Keyboard Synthesizer - Lets You Create Sophisticated Sounds!
A Keyboard Synthesizer provides you with different ways to create extremely sophisticated sounds. Learn more about synthesizers here!
If you look at a keyboard synthesizer, it will look very much like an arranger keyboard!
Most of them come with 61 keys and have a synth action... but thats where most of the comparison ends.
Synthesizers are technically superior instruments, are more expensive and it gives you the capability to manipulate almost any of the parameters associated with the built-in sounds.
Unlike musical keyboards, they do not have built-in accompaniments and speakers; you will need external speakers to generate sounds.
A musical keyboard will also NOT let you tweak the built-in sounds...may be it will let you to a limited extent. Keyboard synthesizers on the other hand will let you do much more. You can create rich, amazing sounds to some extremely wacky ones.
Sound Generating Elements
A synthesizer includes sound generating elements which creates a basic set of audio waveforms.
Now, to create a different sound you should be able to modulate or change these waveforms. This is the reason synthesizers come with so many knobs, sliders and buttons.
These controls let you modulate the basic waveforms so that you can create sounds with totally different patterns. Using the knobs and sliders, you can change the waveforms pitch, frequency, amplitude and other parameters to create entirely new sounds.
The following are some of its features:
It produces waveforms and lets you modulate (change) them to create new audio waveforms
It doesnt contain accompaniments nor do they have built-in speakers
It contains loops, arpeggios and effects
Extremely versatile
Used to create sounds that can be used as sound effects in background scores
Used mostly in studios
Used by lot of keyboardists to play in a band because of their stunning sounds and effects.
How To Add Effects?
You will find this section in all the synths and this is what lets you alter the waveform to produce that different sound.
A particular sound or timbre sounds that way because of the waveform generated and you can change it by altering these four things:
Attack - This is the time taken for a sound to reach its maximum level after a key is pressed.
Decay - This is the rate at which the volume decreases from that maximum level.
Sustain This is the level of the sound while the key remains pressed.
Release this is the duration of the sound after the key is released.
Arpeggiator / Arpeggio Patterns
This is an awesome feature available on synths!
An arpeggiator lets you play a variety of phrases and arpeggio patterns using just one finger!
Some of the synths may provide you with two polyphonic arpeggiators, making it possible to create even more sophisticated patterns!
You may use the two arpeggiators to play two different instruments for instance drums and bass, while you play your chords and melody. This feature gives you amazing power for your live performances.
Most of these synths provide you with numerous patterns to choose from. They even let you create your own original patterns, which you can then store in the internal memory for later use.
Modulation for Sound Creation
Modulation is another important function that lets you create distinct sounds!
It is what lets you create the nuances and articulations for any selected sound, which forms such an important part of the synthesizer artistry.
Modulation means the ability to vary the pitch of any note and to be able to add effects such as vibrato or wah.
The joystick, which you will find on most synths, is one of the most common and the easiest way to freely vary the pitch and apply the various modulation effects.
Synthesizer vs Electronic Keyboard
Now you must have got an idea that a synth is basically a sound-generating machine.
Unlike an Arranger keyboard, it does not contain built-in musical sequences, intros, accompaniments, and fill ins. It contains loops and arpeggios which can be modulated and stored to be played back later.
Synths can produce melody as well as percussion sounds ranging from reed instruments to drums. But its true power is its possibility to create completely new and unheard of sounds.
All these keyboard synthesizers provide you with different ways to create extremely sophisticated sounds. You can choose to either program these in, or you can operate in real time to give your sounds a high degree of expressive life.
Additional Reading
61 Key Synthesizers - Amazing Sounds & Patterns
88 Key Synthesizers - Perfect Balance of Synthesizer and Piano
Learn How to Use the Arpeggio Function on Keyboard Synths
How to Use Multi Pads on Keyboards?
How to Use the Synthesizer Mode on Casio Keyboards?
Professional Synthesizers from Yamaha
Full-Featured Synthesizers from Roland
Great Deals on the Best Keyboard Synthesizers!

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