| Synthesizers are electronic, keyboard-based | | | | musical instruments called "midi" was born. Midi is an |
| instruments that produce artificial, or synthesized, | | | | acronym for musical instrument digital interface. |
| sounds. Many frequently mistake synthesizers for | | | | Midi allowed synthesizers made by different |
| simply portable, electronic pianos, but the differences | | | | companies to communicate with each other, which |
| are extremely vast. While synthesizers can definitely | | | | was a huge breakthrough and was responsible for |
| produce a piano sound, their main purpose, usually, is | | | | the explosion of synthesizer use. One of the first |
| to create sounds not specifically found on any other | | | | synthesizers was a "Moog". I remember meeting Bob |
| instrument. | | | | Moog back in the 70's at NAMN - a trade show in |
| The process of creating these sounds is sometimes | | | | Anaheim across the street from Disneyland. More |
| very difficult; while some synthesizers come with | | | | than any other person, Moog had created the first |
| pre-created sounds, or patches, many come with a | | | | usable and affordable synthesizer. Soon companies |
| clean slate. The synthesizers produce sounds by a | | | | such as Roland and Yamaha with deeper pockets |
| series of dials and knobs dedicated to a variety of | | | | came out with more affordable models. I think I |
| aspects: oscillation, modulation, sustain, delay and | | | | bought my first synth in about 1980 - a Roland that I |
| attack, just to name a few. Some synthesizers even | | | | used for probably 10 years before moving on to |
| create sounds based on a patch bay. | | | | something more current. |
| Remember old telephone operators that patched calls | | | | The use of synthesizers quickly developed into an |
| through based on cords and inputs? Some | | | | entirely new genre of music, electronic music, headed |
| synthesizers use the same principle (and are generally | | | | by such veterans as Kraftwerk (who, by the way, |
| used by those with an extremely advanced | | | | are still massively popular). They eventually found |
| knowledge of their workings). And what's more, | | | | their way into almost every branch of 1980s popular |
| many older synthesizers don't offer the option of | | | | music -- which is probably why they fell so far out of |
| saving the sounds created; instead, the user has to | | | | favor. Synthesizers in the mainstream music industry |
| keep detailed records of dial and knob placement, | | | | quickly became associated with 1980s bubblegum |
| being careful to catch every nuance. To recreate a | | | | pop, the very thing that new rock and punk bands |
| sound on these synthesizers is to keep very | | | | were railing against. And even while an electronic |
| meticulous notes. | | | | music scene thrived (and even revolutionized), |
| Synthesizers made their break into popular music | | | | synthesizers became known as the outdated kiss of |
| during the 1970s and 80s when numerous | | | | death for popular, mass-audience intended music. |
| progressive rock bands began using them to create | | | | The late 90s, however, saw a resurgence in the use |
| cosmic, unfamiliar sounds. However, devices from | | | | of synthesizers among underground rock and punk |
| different manufacturers were generally not | | | | bands (ironically enough) and have quickly become |
| compatible with each other and could not be | | | | re-embraced by the popular music industry. |
| interconnected, so eventually a digital standard for | | | | |