The love of live music in a person can be awakened at any age: at six years old and at sixty. The most popular type of instrument is the keyboard. But do not buy the piano - it is too bulky, in addition, requires regular tuning. But you can buy an electronic analogue, which is convenient in transportation and takes up very little space. How much does a synthesizer cost? Which models are most in demand? And how to choose the right tool?
Types of Synthesizers
How much does such a tool cost is unequivocal. There are many varieties of them, and which model to choose depends on the goals and objectives of the novice musician. The answer to the question of how much the synthesizer costs depends, of course, on the functions of the instrument. Four types can be distinguished here:
- Compact tools with a minimum set of functions.
- Semi-professional synthesizers with advanced features.
- Professional instruments with seven to eight octaves and over one hundred functions.
- Digital pianos, which are instruments whose sound matches the sound of a real piano.
Why do you need a synthesizer? For serious, regular classes? Or maybe you plan to present such an instrument as a birthday present to a teenager who has not yet decided on his addictions? A digital piano costs a lot, which means that to buy such a thing is only for those who really plan to make music.
How much does a synthesizer cost for beginners? In the range of 5-10 thousand rubles. And this is a wonderful gift for a child, which, perhaps, will later become part of the wonderful world of music.
Keyboard
The main feature of the tool is the balanced keys. Another important indicator is passivity or activity. In the first case, the sound does not depend on the pressure. An instrument with active keys is able to convey various shades of a musical work.
What are shades?
If you open the score, you will see, along with signs indicating notes, many others. There are also those that indicate the shades of volume: “forte”, “piano”, “fortissimo”, “crescendo”. So, the last term means a gradual increase in sound, in musical notation it is displayed as a “fork”. All these nuances are very important. After all, the same piece of music can be played in different ways.
Those who want to learn how to play the Moonlight Sonata or Chopin's Waltzes should not even be interested in how much the Yamaha synthesizer costs with unweighted keys. To play a classical piece on such an instrument is like learning to dance a waltz at a disco in a nightclub. And for those who consider playing the keyboard as a hobby, you can buy an inexpensive tool with no frills.
How much is the Yamaha synthesizer? Model PSR-E243, for example - 12 500 rubles. This is a good option for beginner musicians. With the help of such a tool you can understand the basics of musical notation and learn a few simple tunes. For serious work, the Yamaha PSR-E453 is suitable. The price of such a model is 27,000 rubles. The keys are sensitive to pressing, which means an experienced musician on such an instrument will be able to convey the depth of sound.
Range
A tool for a child can be bought from 3600 rubles. How much does a six-octave synthesizer cost? At least twice as expensive. Children's tool for the baby has a range of 3.5 octaves. For example, the Ringway K-15 is a compact model with a small keyboard. It has only 37 keys, which will be enough only for someone who takes the first steps in music.
How much is a four-octave Yamaha synthesizer? The price of the PSR-E253 model is 12300 rubles. Such a tool has 61 keys, which is also not enough for full-fledged studies. Moreover, an instrument of the same manufacturer with the same range can cost two to three times more expensive. For example, Yamaha PSR-E443 (28500 rubles). The price is affected not only by the number of keys, but also by the range of functions and accompaniment styles.
Should I buy an expensive model?
Seven-octave synthesizers are professional instruments. Before buying a similar tool, it is worth understanding your goals well. Will a novice musician get bored after a few days? Will the tool gather dust in the corner? In general, a five-octave synthesizer is enough for an amateur game. But for serious studies, you can safely buy a model with a wider range.
The most common option is a tool with 61 keys. By the way, the prices of such synthesizers vary between 10-90 thousand rubles. Instruments for six to seven octaves are expensive, and even less in demand. Say, how much does a Casio keyboard with 76 keys cost? The price of the CASIO WK-7600 is 35 thousand rubles. And this, of course, is not the most expensive model from a well-known manufacturer. Synthesizers "Casio" are found in online stores at a price of up to one hundred thousand rubles.
Digital pianos also belong to synthesizers. However, this is a slightly different tool. It is compact, convenient in transportation, but is a complete replacement for a bulky analogue. Cost - from one hundred thousand rubles. Now consider other features of synthesizers that affect cost.
Polyphony
The word “synthesizer” comes from the verb “synthesize”. Such an instrument synthesizes various sounds. That is, a musician can use certain functions to reproduce a polyphonic work. This is an important feature of the tool, which, along with the range and type of keys, also affects the cost. In modern models, the polyphony varies between 32-64 sounds.
Accompaniment Styles
We have already mentioned this feature above. An accompaniment style is a sound or rhythm in a particular musical style. A person who does not have a special education, after just a few lessons, can reproduce the famous melody in various genres. For example, play "Moscow Nights" in the style of jazz or country. The value of this indicator is determined by the number of mixing options.
For a child of seven to ten years old, it is better to purchase a relatively inexpensive option - a synthesizer worth seven to eight thousand rubles. There is no point in acquiring completely cheap models. In stores there are inexpensive synthesizers with keys, the size of which does not correspond to the standard. With them, the young musician will get used to holding his hand in a certain way during the game, and it will be almost impossible to retrain it in the future.
Top manufacturers
It is believed that the highest quality synthesizers are Yamaha and Casio. But there are other companies that manufacture high quality tools. For example, “Korg” and “Roland”. But almost all well-known manufacturers are Japanese companies that entered the world market in the twentieth century. And some even earlier.
For example, Yamaha’s history dates back to the late 19th century. In 1887, its founder produced an organ that surpassed most similar keyboard instruments in sound quality. Today, the Japanese company offers a very wide selection of models: for beginners and professional musicians. And "Kashio" exists since 1957. Today it is one of the most famous manufacturers of musical equipment in the world.