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Shopping for a Synthesixer |
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} A synthesizer looks an awful lot like a high tech piano if you are looking at one in a store. It is an instrument that uses many sound generators making wave forms that can be mixed into a wide variety of sound variables. Some of the technology organized into the synthesizers are sub harmonic synthesis. This allows for some of the really great base sounds that you hear in music today. There is also subtractive synthesis. Subtractive synthesis this was made popular by the moog synthesizers of the 1960’s and 70’s. In many cases it is responsible for some of the great string sounds you hear in music today. There is physical modeling synthesis, wavetable, frequency modulation, phase distortion, frequency modulation, granular, sample based and these are only a few of the technological applications inside of the modern synthesizers. Elisha Gray is responsible for the very first synthesizer in 1876. Synthesizers have many components. A good example of the components aboard a modern synthesizer would be ADSR envelopes. ADSR stand for Attack, Decay, Sustain and Release. These are things that are taking place when you hear an instrument of natural sound and the ADSR supplements for this in the synthesizer. There are filters that are controlled by the ADSR and those filters range from low pass filters, high pass filters and band pass filters. LFO is low frequency oscillator. This is an electronic signal that makes sound sweeps and pulses. Synthesizers are usually controlled from a keyboard type surface. There are more modern applications where the synthesizer can be controlled from guitars, drum pads and musical sequencers. If elisha Gray was here today he would be amazed at just how much his creation has influenced music in modern times. The synthesizer has truly revolutionized music recording, sound and performance. It is one of the marvels of modern music.
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