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A synthesizer is an electric keyboard type instrument that looks a little like a portable electric piano. The big difference is that a synthesizer is capable of creating sounds that can't be found on any other instrument. Often they will come with pre-created sounds, but can also be had with a "clean slate". It is equipped with dials and knobs used for fine tuning the sounds. A few of the aspects are modulation, sustaining, delays,oscillating, and attack sounds. The older models weren't equipped for saving the sounds created, therefore the user had to keep meticulous notes of each dial and knob placement for creating the sound. In the 70's and 80's progressive rock bands were fond of using the synthesizer for the unique and unfamiliar sounds it gave their music. The downside was that the earlier equipment was not cross compatible with other devices, so therefore the "midi" synthesizer was born. It allowed synthesizers made by different companies to interact with each other, and the use of synthesizers in the music industry exploded. One of the most popular was one that was created by musician Bob Moog, appropriately called the Moog synthesizer. The companies Roland and Yamaha jumped on board and created a more affordable model. The synthesizer brought about what is called "electronic music'.
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