Arco
Menu

Category

Synthesizers

Hardware synthesizers, synth model families, and related electronic instruments.

Models

View all (245)

  • Roland System 100

    Synthesizer · Japan

    The Roland System 100, introduced in 1975, was a semi-modular analog synthesizer sold as a set of matching components including a keyboard synthesizer, expander, mixer, and speakers. Patchable yet beginner-friendly, it bridged the gap between fixed-architecture synths and full modular systems.

  • Casio CZ-101

    Japan

    The Casio CZ-101, released in 1984, is a compact, battery-capable digital synthesizer and the first in Casio's CZ line. Using Phase Distortion synthesis, it offers polyphonic (and multitimbral) operation on a mini keyboard at a very affordable price.

  • Waldorf Microwave

    Synthesizer · Germany

    The Waldorf Microwave, released in 1989, is a wavetable synthesizer module that carried forward the technology of the PPG Wave. Its digital wavetable oscillators paired with analog filters produced distinctive evolving, metallic, and digital textures.

  • Yamaha CS-5

    Japan

    A compact Yamaha CS Series monophonic analog synthesizer introduced in 1978.

  • Technical line drawing of ELKA Rhapsody

    ELKA Rhapsody

    Synthesizer · Italy

    The Elka Rhapsody is a polyphonic string synthesizer made by the Italian company Elka in the 1970s. A popular and roadworthy string machine, it produces violin- and viola-style ensemble sounds and was widely used by touring musicians.

  • Black technical line drawing of a Yamaha DX7-style digital synthesizer

    Yamaha DX7

    Synthesizer · Japan

    Yamaha's landmark six-operator FM digital synthesizer, introduced in May 1983.

  • Novation Summit

    Synthesizer · United Kingdom

    The Novation Summit, released in 2019, is a sixteen-voice bi-timbral keyboard synthesizer that effectively combines two Peak engines, allowing two independent patches to be split or layered across its 61-note keyboard. Each voice uses three New Oxford Oscillators and an analog state-variable filter.

  • Yamaha CS

    Japan

    The CS series is Yamaha's line of synthesizers, most famous for the powerful polyphonic CS-80 of the late 1970s. The classic series also includes compact analog models such as the CS-5, CS-15, CS-20M, CS-60, and CS-70M, and the name was later revived for 1990s control synthesizers like the CS1x.

  • Ensoniq ESQ Series

    Synthesizer · United States

    The Ensoniq ESQ family comprises the company's late-1980s digital/analog hybrid synthesizers, beginning with the ESQ-1 and continuing with the SQ-80. They combined digitally sampled and synthetic waveforms with analog-style four-pole low-pass filtering and an onboard sequencer.

  • Nord Lead A1

    Sweden

    The Nord Lead A1, released in 2014, is a virtual analog synthesizer designed for fast, intuitive sound creation, using a streamlined modeling engine and a simplified interface rather than deep menu editing.

  • Freeman string symphonizer

    Synthesizer

    The Freeman String Symphonizer is an early string synthesizer associated with the British musician Ken Freeman, a pioneer of the string-synth sound. It produces the lush, polyphonic ensemble-string tones that became widely used in 1970s pop and rock.

  • Technical line drawing of ARP Omni

    ARP Omni

    Synthesizer · United States

    The ARP Omni, released in 1975, is a polyphonic synthesizer that combined a popular string-ensemble section with a polyphonic synth and a bass voice. One of ARP's best-selling instruments, its lush strings were widely used in 1970s pop and rock.

Technical line drawing of Synthesizers
Technical line drawing of Synthesizers

Sources

Makers

View all (33)

  • Fairlight

    Company associated with the Fairlight CMI computer musical instrument.

  • Access Music

    Access Music is a German maker of synthesizers, best known for its Virus line of virtual-analog synthesizers.

  • Oberheim

    Oberheim is an American synthesizer maker founded by Tom Oberheim in 1969, known for the SEM, the OB-X family of polyphonic synthesizers, and the DMX drum machine.

  • Behringer

    Behringer is a German-founded maker of audio and music equipment established in 1989, known for affordable mixers and signal processors and, more recently, synthesizers and recreations of classic instruments.

  • Moog Music

    Moog Music is an American maker of synthesizers founded by Robert Moog in 1953, a pioneer of the commercial analog synthesizer known for the Minimoog and a range of modular and performance synths.

  • Teenage Engineering

    Teenage Engineering is a Swedish electronics company founded in 2005, known for the OP-1 synthesizer and the compact Pocket Operator instruments.

  • Akai

    Akai is a Japanese electronics company founded in 1929 and historically known for consumer audio; its name is also carried by music-production gear such as samplers and tape machines.

  • Clavia

    Clavia is a Swedish maker of electronic instruments founded in 1983, best known for its red Nord synthesizers, stage pianos, and digital organs.

  • Lowrey

    Maker associated with the production lineage of the Freeman String Symphonizer.

  • Alesis

    Alesis is an American maker of music and audio equipment founded in 1980, known for affordable digital reverbs, drum machines, mixers, and electronic instruments.

  • Electronic Dream Plant

    Electronic Dream Plant was a British synthesizer firm of the late 1970s and early 1980s, known for the compact Wasp synthesizer.

  • Korg

    Korg is a Japanese maker of electronic musical instruments founded in 1963, producing synthesizers, keyboards, drum machines, tuners, and effects.

Part of