In the modern age, an analog beat machine is synonymous with hip hop. But it wasn’t always that way.
In the 1980s, in the beat machines infancy, synth-pop was the vibe. Although hip hop producers like Afrika Bambaataa were dabbling with the machine, whether you were watching slick-talking Axel Foley get out of trouble to the beats of Harold Faltermeyer of or cranking Cars in your car, the sound of the synth-pop was the inescapable sound.
Thankfully for hip-hop heads, the dynamic capabilities of the synthesizer soon spilled fully over into other genres.
Today the 80’s synth-pop and your parents’ old haircuts are gone, but what started with Bambaataa and took hold with Dre has bloomed into a new wave of Hip Hop that has professional and hobby producers alike taking the sounds of the synths to new heights.
Whether you’re looking to produce that classic boom bap or give a clean piano that fades into a vocoder solo, a synth is the single most useful tool for the job.
What to Look for when Picking up the perfect Hip Hop Synth
Type
There are a bunch of things to consider when picking up the perfect sequencer for slapping beats together, but the biggest thing to pay attention to is the type. You’ll want to make sure you pick up a system capable of producing and reproducing the sounds and effects you’re looking for.
Analog
An analog synth is the classic, and a lot of guys go for that classic hip-hop sound. An analog system will give you a warm, sometimes quirky, and specific sound. Older Analog systems will often lack preset memory capabilities, so keep an eye on the features of your choice if that’s something you’re looking for
Digital
Digital synths are basically specialized computers that use code to produce sound. A basic digital synth will give you a broader range of tones than an analog and can remember your input. So if you’re aiming to produce Hip Hop and just getting started, a digital system is a great place to begin.
Virtual Analog
Virtual analogs were designed after the synth boom of the ’80s to emulate the sound of analog synths on a digital platform. VA systems will give you more options than an analog but will have a limited set of modulations.
Hybrid
A hybrid system uses a combination of analog and digital components. A hybrid system is capable of providing the unique sounds of an analog with the added benefits that come with a digital machine.
Modular
Modular is an indication of form when it comes to sequencers and not the sound variety or type of sound produced. A modular synthesizer can be digital or analog but uses modules connected together to mix and match sounds. A modular synth is arguably the most adaptable system on the market, with nearly every feature upgradeable or changeable.
Semi-Modular
A semi-modular system will have the same adaptability as a modular one but have fixed modules that aren’t replaceable. Semi-modular machines are excellent for Synth users ready to step their game up without committing to the intricacies of a fully modular setup.
Soft Synth
A soft synth is a music-creating application with no physical body. Soft synths lack the hand controls and are constrained by your CPU limits but are generally the most affordable way to get into music production. You’ll find most categories of synths paired down to a soft synth version.
Drum Synthesizer
A drum synthesizer or drum machine is fundamentally the same thing as a traditional synthesizer, except it focuses on synthesizing the sounds of drums exclusively.
Daw
A beginning synth owner may need to sharpen up on their keyboard skills. If you find yourself in that category or aren’t necessarily in the game to play the keys, you’ll want to go with a system that comes with a sequencer. This system is also known as a digital audio workstation.
A digital audio workstation is a hardware or software system that combines a synth with a recording function, possibly a MIDI ability, and also lets you write your melody sound by sound at the same time with a sequencer.

Price
Bigger isn’t always better when it comes to the price of your system. If you’re new to the game, a more expensive, more complex setup can often lead to frustration and a lack of output.
A good rule of thumb is to keep the price under a few hundred dollars if you’re just experimenting with getting into beat creation. If you’re taking it to the next level but still want something simple, add a couple hundred to that, and you’ll find a tool you can work and keep around even if you outgrow it.
Size
An oversized system might look professional, but like price, more isn’t always better. A compact machine will be one that fits in your workspace or in your backpack and doesn’t sit collecting dust in the closet. Pair a compact all in one synth with a good pair of headphones and the world becomes your workspace.
Speakers
Advanced hip hop producers will most likely already have mixers and monitors, but it doesn’t hurt to look for a system with speakers if you’re just getting started. Generally speaking, the speakers will be an afterthought and not sound the best, but they’ll allow you to check out what you’re creating without headphones or a complex setup.
Brief History of Synthesizers
Although most of the general public first met the synthesizer in the ’80s, the basic form of the tool has been around since the early 1960s in the form of the RCA Mark II. The Mark II was a large-scale complicated machine controlled by hundreds of vacuum tubes and punch cards.
Eventually, the complicated music maker would be reduced in size and gain a focus on a diversity of sounds. By the 1970s, with the introduction of accessibility in the Moog and MiniMoog, famous musicians began jumping on the wagon.
By the 1980s, the available retail technology had finally caught up with the synthesizer. This delivered the masses and everyday Joes an intensely broad range of digital sound production tools and the ability to create a unique synth based soundstage.
Although at the time generally used by pop performers, with Hip Hop taking the world by storm, the synth and new ability to sample and flip beats brought eager MCs into a new world of creation. That new world would eventually lead the already genre-bending Hip Hop down a road as wide as it is long.

Synthesizer VS Keyboard VS Midi
If you’re looking to pick up your first beat machine, getting into the game can be a bit confusing. There are a few very similar pieces of equipment, and knowing what they are and what you want, will help you get the right horse for the course.
Synthesizer VS Keyboard
A traditional digital keyboard is similar to a synthesizer, though more basic. A keyboard is designed to play songs out of the box, with a variety of preset sounds, automatic accompaniments, and samples. You’ll also find a built-in speaker on most to play what you create.
The big difference between the keyboard and beat machine is what you can then do with those sounds once you do create them. A keyboard comes with basic operations and recording ability. A sequencer, on the other hand, takes the process and recording ability to the max. A sequencer will come with a greater sound variety, and you can often create your own samples and own sounds.
To dumb it all down. If you want to learn to play the piano and have a bit of fun, grab a keyboard. If you want to create beats, make professional music, play in a live band, or really explore your creativity, you’ll want a synth.
Synthesizer VS MIDI
Although often confused for one another, a synthesizer and MIDI are very different tools.
The big difference between a synth and MIDI comes with input. Although some sequencers can act as a MIDI, a synth usually relies on pre-programmed applications to create the desired soundscape through a modulation of sound waves. So, essentially a synth will actually create a sound.
A MIDI differs here in that it doesn’t create sound. Instead, it is used as a keyboard/ controller. Thus, it relies almost entirely on a user’s input to create a precise sound in a software program or via a synthesizer or computer.