Electronic Musical Instruments

Electronic Musical Instruments

Electronic Musical Instruments (EMI) are musical instruments that produce sound using electronic circuits. These instruments can be played by musicians or by people who have no musical training. EMIs include electronic organs, electronic pianos, and electronic drums.

Some EMIs are designed to imitate traditional acoustic instruments such as guitars and violins. Others create new sounds that cannot be produced by any other type of instrument.

EMIs are often used in music recordings and live performances. They can be played solo or in combination with other instruments.

The first electronic musical instrument was the telharmonium, invented by Thaddeus Cahill in 1897. It was a large machine that used vacuum tubes to create sound. The telharmonium was too big and expensive for most people, so it was not very popular.

In the 1930s, electronic musical instruments became more portable and affordable. The theremin, invented by Leon Theremin in 1928, was one of the first portable EMIs. It is played without being touched by the performer; the player controls the sound by moving their hands in the air.

The first electronic keyboard instrument was the Ondes Martenot, invented in 1928. It used vacuum tubes to generate sound, and it could be played with or without a keyboard. The Ondes Martenot was used by many composers, including Olivier Messiaen and Darius Milhaud.

EMIs were used in popular music from the 1950s onwards. The first hit song that featured an EMI was "Good Vibrations" by The Beach Boys, which used a theremin. In the 1960s and 1970s, EMIs were used in psychedelic rock and progressive rock. Pink Floyd, Yes, and ELP were among the many bands that used EMIs.

Today, electronic musical instruments are used in all genres of music. They are particularly popular in dance music and hip-hop.

Some well-known electronic musical instruments include:

Synthesizers: A synthesizer is an EMI that can create a wide range of sounds. Synthesizers can imitate other instruments, or they can create new sounds. There are many different types of synthesizers, including analog and digital synthesizers.

Drum machines: A drum machine is an EMI that creates drum sounds. Drum machines can be programmed to play a specific beat, or they can be played live by a drummer.

Samplers: A sampler is an EMI that can record and replay sounds. Samplers are often used to create new sounds by manipulating existing sounds.

MIDI controllers: MIDI controllers are devices that allow musicians to control sound using a computer. MIDI controllers come in many different forms, including keyboards, drum pads, and wind controllers.

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Top ten electronic musical instruments

1. Korg MS-20

2. Sequential Circuits Prophet-5

3. Roland TB-303

4. Yamaha CS-80

5. Moog Minimoog

6. ARP 2600

7. Oberheim OB-Xa

8. Emu SP-1200

9. Ensoniq Mirage

10. AKAI MPC60

Early electronic instruments

1. Theremin

2. Ondes Martenot

3. Telharmonium

4. Trautonium

5. Rhythmicon

6. Optical Theremin

7. Novachord

8. Solovox

9. Electronic Sackbut

10. Theramin

The first electronic musical instruments were created in the late 1800s and early 1900s. These instruments were often large, expensive, and difficult to play. Over time, electronic musical instruments became more portable and affordable. Today, they are used in all genres of music.

Classification of electronic musical instruments

EMIs can be classified in several ways. One way to classify EMIs is by how they generate sound. Another way to classify EMIs is by their size and portability.

How EMIs generate sound

There are three main ways that EMIs generate sound:

Analog: Analog EMIs use electronic circuits to generate sound. Analog EMIs are often used to imitate other instruments or to create new sounds.

Digital: Digital EMIs use computer algorithms to generate sound. Digital EMIs can create a wide range of sounds, from imitations of other instruments to new sounds.

MIDI: MIDI EMIs use a Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) to generate sound. MIDI is a protocol that allows computers and electronic musical instruments to communicate with each other.

Size and portability

EMIs can be classified as either portable or non-portable. Portable EMIs are small enough to be carried by the performer. Non-portable EMIs are too large or fragile to be carried by the performer.

Some EMIs can be used as both portable and non-portable instruments. These instruments are often called "semi-portable."

Portable EMIs

1. Synthesizers

2. Drum machines

3. Samplers

4. MIDI controllers

5. Electronic keyboards

6. Portable speakers

7. Headphones

Non-portable EMIs

1. Desktop speakers

2. Rackmount synthesizers

3. Drum kits

4. Piano

5. Pipe organs

6. String instruments

7. Wind instruments

8. Guitars

9. Amplifiers

Precursors of electronic instruments

There are several precursors of electronic musical instruments. These precursors include:

1. The player piano

2. The music box

3. The phonograph

4. The telegraph

5. The telephone

6. The radio

7. The television

8. Computers

The player piano is a precursor of electronic musical instruments. The player piano is a piano that uses a mechanical device to play the notes. The music box is another precursor of electronic musical instruments. The music box is a mechanical device that plays a tune when a crank is turned.

The phonograph is a precursor of electronic musical instruments. A phonograph is a machine that can record and playback sounds. The telephone is a precursor of electronic musical instruments. The telephone is a device that allows people to communicate over long distances.

The radio is a precursor of electronic musical instruments. The radio is a device that can broadcast and receive electromagnetic waves. Television is a precursor of electronic musical instruments. The television is a device that can transmit and receive images.

Computers are a precursor of electronic musical instruments. Computers are devices that can store, process, and retrieve information.

Tape recording

Tape recording is a method of storing audio information on a magnetic tape. A tape recording was first used in the 1930s. Tape recorders were used to record music, speeches, and other sounds.

The first commercial tape recorder was introduced in 1948. The first home tape recorder was introduced in 1949.

Digital audio

Digital audio is a method of storing audio information in digital form. Digital audio was first used in the 1970s. Digital audio is used to store music, speeches, and other sounds.

Digital audio is stored on a storage device, such as a hard drive or flash drive. The data is converted from an analog signal to a digital signal. Digital audio is often compressed to reduce the file size.

Compact disc

The compact disc (CD) is a storage device that was introduced in 1982. A CD can store up to 700 MB of data. They are often used to hold music, speeches, and other sounds.

DVDs

DVDs are storage devices that were introduced in 1995. DVDs can hold up to 4.7 GB of data. They are often used to hold movies, TV shows, and other video files.

Blu-ray discs

Blu-ray discs are storage devices that were introduced in 2006. Blu-ray discs can hold up to 25 GB of data. They are often used to hold movies, TV shows, and other video files.

Applications

There are many applications for electronic musical instruments. These applications include:

1. Live performance

2. Recording

3. Composition

4. Education

5. Therapy

6. Research

7. Games

Live performance

EMIs don't only serve a purpose in pre-recorded performances, but they can also be used to create unique live sound effects that would otherwise not be possible. EMIs offer an array of new possibilities for both experienced and beginner music producers alike.

Analog synthesis 1950–1980

Analog electronic musical instruments are those that produce sound by generating electrical signals of varying frequency and amplitude. The earliest analog devices used mechanical techniques to create and shape the signals. These were called electromechanical instruments. Later, electronic valves (vacuum tubes) replaced these mechanical elements.

The first generation of fully electronic instruments was made possible by the development of vacuum tubes in the early 1900s. These instruments were called electronic musical instruments (EMIs).

The first commercial EMIs were introduced in the 1930s. The most famous EMI is the theremin. The theremin was invented by Leon Theremin in 1928.

Recording

EMIs can be used to record music. EMIs can be used to record the sound of traditional instruments. EMIs can also be used to create new sounds for recordings.

Composition

EMIs can be used in the composition. EMIs can be used to create sounds that are not possible with traditional instruments. EMIs can also be used to create new sounds for existing instruments.

Education

EMIs can be used in education. EMIs can be used to teach music theory. EMIs can also be used to teach composition and performance.

Therapy

EMIs can be used in therapy. EMIs can be used to treat conditions such as autism, ADHD, and depression. EMIs can also be used to help people recover from injuries.

Research

EMIs can be used in research. EMIs can be used to study the effects of sound on people. EMIs can also be used to study the brain.

Games

EMIs can be used in games. EMIs can be used to create sound effects. EMIs can also be used to create music for games.

Sound sequencer

A sound sequencer is a device that creates and plays back digital audio. Sound sequencers were first used in the 1970s. Sound sequencers are used to create music, speeches, and other sounds.

Digital audio workstation

A digital audio workstation (DAW) is a computer program that is used to record, edit and mix digital audio. DAWs were first used in the 1980s. DAWs are used to create music, speeches, and other sounds.

Modular synthesizers

Modular synthesizers are electronic musical instruments that are made up of modules. Modules are individual units that each perform a specific function. Modular synthesizers were first used in the 1960s.

There are many types of modular synthesizers. The most common type is the analog modular synthesizer. Analog modular synthesizers use voltages to create and shape the sound.

Modular synthesizers that use digital signals create sound by shaping it into specific waveforms.

Virtual instruments

Virtual instruments are computer programs that imitate traditional musical instruments. Virtual instruments were first used in the 1990s. Virtual instruments are used to create music, speeches, and other sounds.

Digital synthesis

Digital synthesis is the use of digital signals to create and shape sound. Digital synthesis was first used in the 1970s.

Digital synthesis is used to create music, speeches, and other sounds.

Examples of digital synthesizers include:

1. FM Synthesis

2. Wavetable Synthesis

3. Additive Synthesis

4. Granular Synthesis

5. Subtractive Synthesis

6. Phase Distortion Synthesis

7. Vector Synthesis

8. Linear Arithmetic Synthesis

9. Spectral Synthesis

10. Physical Modeling Synthesis

Computer Music

Computer music is music that is created with the help of a computer. Computer music was first used in the 1950s.

Computer music can be created with the help of software or hardware. The software includes programs that are used to create and edit audio. Hardware includes devices that are used to create and shape sound.

Examples of computer music software include:

1. Ableton Live

2. Logic Pro

3. Pro Tools

4. Cubase

5. FL Studio

6. Reason

7. Reaper

8. Studio One

9. Audacity

10. GarageBand

Examples of computer music hardware include:

1. MIDI controllers

2. Synthesizers

3. Drum machines

4. Samplers

5. Sequencers

6. Effects processors

7. Amplifiers

8. Speakers

9. Headphones

10. Microphones

What contribution have electronic instruments made to musical composition?

Electronic instruments have made a very big contribution to musical composition. The electronic instruments are responsible for creating new sounds and also help in the modification of the existing sounds. Electronic instruments have helped in the creation of new genres of music and also in the development of existing genres of music. Electronic instruments have made it possible to create music that is more complex and also more interesting. Electronic instruments have also helped in the development of new techniques of musical composition.