Analog Vs. Digital – What’s that all about?This is part two of an unnumbered series of addressing the two categories of synthesizers: Analog and Digital. In 2002 I bought my first synthesizer, the Moog Voyager Performer (see the adjacent image). That one purchase fundamentally changed my understanding of music and how it’s made. Bob Moog (pronounced like “vogue” with an M, not “moo” with a G at the end), who is considered to be the grandfather of contemporary synthesizers, unveiled …

Synthesizer Basics | Part 3: Monophony & PolyphonyIn the previous chunk of words we looked at analog vs. digital synthesizers. Now we’ll dive into a the terms that describe the number of simultaneous sounds a synthesizer can produce. Not all synthesizers are alike! The adjacent photo is a Moog Voyager: a monophonic synth. What does “monophonkjnngsfrdqmcvikl” synth mean?Understanding the terms, monophony and polyphony:Like numerous classical musical instruments, Moog synthesizers are monophonic. The distinction between “mono vs. poly” is an important …