synth

A synth, short for synthesizer, is an electronic musical instrument that generates audio signals. Synthesizers can imitate traditional instruments or create new timbres that are difficult to obtain with acoustic sources. The sounds are produced electronically and can be shaped through various forms of control and processing, including keyboard interfaces, controllers, and digital or analog signal paths.

Most synthesizers consist of one or more sound sources, such as oscillators, followed by signal processing modules that sculpt timbre and dynamics. A common approach is subtractive synthesis, where harmonically rich waves are filtered and shaped by envelopes and amplifiers. Modulation sources such as LFOs and envelopes alter sound over time. Interfaces vary from keyboard controllers to modular patches, and devices may be hardware, software, or hybrids, often supporting MIDI, USB, or CV/Gate.

Historically, analog synthesizers emerged in the 1960s–70s with products from Moog, ARP, and EMS, offering programmable voltage-controlled sound generation. The 1980s saw digital and frequency-modulation synthesis popularized by instruments like the DX7. The 1990s and 2000s introduced software synthesizers and virtual instruments, alongside renewed interest in hardware analog designs. Today, approaches include wavetable, granular, physical modeling, and FM synthesis as well as traditional subtractive methods.

Synthesizers are widely used in electronic music, pop, soundtrack scoring, and game audio. They provide precise control over pitch, timbre, and articulation, enabling both emulation of acoustic instruments and exploration of novel sounds.