Synthesizer heaven
By Robb
Minimoog panel (From the Collection of Van Taylor Displayed at Buffalo Museum of Science)
The synthesizer is the new kid on the musical block. Although the first electric musical synthesizer was actually invented as early as 1876 by Elisha Gray, it only really came into its own in the latter quarter of the 20th century.
One of the more significant steps towards the modern synthesizer came in 1951–52 when RCA produced a machine called the Electronic Music Synthesizer. It didn’t create the sounds in real time and was viewed more as a composition machine. This was followed in 1957 by the RCA Mark II Sound Synthesizer, the worlds first programmable synthesizer. A beast of a machine, it was installed at the Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center. It featured a fully automated binary sequencer using a paper tape which sent instructions to the 4 note polyphonic synthesizer. The sound was the output to a shellac record lathe next to the synth – not very intuitive or spontaneous, but its potential was soon embraced by various prominent ”modernist” composers including Vladimir Ussachevsky, Otto Luening, Milton Babbitt, Halim El-Dabh, Bülent Arel, Charles Wuorinen, and Mario Davidovsky.
The RCA Mark II Sound Synthesizer
In 1958 the USSR by Yevgeny Murzin developed the first “real time” additive synth, the “ANS” (named in honour of the composer Alexander Nikolayevich Scriabin). Various modular systems were later developed by pioneers like Harold Bode, Robert Moog and Don Buchla. With their masses of knobs and patch chords, they looked like they belonged more in the domain of the mad boffin scientist rather than the musician.
Finally, with the development of miniaturised solid-state components, synthesizers started to become more self contained and portable. Probably the bigest big break through for musicians came in 1971 when Bob Moog introduced one of the first widely available and relatively affordable portable synths – the legendary Minimoog Model D – the analog synthesizer finally came into it’s own and the musical soundscape was changed for ever.
I love synths and, in particular, vintage synths! P robably one of the best places to find these rare beasts is ebay. To help you discover them I’ve made a few listing page for all of the most popular and legendary makers. Use the menu on the left or click on a link below to find you favourite synth manufacturer and see if there’s a bargain to be had.
- Arp Synthesizers
- EDP Synthesizers
- Korg Synthesizers
- Moog synthesizers
- Oberheim Synthesizers
- PPG Synthesizers
- Roland Synthesizer
- Sequential Circuits Synthesizers
- Yamaha synthesizers
Product listing
New Behringer BASS SYNTHESIZER BSY600 Ultimate Bass Synthesizer Effects Pedal
(SYNERGY -Cords)-C2-synthesizer expert Larry Fast-LP
M- Audio Venom Synthesizer
YAMAHA SY55 PIANO/SYNTHESIZER
CHORD MU49 49-KEY USB MIDI KEYBOARD ELECTRONIC PIANO DIGITAL MUSIC SYNTHESIZER
Roland E20 Synthesizer
New Yamaha MOX6 61-Key Semi-Weighted Music Production Synthesizer Keyboard
Korg Kaossilator - Dynamic Phrase Synthesizer
Dave Smith Instruments Prophet 08 PE Keyboard Synthesizer DSI-2128
kenwood stero synthesizer tuner
Korg X5D Synthesiser - With Stand
Korg Microkorg Synthesiser Vocoder Keyboard Micro Midi
Casio synthesizer, keyboard CTK-601
technics stereo synthesizer tuner
Korg MS-02 Vintage Analogue Synthesiser CV Interface
Korg Wavedrum Mini Dynamic Percussion Synthesizer - New boxed
Gator 61 Note Keyboard Synthesiser Bag *NEW* GKB61
Roland XP-10 multitimbral synthesizer, with midi, plus pedal
MC145152 Parallel Input PLL Frequency Synthesizer
Roland SPV-355 pitch voltage synthesiser spv 355 sh 1 2 101 jupiter
Spectrasonics Trilian Bass Synthesizer Plug-in NEW
KORG micro KORG Synthesizer Vocoder BOXED
KORG MICROKORG XL Synthesizer and Vocoder! NEW
ROLAND GAIA SH 01 Synthesizer!! NEW!! 24 hr Delivery!!
Technics Quartz Synthesizer LW/MW/FM Stereo Tuner ST-G460L
KORG Monotron Analog Ribbon Synthesizer! BRAND NEW!!
KORG kaossilator pro dynamic phrase synthesizer.
Vintage yamaha portasound synthesizer keyboard model pss 460 1980s 80s
Analog Percussion Factory - Synthesizer- w/ FSR synth control - USA
Electro-Harmonix MICROSYNTH Analog Synthesizer Pedal
Novation K Station synthesizer
Roland Jv 880 Multi Timbral Synthesizer Module
ARP ODYSSEY Synthesizer Press Advert 1977 Frame ready cutting/clipping
MOOG POLYMOOG Synthesizer Press Advert 1977 A4 size 21x30cm cutting
Hand made Mini Synthesizer Chaotic sound Generator
ROLAND TB 303 SYNTHESIZER MILITARY GREEN T SHIRT S M L XL XXL
Yamaha SY77 synthesizer workstation in excellent condition
Korg PS60 61-Key performance synthesizer (NEW)
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