An Electronic Music Synthesizer is a musical instrument consisting basically of a set of modules to provide voltage control of pitch, timbre, and other qualities of sounds which it produces. Basically two signals are required in order to play it in a diatonic manner-Control Voltages, to determine the pitch produced by the VCDs, and Triggers, to produce articulation such as loudness and timbre changes. Generally speaking, the standard musical keyboard is used to control synthesizers such that each key produces a different voltage to one or more VCDs and a trigger is produced whenever one or more keys is pressed to turn on envelope generators, etc. The electronic music synthesizer has thus fallen into the category of Keyboard Instrument. An electronic music synthesizer, being a voltage controlled device however, does not need to be considered exclusively a keyboard instrument. It can be played or controlled by any device capable of producing voltage changes and triggers. The purpose of the Electronic Valve Instrument which is being developed by Steiner-Parker is to at least simulate the conventional synthesizer keyboard electronically, i.e. to produce output voltages to control pitch and output triggers for envelope generators, etc. Just like a synthesizer keyboard but played in the manner of a brass instrument (trumpet).
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