Keyboards and Synthesizers

storey · 12-28-2005, 11:44 AM

A straight-forward question:

Is there a difference between a modern keyboard and a modern synthesizer? When I say keyboard, I am referring to the entire musical unit - not just the strip of keys that reside on it. I ask because I have seen many definitions of the two words, but they both sound very similar.

There are a couple of other related questions I would like answered, but they would be better waiting until I know if there is a difference between a modern keyboard and a modern synthesizer first.

Thanks in advance for any help.

deadlikeme222 · 12-28-2005, 12:36 PM

well a modern keyboard has an arranged sound of instruments on it....the standard liek guitar and horns and organs and pianos and electic pianos and what not. As with a synthesizer it has all these but contains effects and ways to change the sound of the assigned instrument, such as pitches, filters, reverbs etc.

hope that helped

pohl_56 · 12-28-2005, 12:40 PM

In my opinion, A keyboard is an array of different voices (piano, elec piano, harp, etc...) and you can do a lot of things with them.

A synth, on the other hand, is just a thing that you can produce your own sounds and stuff like that.

In current times, the two seem to have merged and you can buy a keyboard with a built in synth.

Hope this helps, at least a littel maybe.

storey · 12-28-2005, 01:21 PM

Ah, a big thanks to you both. Looks like I'll be buying a keyboard with a built-in synth sometime in the future.

I take it that all those weird and wonderful sounds woven into the music of Depeche Mode and NIN all spawn from the use of a synthesizer. No need for other questions, then!

Cheers.

storey · 12-28-2005, 02:31 PM

Actually, here is another question (phrased three times):

How do you transfer sounds from one keyboard/synthesiser to another? What if the two units come from totally different makes? How do modern synth bands manage to keep their live performances sounding the same year after year of changing equipment?

Again, thanks in advance for any help.

pohl_56 · 12-28-2005, 10:34 PM

Hmmmm... Not sure if I can help any on this one but will try.

I would imagine that if there is a USB cable on it or MIDI capabilities, you would be able to use those or run it to a computer and then to the next console. Is this making any sense at all suz I think I am rambling again. Hope that wasnt too bad...

LivingDeadBoy · 12-28-2005, 10:53 PM

Let's just establish a basic sound form. Each sound is a wavetype, repeated at a certain frequency. This means, that any sound out there that you hear is just one or more types of waves (sine, saw, square, etc.) put together. The frequency of the wave(the speed) is merely the pitch.

An envelope (pitch, or volume or whatever) is just a graph that a sound parameter follows. The graph is usually designed as ADSR (Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release). You can read up more about this on the net.

Now onto the question:

A keyboard contains presets that already have the types of sounds programmed in. It already has prototypes of pianos, organs and a myriad of other sounds programmed in it. Often keyboard allow to mix these presets together. But this limits us to a certain amount of sounds (even 182 is a limit), that may or may not please us.

Thats why there are Synths. Synths still have presets of various sounds, but they also allow the user to make sounds from scratch. That is, selecting your waveforms, envelopes, lfo's, and various other fun things.

What is better for a band might you ask? To say the trust, this is my honest opinion: Synths.

Why? Well, the keyboard limits you to what the manufacturer thought would be good for you. Synths give you freedom. But, beware, programming a synth not only will take hours of reading a boring manual, but also the same amount of reading/learning/experimenting music theory/sound theory.

About the next question of transfering sounds between different makes. Well, As I said above, every sound is just a mix of waveform with filters/envolopes/lfo's applied to it. So to transfer a sound, you would just basically reprogram a sound with the same parameters on a different synth without needing any digital transfer proccesses.

This also leads me to a point of saying that synths will sound a bit different. "You moron, you are contradicting yourself now," might you say. But listen up my friend, the reason they might sound different is not because a sound wave such as a sine will decide to go out for a smoke and ask the square to guard for him, but rather because of how those soundwaves are generated.

There are two types of generation: Analog and Digital. Analog makes a sound by running it through a circuit designated to make that waveform. Digital on the other hand has a microchip in it that will make the sound.

I hope I have answered your question, if anyone wants me to write a guide about music gear/technicalities just ask, I love talking

and I know some stuff.

storey · 12-29-2005, 05:03 AM

pohl_56, LivingDeadBoy... THANK YOU!

I have copied and pasted all replies from this thread into a text file for future reference. You have both made it much clearer how these things work.

Cheers!

Firecracker · 12-29-2005, 02:06 PM

I want one of each.

LivingDeadBoy · 12-29-2005, 02:21 PM

No reason to. I own an expensive casio keyboard, and an ensoniq (esq1) synth from the 80's. Me and my dad rpefer to use the synth with external fx applied on it, rather than the keyboard.

Firecracker · 12-29-2005, 02:40 PM

I want a Jordan Rudess Continuum in an ideal world. And a keyboard.
Synth wouldn't be needed then with those.

pohl_56 · 12-29-2005, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by storey

pohl_56, LivingDeadBoy... THANK YOU!

I have copied and pasted all replies from this thread into a text file for future reference. You have both made it much clearer how these things work.

Cheers!

Glad to of helped

pohl_56 · 12-29-2005, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivingDeadBoy

No reason to. I own an expensive casio keyboard, and an ensoniq (esq1) synth from the 80's. Me and my dad rpefer to use the synth with external fx applied on it, rather than the keyboard.

What kinda Casio Keyboard do you have?

12-28-2005, 11:44 AM	#1
storey Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 11	Keyboards and Synthesizers A straight-forward question: Is there a difference between a modern keyboard and a modern synthesizer? When I say keyboard, I am referring to the entire musical unit - not just the strip of keys that reside on it. I ask because I have seen many definitions of the two words, but they both sound very similar. There are a couple of other related questions I would like answered, but they would be better waiting until I know if there is a difference between a modern keyboard and a modern synthesizer first. Thanks in advance for any help.

12-29-2005, 02:06 PM	#9
Firecracker hoh ee Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Brighton, UK Posts: 14,062	I want one of each.
	Digging: Relient K - Forget and Not Slow Down

12-29-2005, 02:40 PM	#11
Firecracker hoh ee Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Brighton, UK Posts: 14,062	I want a Jordan Rudess Continuum in an ideal world. And a keyboard. Synth wouldn't be needed then with those.
	Digging: Relient K - Forget and Not Slow Down

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12-28-2005, 12:36 PM	#2
deadlikeme222 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: florida Posts: 23	well a modern keyboard has an arranged sound of instruments on it....the standard liek guitar and horns and organs and pianos and electic pianos and what not. As with a synthesizer it has all these but contains effects and ways to change the sound of the assigned instrument, such as pitches, filters, reverbs etc. hope that helped

12-28-2005, 12:40 PM	#3
pohl_56 Rock'N Roller Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 961	In my opinion, A keyboard is an array of different voices (piano, elec piano, harp, etc...) and you can do a lot of things with them. A synth, on the other hand, is just a thing that you can produce your own sounds and stuff like that. In current times, the two seem to have merged and you can buy a keyboard with a built in synth. Hope this helps, at least a littel maybe.

12-28-2005, 01:21 PM	#4
storey Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 11	Ah, a big thanks to you both. Looks like I'll be buying a keyboard with a built-in synth sometime in the future. I take it that all those weird and wonderful sounds woven into the music of Depeche Mode and NIN all spawn from the use of a synthesizer. No need for other questions, then! Cheers.

12-28-2005, 02:31 PM	#5
storey Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 11	Actually, here is another question (phrased three times): How do you transfer sounds from one keyboard/synthesiser to another? What if the two units come from totally different makes? How do modern synth bands manage to keep their live performances sounding the same year after year of changing equipment? Again, thanks in advance for any help.

12-28-2005, 10:34 PM	#6
pohl_56 Rock'N Roller Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 961	Hmmmm... Not sure if I can help any on this one but will try. I would imagine that if there is a USB cable on it or MIDI capabilities, you would be able to use those or run it to a computer and then to the next console. Is this making any sense at all suz I think I am rambling again. Hope that wasnt too bad...

12-28-2005, 10:53 PM	#7
LivingDeadBoy Indie-Kid Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Toronto Posts: 776	Let's just establish a basic sound form. Each sound is a wavetype, repeated at a certain frequency. This means, that any sound out there that you hear is just one or more types of waves (sine, saw, square, etc.) put together. The frequency of the wave(the speed) is merely the pitch. An envelope (pitch, or volume or whatever) is just a graph that a sound parameter follows. The graph is usually designed as ADSR (Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release). You can read up more about this on the net. Now onto the question: A keyboard contains presets that already have the types of sounds programmed in. It already has prototypes of pianos, organs and a myriad of other sounds programmed in it. Often keyboard allow to mix these presets together. But this limits us to a certain amount of sounds (even 182 is a limit), that may or may not please us. Thats why there are Synths. Synths still have presets of various sounds, but they also allow the user to make sounds from scratch. That is, selecting your waveforms, envelopes, lfo's, and various other fun things. What is better for a band might you ask? To say the trust, this is my honest opinion: Synths. Why? Well, the keyboard limits you to what the manufacturer thought would be good for you. Synths give you freedom. But, beware, programming a synth not only will take hours of reading a boring manual, but also the same amount of reading/learning/experimenting music theory/sound theory. About the next question of transfering sounds between different makes. Well, As I said above, every sound is just a mix of waveform with filters/envolopes/lfo's applied to it. So to transfer a sound, you would just basically reprogram a sound with the same parameters on a different synth without needing any digital transfer proccesses. This also leads me to a point of saying that synths will sound a bit different. "You moron, you are contradicting yourself now," might you say. But listen up my friend, the reason they might sound different is not because a sound wave such as a sine will decide to go out for a smoke and ask the square to guard for him, but rather because of how those soundwaves are generated. There are two types of generation: Analog and Digital. Analog makes a sound by running it through a circuit designated to make that waveform. Digital on the other hand has a microchip in it that will make the sound. I hope I have answered your question, if anyone wants me to write a guide about music gear/technicalities just ask, I love talking and I know some stuff.

12-29-2005, 05:03 AM	#8
storey Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 11	pohl_56, LivingDeadBoy... THANK YOU! I have copied and pasted all replies from this thread into a text file for future reference. You have both made it much clearer how these things work. Cheers!

12-29-2005, 02:21 PM	#10
LivingDeadBoy Indie-Kid Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Toronto Posts: 776	No reason to. I own an expensive casio keyboard, and an ensoniq (esq1) synth from the 80's. Me and my dad rpefer to use the synth with external fx applied on it, rather than the keyboard.