MI: LIBRARY: INSTRUMENTS: KEYBOARDS: SYNTHESIZERS

History
Synthesizers made their debut in the USA during the 1960’s. Older instruments have analog controls and use very simple circuits to produce their wide array of sounds. However, more modern instruments utilize digital controls and very complex, sophisticated circuits.

Description
Since their development, synthesizers have enjoyed a growing sucess and can not only take on jobs such as orchestrating a pop song, but do things like perform as soloists. They can play the entire audible spectrum with countless special effects. They are particularly famous in pop music, where they are not only great for creating songs, but can also perform the entire song with the exception of the vocals.

Synthesizer Variations
Electronic keyboard: Electronic keyboards are not to be confused with digital pianos. They generally do not have weighted keys and have many more effects like a synthesizer, as opposed to a digital piano. The electronic keyboard was originally made and sold during the 1940’s, and is designed to allow any musician, or non-musician, to create a small “one-man band” in their home, with only one instrument.
Digital sampler: Digital samplers didn’t appear until the 1980’s, because they needed complex computer-like systems to run them. They work by recording “samples” of sounds and then replaying them at the desired pitch. They are played back with a keyboard or other controller (electric instrument or control) that tells the sampler at what pitch and such to play the sample.