Synthesizers (music)
Synthesizers are electronic musical instruments that generate audio signals to create sounds, often imitating traditional instruments or producing entirely novel sounds. The evolution of synthesizers began with analog models in the early 1960s, known for their distinctive, non-realistic sound effects, which paved the way for innovative musical exploration. Throughout the 1970s, advancements in technology allowed for polyphonic capabilities, enabling multiple notes to be played simultaneously, as well as more realistic sound generation.
The 1980s marked a significant turning point with the introduction of affordable synthesizers from companies like Casio, Yamaha, and Roland, making these instruments widely accessible to the public. This era also saw the advent of digital sampling, allowing musicians to record and manipulate real instrument sounds, further enriching the musical palette. The establishment of the Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) in 1983 standardized connections between synthesizers and other devices, enhancing interconnectivity in music production.
As synthesizers gained popularity, they contributed to the emergence of new music genres such as synthpop and New Age. Their presence extended beyond professional settings, with homes and churches adopting synthesizers as versatile alternatives to traditional instruments, reflecting a shift in musical culture and accessibility.
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Synthesizers (music)
Electronic devices for producing and manipulating sound, especially music
Synthesizers became common in popular music during the 1980’s in genres ranging from rock to country, as well as classical, stage, and sound track music.
Analog synthesizers had existed since the early 1960’s. While their sound was not realistic, it created unique musical effects that opened up new avenues of experimentation for composers and performers. Nevertheless, analog synthesizers were able to produce only one note at a time. Technologies developed in the 1970’s made synthesizers capable of polyphony and of more realistic sounds, but the initial versions were expensive. The 1980’s saw these technologies become practical and affordable.
Companies such as Casio, Yamaha, Roland, Kurzweil, and Korg pioneered the decade’s new synthesizer technologies, dominating the industry. Casio and Yamaha broke into the retail-priced keyboard market in 1980. Korg introduced the first mid-level polyphonic synthesizer in 1981. Yamaha took its place in the music industry by licensing the technology for frequency-modulated (FM) synthesis from Stanford University, achieving more realistic sounds by combining waveforms.
Another breakthrough of the decade was digital music sampling. The same digital technology that recorded compact discs was used to record “samples” of real instrument sounds. Kurzweil introduced the first sampling keyboard in 1983, but Roland’s version, released in 1985, was both more affordable and more nuanced, closely mimicking the sound of a real piano. Casio released a low-end sampling keyboard in 1986.
As digital music evolved, interconnectivity became a concern. In 1983, the industry-wide Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) standardized interfaces and data formats, so users could connect synthesizers, keyboards, computers, and other devices to one another. MIDI would be updated to deal with newer problems and technologies.
Impact
Gradually, these new technologies removed the stigma once attached to electronic instruments. New genres, such as synthpop and New Age music, specialized in the use of synthesizers. In 1981, composer Vangelis produced the entire sound track to the film Chariots of Fire with a synthesizer. After his success with Cats (pr. 1982), theatrical composer Andrew Lloyd Webber continued to use synthesizers in his shows and adopted a digital piano as his instrument of choice for composing. Sampling also became a crucial technology, as artists learned to manipulate sampled sounds, especially voices and snippets of other musicians’ work, to create new musical effects.
During the 1980’s, synthesizers became commonly accessible and used by average people. Churches began purchasing them in place of organs. Where musical instruments had previously been relegated to specialty stores, department stores and electronics stores began dedicating shelf space to synthesizers. More affordable, portable, and space-saving than pianos, the instruments were frequently found in homes. Many products were marketed encouraging people to teach themselves how to play keyboard instruments with computerized assistance.
Bibliography
Friedman, Dean. Complete Guide to Synthesizers, Sequencers, and Drum Machines. London: Music Sales, 1985.
Jenkins, Mark. Analog Synthesizers: Understanding, Performing, Buying—From the Legacy of Moog to Software Synthesis. St. Louis: Focus Press, 2007.
Russ, Martin. Sound Synthesis and Sampling. 2d ed. St. Louis: Focal Press, 2004.