The synthesizer is one of the most transformative inventions in modern music, reshaping sound creation, performance, and production since its emergence in the 20th century.
The roots of the synthesizer trace back to the early 20th century, when inventors experimented with electronic sound. Instruments like the Theremin (1920) and the Ondes Martenot (1928) hinted at the possibilities of electronically generated tones.
However, the first true synthesizers emerged in the 1950s and 1960s, when engineers such as Robert Moog and Don Buchla developed modular systems that allowed musicians to shape sound through voltage-controlled oscillators, filters, and amplifiers. By the late 1960s, Moog's synthesizers gained prominence in popular music, notably through Wendy Carlos's Switched-On Bach (1968), which demonstrated the instrument's expressive potential.
A synthesizer generates sound electronically rather than acoustically. Its core components include oscillators (VCOs), which produce raw waveforms such as sine, square, and sawtooth; filters (VCFs), which shape timbre by cutting or boosting frequencies; amplifiers (VCAs), which control loudness and dynamics; envelopes (ADSR), which define how a sound evolves (attack, decay, sustain, release); and low-frequency oscillators (LFOs), which modulate parameters like pitch or volume for vibrato, tremolo, or rhythmic effects. These building blocks enable different synthesis methods, including subtractive, additive, frequency modulation (FM), and wavetable synthesis.
From the 1960s through the 1970s, modular synthesizers gave way to more portable instruments like the Minimoog (1970), which revolutionized live performance. In the 1980s, the rise of digital synthesizers (Yamaha DX7) introduced FM synthesis and preset-driven sound design, making synths more accessible. From the 1990s through the 2000s, software synthesizers and virtual instruments gained widespread adoption and were integrated into digital audio workstations (DAWs). Today, hybrid instruments combine analog warmth with digital precision, while modular synthesis has experienced a resurgence among enthusiasts.
Synthesizers have profoundly shaped music genres from progressive rock and disco to hip-hop, techno, and pop. They enabled entirely new soundscapes, from Kraftwerk's pioneering electronic music to the lush textures of 1980s synth-pop. Beyond popular music, synthesizers play a central role in film scoring, experimental composition, and sound design, shaping how audiences experience media.
Synthesizer clones, affordable recreations of classic instruments, have become a trend. Companies like Behringer, Korg, and Moog have reissued or replicated iconic models such as the ARP 2600, Roland TB-303, and Minimoog. These clones balance nostalgia and accessibility, allowing new generations of musicians to experience legendary sounds without the prohibitive cost of vintage gear. While often controversial in the industry, clones have undeniably expanded access to historically important instruments.
You will find several online resources below offering information or instruction on synthesizers, although e-commerce sites offering the instruments for sale would be listed in our Musical Instruments category within our Shopping & eCommerce section.
Recommended Resources
L&M: A Complete Guide to Synthesizers
Provided by Long & McQuade, a large Canadian musical instrument retailer with a network of stores, this guide may not, in fact, be a "complete guide." Still, it does answer several synthesizer-related questions, such as what a synthesizer is, the different types of synthesizers and their differences, how they work, the differences between analog and digital synthesizers, software editors and plugins, and recommendations for synthesizers at various levels of musician experience.
https://www.long-mcquade.com/blog/1089/A-Complete-Guide-to-Synthesizers.htm
Moog Music Inc. is a US maker of synthesizers and electronic musical instruments known for pioneering commercial synthesis and hands-on analog designs. Founded by Robert Moog in 1953, the company was originally named R.A. Moog Company and took its current name in 1972. Early landmark instruments include the original Moog synthesizer and the Minimoog, both of which have been highly influential in electronic music. Sold in the 1970s, the trademark returned to Moog's company in the early 2000s.
https://www.moogmusic.com/
Synth Anatomy is an online music technology publication focused on synthesizers, music gear, plugins, and related news, reviews, deals, and events. It publishes short news pieces, hands-on hardware and software reviews, and coverage of synth-focused events. Its intended audience includes synth enthusiasts, sound designers, producers, and gear shoppers looking for quick news and detailed reviews. Its tone is informational and gear-focused with a mix of brief news and longer reviews.
https://synthanatomy.com/
An independent magazine and editorial project focused on synthesizers, synth pioneers, and the technology and culture around electronic instruments, Synth History offers both printed and electronic publications, although its printed version is typically a short-run, often staple-bound or saddle-stitched magazine or booklet. Its main content areas include long-form interviews, podcast episodes, music playlists, and an archive of past articles, interviews, and features.
https://www.synthhistory.com/
The independent online magazine covers synthesizers, sound design, and the culture of electronic music. Its tone features gear-focused reviews, artist profiles, tutorials, and video-driven deep dives, all aimed at synth enthusiasts and producers. Readers can start by watching video demos to hear gear in context, read text reviews that complement the demos, and then browse by tag. Artist features provide workflow inspiration and generative/sequencing techniques.
https://synthmagazine.com/
Synthtopia is an online magazine focused on synthesizers and electronic music, offering news, gear reviews, software updates, interviews, and historical articles about electronic instruments. Its content areas include product announcements, company updates, and industry events, along with reviews of hardware and software synths, effects, and virtual instruments. Also included are in-depth explorations of classic instruments and synth history, practical how-to tips, and innovative patch ideas.
https://www.synthtopia.com/
Created in 1996 by Matt Friedman, a music, film, and elevision industry professional, Vintage Synth Explorer is an online resource and community site focused on synthesizers, drum machines, and related gear. It offers gear browsing, a SynthFinder to help users pick instruments, articles and news, reviews, and community forums, along with a marketplace for buying and selling gear. Users can begin with the SynthFinder to determine the sound or features they want.
https://vintagesynth.com/
The Web Synths Collection is a curated online playground of browser-based musical instruments and music-creation tools. It lists dozens of playable web synths, samplers, sequencers, piano apps, and educational audio experiments. Each entry is named with its author/tool and short tags (e.g., polyphonic, MIDI, sequencer, academic) so that visitors can quickly find playable web instruments and demos. Playtronica curates the collection in collaboration with Chromatone.
https://synth.playtronica.com/
