Digital synthesizer

A synthesizer which produces its output using digital computing and processing techniques. In a typical modern digital synth, the signal is not converted to analog form until it is ready to be output, although some early designs were digital-analog hybrids. Unlike analog synthesizers, nearly all of which employ subtractive synthesis, digital synthesizers may employ a number of different synthesis techniques, depending on the design.

Types of digital synthesizers

• Analog modeling synthesizer
• Distortion synthesis
• Frequency modulation synthesis
• Guitar synthesizer
• Phase distortion synthesis
• Linear Arithmetic synthesis
• Physical modelling synthesis
  • Banded waveguide synthesis
  • Digital waveguide synthesis
  • Formant synthesis
  • Karplus–Strong string synthesis
• Sample-based synthesis or Sampler (musical instrument)
  • Concatenative synthesis
  • Granular synthesis
  • Table-lookup synthesis
  • Vector synthesis
  • Wavetable synthesis
• RCA Synthesizer
• Scanned synthesis
• Software synthesizer
• Virtual analog synthesizer
• Analog/digital hybrid synthesizer

Best-selling digital synthesizers

Rank	Synthesizer	Manufacturer	Release	Unit sales	Ref
1	Korg Triton	Korg	1999	300,000
2	MicroKORG	Korg	2002	300,000
3	Korg M1	Korg	1988	250,000
4	Roland D-50	Roland	1987	200,000
5	Yamaha DX7	Yamaha	1983	160,000
6	Korg 01/W	Korg	1991	100,000
7	Roland MC-303	Roland	1996	50,000+
8	ESQ-1	Ensoniq	1986	50,000
9	Mirage	Ensoniq	1984	30,000
10	Akai S1000	Akai	1988	22,000
11	Korg Wavestation	Korg	1990	14,000
12	Emulator III	E-mu	1987	3,200
13	Kurzweil K250	Kurzweil	1984	3,000
14	Emulator II	E-mu	1984	3,000
15	Korg OASYS	Korg	2005	3,000
16	Synclavier	New England	1977	1,600

History

Digital synthesis has roots in the 1950s, when programs had to run on large mainframe computers all night to produce a few minutes' worth of output. See Computer music.

It was not until the 1970s that real-time digital synthesis became practical. Yamaha built the first prototype digital synthesizer in 1974, based on frequency modulation (FM) synthesis. Released in 1979, the Casio VL-1 was the first commercial digital synthesizer, selling for $69.95. Another early commercially produced digital synthesizer was the Fairlight CMI, introduced in 1979.

Yamaha eventually commercialized their FM synthesis technology and released the first FM digital synthesizer in 1980, the Yamaha GS-1, but at an expensive retail price of $16,000. Introduced in 1983, the Yamaha DX7 was the breakthrough digital synthesizer to have a major impact, both innovative and affordable, and thus spelling the decline of analog synthesizers. It used FM synthesis and its price was around $2,000, putting it within range of a much larger number of musicians.