List of synthesizers explained

The following is a list of notable synthesizers.

!Year!Manufacturer!Synthesizer!Notes!Ref.
1963BuchlaBuchla Model 100 Series[1]
1965Moog MusicMoog synthesizerFirst commercial synthesizer[2]
1970Moog MusicMinimoogFirst synthesizer sold in retail stores[3] [4]
1970BuchlaBuchla Series 200
1978Sequential CircuitsProphet-5First fully programmable polyphonic synthesizer[5]
2008Dave Smith InstrumentsProphet '08[6]
2017Dave Smith InstrumentsProphet Rev 2[7]
1983YamahaDX7First commercially successful digital synthesizer
1987YamahaDX7II[8]
1983YamahaDX1
1987YamahaTX81Z
1988YamahaDX11
1985YamahaDX21
1981RolandTB-303Important to the development of acid house[9]
1982RolandSH-101
1982RolandJuno-6 / Juno-60[10]
1981RolandJupiter-8[11]
1983RolandJX-3P
1984RolandJuno-106
1985RolandAlpha Juno[12]
1987RolandD-50First synthesizer with digital reverb[13]
1991RolandJD-800[14]
1981KorgPolysix
1980OberheimOB-Xa[15]
1988KorgM1Bestselling synthesizer in history[16]
1990KorgWavestation
1979FairlightFairlight CMI
1971ARPARP 2600
1972ARPARP OdysseyFirst duophonic synthesizer (capable of playing two notes at once)
1975Moog MusicPolymoog[17]
1969EMSVCS3
1976YamahaCS-80
1978KorgMS-20
1981PPGWave
1991Korg01/W[18]
1997Propellerhead SoftwareReBirthOne of the first software synthesizers that could be played in real time via MIDI[19]
1996RolandJP-8000Supersaw technology helped popularise trance music.[20]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Buchla 200e: Part 1. 2020-08-08. www.soundonsound.com.
  2. Web site: Hey, what's that sound: Moog synthesisers. McNamee. David. 2 August 2010. The Guardian. en. 8 January 2020.
  3. Book: PINCH. T. J.. Analog Days: The Invention and Impact of the Moog Synthesizer. Trocco. Frank. Pinch. T. J.. 2009-06-30. Harvard University Press. 9780674042162. en.
  4. News: Robert Moog Dies; Created Electronic Synthesizer. Bernstein. Adam. . 2005-08-23. 2018-12-03. en-US. 0190-8286.
  5. Web site: The 14 most important synths in electronic music history – and the musicians who use them. 2016-09-15. FACT Magazine: Transmissions from the underground. en-US. 2020-01-20.
  6. Web site: Dave Smith Instruments Prophet 08. 2021-05-01. www.soundonsound.com.
  7. Web site: Dave Smith Instruments Prophet Rev 2. 2021-05-01. www.soundonsound.com.
  8. Book: Vail, Mark. The Synthesizer. Oxford University Press. 2014. 978-0195394894. 59.
  9. News: The world's most famous electronic instrument is back. Will anyone buy the reissued TB-303?. Hamill. Jasper. Forbes. 2018-03-26. en.
  10. Web site: The Roland Juno Series - Back To The Future. 2016-07-15. MusicTech. en-GB. 2020-01-28.
  11. Web site: The History Of Roland: Part 2. www.soundonsound.com. 2020-01-28.
  12. Web site: Roland Alpha Juno 1 & 2. 2020-11-12. www.soundonsound.com.
  13. Web site: The History Of Roland: Part 3. www.soundonsound.com. 2020-07-15.
  14. Web site: The 10 greatest synthesizers of all time. Solida 2018-11-05T11:10:00Z. Scot. MusicRadar. en. 2020-05-04.
  15. Web site: The 10 greatest synthesizers of all time. Solida 2018-11-05T11:10:00Z. Scot. MusicRadar. en. 2020-01-20.
  16. Web site: Korg M1 (Retrozone). Vail. Mark. February 2002. Sound on Sound. 6 November 2019.
  17. Web site: Moog Polymoog. July 1998. Sound on Sound. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150524115105/http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jun98/articles/polymoog.html. 2015-05-24. 2020-01-20.
  18. Web site: The History Of Korg: Part 2. 2022-01-03. www.soundonsound.com.
  19. Book: Vail, Mark. The Synthesizer. Oxford University Press. 2014. 978-0195394894.
  20. Web site: Scarth . Greg . 2014-11-24 . Ten Of The Best: First Vintage Synths . 2022-12-03 . Attack Magazine . en-US.

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