Synare
Encyclopedia
The Synare was a series of electronic drum
s made by Star Instruments in the mid 1970s through the 1980s. The Synare was a drum synthesizer, meaning it was essentially a synthesizer
, but instead of being controlled by a keyboard
, it was triggered by hitting rubber pads which were pressure sensitive.
generator, Low Frequency Oscillator (LFO) with triangle and pulse waveforms, a mixer and a low-pass filter with Resonance and Cutoff controls. It also had an envelope generator with attack, decay, sustain, and release. Made from 1975 to 1981.
rather than a rubber pad. Had modulation route and depth controls. Made from approximately 1979-1983. Very rare.
Electronic drum
An electronic drum is an electronic synthesizer which mimics an acoustic drum kit.The electronic drum usually consists of a set of pads mounted on a stand in a disposition similar to an acoustic drum kit. The pads are discs with a rubber or cloth-like coating. Each pad has a sensor which generates...
s made by Star Instruments in the mid 1970s through the 1980s. The Synare was a drum synthesizer, meaning it was essentially a synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
, but instead of being controlled by a keyboard
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, it was triggered by hitting rubber pads which were pressure sensitive.
The Synare 1
Four rubber rectangular pads connected to a main module with one oscillator producing pulse and sawtooth waveforms. It also had a white noiseWhite noise
White noise is a random signal with a flat power spectral density. In other words, the signal contains equal power within a fixed bandwidth at any center frequency...
generator, Low Frequency Oscillator (LFO) with triangle and pulse waveforms, a mixer and a low-pass filter with Resonance and Cutoff controls. It also had an envelope generator with attack, decay, sustain, and release. Made from 1975 to 1981.
The Synare 2
This model was manufactured from 1976 to 1982 and was Star's flagship model. This was very much like the Synare 1, with one oscillator with sawtooth, and pulse waveforms, white noise generator, etc. But this had assignable functions, ie. routing the LFO to control certain parameters at once. The LFO also added a sawtooth waveform You could also select a wide range of octaves for the pitch to sound at, along with a fine tune function. A major adjustment was the introduction of a fairly advanced sequencer with different patters, and the ability to change patterns and octaves. You could also adjust the speed and the note(s) sounded by the sequencer. This model features 16 pads instead of the previous four. Retail price in 1976 was $1,395.00. This high price has made the Synare 2 very rare.The Synare 3
Noted for its 'flying saucer' appearance, this was the first affordable model for most musicians. As well as the ability to be run on batteries, the model featured 2 oscillators with no variable waveforms, a white noise generator, as well as a sweep function, which could be used up or down to to achieve a descending 'booming' sound which was used extensively in disco records of the era. Oscillator 1 was the noise generator with a 'tune' function. The Amplifier section had volume, attack, and decay controls. This model also had a low-pass filter with cutoff, resonance and decay controls and was manufactured from 1977 to 1982.The Synare S3X
Virtually the same machine as its predecessor, but with more flexible modulation controls. Manufactured during the same time as the Synare 3.The Synare 4
Very similar to its predecessor, but with an actual drumheadDrumhead
A drumhead is a membrane stretched over one or both of the open ends of a drum. The drumhead is struck with sticks, mallets, or hands so that it vibrates and the sound resonates through the drum.-History:...
rather than a rubber pad. Had modulation route and depth controls. Made from approximately 1979-1983. Very rare.
Notable Users
- Stephen Morris of Joy DivisionJoy DivisionJoy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
- Lol Tolhurst of The CureThe CureThe Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
- David RobinsonDavid Robinson (musician)David Robinson is an American rock drummer. He has performed with many rock bands including The Modern Lovers, DMZ and The Cars.He attended Woburn Memorial High School....
of The CarsThe CarsThe Cars are an American rock band that emerged from the early New Wave music scene in the late 1970s. The band consisted of lead singer and rhythm guitarist Ric Ocasek, lead singer and bassist Benjamin Orr, guitarist Elliot Easton, keyboardist Greg Hawkes and drummer David Robinson...
External links
- Page at the Keyboard Museum (broken link)
- Original Ad from 1977 (broken link)
