Synthesizers are electronic, keyboard-based instruments that produce artificial or synthesized sounds. Often, many mistake synthesizers for simply portable, electronic pianos, but the differences are very great. While synthesizers can definitely produce a sound of piano, its main goal, so general, is to create sounds not specifically found in any other instrument.

The process of creating these sounds is sometimes very difficult, while some synthesizers come with pre-created sounds, or patches, many come with a clean slate. The synthesizers produce sounds by a series of dials and buttons dedicated to a variety of aspects: oscillation, modulation, sustain, delay and attack, just to name a few. Some synthesizers even create sounds based on patch bay.

Remember the old telephone operators called connected through wires and on the basis of inputs? Some synthesizers use the same principle (and generally are used by those with very advanced knowledge of its operation). What's more, many older synthesizers do not offer the option to save the sounds created, but the user has to keep detailed records of dial and knob placement, being careful to capture every nuance. To recreate the sound of these synthesizers is to keep meticulous notes.

Synthesizers made the break in popular music during the 1970s and 80s when many progressive rock bands began to use to create cosmic, unfamiliar sounds. However, devices from different manufacturers were generally not compatible each other and can not be interconnected, so eventually a digital standard for musical instruments called "midi born. Midi is an acronym for the musical instrument digital interface.

Midi allowed synthesizers made by different companies to communicate with each other, which was a breakthrough and was responsible the explosion of synthesizer use. One of the first synthesizers was a "Moog". I remember meeting Bob Moog again on the agenda 70 in nAMn – a trade Anaheim Street in Disneyland. More than any other person, had created the Moog synthesizer usable and accessible first. Soon companies such as Roland and Yamaha with deeper pockets came out with more affordable models. I think I bought my first synthesizer from around 1980 – a Roland that used for probably 10 years before moving on to something more current.

The use of synthesizers quickly developed into an entirely new genre of music, electronic music, led by veterans like Kraftwerk (who, incidentally, are still massively popular). They eventually found their way into nearly every branch of popular music 1980 – which is probably why we fell so far into disuse. Synthesizers the mainstream music industry quickly became associated with 1980s bubblegum pop, as well as new rock bands punk is railing against. And while electronic music scene thrived (and even revolutionized), synthesizers is known as the kiss of death for popular obsolete, target-mass of music.

Late 90s, however, saw a resurgence in the use of synthesizers among underground rock bands and punk (ironically) and have quickly become re-adopted by the popular music industry.

Duane Shinn is the author of the popular online newsletter on piano chords, available free at Exciting Piano Chords & Chord Progressions

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