207:, due to the increased speed and processing power of computers and their decrease in price. In 2024, ‘’Music Radar’’ noted that synth modules are “an entire category in music production that has pretty much fallen off the face of the earth in recent years”, because “as prices for hardware synths began to fall while their versatility rose and computers began to grow more powerful, the allure of spending three or four-figure sums on a 19” unit of largely fixed sounds diminished”, to the point that in 2024, the “only sound module on the market is the…Roland Integra-7”. Nevertheless, some
448:
indicators are embedded within a translucent button, so pressing the button shows its status on the button. There is usually a volume control, some types of buttons or knobs for selecting sounds and changing settings, and a power button. The front panel may also have a headphone jack, USB port, or another port for making connections. The smallest, simplest piano modules may have only a volume knob and a knob to select different piano sounds. The most complex synth modules may have a large number of knobs, buttons, and faders to control oscillators, filters, and amplitude settings.
440:
260:
461:
122:
25:
419:
305:
191:
There are a wide variety of sound modules, ranging from more generalist modules that can be used for a number of controllers or instruments (e.g., a rack mount synthesizer with hundreds of commonly used presets of instrument sounds, from piano and organ to synth brass and string pads) to specialized
352:
wind-style playing and can respond to the unique controller inputs, which sense breath, biting on the mouthpiece, and pressing keys. Wind controller players may use a specialized wind controller module such as the Yamaha VL70-m module or its predecessors, the VL-1 or VL-7. As well, wind controller
430:
synthesizer/keyboard was also sold as a standalone sound module, the TX-7. A sound module may have all the other features of the controller-equipped version, but it often has a smaller display or limited programming controls. In this case, instrument and other sounds can be loaded through MIDI or
451:
The rear panel usually contains 1/4 inch left and right audio outputs and one or more 5-pin MIDI inputs. Some units may have MIDI thru connections, which can be used to chain devices. Starting in the 2010s, some modules have one or two USB connections and can be connected to a computer (laptop,
591:
may be confused with sound modules. The audio interface connects a computer to other devices. Software in the computer actually generates sound using samples or synthesis. The functionality of the computer and audio interface plus the software can perform a superset of the functions of a sound
447:
The front of a rackmount sound module, or the top for tabletop units, typically contains a small screen or panel to provide information to the user. An LCD panel or an LED alphanumeric display may be supplemented with LED indicators to show the status of various features. In some models, LED
492:
Troubleshooting – if a sound module in a rack case develops problems, just this one unit can be removed for repair or replacement, leaving the rest of a keyboard player's rig the same (e.g., other rack-mounted sound modules, power amps,
353:
players may use general-purpose rack synthesizers such as the Yamaha Motif XS Rack, Roland Fantom X, or the Roland
Integra-7 rackmount MIDI sound module; however, these general-purpose synthesizer modules require extra wind sounds or
153:, which is computer hardware or software designed to record and playback control information for sound-generating hardware. Connections between sound modules, controllers, and sequencers are generally made with
180:. Small sound modules are mostly 1U in height, the larger models a multiplication e.g. 2U or 3U. Despite their name, most sound modules do not produce any audible sound until their output is plugged into a
426:
Because most electronic instruments are designed in a modularized way, manufacturers often release a sound module version of their fully integrated instruments. For example, the 1980s-era
509:: Piano sound module used by many bands in the 1980s to early 1990s. Based on the synth engine from the RD-1000 digital piano (the full version with a keyboard).
475:
Space and weight — a sound module takes up less room and weighs less than an instrument equipped with a controller, facilitating transportation and touring.
528:
478:
Portability - a performer going on tour can bring only their sound modules, so long as a MIDI controller (e.g., a MIDI keyboard) is provided as
496:
Obsolescence cycles — when it becomes obsolete, a sound module can be replaced without changing a favorite controller, or vice versa.
431:
external media. In some cases, sound modules have expanded capacity for sounds in comparison to the controller-equipped version.
348:
Wind controller modules are specialized synth modules that are designed to work with wind controllers. They typically support
364:, focuses on providing synthesized or sampled accordion sounds (and sounds for related bellows-pumped instruments, such as
89:
61:
468:
A sound module has the same advantages over a fully integrated instrument as does any system with a modularized design:
653:
149:, of which the most common type is the musical keyboard. Another common way of controlling a sound module is through a
297:
or pickups attached to an acoustic drum as well as through MIDI controller pads. Drum modules are distinguished from
267:
Sound modules may use any number of technologies to produce their sounds. A sound module may be an analog or digital
108:
68:
46:
75:
134:
42:
272:
452:
tablet, etc.), to allow the user to use editing software to make advanced changes to settings or sounds.
57:
157:(Musical Instrument Digital Interface), which is a standardized interface designed for this purpose.
35:
628:""We've never had it so easy": 5 ways music gear has improved over the years... and 5 it hasn't"
376:, flute, etc.). More so than for other sound modules, accordion modules are likely to also have
681:
315:
modules are usually tabletop-style devices that enable keyboardists to recreate the sound of a
282:
212:
686:
627:
204:
165:
145:. Sound modules have to be operated using an externally connected device, which is often a
372:). Like other specialized sound modules, accordion modules also have other sounds (piano,
82:
8:
601:
538:
472:
Cost — a sound module is cheaper than a comparable instrument equipped with a controller.
412:
181:
301:
through their lack of dedicated onboard triggers and lack of an integrated sequencer.
361:
193:
563:. Used by artists such as Harold Faltermeyer, Hans Zimmer, Tangerine Dream, Madonna.
439:
520:
373:
312:
244:
197:
142:
523:(OS) from diskette; known particularly well for having a third-party OS codenamed
588:
377:
316:
216:
173:
150:
146:
577:
338:
327:
259:
161:
392:
show. Accordion modules are manufactured by firms such as Ketron and
Soltron.
675:
566:
552:
506:
404:
385:
319:
661:
542:
524:
512:
460:
396:
389:
381:
298:
220:
489:
Expandability — many sound modules can be expanded with sounds and memory.
483:
334:
323:
294:
268:
573:, which features 195 waveforms, and has a display to program parameters.
606:
369:
290:
121:
192:
modules designed for use with wind controllers, electronic drum pads,
560:
556:
546:
365:
185:
177:
360:
An accordion module, which is designed for use with a MIDI-equipped
24:
342:
516:
418:
408:
304:
286:
276:
570:
532:
400:
349:
326:. Organ modules may have drawbars and controls for a simulated
333:
Some sound modules focus on piano sounds, typically providing
138:
427:
154:
247:, the sound module is sometimes colloquially called the
208:
169:
219:
continue to use vintage 1980s sound modules like the
203:
Hardware sound modules have largely been replaced by
176:. The height of a sound module is often described in
583:
49:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
16:
Externally controlled electronic musical instrument
293:sounds. Drum modules may be triggered by external
673:
541:series (1991): first sound module to implement
330:(a rotating horn and low-end baffle) effect.
263:A Studio Electronics Omega 2 rackmount module.
308:A WERSI OX7 micro, a clonewheel organ module.
137:without a human-playable interface such as a
482:gear. Many professional studios have a MIDI
535:who were dissatisfied with the original OS.
341:, and a few other keyboard sounds, such as
168:, particularly when the intended user is a
231:A sound module may also be referred to as
625:
322:using any MIDI keyboard or MIDI-equipped
254:
109:Learn how and when to remove this message
515:(1988): sound module with an ability to
459:
438:
417:
388:features, to enable a performer to do a
303:
258:
125:Korg Triton rack-mountable sound module.
120:
674:
285:are sound modules which specialize in
223:(1988) for their unique, retro sound.
164:, but are also produced in table-top
576:Kurzweil K2000R: modular version of
357:to work well with wind controllers.
47:adding citations to reliable sources
18:
500:
13:
14:
698:
434:
395:Synth modules often have onboard
654:"Who needs a MIDI synth module?"
626:Cartledge, Chris (9 July 2024).
584:Difference from audio interfaces
23:
34:needs additional citations for
646:
619:
226:
1:
612:
455:
135:electronic musical instrument
7:
595:
569:: enhanced rack version of
10:
703:
422:The Access Virus A module.
555:: modular version of the
464:A Waldorf Micro Q module.
407:, or, for organ modules,
160:Sound modules are often
283:Electronic drum modules
465:
444:
423:
309:
264:
255:Technologies and types
126:
463:
442:
421:
307:
262:
205:software synthesizers
124:
43:improve this article
602:Modular synthesizer
539:Roland Sound Canvas
632:www.musicradar.com
529:NuEdge Development
466:
445:
424:
310:
265:
194:digital accordions
182:keyboard amplifier
127:
362:digital accordion
119:
118:
111:
93:
694:
666:
665:
660:. Archived from
650:
644:
643:
641:
639:
623:
589:Audio interfaces
521:operating system
501:Notable examples
374:string orchestra
313:Clonewheel organ
245:electronic drums
217:record producers
198:clonewheel organ
196:, or to produce
143:musical keyboard
114:
107:
103:
100:
94:
92:
51:
27:
19:
702:
701:
697:
696:
695:
693:
692:
691:
672:
671:
670:
669:
652:
651:
647:
637:
635:
624:
620:
615:
598:
586:
503:
458:
437:
378:music sequencer
317:tonewheel-based
257:
229:
174:record producer
147:MIDI controller
115:
104:
98:
95:
52:
50:
40:
28:
17:
12:
11:
5:
700:
690:
689:
684:
668:
667:
664:on 2018-07-01.
645:
617:
616:
614:
611:
610:
609:
604:
597:
594:
585:
582:
581:
580:
578:Kurzweil K2000
574:
564:
550:
545:standard with
536:
510:
502:
499:
498:
497:
494:
490:
487:
476:
473:
457:
454:
436:
435:User interface
433:
339:electric piano
328:Leslie speaker
256:
253:
228:
225:
215:musicians and
162:rack-mountable
117:
116:
58:"Sound module"
31:
29:
22:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
699:
688:
685:
683:
682:Sound modules
680:
679:
677:
663:
659:
655:
649:
634:. Music Radar
633:
629:
622:
618:
608:
605:
603:
600:
599:
593:
590:
579:
575:
572:
568:
567:Roland JD-990
565:
562:
558:
554:
553:Roland MKS-80
551:
548:
544:
540:
537:
534:
531:, a group of
530:
526:
522:
518:
514:
511:
508:
507:Roland MKS-20
505:
504:
495:
491:
488:
485:
481:
477:
474:
471:
470:
469:
462:
453:
449:
441:
432:
429:
420:
416:
414:
410:
406:
405:chorus effect
402:
398:
397:effects units
393:
391:
387:
386:backing track
383:
379:
375:
371:
367:
363:
358:
356:
351:
346:
344:
340:
336:
331:
329:
325:
321:
320:Hammond organ
318:
314:
306:
302:
300:
299:drum machines
296:
292:
288:
284:
280:
278:
274:
270:
261:
252:
250:
246:
242:
238:
234:
224:
222:
218:
214:
210:
206:
201:
199:
195:
189:
187:
183:
179:
175:
171:
167:
163:
158:
156:
152:
148:
144:
140:
136:
132:
123:
113:
110:
102:
91:
88:
84:
81:
77:
74:
70:
67:
63:
60: –
59:
55:
54:Find sources:
48:
44:
38:
37:
32:This article
30:
26:
21:
20:
687:Synthesizers
662:the original
657:
648:
636:. Retrieved
631:
621:
587:
543:General MIDI
525:Typhoon 2000
513:Yamaha TX16W
479:
467:
450:
446:
443:Roland SH-32
425:
394:
390:one man band
382:drum machine
359:
354:
347:
332:
311:
295:trigger pads
281:
266:
248:
240:
237:synth module
236:
232:
230:
221:Yamaha TX16W
202:
190:
159:
131:sound module
130:
128:
105:
96:
86:
79:
72:
65:
53:
41:Please help
36:verification
33:
549:extensions.
484:stage piano
335:grand piano
324:stage piano
269:synthesizer
241:rack module
233:tone module
227:Terminology
166:form factor
676:Categories
658:Tweakheadz
613:References
607:Sound card
456:Advantages
399:, such as
370:concertina
291:percussion
178:rack units
69:newspapers
561:Jupiter-8
557:Jupiter-6
547:Roland GS
413:overdrive
366:bandoneon
200:sounds.
186:PA system
151:sequencer
99:June 2018
596:See also
592:module.
559:and the
486:on hand.
480:backline
343:clavinet
638:13 July
533:hackers
409:vibrato
355:patches
287:drumkit
277:rompler
275:, or a
273:sampler
243:. With
141:-style
83:scholar
571:JD-800
493:etc.).
401:reverb
384:, and
350:legato
133:is an
85:
78:
71:
64:
56:
249:brain
239:, or
184:or a
139:piano
90:JSTOR
76:books
640:2024
519:its
517:boot
428:DX-7
411:and
403:and
368:and
345:.
289:and
271:, a
155:MIDI
62:news
527:by
279:.
213:EDM
209:DJs
188:.
172:or
45:by
678::
656:.
630:.
415:.
380:,
337:,
251:.
235:,
211:,
170:DJ
129:A
642:.
112:)
106:(
101:)
97:(
87:·
80:·
73:·
66:·
39:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
