11 Legendary Synths That Have Inspired The Music Community
A list of the most inspiring synthesizers developed in the last 50 years — from mono-synths to pocket synths
There have been steady and remarkable developments made in sound synthesis in the past 50 years and picking a list of 11 was no easy task.
Synthesizers have been around since the late 60’s and have ranged from refrigerator-sized modulars to pocket sized samplers. This list reflects on some synths that have ben a seemingly endless inspiration to artists across genres and decades since.
1. EMS VCS3
Year Released: 1969
Original Price: £330 + £150 for the keyboard
Current Price: $24,646 USD
Signature sound profile: Often used to modulate a common instrument sound like a flute, or keyed instrument. As heard on Roxy Music and Kraftwerk, or The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again”
Iconic Song Examples:
Roxy Music - Ladytron
The Who - Won’t Get Fooled Again
Pink Floyd - On The Run
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2. Minimoog
Year Released: 1970
Original Price: $1595 USD
Current Price: $10,817 USD
Signature sound profile: Warm analog synth bass, lead and whistle sounds
Iconic Song Examples:
Donna Summer - I Feel Love
Snoop Dogg - Gin And Juice
Kraftwerk - The Model
Parliament - Flashlight
Sun Ra - Space Probe
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3. Arp 2600
Year Released: 1971
Original Price: $2600 USD
Current Price: $13,961 USD
Signature sound profile: Sound design, percussive, bass sequences, complex modulation
Iconic Song Examples:
Depeche Mode - Enjoy The Silence
Joy Division - She’s Lost Control
Edgar Winter Group - Frankenstein
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4. Yamaha CS80
Year Released: 1977
Original Price: $6900 USD
Current Price: $67,764 USD
Signature sound profile: Wide analog strings, brass, drones and pads with ultra natural detuning sounds.
Iconic Song Examples:
Michael Jackson - Thriller
Toto - Africa
Loverboy - Turn Me Loose
Bruce Springsteen - Dancing In The Dark
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5. Prophet-5
Year Released: 1978
Original Price: $3995 USD
Current Price: $10,662 USD
Signature sound profile: great string sounds, analog effects, and punchy analog basses
Iconic Song Examples:
Hall & Oates- I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do)
Radiohead - Everything In Its Right Place
Madonna - Like A Virgin
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6. Oberheim OB-xa
Year Released: 1980
Original Price: $4595 USD
Current Price: $12,544 USD
Signature sound profile: Lush polyphonic chords. Thick analog pads and drones, punchy bass and cyclic analog effects.
Iconic Song Examples:
Rush - Tom Sawyer
Van Halen - Jump
Prince - 1999
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7. Roland Jupiter-8
Year Released: 1982
Original Price: $5295 USD
Current Price: $31,190 USD
Signature sound profile: unique voice architecture. No other synths in the world can create analog sounds like the ones found on the Jupiter-8.
Iconic Song Examples:
Duran Duran - Hungry Like The Wolf
Talk Talk - It’s My Life
Queen - Radio Gaga
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8. Roland TB-303
Year Released: 1982
Original Price: $395 USD
Current Price: $4,069 CAD
Signature sound profile: The 303 can behave like lead guitars doing a blistering and acrobatic solo. These things live to entrance you with dizzying hooks, often with a throaty sound common place in acid techno music soaked in distortion.
Iconic Song Examples:
Daft Punk - Da Funk
New Order - Confusion (Pump Panel Remix)
Aaliyah - Try Again
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9. Fairlight Series 2
Year Released: 1982
Original Price: £30,000
Current Price: $13,224 USD
Signature sound profile: It was one of the earliest music workstations with an embedded sampler, and is credited for coining the term “sampling” in music. It rose to prominence in the early 1980s and competed with the Synclavier from New England Digital.
Iconic Song Examples:
Tears For Fears - “Shout”
Frankie Goes To Hollywood - “Relax”
Herbie Hancock - “Rockit”
Peter Gabriel - “San Jacinto”
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10. Roland Juno-106
Year Released: 1984
Original Price: $1095 USD
Current Price: $2,037 USD
Signature sound profile: programmable, six-voice polyphonic, analog, subtractive synthesizer. With its relatively simple voice architecture, it is able to produce luscious soundscapes, rich basslines, strings, pads, pianos, leads and percussive sounds.
Iconic Song Examples:
MGMT - “Kids”
Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up
Eurythmics - “Sweet Dreams”
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11. Teenage Engineering OP-1
Year Released: 2011
Original Price: $1299
Current Price: $1,253 USD
Signature sound profile: Extremeley versatile. unconventional design, engaging AMOLED display, complex synthesis engines.
Used By:
Diplo
Ariana Grande
Tame Impala
Childish Gambino
