How the analog synthesizer makes its sound
In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the analog synthesizer belongs to the electrophones: sound is produced or shaped electronically – synthesizers, the theremin and electric organs.
Press play above and watch the spectrum: the evenly spaced peaks are harmonics, and their relative strength is what gives the instrument its character.
From Wikipedia
An analog synthesizer (British English: analogue synthesiser) is a synthesizer that uses analog circuits and analog signals to generate sound electronically.
The earliest analog synthesizers in the 1920s and 1930s, such as the Trautonium, were built with a variety of vacuum-tube (thermionic valve) and electro-mechanical technologies. After the 1960s, analog synthesizers were built using operational amplifier (op-amp) integrated circuits, and used potentiometers (pots, or variable resistors) to adjust the sound parameters. Analog synthesizers also use low-pass filters and high-pass filters to modify the sound. While 1960s-era analog synthesizers such as the Moog used a number of independent electronic modules connected by patch cables, later analog synthesizers such as the Minimoog integrated them into single units, eliminating patch cords in favour of integrated signal routing systems.
Other electrophones
Questions people ask
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Frequently asked questions
What does an analog synthesizer sound like?
As one of the electrophones, its sound comes from the way sound is produced or shaped electronically.
What type of instrument is the analog synthesizer?
It is classified as electrophones (Hornbostel–Sachs 531).
Sources & credits
- Wikidata Q3268757 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Analog synthesizer – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Image by Captnapalm – CC BY-SA 3.0