monologue). These are excellent for learning fundamentals and getting hands-on experience without a significant investment.
• Software Synthesizers (VST/AU plugins): Many excellent software synthesizers are available, some free (e.g., Vital, Surge XT) and some costing $50 - $200+. These are often used with a MIDI controller keyboard and offer incredible power and versatility without the hardware cost.

Intermediate Level:

• $500 - $1,500: This range opens up more powerful instruments with greater polyphony, more extensive sound design capabilities, and higher build quality. Examples include Korg Minilogue XD, Novation Summit/Peak (used), Roland JD-Xi, and some Elektron grooveboxes. These are suitable for musicians looking to integrate synthesis into their production or live setup more seriously.

Professional Level:

• $1,500 - $10,000+: At this level, you find high-end polyphonic analogue synths (Sequential Prophet series, Moog One), advanced digital workstations, and boutique modular systems. These instruments offer unparalleled sound quality, extensive expressive control, premium build quality, and often unique sonic characters. Prices can go well into five figures for large modular setups or rare vintage instruments.

Consider also the cost of accessories such as MIDI controllers, audio interfaces, cables, stands, and potentially a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) for recording and sequencing.

Key Features

Oscillators: The fundamental sound sources of a synthesizer. They generate raw waveforms (sine, square, sawtooth, triangle, pulse) which form the basis of the sound. Modern synths may also feature wavetables, samples, or digital algorithms.

Filters (VCF - Voltage Controlled Filter): Shape the timbre of the sound by selectively removing or boosting frequencies. Common types include low-pass (mellows sound), high-pass (thins sound), band-pass, and notch filters, often with a "resonance" control that boosts frequencies around the cutoff point.

Envelopes (ADSR - Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release): Control how a sound evolves over time.

• Attack: Time for the sound to reach peak volume.
• Decay: Time for the sound to fall from peak to sustain level.
• Sustain: The level at which the sound holds while a key is pressed.
• Release: Time for the sound to fade to silence after the key is released.

Low-Frequency Oscillators (LFOs): Oscillators that operate at sub-audio frequencies, used to modulate other parameters (e.g., pitch for vibrato, volume for tremolo, filter cutoff for sweeps) to add movement and expression to a sound.

Sequencer/Arpeggiator:

• Sequencer: Allows you to record and playback patterns of notes and parameter changes, creating rhythmic and evolving phrases without continuously playing.
• Arpeggiator: Automatically plays individual notes of a held chord in a specified pattern, generating rhythmic melodic lines.

Modulation Matrix: A system that allows you to route various modulation sources (LFOs, envelopes, velocity, aftertouch) to control different parameters (pitch, filter cutoff, volume, effects), enabling complex and expressive sound design.

FAQ Section

Q: What is the main difference between an analogue and a digital synthesizer?

A: Analogue synthesizers use continuous electronic circuits to generate and process sound, often prized for their "warm" and "organic" character with subtle imperfections. Digital synthesizers use digital signal processing to create sound, offering greater precision, polyphony, patch memory, and a wider range of synthesis types, often at a lower cost. Hybrid synths combine aspects of both.

Q: Do I need a keyboard to use a synthesizer?

A: Not necessarily. While many synthesizers have integrated keyboards, many are available as "desktop modules" or "rack units" which do not have a keyboard. These can be controlled via MIDI from a separate MIDI controller keyboard, a computer's DAW, or another MIDI-enabled instrument.

Q: What is "polyphony" in a synthesizer?

A: Polyphony refers to the number of individual notes a synthesizer can play simultaneously. A monophonic synth can only play one note at a time (great for basslines and leads), while a polyphonic synth can play multiple notes, allowing for chords and complex harmonies.

Q: Can synthesizers emulate acoustic instruments?

A: Yes, many synthesizers are capable of emulating acoustic instruments, particularly digital ones with sample-based synthesis or sophisticated physical modelling algorithms. However, a synthesizer's primary strength lies in creating unique sounds that are often impossible to achieve with traditional instruments, and it is usually not purchased solely for its acoustic instrument emulations.

Q: How often should I clean my synthesizer?

A: Regular cleaning is recommended. Dust the surface and between controls frequently with a soft brush or microfibre cloth. For keys and casing, a lightly dampened cloth (with water only) can be used, ensuring it's not overly wet. For internal cleaning or scratchy pots/faders, it's best to consult the manufacturer's guidelines or a professional technician.