synths

Synths, short for synthesizers, are electronic musical instruments that generate and shape sound using electrical circuits, software, or both. They produce audio signals that can be modified by controllers and signal processing modules, rather than relying on acoustic vibration alone.

Most synthesizers generate sound with oscillators, which produce basic waveforms such as sine, square, triangle, and sawtooth. These signals can be altered by filters to change timbre, and by amplifiers and envelopes to control loudness and articulation. Additional components include low-frequency oscillators (LFOs) for periodic modulation, and a modulation matrix or routings that connect modules in various ways. Many synths include built-in effects, sequencers, or arpeggiators.

Historically, early analog synthesizers in the 1960s and 1970s used voltage-controlled oscillators, filters, and amplifiers (VCOs, VCFs, and VCAs) and required patch cables in modular systems. The development of digital signal processing and sampler technology expanded the family of sounds, while virtual-analog software models and hybrid hardware/software synths broadened access. MIDI, introduced in 1983, standardized note and control data between instruments and computers.

Common categories include subtractive synthesizers, which sculpt harmonic content with filters; additive synthesizers, which build sound from partials; FM (frequency modulation) and convolution and wavetable synths; as well as modular systems that allow user-defined signal routing. Synths can be hardware devices, software programs (soft synths), or combinations of both.

Interfaces include keyboards, ribbon controllers, touchpads, and knobs; many synths are controlled by MIDI or CV/GATE in modular contexts. They remain widely used in music production, film scoring, and live performance for their ability to produce a broad range of timbres, from classic basses and leads to evolving textures and experimental sounds.